Certified true copy
A "certified true copy" is a notary's certificate that a photocopy of a document is identical to the original presented to him. It is needed when a document must be submitted to a body in Israel or abroad without handing over the original. The fee is set by regulations: NIS 77 for the first page and NIS 13 for each additional page, before VAT.
What does the notary certify?
That the copy is identical to the original presented to him. He does not certify that the content is correct.
The notary compares the photocopy with the original and attaches a notarial certificate. Certifying the correctness of a copy is one of the acts within a notary's powers under section 7 of the Notaries Law. The certificate concerns the identity between copy and original, not the truth or validity of the document.
When is a certified copy required?
- Submitting certificates and documents to an authority, university or employer abroad, when you do not want to hand over the original.
- Documents for a foreign mission in Israel, for example in a citizenship or visa application.
- Documents for a bank, insurer or court that requires a certified copy.
- A passport or identity card, when a certified copy is needed to open an account or for a transaction abroad.
For a document going to another country, an apostille on the notary's signature is sometimes required, and sometimes a notarial translation as well. Check in advance what the receiving body requires.
How much does it cost?
NIS 77 for the first page and NIS 13 for each additional page, before VAT, under the 2026 tariff.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certifying a copy, first page | NIS 77 |
| Each additional page | NIS 13 |
| Additional certificate at the same sitting, first page | NIS 27 |
| Additional certificate at the same sitting, each additional page | NIS 13 |
When several certified copies of the same document are needed, it pays to order them all at the same sitting. For an exact calculation including VAT, see the fee table and calculator.
What to bring, and how it works
Bring or send the original document to the office. The notary photocopies it, or compares it with the copy you brought, and prepares the certificate. You get the original back together with the certified copy. A photocopy alone, without the original, is not enough.
Sources
- Notaries Law, 5736-1976: section 7 (powers of a notary) (Hebrew)
- Notaries (Fees for Services) Regulations, 5739-1978, at the 2026 tariff
Checked on 11 November 2026.
More on this topic: Signature certification | Apostille | Notarial translation | Notary fees | Notarial affidavit
Questions and answers
Can I get a certified copy without the original?
No. The notary certifies that the copy is identical to the original, so the original must be presented to him.
Does the certificate prove the document is genuine?
It states that the copy is identical to the document presented to the notary. It is not a certificate of the correctness of the content or the validity of the document.
How much for a three-page document?
Under the 2026 tariff: NIS 77 for the first page plus NIS 13 for each of the two additional pages, that is NIS 103 before VAT.
Do I also need a translation?
It depends on the receiving body. When the document is in Hebrew and is going abroad, a notarial translation is usually required, and then a separate copy certificate may not be needed. Check in advance.
Not sure which certificate you need? Let's start with a conversation
Tell us which authority the document is intended for and for what purpose, and we will tell you exactly which notarial certificate you need, whether an apostille is required and in what order, and how much it will cost under the regulations.