The list of prerequisites to making aliyah is growing. As of January of this year, olim now require an apostille seal on their birth certificates and other legal documents, including marriage documents, death certificates, name-change documents, adoption certificates and divorce documents. Apostilles authenticate the seals and signatures of officials on these and other public documents so they can be recognized in foreign countries that are members of the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty. The apostille itself is a stamp or printed form that authenticates the document required for the aliyah to be validated. It is not a notary seal; it is a more significant form of authentication.

Each document requiring an apostille must be from the appropriate state; having your document incorrectly certified will result in its not being accepted by Israeli authorities. While obtaining the seal is not difficult, knowing the hows, whys and wheres is a bit more complicated, made easier by experts such as Translation Inc. Translation Inc. is an affordable and reputable option that will ensure you receive proper and timely service. There are many overpriced companies that charge you simply to mail your documents back and forth to the proper authenticating agency. Translation Inc. charges only a nominal fee and will provide hand pick-up and drop-off of your documents, along with hand delivery and pick-up to and from the agency. This will ensure that your important documents are kept intact. Typical turnaround time is two weeks.

For more information on how Translation Inc. can help make your aliyah process easier, call them Sunday through Friday afternoon at 908-868-7472.

By Jill Kirsch