Israel Civil Registration

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Israel

Civil Registration

How to Find the Records

Online Collections

• 1823-1948 All Israel Database, Israel Genealogy Research Association [IGRA]
• 1916-1940 Births in African and Asian Protectorates for the Years 1916-1940 index
  
• 1921-1948 Marriage & Divorce Certificates issued during the Mandate Period 1921-1948 index
• 1932-1950 Marriage Announcements in the Palestine Post 1932-1950 index
• 1900-1918 Engagements of Orthodox couples index.
• The Ketubot (marriage contract) worldwide Digital Collection index
• 1900-1918 Marriages in Saloniki 1900-1918 index
  
• 1917-1919 Deaths of People Exiled within Eretz Israel 1917-1919 index
• 1936-1940 Deaths in African and Asian Protectorates for the Years 1936-1940 index
• 1949-1951 Histadrut Teachers who died 1949-51 index
  
• 1628-1969 UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628-1969, at Ancestry.com index ($)
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms, index & images ($) Findmypast
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages,, index & images ($) Findmypast
• British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials at Findmypast - index & images ($) Findmypast

Offices to Contact

Population and Immigration Authority

For birth and death certificates:
National Service Center
42 Agrippa St.
Jerusalem, Israel 9430125

Telephone: 074-7083450
Dial abroad: + 972-74-7083450
Fax:02-6469442
E-mail: info@piba.gov.il

To order:
Birth certificates
Death certificates

For marriage certificates:
Ministry of Religious Services
Telephone: 02-5311031
Fax: 02-6529221
Email: avitalaf@dat.gov.il

To order Marriage certificates

Historical Background

Over many centuries, Jews were scattered to many other countries. In 1516, the Ottoman Empire conquered the region and ruled it for the next four centuries. After WWI, the area of Israel was divided between Britain and France. In 1922 Britain was given control. Over time, more and more Jews immigrated to Israel, especially after WWII, and on 14 May 1948, Jews declared the state of Israel. This led to war with Arab countries in 1948 and continuing conflicts.

Coverage and Compliance

Israel set a 70 year limit on access to records due to privacy. "Only first degree relatives can receive the information."

How To: Birth and Death Certificates in Israel

How To: Birth and Death Certificates in Israel
By Garri Regev On October 16, 2014
Israel Genealogy Research Association (IGRA)

"Smaller communities may have some records but the official path for obtaining Birth or Death Certificates in Israel is through the Ministry of Interior. The process is not simple and there are specific requirements – and it may not be possible for everyone. You can now access all the information that it is necessary for you to have before beginning the process.....How to Request Official Documents from the Ministry of Interior of the State of Israel

"According to the privacy laws in Israel, many documents are closed to the general public for 70 years. In addition, only first degree relatives can receive the information. In some instances various offices extend this period up to 100 years.

Birth Certificates

Only the person himself or a first-degree relative [person himself, spouse, parents, children] can get a birth certificate. If otherwise, an explanation is required, possibly a legal document stating why one needs this information and feels he/she is entitled to it. The request requires the identification number of the person for which one is looking. The official procedure to follow is available in Hebrew. You can ask for a birth certificate in Hebrew or English or both. If the request is for someone born before 1955, it is important to include the place of residence of the parents at the time of the birth.

Birth certificates for the later Mandate period (1930’s & 1940’s) may be available through the Ministry of Interior. At a local level, some of the towns and settlements have ledgers where the births were recorded."

• Official website of the Ministry of Interior dealing with birth certificates for those born in Israel.
• Internet request for birth certificate

Right click on the screen and select "Translate to English".

Death Certificates

"Only first-degree relatives [person himself, spouse, parents, children] may request a death certificate. If otherwise, an explanation is required possibly a legal document stating why one needs this information and feels he/she is entitled to it. This request has to be handed in personally. The official website of the Ministry of Interior deals with death certificates for persons who died in Israel. The following information is required:

Identity number of the deceased

Details of the deceased as they were recorded at the time of death: given name, surname, father’s name, mother’s name, date of birth, Hebrew date of birth, status (married, single, widow, divorced), nationality, date of death, place of death

Do you request the cause of death

Request form filled out as required

If the request is for someone who died before 1955, it is important to include the place of residence of the deceased at the time of death.

If you do not have the required information or are not a first degree relative, you can apply to receive the last known address of the person which may yield the date of death."

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