Frequently Asked Questions


What are the address and hours of operations of the consulate?

Is it necessary to make an appointment in advance before arriving at the Consulate?

How do I receive my passport/visa once my request is processed?

Do I need to renew or extend my passport?

How do I submit an application to renew passport / travel document?

How to extend validity of passport / travel document?

What is an Apostille and when is it necessary?

How do I register a child born outside of Israel?

How do I apply for a Deferral of Military Status?

How to apply for a B/2 visitor visa?

How to apply for A/2 Student visa?

What are the address and hours of operations of the consulate? 

The consulate is located at:

456 Montgomery St.
Suite 2100
San Francisco CA, 94104

The Consular Department is open to the public Monday through Friday between 10AM-1PM. The office is closed on legal Israeli and U.S. holidays.

Walk-in notarization services are provided to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Notarization services on Wednesdays and Fridays will be provided by appointment only.

Is it necessary to make an appointment in advance before arriving at the Consulate?

There is no need to make an appointment in advance for most services. Notarization services are available at our offices on a first-come, first-serve basis Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Notarization services on Wednesdays and Fridays are available only in certain cases, and by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please click here.

• Return mail payment: requests sent to be processed via mail are returned to the requestor via FedEx at the expense of the requestor. The cost of return mail is $14 for express service, payable by cash or money order (make money order payments out to Consulate General of Israel).
• Arrive at the consulate and pick up during reception hours
  
  

An Israeli passport issued to an adult is valid for 10 years and for 5 years for a minor. For adults - if 10 years have passed since the passport was issued, please contact the mission to obtain a new passport. If less than 10 years have elapsed since the passport was issued, it can be extended up to the full 10 years.

In order to apply for a new travel document (passport / travel document) for an adult, you should arrive at the consulate or mail the following documents:

• Old passport
• 2 passport photos - 2X2 inches with a white background (American Standard)
• $71 passport fee in cash or money order only
• Application for a Passport / Laissez Passer form completed and signed (signature on page two middle of the page)
• If requesting the passport/travel document be sent to you (via overnight fedex), please include an additional $14, payable in cash or money order (make money order payments out to Consulate General of Israel).
• If you will be picking up the passport at our office, no additional payment is required

In order to submit a request for extension of travel document (passport / travel document) for an adult, you should arrive at the consulate or mail the following documents:

• Old passport
• Application to Extend / Make Changes to a Passport / Laissez Passer form filled and signed.
• If requesting the passport/travel document be sent to you (via overnight fedex), please include an additional $14, payable in cash or money order (make money order payments out to Consulate General of Israel).
• If you will be picking up the passport at our office, no payment is required

The Apostille provides authentication of public official signatures on documents to be used outside the United States of America. Apostilles only certify to the authenticity of the signature of the official who signed the document, the capacity in which that official acted, and when appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears. The Apostille or certification does not validate the contents of the document.

Only after a certificate is authenticated by the Apostille, can the State of Israel recognize the certificate.

List of Apostilles in the states served by the Consulate:

• Oregon: (503) 986-2593 web site
• Idaho: (208) 332-2810 web site
• Alaska: (970) 465-3509 web site
• Washington: (360) 725-0344 / (360) 725-0345 web site
• Montana: (406) 444-1877 / (406) 444-5379 web site
• California: (916) 653-3595 web site

In order to register a child who was born abroad to Israeli citizens, one of the Israeli parents must appear in person before the diplomatic / consular representative and apply for registration of the child, with their child.

The following documentation must be provided:

• Completed and signed Notification of the Birth of an Israeli Citizen Abroad form
• The original birth certificate, verified with an Apostille stamp in countries that are signatories to the 1961 Hague Convention.
• Parents’ passports
• If the parents are married and there is no record to that effect in the Population Registry of the State of Israel, their verified marriage certificate must be presented with the form of Change of Marital Status

Every citizen / permanent resident of the State of Israel upon reaching the age of 16 and a half is obligated by the Defense Service Law to establish his status with the Israel Defense Forces authorities, even if he/she is living or staying abroad for any reason.

The following forms must be submitted:

• An official letter from the school in which the person designated for defense service is studying, noting the number of years he has been a student there and the number of years remaining until completion of his studies
• Parent’s passports (photocopies are also acceptable)
• Israeli Passport of the person designated for defense service.
• Photocopy of American passport / Green card, if applicable.
• In case the person designated for defense service is attending university/college or has been accepted to university/college – an official letter from that institute must be provided.
• The following forms, completed and signed:

Registration and personal request form for overseas personal for military service

Application to defer military service for Israeli citizens staying abroad

How to apply for a B/2 visitor visa?

The B/2 visa is granted to someone who wishes to stay in Israel for only a short time (for a visit, tourism, a business meeting or study in a Hebrew ulpan).A person who enters Israel on a B/2 visa is not allowed to work in the State of Israel. B/2 visa is valid for up to three months from the date of issue.

The process to be handled at the mission:

• A travel document that is valid for at least six months beyond the period of the stay in Israel
• A completed and signed application for a visa to enter Israel
• Proof of the applicant's sufficient financial means for the visit to Israel (Bank Statement)
• Order for round trip airline tickets to and from Israel
• Two passport pictures
• Payment of the fee- $22
• Invitation Letter

The visa is valid for up to one year and for multiple entrances and exits. Recipients of this visa are not permitted to work in Israel.

The visa is granted to students who provide the following:

• Completed and signed application for a visa to enter Israel
• Two passport pictures
• Certification of acceptance for study at a recognized educational institution in Israel
• Proof that the student has the financial means to pay for his studies and sustenance throughout his stay in Israel
• A travel document that is valid for at least one year, provided that his country has a diplomatic mission in the State of Israel. If there is no such mission in Israel, the passport must be valid for the entire period of studies and another six months beyond that time
• Payment of the fee -$46
• Proof of down payment for the tuition fee