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Birth Certificate: Everything You Need to Know

1 July 2026

After childbirth, one of the most important steps to take is to obtain a birth certificate for your infant. A birth certificate is an official document stating the date of birth, place of birth, the parents' details, and the name of the infant.

The certificate is required for various issues:

  • Registering for an HMO (Kupat Cholim).
  • Receiving a birth grant.
  • Opening a bank account.
  • Applying for an ID card for the child in the future.

Obtaining a birth certificate is possible in three ways: online, through the government personal area, in person, at the Population Registry Bureaus, or by mail or email. The service is free of charge.

Important! If you did not register a name for your child at the hospital, you will need to complete a different registration process at a later stage. This is also free of charge.

Congratulations on the birth! In all the excitement and exhaustion of the first few days, there are a few things you will need to take care of as parents – and one of the first and most important is obtaining a birth certificate. We know it feels like just another task on your long to-do list, but the good news is that the process is much easier than you think.

The birth certificate is an important document that will help you down the road for many things: from HMO registration to receiving your birth grant. The good news is that this service is completely free of charge, can be completed online from home, and is processed fairly quickly.

In this article, we explain exactly how the process works, the essential details you need to know, and how to do it in the easiest and most convenient way.

What is a Birth Certificate

A birth certificate is your child's first official document. It confirms the birth itself, when and where it took place, and who the parents are.

The birth certificate includes the following details:

  • The baby's full name.
  • Date of birth (Gregorian and Hebrew).
  • Place of birth (hospital and city).
  • Gender.
  • Father's details: Full name and ID number.
  • Mother's details: Full name (including maiden name) and ID number.

The importance of the birth certificate

The birth certificate is required for various important purposes, such as:

  • Registering the baby with an HMO
  • Receiving a birth grant
  • Opening a bank account for the child
  • Enrollment in kindergarten or school in the future
  • Applying for a passport
  • Proving parental relationship for legal purposes

What Happens Right After Birth

After your baby is born, the hospital is responsible for completing a “birth notification” — the initial document that reports the birth.

Until recently, this process took time in all hospitals, as it involved several steps, including manually filling out the birth notification and sending it by mail to the Population Authority. However, as of early 2026, the birth notification is sent automatically in real time, with no paperwork, no forms to fill out, and no postal delivery.

In addition, there are several tasks that fall under your responsibility as parents:

  • Deciding on a name for the baby (this can also be done at a later stage).
  • Filling out a Declaration of Paternity (if the parents are not married).
  • Obtaining a birth certificate.
  • Notifying other bodies of the birth, such as your HMO, the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi), the Income Tax Authority, and your workplace.

Obtaining a Birth Certificate

Obtaining a birth certificate is free of charge. The service is provided at no cost by the Population and Immigration Authority.

The service is available to new parents, as well as to their first-degree relatives, such as partners, siblings, parents, and grandparents.

There Are Three Ways to Obtain a Birth Certificate:

  1. Online, via the website: The certificate will be available for download to your computer or mobile phone once the birth notification is received from the hospital. Today, the certificate is available within days instead of weeks.
  2. At the Population and Immigration Authority office: At self-service kiosks or through an in-person meeting with a representative.
  3. By email or by mail.

How Long Does It Take?

If you apply online or at the Population Authority office, you can receive the certificate immediately. If you submit your request by email, the certificate will arrive within five business days. If you apply by mail, delivery time depends on Israel Post.

Important

Important

The birth certificate reflects the details exactly as they were and when the baby was born. For instance, if the mother changes her surname after giving birth, the original name will still appear on the document.

Parental information on the birth certificate

This is one of the most important parts to know even before birth:

If you are married, the process is straightforward:

  • Both parents will be recorded on the birth certificate automatically.
  • The baby’s surname will usually be the father’s surname, unless you decide otherwise. You may also choose the mother’s surname or a combination of both.
  • Registration is completed based on the data held in the Population Registry.

This process is slightly more complex, but it is important to understand that the baby’s mother will always be recorded automatically.

The father will be recorded only if:

  • He completes a Declaration of Paternity at the hospital.
  • He signs the declaration together with the mother.
  • He presents an ID card.

If the father does not acknowledge paternity:

  • Only the mother’s details will appear on the birth certificate.
  • The baby’s surname will be the mother’s surname.
  • It is possible to add the father at a later stage, but it is important to note that this is more complex and requires legal procedures.

Other cases

  • In the case of a home birth, both parents must go to the birth registrar at the Population Administration office and present ID cards, as well as a doctor’s certificate or an affidavit from a certified midwife who attended the birth.
  • In the case of same-sex female partners, the partner of the birth mother can obtain legal recognition of her status as a parent by applying to the family court, which is authorized to issue a parental order recognizing her status. For more information about this process, see Recognition of a person as a parent of their same-sex partner’s biological child without adoption (parental order).

Choosing a name for a baby

Sometimes parents do not reach a decision about a name for the baby at the hospital. In such cases, the birth notice will be issued without a name. You can later complete the registration through the "Naming a newborn" service, which is also available online, and you will receive the new certificate by mail.

Regarding the last name— even if the parents are not married, but the father has acknowledged paternity, you can choose the last name:

  • The father’s last name.
  • The mother’s last name.
  • A combination of both (for example: Cohen-Levi).

This decision is made on the paternity acknowledgment form signed by both parents.

Digital vs. physical certificate

  • Digital certificate

    • Available immediately.
    • Multiple copies can be saved.
    • Easy to share by mail.
    • Widely accepted by most official agencies and organizations.

  • Physical certificate

    • Required by some traditional offices.
    • More convenient for physical filing.
    • Not dependent on technology.

Important information:

Important information:

  • If you choose to obtain the certificate online, you can download a digitally signed copy to your phone or computer and save as many copies as you wish.
  • To obtain a birth certificate for your baby at a Population and Immigration Authority office, it is sufficient for one of the parents to arrive with an ID card. Please take possible waiting time into account.
  • Any individual other than the parents who wishes to obtain the certificate must present a power of attorney or a written explanation detailing their legitimate interest in receiving the birth certificate.

It is important to note: You can obtain both types of certificates. You may first download a digital certificate for immediate use and later print it or request a physical copy.

Special cases to note

If the parents are not Israeli citizens:

  • The baby will not be registered in the Population Registry.
  • Instead of a standard birth certificate, a “Notification of Live Birth Transcript” will be issued (free of charge).
  • This document is mainly used when dealing with foreign missions, such as embassies or consulates, in order to obtain travel documents.

Parents, citizens of Israel, can register children born abroad in the Population Registry and in the ID card appendices.

When registering, one of the parents must be present in person.

When submitting a request to register a child under the age of 18 (without submitting an additional request, such as a passport request), the presence of the child is not required.

Parents living outside of Israel can submit the request at the nearest Israeli representative office to their place of residence.

If you are planning to travel abroad with the baby, or require documents in English, you may request a bilingual certificate in Hebrew and English from the Population and Immigration Authority free of charge.

  • Bilingual certificates are available in both digital and physical formats at the Authority's bureaus and through the post.
  • This certificate is useful for international travel, opening international bank accounts, and enrolling in schools abroad.

If you discover an error on the certificate, proceed in one of the following ways:

  • Simple errors such as spelling mistakes: can be corrected at the Population Authority.
  • Correction of birth date or place of birth due to incorrect registration: A request for corrections must be submitted by filling out a form and submitting it at the nearest Population and Immigration Authority office, along with the required documents, such as an original and translated birth certificate, foreign passport (if relevant), and identification document.
  • Substantial corrections such as correcting a parent's name: require further verification from the hospital.
  • Corrections at a later stage: The more time passes from the date of issue, the more difficult it may be to correct errors. Therefore, review the certificate immediately upon receipt to ensure any necessary corrections can be easily made.

Important

Important

Currently, after all the maternity wards in Israel have joined the digital system, most of the process is automated. In any case, you can check in the personal area or the app to see if the certificate is already available, thus saving time and beginning to use services related to childbirth.

Further information and questions

If you have any questions about the process, contact one of the following:

It is important to note: This is a service you are entitled to, and it should be simple and convenient. Do not hesitate to ask questions if anything is unclear.