Your consular interview is in two weeks, all documents are ready, translations done - and then you realize your police clearance certificate, which you ordered a month ago, has already expired. Because for aliyah it’s only valid for 3 months, and you didn’t account for the time needed for the apostille and translation. Another client recently told us: he ordered the certificate through Ukraine’s Diia portal, got the digital version - and the consul said: “We need the paper one, with a wet stamp.” So you don’t repeat these mistakes, let’s break down the entire process from getting the certificate to submitting it for your consular interview.
What’s a police clearance certificate and why aliyah requires it¶
A police clearance certificate (officially called an “extract from the information-analytical system regarding criminal records” in Ukraine) is a document confirming you don’t have any outstanding or unexpunged criminal convictions. Basically, Israel wants to make sure you’re not a threat to public order.
Since January 2025, this certificate became mandatory for all applicants for visas based on Jewish ancestry - previously some categories could get by without one, but now the rules have tightened.
Who needs the certificate¶
Every family member who’s turned 14 needs one. If you’re traveling with a 16-year-old child, they need their own separate certificate too. Kids under 14 don’t need one.
Here’s another critical point many people miss: you need a certificate from every country where you’ve lived for more than one year after turning 14. Lived in Poland for 3 years? You need both a Polish and a Ukrainian certificate. Worked in Germany for 2 years? Add a German one too. This rule catches a lot of people off guard - they only find out about it at the consular interview itself.
Validity period¶
There’s some confusion here. Different sources cite different periods - 3 months, 6 months. Here’s what actually applies:
- For the consular interview (submitting documents through the Jewish Agency or at an Israeli consulate) - the certificate must be no older than 3 months from the date of issue
- Some law firms mention 6 months - but that applies to other immigration procedures, not aliyah
So count it like this: from the date on the certificate to the day of your consular interview should be no more than 90 days. And factor in the time for the apostille (5-10 days) and translation (2-5 days). Realistically, you should get the certificate no earlier than 2-2.5 months before your consular interview.
Where and how to get a police clearance certificate in Ukraine¶
There are several options, and which one to pick depends on where you are right now.
If you’re in Ukraine¶
Through the Diia portal - the fastest way:
- Go to diia.gov.ua or open the Diia app
- Log in via BankID or electronic signature
- Select “Criminal record extract”
- Choose the paper version (this is critical - the digital one won’t work for aliyah!)
- Pay for the service within 24 hours
- The extract will be ready in 10 business days
Cost for the paper extract through Diia - roughly 200-250 UAH (depends on your chosen delivery method).
Since 2024, you can order the extract with an apostille included through Diia - very convenient because you don’t need to visit the Ministry of Justice separately. Cost for the combined service (extract + apostille) - up to 1,100 UAH.
Through a CNAP (Administrative Services Center):
You show up in person with your passport, submit an application, wait 10 business days. Some CNAPs offer expedited processing in 3-5 days (for an extra fee). Cost - from 175 UAH.
Through the MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs):
Submit a request through the MIA services portal. Timeline - 10 business days. Free for the digital extract, but you need the paper one - so budget for the cost.
If you’re already in Israel or abroad¶
This is more complicated and takes longer:
- Through the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel (israel.mfa.gov.ua) - you submit a request to the consular department, they send it to the MIA through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Timeline - up to 3 months. Yes, three months - that’s not a typo
- Through a trusted person in Ukraine - you issue a notarized power of attorney to someone in Ukraine (a relative, friend, or lawyer), and that person submits the request on your behalf. Timeline - the same 10-17 business days
- Through specialized agencies - companies that handle the entire process: getting the certificate, apostille, translation, delivery. Price - from 3,000 to 8,000 UAH for the full package
A tip: if you’re still in Ukraine and planning aliyah, get the police clearance last on your document checklist, right before submission. It has the shortest validity period, and the biggest mistake is getting it first and then spending 4 months collecting everything else.
Apostille on the police clearance: where to get it and how long to wait¶
Without an apostille, your certificate is just a piece of paper for aliyah purposes. Israel, like Ukraine, is a signatory to the Hague Convention, so documents are legalized via apostille rather than consular legalization.
Who apostilles the police clearance certificate¶
The apostille on a criminal record extract from the MIA is issued by Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (not the Ministry of Justice, which handles most other documents). This is important to know - if you show up at the Ministry of Justice with your certificate, they’ll turn you away.
How to do it¶
Option 1: Through Diia (the easiest)
As mentioned, since 2024 you can order the extract with an apostille in one request through Diia. Cost - up to 1,100 UAH. Timeline - 15-17 business days.
Option 2: On your own through the MFA
- Get the paper extract
- Submit it to the MFA’s Consular Service Department (Kyiv, Mykhailivska Square, 1) or a regional office
- Pay the consular fee
- Wait 5-10 business days
Apostille cost at the MFA - roughly 300-500 UAH.
Option 3: Through intermediaries
Agencies and legal firms handle the entire process. Price - from 1,000 to 3,000 UAH just for the apostille (without the certificate itself or translation).
The crucial detail: apostille on the translation¶
This is the part many people don’t understand. For Israel, you often need a double apostille:
- First apostille - on the certificate itself (issued by the MFA)
- You translate the certificate along with the apostille into Hebrew (notarized translation)
- Second apostille - on the notarized translation (issued by the Ministry of Justice, since it’s now a notarial document)
Not all consuls require the second apostille - but it’s better to have it than to come back and redo everything. One client told us how they were sent back to redo their documents precisely because the translation was missing an apostille - that’s another 2-3 weeks of waiting.
Translating the police clearance: Hebrew or English?¶
Now for the main question - which language should you translate into?
The official position¶
Israeli consulates accept translations into Hebrew. Some consuls also accept English - but it’s not guaranteed and depends on the specific consul. The safest bet is to translate into Hebrew.
Who can translate¶
The translation must be notarized (in Ukraine) or done by a sworn translator (if done abroad). You can’t just translate it yourself and bring it in - you need a notary’s stamp.
In Ukraine, the process looks like this:
- A translator (with credentials and experience translating into Hebrew) does the translation
- A notary certifies the translator’s signature
- You receive the notarized translation
How much does Hebrew translation cost¶
| Where | Approximate cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Translation agency in Ukraine | 400-800 UAH | 1-3 days |
| Notarization | 200-400 UAH | on the spot |
| Through ChatsControl | Translation in minutes, then to a notary | 1 day |
| Translation agency in Israel | 150-300 NIS (1,500-3,000 UAH) | 1-3 days |
Translating a police clearance certificate is usually just 1 page, so the translation cost is one of the lowest among all aliyah documents.
What should be in the translation¶
The translation must include:
- Full name (transliterated into Hebrew or English)
- Date of birth
- Document number and date of issue
- The substance of the certificate (that there’s no criminal record)
- The apostille stamp (translated along with the certificate)
- Notary’s stamp and signature
A common mistake: translators sometimes skip the apostille stamp text. You need to translate everything - both the certificate itself and the apostille on it.
Complete timeline: from ordering to submission¶
So you can plan ahead, here’s a realistic timeline for those in Ukraine:
| Step | Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ordering extract through Diia (paper) | 10 business days | 200-250 UAH |
| Getting apostille at the MFA | 5-10 business days | 300-500 UAH |
| Hebrew translation + notarization | 1-3 days | 600-1,200 UAH |
| Apostille on translation (Ministry of Justice) | 5-10 business days | 300-500 UAH |
| Total | 3-5 weeks | 1,400-2,450 UAH |
Or through Diia with apostille in one request:
| Step | Timeline | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Extract + apostille through Diia | 15-17 business days | up to 1,100 UAH |
| Hebrew translation + notarization | 1-3 days | 600-1,200 UAH |
| Apostille on translation (Ministry of Justice) | 5-10 business days | 300-500 UAH |
| Total | 4-5 weeks | 2,000-2,800 UAH |
For those abroad ordering through an embassy - budget 3-4 months for the entire process.
What if you have a criminal record (even an expunged one)¶
This is a topic few people discuss openly, but it affects more people than you’d think.
Expunged criminal records¶
Under Ukrainian law, an expunged or pardoned conviction means the person is legally considered to have no criminal record. But for Israeli immigration authorities, this doesn’t matter. They look at the fact that a criminal past exists, not whether the conviction is “active” under another country’s legislation.
This doesn’t mean automatic rejection - but it does mean your case will be reviewed more thoroughly. They may request:
- Copies of court verdicts (with translation)
- Rehabilitation documents
- Character references
- Additional security service screening
What influences the decision¶
- Severity of the offense - violent crimes or drug trafficking significantly reduce your chances
- How long ago - a crime 20 years ago is evaluated more leniently than 3 years ago
- Number of convictions - one conviction and three convictions are very different situations
- Evidence of rehabilitation - positive references, stable employment, family situation
Practical advice¶
If you have any criminal record at all (even one expunged long ago) - consult a lawyer specializing in Israeli immigration law before submitting your documents. A lawyer can help you prepare your case properly and minimize the risk of rejection. Appealing a rejection decision is a far more complex and expensive process than proper preparation from the start.
And one more thing: never try to forge the certificate or hide a criminal record. The consulate has access to databases and conducts its own verification. Document fraud means automatic and irreversible rejection of aliyah.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them¶
Here are the mistakes we see constantly - and they genuinely delay the process by weeks, sometimes months.
1. Ordered the digital certificate instead of paper¶
Through Diia you can get both a digital and paper extract. For aliyah you need only the paper version - with a wet stamp and an authorized person’s signature. The digital extract (PDF with QR code) won’t be accepted by the consulate.
2. Got the certificate too early¶
The certificate is valid for 3 months. If you got it in January but your consular interview is in May - you’ll need a new one. Plan so that no more than 2-2.5 months pass between the certificate’s issue date and your consular interview (accounting for apostille and translation time).
3. Forgot about the certificate from another country¶
Lived in Poland for 2 years while studying? A Polish police clearance is needed too. Worked in Germany? You’ll need a Fuhrungszeugnis. You need a certificate from every country where you lived for more than a year after age 14.
4. Didn’t translate the apostille text¶
The apostille stamp is text too, and it needs to be in the translation. Some translators forget or don’t know about this. Make sure your translation includes both the certificate and the apostille.
5. Translated into English instead of Hebrew¶
Some consuls accept English, some don’t. The safest option is Hebrew. If you already translated into English and the consul didn’t accept it - you’ll have to do and pay for the translation all over again.
6. Incorrect name transliteration¶
The name in the translation must match how it’s written in your international passport (in Latin script). If your passport says “Oleksandr” but the translation says “Alexander” - that can create problems. More on this in our article about name transliteration in documents.
Police clearance for those already living in Israel¶
A separate case - when you’re already living in Israel (for example, arrived as a tourist or on a different visa) and want to make aliyah. Or when you need an Israeli police clearance for other purposes.
Israeli police clearance certificate¶
Issued by the Israel Police. It’s called תעודת יושר (Teudat Yosher). The process:
- Submit an application through the Israel Police website or at any police station
- Get your fingerprints taken
- Wait approximately 30 days
- Receive the certificate by mail
Cost: free (but if you need an apostille for use abroad - that’s roughly 40 NIS at the Israeli MFA in Jerusalem).
Ukrainian certificate for those in Israel¶
If you specifically need a Ukrainian certificate but you’re already in Israel:
- Contact the consular department of the Ukrainian Embassy in Israel
- Submit your passport (international + copy of internal one, if available)
- The embassy sends a request to Ukraine’s MIA
- Wait up to 3 months - yes, it’s long, and there’s virtually no way to speed up the process
- Or issue a power of attorney to someone in Ukraine and do it through them (faster, but you need a trusted person there)
FAQ¶
How much does a police clearance certificate with apostille cost for aliyah?¶
If you do everything yourself in Ukraine: extract through Diia (200-250 UAH) + MFA apostille (300-500 UAH) + Hebrew translation with notarization (600-1,200 UAH) + apostille on translation (300-500 UAH) = roughly 1,400-2,450 UAH. Or you can order the extract with apostille through Diia for ~1,100 UAH and save time. If ordering through an agency as a full package - from 3,000 to 8,000 UAH.
Can I get a police clearance online for aliyah?¶
Order it - yes, through the Diia portal or the MIA website. But you need to receive the paper version with a wet stamp - a digital PDF won’t work for aliyah. Through Diia, you can order the paper extract with delivery via Ukrposhta or Nova Poshta.
How long is the police clearance valid for Israel aliyah?¶
3 months from the date of issue. It’s one of the documents with the shortest validity period in the aliyah package, so order it last - when all your other documents are already ready. Also factor in the time for apostille (5-17 days) and translation (1-3 days) - that “eats into” those 3 months.
Do I need a double apostille (on the certificate and on the translation)?¶
The first apostille - on the certificate itself - is mandatory. The second apostille - on the notarized translation - isn’t always required, but many consuls ask for it. We recommend getting both so you don’t have to come back and redo your documents.
What if I have an expunged criminal record?¶
An expunged criminal record doesn’t mean automatic rejection of aliyah - but it does make the process significantly more complex. Israeli authorities evaluate the fact of a criminal past regardless of the conviction’s status under Ukrainian law. Consult an Israeli immigration lawyer before submitting documents - this helps properly prepare your case and minimize the risk of rejection.
Do children need a police clearance for aliyah?¶
Yes, if the child has turned 14, they need their own separate certificate with apostille and translation. Children under 14 don’t need one. An interesting detail: the certificate is needed from every country of residence after age 14 - if a teenager lived in Poland for a year, for example, a Polish certificate is needed too.
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