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Do foreign-language documents have to be translated into Hebrew to collect a debt in Israel?

In practice, yes. Israeli courts and the Execution Office conduct proceedings in Hebrew, so a contract, invoice or judgment written in another language is filed with a translation. Judges retain discretion to accept straightforward English exhibits without one in commercial matters, but Execution Office registrars rarely do. A notarial confirmation of the translation under Section 7(4) of the Notaries Law 5736-1976 is the safest form, and it is expected when enforcing a foreign judgment or arbitral award.

No single statute declares that every exhibit must be in Hebrew. The requirement comes from the Civil Procedure Regulations 5779-2018, which govern the form of pleadings, and from the settled practice of registrars who will not process a file they cannot read. District Court commercial judges often waive translation for clear English documents where both sides read English, but they insist on it where the document is central and its meaning is disputed. For enforcement of a foreign judgment under the Foreign Judgments Enforcement Law 5718-1958, and for a foreign award under the New York Convention, a certified translation of the judgment or award and of the agreement behind it is standard practice.

Cost and timing are the real issues for a foreign creditor. A notarial translation is priced by word count under the Notaries Regulations tariff, so a long distribution agreement can easily cost more than the court filing fee. Many creditors translate the operative clauses, the payment schedule and the signature page, then file the complete original alongside, and courts generally accept that approach. Our guide on suing for debt in Israel explains which court to use and what the file must contain. Creditors also frequently overlook the apostille, since foreign public documents and powers of attorney signed abroad need one in addition to the translation.

⚖ In Practice
  • Governing law: Civil Procedure Regulations 5779-2018; Section 7(4), Notaries Law 5736-1976 (notarial confirmation of a translation)
  • Competent authority: Magistrates' Court or District Court; the Execution Office (Hotza'a LaPoal) for enforcement files
  • Cost: notarial translation charged per 100 words under the Notaries Regulations tariff, roughly NIS 220 for the first 100 words and less for each block after it (2026)
  • Timeline: allow 5 to 10 business days for a certified translation of a commercial contract
  • Also required: an apostille under the 1961 Hague Convention on foreign public documents and on powers of attorney signed abroad
  • Court discretion: English exhibits are sometimes accepted untranslated in commercial matters, but never assume it for the core contract or the judgment

From the full guide: Suing for Debt in Israel: Which Court, What Process, and How Long It Takes

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Get a Free Consultation with Adv. Eli ShimonyPrepared under the direction of Adv. Eli Shimony, Eli Shimony Law Office · Editorial policy

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