Many new olims and foreign specialists face the question: how to confirm a diploma in Israel? The procedure for recognizing foreign education is called diploma nostrification. It is necessary for those who plan to work in government institutions, continue studies, or obtain a license for regulated professions.
Recognition of a foreign diploma provides official confirmation of your education level. This is important:
- for working in Israel in government institutions (ministries, municipalities, state-owned companies);
- for continuing studies at universities and colleges;
- for professional licensing (medicine, law, teaching, engineering, etc.);
- for salary increases if the employer considers academic level.
Without the nostrification procedure, a diploma may be recognized by a private employer, but for government institutions and licensing, an official document is required.
In Israel, the main authority for education recognition is the Ministry of Education (משרד החינוך).
However, for some professions, the diploma must be confirmed additionally:
Doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses – through the Ministry of Health.
Lawyers – through the Israel Bar Association.
Engineers and architects – through the Ministry of Labor and Construction.
Teachers – through the Human Resources Department of the Ministry of Education.
Standard set of documents:
- Application for nostrification (form can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education website).
- Copy of ID card (Teudat Zehut) or repatriation certificate.
- Diploma (original and copy).
- Transcript with grades.
- Notarized translation of the diploma and transcript into Hebrew or English.
- In some cases – a certificate of the study program or confirmation from the university.
- Collecting documents (translation, notarization, copies).
- Submitting the application:
- via the Ministry of Education website (online form),
- or in person/by mail.
- Review – takes from 2 to 4 months.
- Result – an official letter confirming diploma recognition in Israel is issued.
- Medicine – mandatory exams and internship.
- Teaching – diploma is confirmed + you need to obtain a teaching license.
- Law – internship and exams in Hebrew.
- Engineering – diploma is recognized for work in government institutions, but in private companies a copy is often sufficient.
- Make several notarized copies of documents in advance.
- Translate your diploma only with an Israeli notary.
- If your profession is licensed – check requirements in the relevant ministry in advance.
- Remember: in private companies you can often work without official nostrification, but in the public sector it is mandatory.
