a.   Address of the Mission

Botschaft des Staates Israel, Alpenstrasse 32, 3006 Bern

b.   Reception hours for consular services

Monday to Friday, 09:00-13:00

click here to see the holiday calendar for dates on which the Embassy is closed

c.   Telephone reception hours for consular services

Monday to Friday, 09:00-14:30

d.   Jurisdiction

Switzerland and Liechtenstein

e.   Security instructions for people who wish to obtain consular services at the mission offices

1.   Please bring a photo ID.

2.   Every visitor and his belongings will be required to undergo a security check.

3.   For security purposes, no personal objects will be allowed into the mission, including handbags, mobile phones and electronic devices.

4.   Do not bring large handbags or suitcases to the mission.

5.   Do not bring food and/or beverage bottles or containers.

6.   The mission’s security directives apply to people in the consular waiting room. The instructions of the security staff must be obeyed at all times.

f.    Mailing material to the mission

Material that is mailed to the Consular Department at the mission must be only sent to and collected from the following address:

Botschaft des Staates Israel

Konsularabteilung  

Alpenstrasse 32     

3000 Bern 6           

Passports must be sent to the consular section by registered post only. The consular section sends passports and documents solely by registered post. Therefore, the applicant has to supply stamped – addressed envelope with an appropriate stamp for registered post.

The sender is responsible for material mailed to the mission.

It is important to stress that there are cases in which you are required to visit the mission in person. For more detailed information, see the section on Consular Services in Chapter 2.

g.   List of qualified translators who work with the mission

If there is a need for document translation services from the local language into Hebrew or vice versa click here to obtain a list of translators.

This list does not constitute a recommendation for any of the translators appearing on the list. Use of the services of the various translators is the responsibility of the person utilizing the services.

h.   List of criminal attorneys

Below is a list of attorneys who specialize in criminal law, whose services can be retained if necessary. The mission is not permitted or authorized to recommend any particular attorney (click here to download a list of attorneys).

To obtain a more detailed list, www.swisslawyers.com for the website of the local Bar Association.

This list does not constitute a recommendation for any of the attorneys appearing on the list. Use of the services of the various attorneys is the responsibility of the person utilizing the services.

i.    Verification of public documents

There are two possibilities for verifying a public document:

1.   Verification by means of Apostille

In 1978, Israel signed and ratified the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents - 1961 (hereinafter: the Hague Convention). The purpose of this Convention was to shorten the processes required for a particular country to recognize the official documents issued by another country, by means of apostille certification.

Public documents and certificates that were issued in one of the countries that are signatories to the above Convention, and which bear the apostille stamp, are valid for presentation in Israel, without the need for additional verification / certification by the diplomatic / consular representative at the Israeli mission.

Additionally, for countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention, no additional verification is required by the mission consul of the country for which the document is designated, if it was stamped with an apostille in Israel.

With regard to a list of the countries that signed the Convention, and details about the authority competent to grant apostille certification in each country, as well as additional information, click on the following link:

http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=17

The procedure of stamping a document with an APOSTILLE stamp is different in every Canton. It is necessary to approach the local authorities in order to verify how the procedure is carried out in each canton.

2.   Verification by means other than apostille

Verification of a document in a country that is not a signatory to the Hague Convention should be implemented as follows:

After the document is verified by the competent authority in the foreign country (usually the Foreign Ministry or Ministry of Justice), the Israeli consular representative verifies the signature of the competent authority.

j.    Contacts and inquiries about improving the service provided to the citizens

·        Email can be sent to the following address: consular@bern.mfa.gov.il 

·        For feedback on the quality of service provided to the citizens by the mission, click on the following link: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfaheb/feedbackform.htm

k.   The main laws of the State of Israel on which consular work abroad is based, are as follows:

·        The Law of Return, 5710 - 1950 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Entry into Israel Law, 5712 - 1952 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Law of Citizenship, 5712 - 1952 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Passports Law, 5712 - 1952 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Names Law, 5716 - 1956 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Population Registration Law, 5725 - 1965 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Notaries Law, 5736 - 1976 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Defense Service Law (Consolidated Version), 5747 - 1986 and the authority to implement it abroad - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

·        The Crime Register and Rehabilitation of Offenders Law, 5741 - 1981 - with all the amendments thereto over the years.

l.    Details of the Jewish Agency Aliya Emissary

Below are details on the Jewish Agency Emissary in your area:

Mrs. Silvia Talmor

The Jewish Agency for Israel

Immigration Department      

2, rue Vallin                          

Case postale 5720               

1211 Geneve 11                   

Tel.: 022 908 0500               

Fax: 022 908 0505               

m. Local characteristics

Signature Authorization and Affidavit Certification

An early coordination with the consular section is necessary prior to arrival to the embassy for signature authorization and affidavit certification.

Very important – The person signing must read and understand word by word the content of the document to be signed which must be in Hebrew or English.

Payment of fees for consular services

Fees for consular services are accepted in cash only. Sending of cash inside envelopes by post is the sole responsibility of the sender.

Setting an army service status for an Israeli citizen living abroad

For the attention of parents and personal for military service – In addition to filling the necessary forms for requesting the setting of an army service status for personal for military service, it is required to apply to the consular section in the embassy for consultation and guidance