How to Read a Nesach Tabu: What Each Section Means for Overseas Olim

What Is a Nesach Tabu and Why You Need It as an Oleh

The Nesach Tabu is the property's registration document from the Ministry of Justice, akin to a property's identification. Think of it as your property's legal biography. A properly reviewed extract can reveal the registered owners and their ownership percentages, mortgages and liens, court orders or restrictions, easements, third-party rights, and warning notes such as a He'arat Azharah (a priority notice recording a prior commitment to sell).

For overseas olim, reading this extract correctly prevents title surprises after closing. Buyers verify title by obtaining a Tabu extract (nesach tabu), which shows registered owners, liens, mortgages and caveats. Unlike countries with title insurance, Israel operates on a Torrens system where the Tabu registration itself guarantees ownership rights.

Who needs this? Anyone buying an apartment, house, or land in Israel. You must order it yourself before signing, not after—your lawyer should demand a fresh extract within 7 days of any offer.

How to Obtain Your Nesach Tabu: Three Simple Steps

Before you can read the extract, you need to get one. In order to generate the extract, you must enter the Block (Gush) and Parcel (Chelka) numbers of the property. The numbers can be located using one of the following methods: On the Survey of Israel (MAPI) website – by address. These can also appear on your Arnona (municipal tax) bill or in the purchase contract.

Step 1: Find your Gush and Chelka numbers. Ask the seller's agent or get them from the municipal tax bill. If the apartment is located in a joint house (condominium), you will also be required to enter the Sub-Parcel (Tat-Chelka) number. The Sub-Parcel number in the Land Registry (Tabu) is not necessarily identical to the apartment number in the building.

Step 2: Access the online registry. The gov.il portal provides online access to Tabu extracts and supports registration renewal and first‑registration applications. Navigate to the official Land Registry website and enter your property details. You'll pay a small fee via the Government Payment Gateway.

Step 3: Download and read. The extract includes a certified electronic signature. The extract is official and recognized as an original document only in its digital format, and not when printed. Save the digital version and forward it to your Israeli lawyer.

Decoding the Five Critical Sections of Your Extract

The Nesach Tabu looks intimidating, mostly Hebrew text with numbers. Here's what each major section tells you.

What does the