Hiring a foreign caregiver

The steps

1. Find out whether the patient is eligible: the permit is given to someone who needs a full-time nursing caregiver at least. Usually you first get a long-term care benefit (גמלת סיעוד) from the National Insurance Institute (ביטוח לאומי), and in some situations a medical assessment is required. The exact conditions are on the Population Authority website. 2. Submit a request for a permit to the Population and Immigration Authority. 3. Contact a licensed agency for hiring foreign workers in nursing care. The agency brings the worker and handles the paperwork. Check on the Authority's website that the agency is licensed. 4. The worker gets a visa and arrives. The permit is tied to the nursing field and to the patient's place of residence. 5. You sign an employment contract, and arrange medical insurance for the worker.

• ☐Medical eligibility documents and National Insurance Institute documents
• ☐Checking that the agency is licensed
• ☐A written work contract
• ☐Medical insurance for the worker
• ☐A bank account for paying wages

The worker's rights

A foreign worker in nursing care is entitled to all the employment conditions in the law, like an Israeli worker. This includes pay at least as high as the minimum wage (or more, under the law for nursing workers), a pay slip, suitable housing, a weekly day of rest, vacation, insurance, pension contributions, and severance pay. When hiring under the arrangement set by law, there are special rules, for example about hours and the day of rest. We did not check the exact amounts here, so check on the website.

• ☐A pay slip every month
• ☐Wages paid to a bank account
• ☐A weekly day of rest
• ☐Reasonable housing
• ☐Medical insurance

Replacing a caregiver

There are special limits on a foreign nursing worker who wants to change employers. Do not promise a worker a transfer without checking. Details are on the Authority's website.

Another option

You can hire an Israeli worker, or use the long-term care benefit for services through a company. The benefit in money mainly suits someone who employs a foreign worker. See the guide on the long-term care benefit.