Hiring a Foreign Caregiver in Israel: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to legally hire a foreign caregiver in Israel. A step-by-step guide on documents, insurance, and employer obligations from EzraHome.
Hiring a foreign caregiver in Israel is lawful only with permission from the Population and Immigration Authority: the family first confirms its eligibility for a worker, then a B/1 visa is arranged, a contract is signed in a language the worker understands, health insurance is bought and the employer is registered with the National Insurance Institute (Bituach Leumi). Breaking the rules means fines for the employer and a cancelled visa for the worker.
Caring for an elderly relative takes emotional strength and some legal know-how. The hiring of foreign workers in Israel is tightly regulated, and any departure from the procedure can have serious consequences. Below are the main steps, each side's duties and common mistakes.
In brief
- Without official permission from the Interior Ministry, hiring a foreign worker is illegal.
- Health insurance for the worker is the employer's duty.
- The contract must be written in a language the worker understands.
- Regular Bituach Leumi payments and a record of hours protect both sides.
The main steps of lawful hiring
The process starts not with finding a candidate but with official permission. Go in order:
- Eligibility for a worker: the family confirms with the Population and Immigration Authority that the older person needs constant care from another person. Check the criteria and the required certificates (including medical ones and those from Bituach Leumi) with the authority itself.
- Application: apply to the Interior Ministry for a permit to employ a foreign worker.
- Finding a candidate: the worker must be entitled to work in caregiving in Israel.
- B/1 visa: it is tied to the field of work, and moving between employers is strictly regulated. More in the article on the B/1 visa for caregivers.
- Employment contract: in writing, in a language the worker understands, with duties, schedule and pay terms.
- Insurance and registration: health insurance and registering the employer with Bituach Leumi.
Table: what the family must do, and when
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Permit for a worker | Submit an application to the Population and Immigration Authority | Before looking for a worker |
| Employment contract | Sign a contract in a language the worker understands | On the first day of work |
| Health insurance | Buy a policy from a licensed insurer | Before work starts |
| Bituach Leumi | Register as an employer and pay contributions | From the first weeks, then monthly |
| Salary | Pay the salary on time | By the 9th of the following month |
| Hours record | Keep a log of working hours and rest days | Ongoing |
Working conditions and the employer's duties
The employer is responsible for the foreign worker's rights: not only paying on time but also providing housing that meets official standards. The family must ensure the worker has:
- a weekly day of rest;
- paid annual leave;
- pay for sick days;
- housing that meets the standards;
- health insurance that covers emergencies.
Health insurance
A foreign worker has no automatic access to the public health basket. The employer must buy private insurance covering emergencies, hospitalisation and basic care, and make sure the policy stays valid for the whole length of the visa.
Employment contract
The contract should clearly set out the start date, the caregiver's duties, the schedule and hours, the pay (not below the minimum wage), how overtime, rest days and holidays are paid, and how leave and sick days work. Standard forms from the Ministry of Labor are recommended. If the worker does not speak Hebrew, attach a translation into their native language. A signed contract is your main argument in a dispute.
Pay and social contributions
The minimum wage from 1 April 2026 is ₪35.40 per hour, or ₪6,443.85 per month. Work on the weekly rest day and on holidays is paid at no less than 150% with compensatory rest. For household workers, Bituach Leumi contributions from 1 January 2026 are 8.85%: the employer pays 6.05% and 2.8% is withheld from the worker's pay. How these rates apply to a foreign caregiver, and which pension contributions your case requires, should be checked with Bituach Leumi or an accountant.
Keeping a record of hours
Keep a log: arrival and departure times, hours actually worked, breaks, rest days and any departure from the usual schedule. It helps you avoid disputes over overtime pay and missed shifts.
Through an agency or directly
A licensed agency takes on part of the paperwork, including checking the worker's documents and helping with the visa. When you hire directly, these tasks stay with the family. EzraHome is not an agency: on the platform families describe the task and receive replies from people looking for caregiving work, but EzraHome does not check workers' documents or status, so check their status and work permit yourself.
How to avoid mistakes
- Always check the expiry date of the B/1 visa.
- Keep copies of documents and receipts for insurance and contributions.
- Keep a record of hours and rest days.
- Do not employ a worker whose status has not been checked in the Interior Ministry's records: such hiring counts as illegal.
- For any question, turn to official sources or a specialist lawyer.
Need help with care? See how it works in the caregivers for the elderly section of EzraHome. For advice on the paperwork, contact the Population and Immigration Authority or a lawyer.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Interior Ministry permission to hire a foreign caregiver?
Yes. Official permission from the Population and Immigration Authority is mandatory. Without it, hiring a foreign national for care work is illegal.
Who is eligible for a foreign worker?
Eligibility depends on the older person's health and a finding that they need constant care from another person. Check the exact criteria and the list of certificates with the Population and Immigration Authority.
What documents does the application need?
Usually medical certificates showing the need for care, the employer's identity documents and the forms set by the authority. See the full list on the official website.
Is private health insurance mandatory?
Yes. The employer must provide the foreign worker with private health insurance. It is a legal requirement and covers treatment costs in case of illness or injury.
How should I pay salary and contributions?
Pay the salary on time and transfer Bituach Leumi contributions every month. Bank transfers are best, because you keep proof of every payment.
What happens if I hire a caregiver without the paperwork?
The employer faces heavy fines, in some cases criminal liability and the loss of the right to a permit in future. The worker faces a cancelled visa and deportation. With no contract you are also unprotected in a labor dispute.
Can a foreign caregiver change employer?
Yes, but the procedure is strictly regulated and needs approval from the Population and Immigration Authority. Neither the worker nor the new employer may bypass it.
Sources
- Kol Zchut: household workers' rights
- Bituach Leumi: contribution rates for household workers
- gov.il: reporting and paying contributions for household workers
- Kol Zchut: minimum wage
Checked against the sources in October 2026. This is not legal advice.