Foreign Caregiver Nursing Care FAQ
Everything you wanted to know about foreign caregiver permits, monthly caregiving costs in 2026, B/1 visas, regional work rules, and Orshina’s hands-on matching process.
Last reviewed: July 29, 2026 · Orshina team · Official sources are linked next to each topic
Who is eligible for a foreign caregiver?
A National Insurance ADL dependency score of 4.5+, or age 90+ in a simplified track with the Population Authority. Full details · Permit & visa guide
What does it cost per month?
Minimum wage + weekly pocket money + medical insurance + pension deposits and fees. The care allowance can fund part of it. Cost breakdown · Full cost guide
How long does it take?
A worker already in Israel: usually two weeks to a month. Recruitment from abroad: one to three months. How the process works · Permit & visa steps
Topics on this page
Eligibility & paperwork
Short answers below. The full permit, ADL-test and visa walkthrough is in the permit & visa guide.
How do we know if we are eligible to employ a foreign caregiver?
Eligibility is determined by Israel’s National Insurance Institute through an ADL dependency assessment. A score of 4.5 or higher generally qualifies the patient for a permit to employ a foreign caregiver. For people aged 90 and above, the process is often simpler and handled directly with the Population and Immigration Authority. Orshina guides families through the initial eligibility check, paperwork collection, and application submission.
How long does it take to arrange a visa for a foreign caregiver?
The permit and recruitment process usually takes between two weeks and one month when the caregiver is already in Israel. Bringing in a new worker from abroad can take one to three months, depending on the source country, candidate availability, and the required approvals. Full guidance is available on gov.il’s foreign caregiver employment manual and pre-employment tips for permit holders.
Costs & rights
Every cost component, including nursing-allowance funding, is broken down in the full monthly-cost guide.
What is the full monthly cost of employing a foreign caregiver?
The monthly cost includes minimum wage before permitted deductions, weekly pocket money of about 100 NIS, medical insurance for the foreign worker, and fees paid to the Population and Immigration Authority. Employers must also make pension contributions and severance-related deposits to the designated state deposit account, and report and pay National Insurance contributions. A full cost breakdown, including Orshina's own published fees, is in the service fees and terms guide.
Can the nursing allowance be used to pay the caregiver?
Yes. National Insurance care hours can often be converted into a cash allowance that is transferred to the patient’s bank account and helps fund the caregiver’s salary, as explained on the National Insurance cash benefit page. We assist families with that conversion process with the care providers so the total cost is clearer and easier to manage.
Law & regulation
Employer duties, worker rights, the contract and work regions are covered in the full employer guide.
What are the regional mobility restrictions for foreign caregivers?
Israel is divided into three work regions. A worker registered in a peripheral region cannot automatically move to the center without special committee approval, as described in the Population Authority guide. You can verify a worker’s work region and employment status through the official online service. Orshina’s system filters candidates so families only see caregivers who are legally allowed to work in their residential area, whether they are searching in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, or other regions.
How the process works
Step 1: Emotional and physical needs assessment
It is not only about language and location. We work with families to define the required experience level, care type, and emotional sensitivity, including cases involving dementia, Alzheimer’s, or complex nursing care, so the match is both practical and humane.
Step 2: Legal and technological screening
Orshina cross-checks the family’s employment permit with the caregiver’s B/1 work visa. We verify that the worker is still within the legal time framework in Israel, matches the required work area, and passes relevant checks before the match moves forward.
Step 3: Home onboarding support
Our work does not end with the match. We guide the family on how to prepare the room, structure the first week, and set expectations clearly so the caregiver can settle into the home successfully.
Glossary
B/1 Visa
A temporary residence and work visa used for foreign caregivers employed in Israel. See the Population and Immigration Authority and the foreign caregiver employment manual.
Nursing allowance
Benefits and services provided by National Insurance to eligible people who need assistance with daily functioning.
Relief caregiver
A caregiver who temporarily replaces the regular worker during home leave or another absence. See the replacement caregiver guide for how this works.
ADL
A functional dependency assessment carried out for eligibility determination, usually by a nurse or physiotherapist on behalf of National Insurance.
Questions about the caregiver catalog
Where can I see a catalog of available foreign caregivers?
Directly on the Orshina Connect homepage: the available caregiver catalog. Filter by city, language, country of origin, position type and special needs.
What details are shown for each caregiver?
Basic professional details only: first name and an anonymous Worker ID, a photo (subject to consent), country of origin, languages, tenure in Israel, position type and availability status. Sensitive identifying details are never shown publicly.
Is a caregiver in the catalog immediately available?
The availability status reflects caregivers registered to find work through the corporation. Final availability is checked with the team after you inquire and is not an employment commitment.
How do I ask about a specific caregiver?
Use the contact button on the caregiver's card or profile page. The Orshina team gets back to you, checks availability and fit, and guides the required legal process. Mention night-care or other special needs in your inquiry — the live-in caregiver guide covers night-time care in detail.
Official resources
Useful government and National Insurance links about employing a foreign caregiver:
- Foreign caregiver employment manual – gov.il
- Population and Immigration Authority
- Tips before employing a foreign caregiver
- Medical insurance for foreign workers
- Foreign worker status and deposit inquiry
- Employing a foreign caregiver – National Insurance
- Long-term care cash benefit – National Insurance
- Nursing care funding eligibility – Ministry of Health
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