Question 1

Who pays the fees for the permit, visa extension and re-entry visa?

Accepted Answer

The permit fee is borne by the employer alone and may not be deducted from the wage. The fees for extending the work licence and for the re-entry visa are borne by the worker. In practice the employer often pays them because payment requires an Israeli credit card; in that case it is advisable to agree in writing in advance whether the amount will be offset from the wage.

2026 fees (PIBA circular 09/2026): nursing-permit application ₪370, plus ₪340 for a dependency assessment when the patient is over retirement age and is not entitled to the nursing benefit because of income; work licence (B/1) and re-entry visa ₪205 each. Fees are updated from time to time, are non-refundable and are paid by Israeli credit card. The employer may pay the worker's fees and offset them against wages only with prior written agreement.

Question 2

Must payments in lieu of pension be made for a foreign caregiver?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Foreign workers cannot be enrolled in a pension fund, so at the end of employment the employer pays the worker an amount equal to the contributions it would have made. It is advisable to set this aside monthly in a dedicated account. The amount is not deducted from the wage. A care company's share, where it co-employs the worker, is placed in a deposit released when the worker leaves Israel.

The amount is calculated from the seventh month of employment at 12.5% of the base wage; where the circumstances give a right to severance, the severance component is calculated from the first month. Full details are in the question on calculating the payments in lieu of pension.

Question 3

When and how does the worker receive the deposit funds?

Accepted Answer

The deposit funds held for the worker are released when they leave Israel, after a request is filed under the procedure. A worker who stays beyond the permitted period may have the amount reduced according to the length of the overstay.

The request is filed at least 10 working days before departure, and the money is collected at the bank counter at Ben Gurion Airport or transferred to a bank account in the worker's name. A worker who left Israel without withdrawing the deposit can also apply from abroad, and the funds are transferred to an account in their name.

Question 4

From which month and at what rate are pension-substitute and severance amounts due?

Accepted Answer

Where the patient is the sole employer, the amount is calculated on the gross monthly base wage from the seventh month of employment: 12.5% in total, of which 6.5% replaces the provident component and 6% goes toward severance. It is not deducted from the worker's wage. If employment ends in circumstances that carry severance pay, such as dismissal after a year of work or the patient's death, the severance component is 8.33% of the wage for every month worked, from the first month. The money is paid to the worker when employment ends, and it is advisable to set it aside monthly in a dedicated account. Where a nursing company shares the employment, it deposits its share into the deposit fund from the first month.

Question 5

How does a caregiver apply to release the deposit funds, and which documents are needed?

Accepted Answer

The request is submitted to the Deposits Unit of the Population and Immigration Authority, using the online form or a manual form sent by email, 10 to 30 days before leaving Israel. Under the Authority's procedure it must be filed at least 10 working days before departure. A copy of the passport and a copy of the flight ticket are attached. Once approved, a payment order is issued and the money is collected at the bank counter at Ben Gurion Airport after passport control, in cash or by transfer to a bank account abroad in the worker's name. The deposit is paid on final departure from Israel, not on a temporary trip with a re-entry visa. Management fees and 15% income tax are deducted.