Israel Jobs Sri Lanka 2026: Salary, Caregiver Jobs and SLBFE Route

What caregiver, farm and construction jobs pay in shekels and rupees, what it costs to go, and how to stay safe

Updated • 9 FAQs

How much do Sri Lankans earn in Israel?

Israel's minimum wage is NIS 6,443.85 a month from 1 April 2026, about LKR 693,000 at LKR 107.6 per shekel (5 October 2026). Caregivers and farm workers earn close to that, while construction workers usually earn NIS 7,000-10,000. All these jobs go government to government through SLBFE, not private agents.

How we checked this

  • We read SLBFE's Israel recruitment page, its fee page and its 2026 Israel announcements.
  • We confirmed the April 2026 Israeli minimum wage with two Israeli payroll and workers' rights sources.
  • We checked everything in October 2026 and converted shekels at the 5 October 2026 mid-rate.
  • Pay ranges by sector above the minimum wage are our estimates.

Israel Salary by Job for Sri Lankan Workers

Every foreign worker in Israel must be paid at least the national minimum wage: NIS 6,443.85 a month, or NIS 35.40 an hour on a 182-hour month, since 1 April 2026. The table shows SalaryLK editorial estimates of gross monthly pay by sector, converted at about LKR 107.6 per shekel.

JobMonthly (NIS)Approx. LKR
Caregiver (live-in)G2G via SLBFE; housing and food in the home6,444 - 7,000693,000 - 753,000
Agriculture workerG2G via SLBFE; overtime in season6,444 - 8,000693,000 - 861,000
Hotel, housekeeping, restaurantService-sector MOU signed December 20256,444 - 8,000693,000 - 861,000
Manufacturing workerSLBFE calls in 20266,444 - 8,500693,000 - 915,000
Construction workerSLBFE calls; practical test before selection7,000 - 10,000753,000 - 1,076,000
Skilled construction (formwork, tiling, steel fixing)Experience and test results matter8,000 - 12,000861,000 - 1,291,000

That is many times what the same work pays at home. Compare the caregiver salary in Sri Lanka, the nursing aide salary or a mason's pay in Sri Lanka. Farm applicants can also look at agriculture salaries in Sri Lanka.

Which Israel job programmes are open to Sri Lankans?

Caregiving. This is the longest-running route. SLBFE recruits home-based caregivers in coordination with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority. In January 2026 SLBFE said 2,656 Sri Lankans had found work under the agreement and that it planned to send 1,000 caregivers in 2026. Israel has temporarily stopped recruiting male caregivers.

Agriculture. A memorandum of understanding for farm workers was signed on 5 November 2023, after Israel stopped issuing permits to most Palestinian workers. Recruitment runs through SLBFE's portal.

Construction, manufacturing and services. SLBFE called applications in 2026 for infrastructure (August), manufacturing (May and August) and general renovation work (September). A December 2025 memorandum added service-sector jobs such as hotels, housekeeping and restaurants. In July 2026 Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath put the 2026 target at 10,000 workers.

What does it cost to go to Israel from Sri Lanka?

Israel is not free to reach, even on the official route. The caregiver programme has a service fee paid to an Israeli service provider, spread across your contract. These are the amounts SLBFE lists for caregivers.

ItemAmount
SLBFE registration (general fee for first registration)Rs. 22,027
SLBFE registration as listed on the Israel caregiver pageRs. 21,467
Caregiver service fee to Israeli service provider (total)US$1,735
- paid 3 days before departureUS$1,137
- paid 26 months after arrivalUS$299
- paid 38 months after arrivalUS$299
SLBFE processing charge (caregiver)US$428.45

Two figures on SLBFE's Israel page look older than the rest of its site: the Rs. 21,467 registration fee (the general fee page says Rs. 22,027) and a minimum salary of NIS 5,571.75 (the legal minimum is now NIS 6,443.85). We would confirm both with SLBFE before paying. Other sectors have their own fee schedules in each call.

What comes out of an Israeli salary?

Your payslip shows income tax, National Insurance and health contributions. Israel gives tax credit points, so on a minimum wage the income tax is often small. Employers of foreign workers may deduct some costs such as housing or health insurance within legal limits, and every deduction must appear on the payslip.

Live-in caregivers have the lowest living costs because they sleep and eat in the patient's home. Farm and construction workers usually live in employer housing. Our estimate is that a careful worker on NIS 6,500-8,000 can send home NIS 3,500-5,000 a month, roughly LKR 377,000-538,000. Use our cost of living vs salary guide to plan what your family needs.

How to Get an Israel Job from Sri Lanka

  1. 1. Check the SLBFE Israel announcements

    Israel jobs for Sri Lankans run through SLBFE in coordination with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority. Read the current call for your sector on slbfe.lk: caregiving, agriculture, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing or renovation.

  2. 2. Meet the eligibility rules

    For caregiving, SLBFE has asked for ages 25 to 45, G.C.E. O/L, an NVQ Level 3 caregiving certificate or at least 11 months of nursing experience, and its English course. Construction and manufacturing calls set their own trade and age rules.

  3. 3. Apply through the SLBFE Israel portal

    Submit your application online through the SLBFE Israel web portal and use it to check the status of your file. Do not give your passport or money to anyone outside SLBFE.

  4. 4. Pass selection and tests

    Construction candidates sit a practical trade test; caregivers are screened on training, English and health. Israel then approves the selected workers and issues the work visa.

  5. 5. Pay the official fees and register with SLBFE

    Pay SLBFE fees only at SLBFE against an official receipt, including the foreign employment registration fee (Rs. 22,027 for a first registration) that gives you SLBFE insurance cover.

  6. 6. Attend the pre-departure programme and fly

    SLBFE holds an awareness programme and hands out air tickets before each batch leaves. In Israel, your employer or service provider must give you a contract in a language you understand.

How to avoid fake agents for Israel jobs

Israel jobs attract a lot of scams because the pay is high. SLBFE has said plainly that caregiving jobs in Israel cannot be obtained through private agencies or individuals.

  • - Apply only through SLBFE's Israel portal and announcements on slbfe.lk.
  • - Never pay cash to an individual who promises a place, a visa or a faster selection.
  • - For any other country, check the agency on SLBFE's list of licensed foreign employment agencies.
  • - A tourist visa to Israel does not allow work, and illegal workers face arrest and deportation.
  • - Call the SLBFE hotline 1989 before you pay anything.

Other G2G routes worth comparing are the Korea EPS jobs and Japan SSW jobs. Gulf options include Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and Maldives jobs are the closest to home.

Is it safe to work in Israel? A note on security

We cannot tell you Israel is risk free. Since October 2023 the country has faced rocket and missile attacks, and foreign workers have been among the people hurt. If you go, register with the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Israel when you arrive, save its number and the SLBFE WhatsApp line, learn where the nearest shelter or safe room is at home and at work, and follow Home Front Command alerts. Going through SLBFE matters here: registered workers have SLBFE insurance and the embassy knows they are there.

Our take: who should consider Israel?

In rupee terms, Israel pays more than almost any other destination open to Sri Lankans without a degree. A caregiver on the minimum wage earns roughly LKR 693,000 a month, roughly five to eight times what a Gulf housemaid earns and more than many Gulf office jobs.

It suits people with an NVQ caregiving certificate or nursing experience, good English, and the patience to wait for an SLBFE call. It suits construction tradespeople who can pass a practical test. It does not suit anyone who is not prepared for the security situation.

What we would do first: get the NVQ Level 3 caregiving certificate or your trade certificate now, finish the SLBFE English course, and keep checking the SLBFE Israel page instead of social media.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I get Israel jobs from Sri Lanka?

Israel jobs for Sri Lankans are run government to government through the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, working with Israel's Population and Immigration Authority. SLBFE posts calls for caregiving, agriculture, construction, infrastructure and manufacturing on slbfe.lk and takes applications through its Israel portal. SLBFE has said caregiving jobs in Israel cannot be obtained through private agencies or individuals.

What is the salary for Israel caregiver jobs?

Caregivers in Israel must be paid at least the Israeli minimum wage, which rose to NIS 6,443.85 a month on 1 April 2026. At about LKR 107.6 per shekel in October 2026, that is roughly LKR 693,000 a month. Live-in caregivers usually get housing and food in the home. SLBFE's Israel page still shows the older NIS 5,571.75 minimum.

What are the requirements for Israel caregiver jobs from Sri Lanka?

SLBFE has asked for applicants aged 25 to 45 with G.C.E. O/L, an NVQ Level 3 caregiving certificate or at least 11 months of nursing experience, and completion of the SLBFE English course. Israel has temporarily suspended recruitment of male caregivers, so current caregiver calls are for women. Check the latest call before applying because rules change.

How much does it cost to go to Israel as a caregiver?

SLBFE's Israel page lists an SLBFE registration fee of Rs. 21,467, a service fee of US$1,735 to the Israeli service provider paid in three parts, and an SLBFE processing charge of US$428.45. The general first-time registration fee on SLBFE's fee page is Rs. 22,027. Confirm the current amounts with SLBFE and pay only against official receipts.

Are there Israel construction jobs for Sri Lankans in 2026?

Yes. SLBFE called applications for construction, infrastructure, renovation and manufacturing work in 2026. A batch of 133 construction workers and 17 infrastructure workers left on 23 September 2026. Construction candidates sit a practical trade test before final selection, and skilled trades such as formwork and tiling pay more than general labour.

How many Sri Lankans will go to Israel in 2026?

Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said in July 2026 that Sri Lanka aims to send 10,000 workers to Israel in 2026, with about 2,500 already gone by then and about 8,000 Sri Lankans working in Israel. SLBFE separately planned 1,000 caregivers for 2026. These are government targets, not guaranteed places.

Is it safe to work in Israel now?

Israel has been in a period of conflict since October 2023, and rocket and missile alerts have affected civilians, including foreign workers. Go only through SLBFE so you are registered and insured, register with the Sri Lankan embassy in Israel, learn where your nearest shelter is, and follow Home Front Command instructions and any SLBFE travel advice.

How much is 1 Israeli shekel in Sri Lankan rupees?

On 5 October 2026 the market mid-rate was about LKR 107.6 per Israeli new shekel (NIS). Banks and money transfer services pay a little less than the mid-rate, and the rate moves daily, so check it when you send money home. At that rate the monthly minimum wage of NIS 6,443.85 is roughly LKR 693,000.

How long can I work in Israel on a caregiver visa?

Sri Lankan reports on the 2026 caregiver programme describe a visa valid for five years. Israeli rules allow some caregivers to extend beyond that in limited cases, for example when staying with the same patient. Your visa is tied to the sector you came in, so you cannot freely switch from caregiving to another job.

Sources

Updated Reviewed by SalaryLK Editorial TeamHow we research salaries

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