Over 60,000 Filipino caregivers work in Israel — one of the largest overseas Filipino worker (OFW) communities outside Southeast Asia. A police clearance from the Philippines is a standard requirement for pre-departure OFW processing and Israeli employer documentation. The key difference from most other destinations: Israel has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention, so the NBI Clearance cannot be apostilled. Instead, it must go through DFA authentication followed by Israeli Embassy legalisation in Manila.
Israel relies heavily on foreign caregivers to support its elderly population. The B1 and B2 caregiver visas are the primary work authorization categories for Filipino workers, authorizing in-home eldercare and nursing assistance. Filipinos represent the single largest national group of caregivers in Israel, with estimates exceeding 60,000 — many of whom have been in Israel for extended periods.
Placement is typically arranged through licensed Philippine recruitment agencies accredited by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW, formerly POEA) and matched with Israeli employers. The NBI Clearance is a standard documentary requirement at multiple points in this process.
For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) deploying to Israel, the NBI Clearance is required as part of the pre-departure documentation package processed through the DMW (Department of Migrant Workers). It forms part of the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) requirements and serves as proof of no criminal record from the Philippines.
Depending on the recruitment agency and employer, additional copies or a freshly issued NBI Clearance may be required. The clearance must be valid (within 1 year of issuance) at the time of submission.
| Requirement stage | NBI use |
|---|---|
| DMW / OFW pre-departure documentation | NBI Clearance (plain or authenticated) |
| Israeli employer or placement agency | NBI Clearance + DFA authentication + Israeli Embassy endorsement |
| B1/B2 visa application (if processed in PH) | NBI Clearance with legalisation |
| Renewal / extension from Israel | New NBI Clearance + DFA authentication + Israeli Embassy (via courier or representative) |
Because Israel is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, the NBI Clearance must go through a two-step authentication and legalisation process before it is accepted for use in Israel:
New or renewal — the NBI Clearance is obtained from the NBI in the Philippines. If you are outside the Philippines, a procurement service handles this step on your behalf.
The NBI Clearance is submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for standard authentication (sometimes called "red ribbon" or DFA certification). Note: this is not a Hague apostille — it is DFA authentication for non-Hague countries. Processing typically takes 3–7 business days at DFA offices.
The DFA-authenticated NBI Clearance is submitted to the Embassy of Israel in the Philippines for consular endorsement. The Israeli Embassy certifies the DFA authentication, making the document legally recognized in Israel. Contact the Israeli Embassy directly for their current fees, processing time, and submission requirements — these vary and may change.
Need your NBI Clearance with DFA authentication for Israel deployment?
Ask about your Israel documents →The NBI Clearance is valid for one year from its issue date. Given the multiple processing steps required for Israel (NBI → DFA authentication → Israeli Embassy legalisation), the full process from start to delivery typically takes:
Plan accordingly if you have a fixed departure date or DMW submission deadline. Obtain the clearance as close to your deployment date as practical to ensure it remains within its 1-year validity at arrival.
A HIT occurs when the NBI database finds a name match with an existing record — almost always a coincidence with a different person, not an actual criminal record. It adds one to several weeks to the NBI issuance timeline. Given the tight pre-departure schedules typical for OFW deployment to Israel, start the NBI process at least 8 weeks before your target departure date. A procurement service manages the HIT affidavit and resolution process on your behalf.
The vast majority of Filipinos working in Israel are caregivers on the B2 caregiver work permit. Key conditions:
The Philippine Consulate General in Tel Aviv provides consular services to the approximately 30,000 Filipinos in Israel, of whom the large majority are caregivers:
If you need to renew your NBI Clearance from Israel, the PCG can notarise a Special Power of Attorney (SPA) authorizing a representative in the Philippines to obtain the clearance on your behalf.
Yes. A Philippine police clearance (NBI Clearance) is required for OFW pre-departure processing through the DMW, and typically by the Israeli employer or recruitment agency as well. The clearance must be valid (within 1 year) at the time of submission.
No — an apostille is not applicable. Israel has not joined the Hague Apostille Convention. Instead, the NBI Clearance requires DFA authentication followed by legalisation at the Embassy of Israel in Manila. This two-step process replaces the apostille for Israel-bound documents.
A DFA apostille is issued under the Hague Apostille Convention and is valid for use between the 125+ Hague member countries. DFA authentication (sometimes called "red ribbon") is the standard document certification used for countries that are not Hague members, like Israel. For Israel-bound documents, DFA authentication is required, followed by legalisation at the Israeli Embassy.
Yes. With a previous NBI record, the clearance can be renewed online and processed through DFA authentication and Israeli Embassy legalisation — all without returning to the Philippines. A procurement service coordinates the full chain on your behalf.
NBI (1–3 weeks) + DFA authentication (3–7 business days) + Israeli Embassy legalisation (3–10 business days) = approximately 4–6 weeks total, assuming no HIT. Allow 8+ weeks if you have a fixed departure date.
The B2 caregiver work permit in Israel is typically issued for 2 years, renewable. The total maximum cumulative stay under the caregiver permit is 5 years and 3 months, after which the caregiver must leave Israel for at least 2 years before reapplying. This is known as the "turnover rule." During the 5-year work period, the NBI Clearance may need to be renewed for contract renewals or employer changes — this can be done from Israel without returning to the Philippines.
No. The B2 caregiver work permit does not include a right to family reunification. Spouses and children cannot accompany or join a B2 caregiver in Israel under this permit. This is one of the significant differences between the caregiver route and longer-term work permits in other countries that allow family accompaniment.
No. Israel is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. A DFA apostille is not valid in Israel and will not substitute for embassy legalisation. The correct process is: NBI Clearance → DFA authentication (standard, not apostille) → legalisation at the Embassy of Israel in Manila. Do not order a DFA apostille for submissions to Israel.
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