TABLE 1—

Legal Status of Foreign Domestic Caregivers in 7 Countries

Legal Provision	Canada	Germany	Israel	Singapore	Spain	United Kingdom	United States
Temporary visa program available for domestic caregivers	Yes	For citizens of non-EU states (EU citizens are free to settle and work in country)	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Length of temporary visa and renewal conditions	2 y	3 y (renewable after spending the same time span out of country)	Caregivers can work in country for a maximum of 63 mo; visa may be extended over this period if the caregiver worked with the same employer for ≥ 1 y and the employer is dependent on this care	2 y, renewable up to 8 y, conditional on health and pregnancy tests	NA	NA	NA
Possibility of permanent residency	Yes (conditional on health, English proficiency, education, training/experience, 6 mo continuous employment for same employer)	Legally employed domestic workers with 3-y permit can apply for a nonrestricted permit	No	No	Yes, with conditions depending on country of origin	NA	NA
Permanent residency/naturalization term of application	All legal migrant domestic workers can apply after 2 y; naturalization possible after obtaining permanent residency	Only EU citizens can stay permanently	No	No	Eligibility varies by citizenship; EU citizens gain permanent residency after 4 y	No	No
Alternatives to special visa	No	EU citizens are free to settle and work in country; self-employed domestic workers and those brought by Eastern European companies may stay ≤ 24 moa	No	No	EU citizens are free to settle and work in country	EU citizens are free to settle and work in country	NA

Note. EU = European Union; NA = not applicable.

^aSelf-employed must register as tradespersons in their country of origin and prove that they pay taxes and social duties required there. If their working stay lasts > 3 months, they must inform the German trading supervision office. Companies are responsible for covering workers’ social insurance and fulfilling other duties in country of origin.