Hiring a Housekeeper or Domestic Worker in Cyprus: Types, Costs and Process (2026)

Help at home is common in Cyprus, from a cleaner who comes once a week to a live-in housekeeper who is part of family life. The options, costs and paperwork are very different, so it helps to know what each one involves before you start asking around.

Which kind of help do you need?

Hourly rates are estimates from private listings and agencies in 2026; Limassol is at the top of the range and Paphos at the lower end.

Hourly cleaners

The simplest option. Most private cleaners work three or four hours per visit and use your products and equipment, so stock up (a good limescale remover is essential with Cyprus's hard water). Ironing, inside the oven, high outside windows and bed linen are often extra, so agree a checklist on the first visit.

Cleaning companies charge more, but bring their own supplies, insure their staff and send a replacement if your usual cleaner is off.

Where to find one: ask neighbours and local expat groups for recommendations, look on classified sites (including our Buy & Sell section) or search our business directory for cleaning companies. Always check references.

Live-out housekeepers and nannies

A live-out housekeeper or nanny comes to your home on set days and goes home at the end of the day. They are usually EU citizens or residents who already have the right to work in Cyprus.

• Salary: full-time live-out work is usually paid €900–€2,000 a month, depending on hours, experience, languages and whether childcare is included. The national minimum wage (€979 a month, €1,088 after six months with the same employer in 2026) formally excludes domestic workers, but it's a sensible minimum for full-time work.
• Employer duties: you sign an employment contract, register as an employer with Social Insurance and pay contributions every month. In 2026 the employer pays about 15.4% on top of the gross salary (8.8% social insurance, 2.9% GESY, 1.2% Redundancy Fund, 0.5% Human Resource Development Fund and 2% Social Cohesion Fund), and deducts the worker's 8.8% social insurance and 2.65% GESY.
• Hours and leave: agree hours, overtime, holidays and sick pay in writing from day one.

Live-in domestic workers

Many families in Cyprus employ a live-in domestic worker, usually from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal or Vietnam, under a special permit scheme run by the Civil Registry and Migration Department. The worker lives in your home, helps with cleaning, cooking and childcare or caring, and has her own room.

Who can employ one?

You must meet minimum gross annual income criteria. Under the Migration Department's rules (as published by licensed agencies):

People who are bedridden or have severe disabilities can employ up to two or three workers, usually with a relative acting as guarantor. The criteria change from time to time, so your agency will check them against your documents.

How the process works

1. Check you qualify under the income criteria and gather proof of income (tax assessments, payslips or pension statements).
2. Choose a licensed private employment agency. Most families recruit through one. Ask for a written list of fees in advance; recruitment, permit and first-flight costs are the employer's and can never be deducted from the worker's pay.
3. Choose a candidate. The agency sends CVs and arranges video interviews. You can also hire a worker who is already in Cyprus and has a release from her previous employer.
4. Sign the official contract and take out insurance. The standard Migration Department contract is compulsory, together with employer's liability insurance and medical insurance for the worker.
5. Apply for the entry and work permit. The agency files the application with the Migration Department.
6. The worker arrives and completes her medical tests and biometrics, then receives her residence and work permit (the "pink slip").
7. Register with Social Insurance as an employer as soon as she starts, and pay contributions every month.

The whole process usually takes from several weeks to a few months, depending on the worker's country and the Migration Department's workload.

Salary and costs

The minimum salary for a live-in domestic worker is €460 gross a month, plus a private room and food. Many families pay more, especially for experienced workers or carers. From the gross salary, the worker's social insurance (8.8%) and GESY (2.65%) are deducted, and up to 10% for accommodation and 15% for food may be deducted.

On top of the salary, the employer pays:

• contributions of roughly 15% (about €531 a month in total for a €460 salary);
• employer's liability and medical insurance, roughly €190–€330 a year;
• agency, permit and travel costs at the start, and the return ticket at the end.

What the official contract says

• Hours: six days a week, seven hours a day, with one rest day a week.
• Leave: 24 working days of paid annual leave, plus paid public holidays.
• Sick leave: paid sick leave as set out in the contract.
• Notice: one month's notice on either side, under the employment laws.
• Documents: the worker keeps her own passport and permit; holding them is against the law.
• Changing employer: with a release, a worker can usually change employer up to two times.

Live-in or live-out?

What to expect, and how to make it work

• Put everything in writing: tasks, hours, rest day, overtime, holidays and how you'll handle sick days or cancelled visits.
• Treat the rest day and hours as real: respecting them keeps good people with you for years.
• Pay on time, every month, by bank transfer, and keep payslips and receipts.
• Give clear instructions for children, pets, cooking and cleaning products, and keep valuables and documents in a safe.
• Talk early if something isn't working; most issues are about expectations that were never spelled out.

What to do next

1. Decide how many hours of help you need and whether you have a spare room.
2. For a live-in worker, check the income criteria and contact two or three licensed agencies.
3. Find cleaning companies and agencies in our business directory.
4. If you have young children, read our guide to international schools.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules, income criteria and fees change; check the latest with the Civil Registry and Migration Department or a licensed agency.