Domestic Worker Employment Eligibility & Criteria

For the employment of a foreign (from a third country) domestic worker, the employer must meet  income criteria which differ depending on the category to which he falls:

Families with an annual gross total family income of at least:

  • €24,000 without children,
  • €30,000 with one (1) dependent child
  • €36,000 with two (2) dependent children
  • €42,000 with three (3) or more dependent children

(a dependent child is any child of the family who has not exceeded the age of 20, attends secondary school or serves in the military, lives under the family roof, is single and does not work)

Single-parent families with an annual gross family income of at least:

  • €24,000 with one (1) dependent child
  • €30,000 with two (2) dependent children
  • €36,000 with three (3) or more dependent children

(in the case of a single-parent family that does not meet  the income criteria, they will be allowed to appoint a guarantor of up to second degree relation whose income should  at least cover the deficit of the income criteria presented by the employer)

(in the case of appointing a guarantor who resides abroad, this can only be allowed after written approval issued from the Migration Department and after presenting their income abroad with the necessary documents such as a bank account statement, pension, tax return, dividends, etc.)

Single people with an annual gross total income of at least €24,000

People over 65 with an annual gross family income of at least:

  • €24,000 for a couple
  • €18,000 for singles

(in the case of a couple, at least one of the two must be over 65 years old)

(in the case of a couple where the income criteria is fulfilled with the income of one of the two of the couple, it is not required to present the income of both)

(in the case of single persons over 65 years of age or couples over 65 years of age who do not meet  the income criteria, they will be allowed to appoint a guarantor up to second degree  relation whose income should at least cover the deficit of the income criteria presented)

Employers who are:

  • Persons certified by the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities (TKEAA)
  • Beneficiaries of Minimum Guaranteed Income (MIG or EEE)
  • Beneficiaries of Low-Pensioners’ Benefit and Disability Pension Beneficiaries

(in the case of persons who fall under the above criteria and in the event that they do not complete the income criteria, a guarantor up to second degree  relation must be appointed for whom proof of his income  must be presented regardless of the amount of his income. That is, the income criteria need not be completed by netting the incomes of the employer, spouse and guarantor)

(The amount for a single low-income pensioner is set at a maximum total income of €834 per month and the amount for a low-pensioner couple is set at a maximum total income of €1,271 per month)

Up to two domestic workers are allowed to be employed in,

  • Bedridden people
  • Overweight people with kinetic disabilities

(in the case of Bedridden or Overweight persons, the medical certificates and relevant certificates should be presented where they fall under the TKEAA and EEE)

(in the case of people who are bedridden or overweight, a guarantor up to second degree  relation must be appointed for whom proof of his income must be presented, which must at least  cover the employment costs of the domestic workers, taken into account with the benefits received by the employer)

(All persons who are bedridden are considered bedridden according to the definition that applies for the purposes of implementing the General Health System – GeSY)

(Overweight persons are considered to be those persons who, due to severe obesity, face movement problems and generally cannot take care of themselves according to the definition that applies for the purposes of implementing the General Health System – GeSY)

The employment of up to three domestic workers is allowed in:

  • Persons suffering from severe motor disability, paraplegia or quadriplegia upon presentation of a medical certificate and a relevant certificate from the TKEAA
  • Severe physical disability upon presentation of a medical certificate and a relevant certificate from the EEE
  • Moderate or higher mental disability or severe or higher mental disability with the presentation of medical certificates and relevant certification from the EEE

(in the case of people who fall under the above criteria a guarantor up to second degree  relation must be appointed for whom proof of his income will be presented which should at least  cover the employment costs of the domestic workers in consideration of the benefits received by the employer)

  • Individuals or Families with an annual gross family income of at least €100,000

The information provided by CRS is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or formal legal advice. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any information provided above without obtaining legal or other professional advice.