Household staff for families in Greece, selected in Spain
Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Crete and Paros
Live-in housekeepers, domestic couples and nannies for families in Kifisia, Ekali and Vouliagmeni, and for summer villas on Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Crete and Paros. Greece is our newest destination and we say plainly how recent our work there is; we explain the quota system for non-EU staff and the published minimum wage before you start.
- Placement agency licensed by the SNE, no. 1300000318
- 4.8 · 79 Google reviews
- One-off fee · 6-month guarantee
Why families in Greece have started hiring through a Spanish agency
Greece arrived on our map in the summer of 2026, when several families in Athens and Santorini asked us for live-in staff within a few weeks of each other. The pattern was the same each time: an international or Greek family with a house in Spain, or friends who hire through us in Madrid, and a Greek market that is strong in local hourly help and Filipino staff already in the country but short of experienced live-in housekeepers with references anyone has called.
The demand splits into two: Athens households in the northern suburbs and on the Athens Riviera that live there all year, and island villas that open at Easter and close in October. The first want a housekeeper who runs a large house and a nanny for children in the international schools; the second want a couple or a housekeeper living on the property through the season, sometimes travelling with the family from Athens, London or Geneva.
For an EU candidate the move is free; for a non-EU one Greece runs a quota system under its 2023 Migration Code, with the employer requesting a named worker. We set both routes out below, and we are frank that a Filipino candidate resident in Spain depends on the quota, not on her Spanish permit. Spanish speakers find Greek harder than the Romance languages, so English is the working language in most of the houses we serve.
Athens, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Crete and Paros
A capital where families live all year and five islands where houses run at full stretch from Easter to October.
Athens
Kifisia, Ekali and Psychiko in the north, Vouliagmeni and Voula on the Riviera, plus the diplomatic community around Kolonaki. Athens families ask for a live-in housekeeper for a villa with a garden and pool and for an English- or Spanish-speaking nanny; Athens is where most of the Greek requests we receive come from.
Mykonos
Villas around Agios Lazaros, Aleomandra and Ornos, many rented out part of the season and used by the owners the rest. A couple living on the property, a housekeeper who can cope with a house full of guests, and a chef in July and August are the requests from Mykonos.
Santorini
Houses in Oia, Imerovigli and the caldera side, used from April to October and often empty in winter. Santorini families come to us for a live-in housekeeper for the season; owners here also ask for a caretaker couple to keep the house through the windy winter months.
Corfu
The north-east coast between Kassiopi and Nissaki, estates with olive groves and private coves, many in British and Italian hands. The request is a couple who lives on the estate all year and runs the house for the family and its guests in summer.
Crete
Elounda and the Agios Nikolaos coast, Chania's Akrotiri and the villas around Rethymno. Larger properties with grounds that ask for a domestic couple and, for families who live there most of the year, a housekeeper and a nanny.
Paros
Naoussa, Santa Maria and the Antiparos strait, where new villas have brought international families who want staff from May to October. A housekeeper living in for the season, sometimes with a houseman who handles the boat and the grounds.
The profiles families in Greece ask us for
Housekeepers in Athens and for island seasons; couples for estates; nannies for families based in Athens all year.
Live-in housekeeper
For Athens villas all year or island houses in season; English-speaking, used to guests and to a house that runs at full stretch in summer.
Domestic couple
Corfu, Crete, Mykonos and Santorini estates: housekeeper and houseman living on the property, keeping it through the winter and running it in summer.
Live-in nanny
For families based in Athens with children in the international schools: English or Spanish, first aid and summers on the islands.
Seasonal private chef
For island houses that entertain in July and August; often travels with the family from its main home.
Permits and rules for household staff in Greece
Greece applies EU free movement and, since its 2023 Migration Code, admits non-EU workers for salaried employment through quotas and an employer's request. The family is the employer and registers with EFKA.
EU candidates: free movement, registration after three months
A Spanish or other EU candidate works with her passport. After three months she registers her residence with the police or the decentralised administration and obtains a Greek tax number (AFM) and a social security number (AMKA), which the family's registration requires.
Non-EU candidates: quota and the employer's request
The Migration Code (Law 5038/2023, in force since 31 March 2024) admits third-country nationals for dependent work within volumes set by joint ministerial decision every two years, by region and occupation, and the employer requests a named worker (the metaklisi procedure). The worker then obtains a national visa and a residence permit for employment. Domestic work is covered by these volumes when the decision includes it; a Filipino candidate resident in Spain follows this route, and the quota and timing decide.
Employer obligations and minimum wage
The family registers as employer with EFKA and declares the employee through the ERGANI system; live-in domestic work has its own contribution rules. The statutory minimum wage is €920 gross per month from 1 April 2026 (Ministerial Decision 8934/2026), paid fourteen times a year with the Easter, summer and Christmas allowances, and the family's contract states board, lodging and rest days.
Who employs, and under which law
The employer is the family, in the country where the home is. We are a placement agency: we select and present, we are neither the employer nor a temp agency, so the Posting of Workers Directive (written for companies) does not apply. The contract is governed by the law of the place where the work is habitually done, even if the parties choose another (Rome I Regulation, art. 8).
Social security: the destination country's
The general rule of Regulation (EC) 883/2004 (art. 11(3)(a)) is to contribute where you work. The exception is a temporary posting (art. 12): a family resident in Spain that takes an employee already hired here may keep her in the Spanish system for up to 24 months with the A1 certificate issued by the TGSS, if the conditions are met. Otherwise the registration is done in the destination country.
Data protection when sending profiles
Profiles travel with the candidate's informed consent. Within the EEA there is no international transfer; to Switzerland, the UK and Andorra there is, covered by a European Commission adequacy decision (GDPR arts. 44-45). Monaco has no adequacy decision: we rely on appropriate safeguards or the explicit consent of art. 49.
Checked on 12 September 2026 against the Ministry of Migration and Asylum (migration.gov.gr) and Law 5038/2023, Ministerial Decision 8934/2026 on the minimum wage, EUR-Lex and the European Commission adequacy list.
What you need to know before starting, not legal advice: each case is confirmed by the family with its adviser or the country's authorities. We keep these notes reviewed and tell you what we have checked and where.
Languages, currency and cost of living
Greek; English is the working language in the international households we serve
Greek is harder for a Spanish speaker than Italian or Portuguese; we present candidates with working English.
Euro (EUR)
No exchange risk on the salary or on our fee.
Lower than Spain in Athens; island prices rise sharply in summer
Live-in staff on an island house have few expenses during the season.
EFKA, registered by the family; ERGANI declaration
Fourteen payments a year: twelve months plus Easter, summer and Christmas allowances.
From €920 gross per month × 14 (minimum wage, April 2026)
Legal floor. The families we serve in Athens and on the islands pay experienced live-in staff above it; the market range is agreed case by case and we give it to you with the quote.
Figure pending confirmation from an official sourceStatutory minimum wage from 1 April 2026 per Ministerial Decision 8934/2026 (Ministry of Labour).
A Greek placement, step by step
Greece is a new destination for us, so we say what we know and what we check each time: the passport first, then the season, then the house.
Brief, passport and season
We confirm the candidate must hold an EU passport unless the family is ready for the quota procedure, and whether the role is all-year in Athens or seasonal on an island, which changes the profile entirely.
Selection in Spain
Interviews in Madrid or by video, references called, working English checked, and a frank talk about island life: heat, wind, guests and months without a day off in sight unless the contract sets them.
Video interviews and trial
From your client portal; Athens families often meet the finalist in Madrid, and island owners bring her to the house for two days before the season opens.
Contract, EFKA and move
Written contract at or above the minimum wage with board, lodging and rest days stated, EFKA and ERGANI registration by the family, AFM and AMKA numbers, and a start date around the notice period in Spain.
One-off fee and a 6-month guarantee, outside Spain too
You pay nothing during the search. Only once you take the person on and you're happy do you pay a single fee: the equivalent of one month of the agreed salary, plus VAT where applicable depending on where the job is. No subscriptions or lock-in.
One-off fee: one month's salary (+ VAT where applicable)
A single payment, only once you take the person on. We confirm the exact amount upfront, in euros or in your country's currency.
6-month guarantee
Replacement at no cost if the person isn't the right fit, and a 50% refund of the fee if you're not satisfied during the first month.
Relocation and trial
The family covers the relocation trip; before that you can interview by video and, if you travel to Spain or the candidate to your city, run a two-day trial.
Hiring household staff in Greece from Spain
No. As an EU citizen she works with her passport and registers her residence after three months. She needs a Greek tax number and social security number, which the family's EFKA registration requires.
Only through the quota procedure of the Migration Code: the family requests her as a named worker within the volumes set by ministerial decision, and she obtains a national visa and residence permit for employment. Her Spanish permit does not transfer, so timing and quota decide.
€920 gross per month from 1 April 2026, paid fourteen times a year with the Easter, summer and Christmas allowances. Live-in staff for the families we serve are paid above it.
Yes. Island houses need a housekeeper or a couple from Easter to October, and the seasonal live-in housekeeper is the role they ask us for most often. We start seasonal searches in late winter so the person is in place before the house opens.
Yes. A couple living on the estate all year, keeping the house and grounds through the winter and running it for the family and guests in summer, is the request from Corfu, Crete and the larger Mykonos properties.
Domestic couplesFor an EU candidate, first profiles in days and a start date usually four to six weeks after your decision. For a non-EU candidate the quota procedure decides, and it can take months; we say so before starting.
Pages families in Greece also read
Looking for live-in staff for a home in Greece?
Tell us the place, the role and the season. We answer with the permit route if one is needed, the salary floor and the first profiles.