Hiring a Cleaner for a Few Hours a Week in Portugal: What the Law Says
A cleaner two mornings a week — do you need contracts and Social Security? The two legal routes in Portugal, what each costs, and why cash-in-hand is a risk.
Quick answer: Yes, even a few hours a week has legal implications. In Portugal there are two legal routes: employ the cleaner directly (register with Social Security, pay contributions, take out accident insurance) or use a self-employed cleaner or company who invoices you (they handle their own taxes). Paying cash with no paper trail is undeclared work — and the risk sits mostly with you.
Route 1: You employ the cleaner directly
If the same person cleans your home regularly under your direction, Portuguese law treats you as a domestic employer — even part-time, even just a few hours. That means:
- Register the hire with Social Security before work starts — done online via Segurança Social Direta. Step-by-step guide here.
- Pay monthly contributions — for hourly contracts, Social Security assumes a minimum of 30 declared hours per month, even if fewer are worked. How much you pay here.
- Take out work-accident insurance — mandatory regardless of hours; without it, you are personally liable for any accident in your home.
- A written contract is only compulsory for fixed-term arrangements, but is always recommended.
Route 2: A self-employed cleaner or cleaning company
If the cleaner works as an independent professional (trabalhadora independente) or through a company, you are a client, not an employer. They issue an invoice/receipt (fatura-recibo, often called "recibos verdes") and handle their own Social Security and taxes. You should:
- Ask for an invoice for each payment — this is your proof of a legitimate service relationship.
- Check the substance — genuine independence means the cleaner has multiple clients and controls how they work. One person working set hours only for you, with your equipment and under your instructions, looks like employment no matter what the paperwork says.
Which route is right for you?
| Direct employment | Self-employed / company | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Regular, ongoing help (weekly or more) | Occasional or flexible cleaning |
| Your obligations | Social Security, insurance, holidays and subsidies | Pay the invoice |
| Typical hourly cost | Lower rate + contributions and insurance on top | Higher rate, all-inclusive |
Why cash-in-hand is a bad deal
Undeclared work can mean back-payment of contributions with interest and fines — and if the cleaner has an accident in your home, you may be personally liable for all costs. You also lose the IRS deduction available to employers of declared domestic workers (5% of costs, up to €200/year). Declared work protects the cleaner too: pension, sick pay and parental leave. See our full guide on hiring legally as a foreigner and avoiding hiring scams.
👉 Compare housekeepers available in your area here.
Conclusion
A few hours a week is enough to create legal obligations. Pick a route deliberately: employ and declare, or work with a genuinely self-employed cleaner who invoices you. Both are simple once set up — and both beat the risks of paying cash and hoping for the best.
Official sources
This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Rules and figures (IAS, minimum wage, contribution rates) are updated periodically and may have changed since our last update. Always confirm current values with the official sources listed and seek professional advice if in doubt.
FAQ
Do I need to register a cleaner who comes only a few hours a week?
If you employ her directly, yes — registration with Social Security is required before work starts, regardless of hours. If she is genuinely self-employed and invoices you, she handles her own registration.
What is the 30-hour minimum rule?
For hourly domestic contracts, Social Security calculates contributions on a minimum of 30 declared hours per month, even if the cleaner works fewer hours for you.
What are 'recibos verdes'?
The common name for Portugal's invoice-receipts issued by self-employed workers. A cleaner on recibos verdes invoices you for each service and pays her own taxes and Social Security.
Do I need accident insurance for a part-time cleaner?
If you are the employer, yes — work-accident insurance is mandatory even for a few hours a week. If you hire through a company or a self-employed cleaner, insurance is their responsibility, but confirm they have it.
What happens if I just pay cash?
That is undeclared work. Risks include back-payment of contributions with interest, fines, and personal liability if the cleaner is injured in your home. You also miss the IRS deduction for declared domestic work.
Can I get a tax deduction for a declared cleaner?
Yes — 5% of your costs with declared domestic work, up to €200 per year, pre-filled in your IRS return based on Social Security data.