Hiring a domestic helper in Singapore involves more moving parts than most first time employers expect, from checking your own eligibility to the Work Permit application, security bond, insurance, and everything that happens after your helper actually arrives. This guide walks through the entire process in order, so you know exactly what to do next at every stage, whether you are hiring for the first time or bringing in a replacement helper.

 

Step 1: Decide What Kind of Help You Need

Before anything else, it helps to know which hiring route fits your household. A fresh helper is someone arriving in Singapore for the first time, which usually takes longer but lets you shape her habits from day one. A transfer maid is already working in Singapore and can often start within one to two weeks. A direct hire means you have already found a specific helper yourself, while going through an agency means they help you find and screen candidates. If you are unsure which route makes sense, our guides on transfer maids and direct hiring break down the differences in more detail.

 

Step 2: Check That You Meet the Employer Requirements

Before you can apply for a Work Permit, you and your household need to meet a few basic conditions set by the Ministry of Manpower. You must be at least 21 years old and mentally able to take on the responsibilities of an employer. There is no fixed minimum income requirement, but you do need to show you can reasonably support the monthly salary, levy, insurance, and other costs involved. If you are married, you and your spouse can combine incomes when applying. Lower income employers and senior citizens living alone may also qualify under a special scheme.

 

Step 3: Choose an Agency or Go Direct Hire

This is where most of your decisions happen. If you are working with an agency, always verify its Employment Agency licence through MOM’s official EA Directory before signing anything, and ask for an itemised breakdown of fees rather than a single lump sum. Our guides to Top 10 Indonesian maid agencies and Top 10 Myanmar maid agencies can help you shortlist agencies with a genuine track record placing helpers of a specific nationality, and our guide to checking MOM licensing walks through the verification process step by step.

 

Step 4: Submit the Work Permit Application

Once you have selected a helper, you or your agency can apply for her Work Permit. You will need her passport details, your household’s personal particulars, and your income information. The application costs $35, and processing normally takes about one week if submitted through MOM’s FDW eService, or around three weeks if submitted as a paper form. Before applying, you also need to get the helper’s written consent. If your application is approved, MOM issues an in-principle approval (IPA) letter, which your helper needs to show immigration when she enters Singapore.

 

Step 5: Prepare Before Your Helper Arrives

With the IPA in hand, there are a few things to arrange before your helper lands in Singapore. You will need to buy a security bond of $5,000 for a non-Malaysian helper, along with medical and personal accident insurance that meets MOM’s minimum coverage requirements. If this is your helper’s first time working in Singapore, you also need to register her for the Settling-In Programme (SIP) once you know her arrival date. The security bond must be active on the day she arrives, or immigration will not let her enter.

 

Step 6: What Happens When Your Helper Arrives

After your helper lands, first time helpers need to attend the SIP within 7 days, excluding Sundays and public holidays. All helpers, whether first timers or transfers, need to complete a medical examination by a Singapore registered doctor within 14 days of arrival. Once these steps are done, you can get the Work Permit issued, which comes with a Temporary Work Permit valid for one month while the physical card is processed. Some helpers may also need to register their fingerprints and photo at a MOM Services Centre, which will be stated on the Temporary Work Permit.

 

Step 7: Ongoing Responsibilities as an Employer

Hiring a helper is not a one time transaction. Every month, you are responsible for paying the foreign domestic worker levy by GIRO, on top of your helper’s salary. Every six months, your helper needs a follow up medical examination. Her Work Permit itself is valid for up to two years depending on the security bond, after which you will need to renew it if she is staying on.

 

Understanding the Full Cost Picture

Between the agency fee, security bond, insurance, monthly levy, and salary, the total cost of hiring a helper adds up to more than most first time employers initially budget for. Our guide to maid agency fees in Singapore breaks down a realistic range for each of these components so you can plan your budget before you commit to a specific agency or helper.

 

How DK Helper Supports You Through Every Step

At DK Helper, we walk families through this entire process, from helping you decide between a fresh helper, transfer maid, or direct hire, to managing the Work Permit application, insurance, and post placement support. Whether this is your first time hiring a helper or you are navigating a transfer, our team handles the paperwork so you can focus on getting your household settled. Explore our full maid services or reach out directly to get started.

 

Ready to Get Started?

If you are still working out which route is right for your family, a short conversation usually clears things up faster than researching alone. Reach out through our maid services page and our team will help you figure out the right next step.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to hire a maid in Singapore?

It depends on the route. A transfer maid can sometimes start within one to two weeks, while a fresh helper’s process, including the Work Permit application, medical checks, and travel arrangements, often takes several weeks from start to finish.

What is the minimum income needed to hire a maid in Singapore?

There is no fixed minimum income requirement, but you need to be able to show you can reasonably support the salary, levy, insurance, and other costs involved. Married couples can combine incomes when applying.

Do I need to use an agency to hire a maid in Singapore?

No, you can apply for a Work Permit on your own if you already have a specific helper in mind, which is known as direct hiring. Many families still choose to work with an agency for help with screening, paperwork, and post placement support.

How much does the Work Permit application cost?

The application fee is $35, and there is a further $35 fee when the pass is issued. This is separate from the security bond, insurance, and agency service fee, if you use one.

What do I need to prepare before my helper arrives?

You need to buy a security bond of $5,000 for a non-Malaysian helper and medical and personal accident insurance that meets MOM’s requirements. If she is a first time helper, you also need to register her for the Settling-In Programme.

What happens if I decide not to hire a helper after getting approval?

You can cancel the in-principle approval before your helper travels to Singapore. It is worth discussing this with your agency early if your plans change, since some costs, such as flights already booked, may not be fully refundable.

How do I verify that a maid agency in Singapore is properly licensed?

You can check an agency’s Employment Agency licence directly through MOM’s official EA Directory. This takes only a few minutes and is one of the most important checks before signing any contract.