First-Time Employer's Checklist: What to Do Before Your Helper Arrives

Have you decided to hire a helper? Now you may be worrying about what you might have missed .

It’s an understandable concern. There are real steps, real deadlines, and a few that must happen in the right order. This checklist lays them out in the sequence they actually occur, so you can work through them with confidence rather than second-guessing. Tick each one off as you go.

If you would rather not do this on your own, you do not have to. We take first-time employers through every item below, so consider this a map of what we handle together.

Before you apply

The groundwork — everything here happens before any paperwork is submitted.

☐ Confirm you are eligible. You must be at least 21 and not an undischarged bankrupt, and MOM must be satisfied you can support a helper. They look at your financial circumstances and your caregiving needs together, case by case.

☐ Complete the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP). Required for first-time employers, and it must be done at least two working days before the work permit application goes in. We'd recommend to doing it online, in your own time, for convenience.

☐ Define what your household actually needs. Care responsibilities, home size, whether cooking is expected, the languages that matter, and where your helper will sleep and rest. Being specific now is the single best thing you can do for a placement that lasts.

☐ Set a realistic budget. Account for the agency fee, the monthly levy, insurance, the security bond and everyday costs. Ask us for a full written breakdown before you commit to anything — the levy concession alone can shift your monthly figure considerably.

While the application is being processed

The paperwork stage — most of this we handle with you.

☐ Gather your documents. Your identification and income documentation, and your helper's passport details and biodata. First-time employers will also need confirmation of EOP completion.

☐ Submit the work permit application. Filed online through MOM's eService, normally by us on your behalf. Once approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which allows your helper to enter Singapore.

☐ Buy the security bond. A S$5,000 bond is required for every non-Malaysian helper. It is a returnable guarantee rather than a fee — released after her permit is cancelled and she has returned home, provided no conditions have been breached.

☐ Arrange for insurance. Medical and personal accident insurance meeting MOM's minimum coverage, both in place before she arrives and maintained for the whole employment. None of these costs can be passed to your helper.

☐ Prepare her room and your home. MOM requires adequate rest, reasonable privacy and a safe living space. Sorting this before she lands makes her first days (and yours) much smoother.

Before and on arrival

The final stretch — a few items here are time-sensitive, so take note of the order.

☐ Book the medical examination. She must be examined by a Singapore-registered doctor within two weeks of arriving. Her work permit is only issued once she passes.

☐ Register for the Settling-In Programme (SIP). First-time helpers must complete this one-day orientation within seven days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays — and not on the day she lands, as MOM requires a day of rest first.

☐ Have the first-day essentials ready. Somewhere to rest, a meal, her phone set up to reach home, and a calm walk through the house. First impressions settle a working relationship more than most people expect.

☐ Keep your paperwork together. IPA letter, work permit, insurance policies, bond details and the service agreement. You will want them within reach for renewals and anything MOM-related later on.

Once she has arrived

The checklist ends here, but the relationship is just beginning. How you set up the first month shapes the entire duration of her time with you, and we'll cover that in a separate guide.

Every household is different, and the details that apply to yours may not be on any list. If you would like an experienced hand through these steps, our team is happy to help.

Speak to our team about hiring a helper.

This guide is for general information. Requirements, fees and timelines are set by the Ministry of Manpower and change from time to time. For the current rules, refer to mom.gov.sg.