How to Hire a Maid in Singapore: Step by Step

Hiring a maid is rarely just an administrative decision.

It is a decision about who comes into your home, who looks after your parents, who is there when your child gets home from school.

This guide walks through the process of hiring a domestic helper in Singapore — what each stage involves, and roughly how long it takes.

Before you begin: are you eligible?

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sets the baseline. To employ a migrant domestic worker (MDW, previously known as a foreign domestic worker or FDW), you must be at least 21, not an undischarged bankrupt, and able to demonstrate the financial capacity to employ, house and maintain a helper. MOM assesses this case by case, with financial circumstances an important factor.

First-time employers must also complete the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) at least two working days before submitting a work permit application. Book it early, this is critical in helping to facilitate your helper's smooth entry into Singapore.

Step 1: Define what your household actually needs

This is the step most often rushed, and the one that most determines whether a placement lasts.

Be specific about the work before you look at candidates:

• Care responsibilities: Infant, elderly and special-needs care each require different experience.

• Household demands: Home size, number of members, whether cooking is expected and which cuisine.

• Language: How much English is needed, and whether Mandarin or a dialect matters for elderly family members.

• Accommodation: MOM requires adequate rest, reasonable privacy and a safe living space.

Mismatched expectations are the most common reason placements do not work out in the first few months.

Step 2: Transfer helper or new helper?

The two routes differ substantially in timeline.

A transfer helper is already in Singapore. You may interview her, ask about her actual experience here, and place her quickly — often within one or two weeks.

A new helper is recruited from overseas, typically the Philippines, Indonesia or Myanmar. The pool is larger and you can match more precisely, but expect roughly four to eight weeks once visa processing, medical examination and orientation are accounted for.

Families needing help urgently tend to lean towards a transfer. Families with a specific care requirement and time to wait often do better recruiting overseas.

Step 3: Work with a licensed agency

Check that any agency you approach holds a valid MOM employment agency licence — this is verifiable on MOM's Employment Agency Directory.

Before committing, ask for clarity in writing on:

• What the agency fee covers, and what it does not

• The replacement policy, including how many replacements and over what period

• Whether biodata has been verified rather than taken at face value

• How disputes between employer and helper are handled

An agency's value shows up when something goes wrong, not when everything goes smoothly.

Step 4: Shortlist and interview

Read the biodata carefully, then interview — usually by video call for most candidates.

Open questions reveal more than yes-or-no ones:

• Walk me through a typical day with your last employer

• What did you find most difficult about the job?

• Have you cared for someone with [your specific requirement]? How did you go about doing it?

A candidate who is able to describe her previous routine in detail is usually describing something she actually did. Where possible, speak to a previous employer directly.

Step 5: Apply for the work permit

The application is submitted online through MOM's eService, normally handled by your agency. You will need your identification and income documentation, your helper's passport details and biodata, and confirmation of EOP completion if you are a first-time employer.

If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which allows your helper to enter Singapore. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delay.

Step 6: Put the required protections in place

Three things must be arranged before your helper starts work. All are the employer's responsibility.

Security bond: Required for every non-Malaysian helper. It is a guarantee to the authorities that you will meet your obligations, and is released about a week after she has left Singapore — provided her work permit has been cancelled, she has returned home, and no conditions have been breached. Cancelling the permit on its own does not release it.

Insurance: Medical and personal accident insurance meeting MOM's minimum coverage, maintained for the full duration of employment.

Levy: Payable monthly for as long as you employ a helper. A concessionary rate applies if your household includes a child under 16, a family member aged 67 or above or a person with disabilities who needs help with daily activities. The qualifying person must be a Singapore citizen, or a permanent resident with a Singapore citizen in the immediate family. The concession is granted per eligible person, not per household. It is worthwhile checking your eligibility before you budget.

Step 7: Arrival, medical examination and the Settling-In Programme

Your helper must be examined by a Singapore-registered doctor within two weeks of arriving in Singapore. Her work permit is only issued once she passes; if she does not, she has to be sent home. A six-monthly medical examination is required for as long as she works for you, and you pay for it and for any medical expenses arising from it.

First-time helpers must also complete the Settling-In Programme (SIP) within seven days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays. She cannot attend on the day she lands, as MOM requires one day of rest. It is a one-day orientation covering conditions of employment, working safely, adapting to life here and managing relationships and stress. The employer pays the fee.

Once cleared, the work permit is issued and registration is complete.

How long does it take?

Timelines vary with source-country processing, medical scheduling and how complete your documentation is.

Getting it right the first time

Hiring a maid in Singapore is a structured process, and every step exists for a reason — to protect your household and the person joining it.

Every household's situation is different, and this guide covers the general path rather than your specific circumstances. If you would like to talk through what applies to yours, our team is happy to help.

Speak to our team about hiring a helper

This guide is for general information. For the latest requirements, fees and levy rates, refer to the Ministry of Manpower at https://www.mom.gov.sg