Part 3 — Fresh helpers: first-time work pass applicants

Who this is for: the helper has never worked in Singapore before and is currently in her home country.

3.1 Read this before anything else

Two governments have to say yes.

Singapore says yes fairly readily. MOM lets you apply for the Work Permit yourself. That part is genuinely open to any employer with a Singpass.

Her own government is the harder gate. Every country in this section regulates the outbound deployment of its own citizens for domestic work. Three of the five require a licensed sending agency to lodge the clearances, and a Singapore employer cannot do it personally.

If a source-country agency is required, that does not make the whole exercise pointless. You still choose the specific helper yourself, you still avoid a Singapore agency's sourcing fee, and the agency's role narrows to processing the legal deployment. But be clear-eyed: an agency will be involved and will charge for it.

3.2 The Singapore-side process — identical for all five countries

Every country module below (3A–3E) covers only what is different. Combine it with this spine.

Stage 1 — Before you apply

• EOP completed at least 2 working days ago (Part 0.3)
• Employer eligibility confirmed (Part 0.1)
• Helper is 23 to below 50, female, from an approved source country, with 8 years of formal education and a recognised certificate (Part 0.2)
• She is outside Singapore and will remain so until you have the IPA and the security bond
• Her passport is valid — six months minimum, longer is safer
• Measles immunity resolved if you have unvaccinated under-7s (Part 0.7)
• Her written consent for you to apply on her behalf
• Source-country requirements identified — see your country module
• Salary agreed, and it meets any source-country floor
• Written employment contract drafted

Stage 2 — Submit the application

Apply through the FDW eService with Singpass. You will need her passport details, your and your household members' particulars, and your income information. Pay S$35.

Processing: about 1 week via the eService, about 3 weeks by paper form.

MOM emails the outcome. On approval you receive the IPA letter plus declaration forms for you both to sign.

Stage 3 — Check the IPA, then prepare

• Verify every IPA particular against her passport, character by character. A mismatch means denied entry at Changi.
• Send her the full IPA letter set. She must print it and carry it.
• Buy the S$5,000 security bond. Tell the bank to use template MOM_SB_MW, or the insurer to use MOM_SB, with MOM as beneficiary. Have them transmit details to MOM — up to 3 working days. The bond must be effective on her arrival date.
• Buy medical insurance (≥S$60,000/yr, sub-limits must each meet it) and personal accident insurance (≥S$60,000/yr)
• Register her for the SIP. She is a first-time helper, so this is compulsory. Book early — slots are limited and the deadline is tight.
• Confirm she has cleared her own government's exit process
• Check ICA entry requirements: https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-transit-depart/entering-singapore

If she needs more time, extend the IPA validity in the eService.

Stage 4 — After she arrives

• SIP within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays. One day, conducted in her native language. She cannot start work until she has attended. She may not attend on her arrival day. She brings: full IPA letter set, passport, a copy of her educational certificate, and a copy of her ICA digital arrival card.
• Pre-employment medical examination within 14 days, by a Singapore-registered doctor, using MOM's form. Screens for tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis and malaria plus general fitness. She must pass before the permit is issued. If she fails, she must be sent home.

SIP providers:

Register at: mom.gov.sg/…/settling-in-programme-sip

Stage 5 — Issue the permit, within 2 weeks of arrival

• Request issuance in the eService
• Provide a card delivery address
• Nominate up to 3 authorised recipients (NRIC/FIN/passport, mobile, email)
• Pay S$35
• Print the Temporary Work Permit and give it to her — valid 1 month, allows her to work, stay and travel

Optionally apply for a POSB payroll account for her at this point.

Stage 6 — Fingerprints, digital pass, card

The Temporary Work Permit tells you whether she must register fingerprints and photo at MOM Services Centre – Hall C. If required, within 1 week of issuance, by appointment.

She brings: original passport, appointment letter, Temporary Work Permit, and her phone with a local number and both Singpass and SGWorkPass apps installed. MOM sets up her Singpass during registration.

Card delivered within 5 working days of registration or document verification.

Stage 7 — Ongoing obligations

• Levy starts on the 5th day after arrival, counting arrival day. Set up GIRO. First helper S$300/month, or S$60 if you qualify for concession.
• 6ME every six months, paid by you. Diarise it — a missed 6ME gets the permit revoked.
• Salary in full within 7 days of it falling due, at the amount declared to MOM
• Rest days, safe accommodation, and no deployment to any other address or any business

Employer's guide: mom.gov.sg/…/employers-guide

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