Part 0 — Foundations: MOM requirements every employer must meet

0.1 Are you eligible to employ a helper?

MOM's published criteria: you must be 21 or older, not an undischarged bankrupt, and have the mental capacity to understand and carry out an employer's responsibilities.

MOM also assesses, case by case:

• Your care-giving need — young children, elderly parents, a family member with a disability.
• Your financial ability to pay her salary, the levy, insurance and upkeep, and to house her acceptably.
• Whether you have a medical condition that would impair supervision of her wellbeing. MOM names Alzheimer's, dementia and schizophrenia as examples.

If you are married, you and your spouse can combine incomes. Lower-income employers and senior citizens living alone may qualify under the Joint Income Scheme or Sponsorship Scheme.

There is no single published income figure that guarantees approval — MOM assesses holistically. Do not assume you will be approved because you earn above some number you read on a forum.

• Employer requirements: mom.gov.sg/…/employer-requirements
• Special schemes: mom.gov.sg/…/apply-under-a-special-scheme
• FAQ, minimum income: mom.gov.sg/…/what-is-the-minimum-income-needed-to-employ-an-fdw

Hiring a second helper. Each household may employ up to two. MOM will consider a second application if you have two or more children under 18, or a parent or parent-in-law over 60, living with you — and you can house both properly. Note the levy is higher for a second helper.

0.2 Is the helper eligible?

MOM's requirements for the helper:

She must also:

• Work only at the address registered to your NRIC.
• Attend the SIP if she is a first-time helper. MOM tells you in the IPA.
• Not be related to you.
• Not be in Singapore while the application is being processed — except Malaysians, and except transfers (Part 1).

Full criteria: mom.gov.sg/…/fdw-eligibility

Recognised education certificates (PDF): mom.gov.sg/…/educational-requirements-for-first-time-mdws.pdf

How to check: mom.gov.sg/…/how-do-i-check-an-fdws-employment-history

0.3 First-time employer: the EOP

If this is your first time employing a helper, you must complete the Employers' Orientation Programme — a 3-hour session covering your legal responsibilities — at least 2 working days before you submit the Work Permit application.

Three approved providers: AAT Training Hub, Absolute Kinetics Consultancy, Grace Management & Consultancy Services. Register directly with any of them.

You only ever do this once. If your application is rejected, the EOP attendance still counts for future applications — but there is no refund.

Limited exemptions exist (chronic illness, mobility impairment, 60+ with physical discomfort, new or expectant mothers) allowing a spouse, sponsor or representative to attend on your behalf. That requires a separate online application after they attend.

Full details and registration links: mom.gov.sg/…/employers-orientation-programme-eop

0.4 What it costs

One-off, to MOM:

SIP providers and fees: Absolute Kinetics Consultancy S$76.40, NTUC LearningHub S$77.00, Grace Management & Consultancy Services S$92.65. All inclusive of GST, all payable by you.

Insurance and bond, before she arrives:

Most employers buy all three as a single "maid insurance" package from one insurer. Premiums vary by insurer and by the helper's age — MOM's enhanced MI rules introduced age-differentiated premiums for two bands, 50 and below, and above 50.

Monthly levy:

The concessionary rate applies to households with a young child, an elderly member or a person with disability. Check whether you qualify — the difference is S$240 a month, or S$2,880 a year.

Levy starts on the 5th day after arrival (counting arrival day) for first-time helpers, and the day after arrival for everyone else. It ends when the permit is cancelled or expires. Due by the 17th of the following month. GIRO is the sensible option.

• Levy rates and payment: mom.gov.sg/…/paying-levy
• Levy concession: mom.gov.sg/…/levy-concession
• Levy waiver: mom.gov.sg/…/apply-for-levy-waiver

Not included above: her monthly salary, the pre-employment medical examination, six-monthly medical examinations, her food and upkeep, her airfare, and any source-country fees or deposits.

0.5 Insurance — the details that catch people out

Medical insurance. Minimum annual claim limit of S$60,000 for inpatient care and day surgery. If the policy has sub-limits — per condition, or separate limits for inpatient versus day surgery — each sub-limit must independently meet the S$60,000 minimum. A policy advertised as "S$60,000 cover" with a S$15,000 per-condition sub-limit does not comply.

Under MOM's enhanced MI framework, insurers pay 75% and employers 25% of claim amounts above S$15,000. Since 1 July 2025, exclusion clauses are standardised, premiums are age-differentiated, and insurers pay hospitals directly once a claim is admitted.

MOM publishes a list of insurers offering compliant enhanced MI products: mom.gov.sg/…/insurers-offering-enhanced-mi-products.pdf

Personal accident insurance. Minimum S$60,000 sum assured per year. Must cover sudden, unforeseen incidents causing permanent disability or death. Must not contain exclusions beyond those in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations. Compensation is payable to her or her beneficiaries — not to you.

Full requirements: mom.gov.sg/…/insurance-requirements

0.6 The security bond — the single most common way arrivals go wrong

You buy a S$5,000 security bond from any bank or insurer before your helper arrives. Tell them which MOM template to use: MOM_SB_MW if buying from a bank, MOM_SB if buying from an insurer. The beneficiary must be stated as the Ministry of Manpower.

Then instruct your bank or insurer to send the bond details to MOM. This takes up to 3 working days. Build that into your timeline.

If your bank or insurer asks for her FIN, it is on the IPA letter. For a new helper the FIN is assigned within 3 working days of approval.

The bond is discharged about a week after you have cancelled the permit, she has left Singapore, and you have not breached any condition. You will be notified by post.

It can be forfeited if: you do not pay her salary on time, you fail to send her home when the permit expires or is cancelled, or she goes missing.

Full requirements: mom.gov.sg/…/security-bond

0.7 The measles requirement — new, and widely missed

If there are children under 7 in your household who are not fully vaccinated against measles, you must ensure your helper has measles immunity. This became mandatory in June 2025 and is not in most older guides.

MOM announcement: mom.gov.sg/…/0610-mandatory-measles-immunity-requirement-MDWs

Check this early. Establishing immunity — through documentation of prior vaccination, a blood test, or vaccination — takes time you may not have if you discover it at the last minute.

0.8 Where you do everything

FDW eService — apply, check status, issue permit, request transfer consent, extend IPA, print declaration forms, check employment history:
mom.gov.sg/…/work-permit-transactions-for-domestic-helpers-and-confinement-nannies

Check and pay levy:
https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/check-and-pay-levy

Make an appointment (for fingerprint registration):
https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/make-an-appointment

All MDW eServices and forms:
mom.gov.sg/…/eservices-and-forms

No Singpass? You can submit a paper form online instead, but processing takes about 3 weeks rather than 1 week. Form: mom.gov.sg/…/fdw-appln-form.pdf — complete it in soft copy, do not print it, then submit via https://go.gov.sg/submit-fdw-form

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