Work visa for Domestic Worker (helper) in Singapore

A Work Permit for a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW) allows foreign domestic helpers to work in Singapore in a household setting. These permits are granted to workers from an approved source country or region.

Employers must meet specific conditions to hire a migrant domestic worker:

• Age requirement: The employer must be at least 21 years old.
• Financial capability: Employers must demonstrate sufficient financial capability to support the MDW and not be an undischarged bankrupt.
• Have the mental capacity to fully understand and discharge your responsibility as an employer.
• First-time employers of a helper must attend an Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) before application for a Work Permit.
• Living arrangement: The MDW must reside with the employer at the registered address.
• Security bond: For non-Malaysian MDWs, employers must place a security bond of SGD 5,000 with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). This bond is an assurance of compliance with the Work Permit conditions.
• Levy: Employers must pay a monthly levy. There are different rates for this depending on eligibility for concessionary levy schemes.
• Medical insurance: Employers must purchase medical insurance with a minimum coverage of SGD 60,000 per year to cover the MDW's inpatient care and day surgery
• Personal accident insurance: Employers must purchase personal accident insurance with a minimum sum of SGD 60,000, covering any accidents that might occur while the MDW is employed.
• Medical examination: Employers must send your migrant domestic worker (MDW) for a pre-employment medical examination before you can get her Work Permit issued within 2 weeks from her arrival in Singapore.The medical examination screens the helper for 4 types of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis and malaria) and checks if she is fit to work.
• Six-monthly medical examination: During migrant domestic worker's (MDW) employment, employers must send a helper for a medical screening every 6 months. This medical examination screens for pregnancy and infectious diseases such as syphilis, HIV and tuberculosis.
• Frequent changes of MDWs: If employers have changed migrant domestic workers (MDWs) multiple times within a year, they will be required to attend a classroom Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) or attend an interview with MOM.

MDWs must meet the following conditions to qualify for a Work Permit:

• Sex: Female
• Age range: The MDW must be between 23 and 50 years old at the time of the application. Helpers aged 50 and above can only renew their Work Permits until they are 60 years old.
• Country of origin: The worker must be from an approved source country: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.
• Education: The worker must have at least eight years of formal education and a good command of the English language.

In addition, helpers must:

• Work at employers' NRIC registered addresses.
• Attend the Settling-in Programme (SIP) if they are first-time helpers. We will inform employers if their helpers need to attend the SIP in the Work Permit in-principle approval (IPA) letter.
• Not be related to their employers.
• Not be in Singapore during the Work Permit application. Employers can only bring helpers into Singapore after they have received an IPA letter and bought a $5,000 security bond.
• Note: This does not apply to Malaysian workers.

A first-time helper is one who has never worked in Singapore as a helper before. This includes a helper who:

• Doesn’t have an employment record as a helper with MOM’s Work Pass Division.
• Has an employment record as a helper with MOM but eventually did not work in Singapore.

You can apply for a Work Permit MDW for domestic helpers from the following countries and regions: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand.

The applicant for a Work Permit MDW must be between 23 and 50 years old at the time of application. Helpers over 50 years old can only extend their work permits until they turn 60.

The employer must pay the levy for the Work Permit MDW holder monthly using GIRO. For helpers being hired for the first time, the levy starts accruing on the fifth day after their arrival (including the day of arrival). For other cases, the levy begins from the day after the helper's arrival. The levy ceases to accrue when the Work Permit is canceled or expires.

The standard rate is SGD 300 per month for the first helper and SGD 450 for subsequent helpers. Discounted rates may be SGD 60 for households with elderly or disabled family members. The levy must be paid by the 17th of the following month.

If the employer fails to pay the levy in full by the deadline, they may face the following penalties:

• A late fee of 2% per month or $20, whichever is higher. The total penalty is capped at 30% of the unpaid levy amount.
• Cancellation of the helper’s work permit.
• Prohibition on applying for a new work permit or extending an existing one.
• Legal action to recover the unpaid levy.

The employer must post a security bond for each foreign worker (excluding Malaysian citizens) before their arrival in Singapore. The bond can be arranged with any bank or insurance company. The security bond is a mandatory guarantee to pay the government if the employer or worker breaches Singapore's labor laws. The amount of the bond is SGD 5000 per worker. The bond must be paid solely by the employer. The bond is returned only after the cancellation of the Work Permit MDW, the worker's return to their home country, and if both the employer and worker have complied with the terms of the guarantee.

The employer must purchase health insurance for each foreign domestic helper. The health insurance must cover hospitalization and surgery, including hospital bills for illnesses that may not be work-related. The insurance for each Work Permit MDW holder must be at least SGD 60,000 per year (for policies effective from July 1, 2023, onwards).
Additionally, the employer must purchase personal accident insurance that meets all the following requirements:

• The coverage amount must be at least $60,000 per year.
• It must cover sudden, unforeseen, and unexpected incidents leading to permanent disability or death.
• It must not contain additional exclusions not provided for in the Employment of Foreign Manpower Regulations. This is to protect the helper and their family by providing a one-time compensation in case of disability or death resulting from an accident. Compensation must be paid to the helper or their beneficiaries.

The employer must send the helper for a medical examination before obtaining the work permit, within 2 weeks of their arrival in Singapore. The medical examination aims to detect four types of infectious diseases (tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis, and malaria) and assess their fitness for work. During the helper's employment, the employer is also required to send her for a medical examination every 6 months. This examination checks for pregnancy and infectious diseases such as syphilis, HIV, and tuberculosis.

The Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) is a three-hour program that helps understand the role and responsibilities of the employer. Employers hiring MDWs for the first time must complete the EOP at least 2 working days before applying for the Work Permit MDW. The training can be completed in a classroom or online. If the employer has changed more than 3 MDWs in a 12-month period and wants to hire another MDW, they must undergo the program in a classroom or an interview with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The employer cannot appoint a representative to complete the program on their behalf.

The Settling-in Programme is a one-day orientation course for helpers who have just arrived in Singapore. It aims to educate them on safety measures and life in Singapore. The employer must send the helper to the settling-in programme within 7 days of their arrival in Singapore, excluding Sundays, public holidays, and the day of arrival. Topics covered include:

• Adjusting to work and life in Singapore
• Employment conditions
• Safe work practices
• Managing relationships and stress

If the Ministry of Manpower Singapore rejects the visa application, an appeal can be submitted. After receiving a visa rejection, there are 3 months to file an appeal, but this should only be done if you can contest the reasons for rejection.

The employer or the recruitment agency hired by the employer can apply for the work permit.

No. The holder of a Work Permit MDW cannot sponsor dependent visas for their family members.

Each application is reviewed by the Ministry of Manpower individually, based on a range of factors such as the company's financial status, the employer's quota, the candidate’s salary, and work experience in the specific field. Issuing a Work Permit MDW in Singapore can take from three weeks to several months.