Cancel Maid Work Permit Singapore 2026: WP Online SOP & Checklist

Cancelling your helper's Work Permit is one of those tasks that sounds simple on paper, but trips up roughly 1 in 5 employers we help at Upwill. Miss the 7-day window, upload the wrong receipt, or skip the settlement signature, and MOM will bounce your submission back, sometimes with the levy still ticking. This is the procedural step-by-step you need to get it done correctly the first time.

If you want the conceptual overview of cancellation rights and obligations, see our Cancel Work Permit reference page. This article is the hands-on SOP for the actual MOM eService submission.

When You Need to Cancel a Helper's Work Permit

There are three scenarios where cancellation is required. Each follows the same MOM eService process, but the supporting documents differ.

1. End-of-contract repatriation

Your helper has completed her 2-year contract and is going home. This is the cleanest scenario: book her flight, settle her final salary, get her signature on the settlement receipt, and cancel the permit on or before her last working day. Most repatriations also involve a final home leave and repatriation arrangement that you should plan two to three weeks ahead.

2. Mid-contract termination

Either party (employer or helper) wants to end the contract early. Common reasons include incompatibility, family circumstances, or the helper's own request to return home. Mid-contract cancellations are perfectly legal in Singapore: no notice period is mandated by MOM, but you must still settle salary up to the last working day and arrange repatriation within 14 days.

3. Transfer to a new employer

The helper is staying in Singapore but moving to a new household. You cancel the permit under your name, and the new employer applies for a fresh Work Permit (or transfer) under theirs. This is the most paperwork-heavy scenario because you need a transfer authorisation letter signed by you, the helper, and ideally the receiving employer. Our full walkthrough on how to transfer a maid in Singapore covers the receiving side.

2026 Cancellation Timeline (Three Hard Deadlines)

MOM enforces three timing rules. Miss any of them and you risk fines, levy arrears, or a complaint on your FDW employment history.

• 7-day cancellation window: You must cancel the Work Permit within 7 days of the helper's last working day. Earlier is fine. Later attracts a fine and continued levy charges.
• 14-day departure rule: Once the permit is cancelled, the helper must leave Singapore within 14 days. The MOM cancellation email will state her exact deadline. ICA will check this on departure.
• Levy stop date: Your FDW levy stops accruing from the day after the cancellation is effective, not the day you submit. If you submit on the 10th with a last working day of the 8th, levy runs through the 8th.

Step-by-Step: Cancel Work Permit via WP Online (Singpass)

The entire process happens on MOM's WP Online portal and is free. Allow 15 to 20 minutes if you have your documents ready.

1. Log in to MOM eServices with your Singpass at mom.gov.sg, then navigate to Work Passes > Work Permit for Migrant Domestic Worker > Cancel Work Permit.
2. Select the helper from your list of active permits. Verify her Work Permit number and FIN before proceeding.
3. Choose the cancellation reason: Return Home, Transfer to New Employer, or Dismissal.
4. Enter the last working day. This must be accurate. It drives the levy stop date and the helper's 14-day departure deadline.
5. Upload supporting documents: helper-signed settlement receipt, one-way air ticket (for repatriation cases), final salary acknowledgement, and transfer authorisation letter if applicable. PDF or JPG, under 2MB each.
6. Pay any outstanding levy via PayNow, eNETS, or credit card. The portal calculates this automatically based on your last working day.
7. Submit the application. MOM typically processes cancellations within 1 working day. You will receive a confirmation email with the cancellation effective date and the helper's exit deadline. The security bond release request is initiated automatically.

Documents You Must Have Ready Before You Start

Gather these before logging in. WP Online will time out if you take more than 30 minutes between actions, and re-uploading lost documents wastes time.

• Helper's FIN (her Work Permit card number)
• Work Permit reference number
• Signed salary settlement receipt covering the final pay period
• One-way air ticket booking confirmation (e-ticket PDF) for repatriation scenarios
• Transfer authorisation letter signed by both parties (transfer scenarios only)
• Helper's bank statement or PayNow screenshot showing final salary transfer (optional but speeds approval)

What Happens to Bond, Levy, Insurance, and GIRO After Cancellation

Many employers panic about the S$5,000 security bond. Relax: it releases automatically once MOM confirms cancellation and the helper exits Singapore.

• Security bond: Your insurer releases any premium refund or returns the bond instrument within 7 to 14 working days after MOM confirms cancellation and ICA records the helper's departure.
• Levy: Stops the day after cancellation effective date. Any overpayment auto-refunds to your GIRO account within 30 days.
• Helper insurance: Ends automatically when the permit is cancelled. Do NOT cancel the helper insurance policy manually before MOM confirms cancellation. You need active coverage until her actual departure.
• GIRO: Your next month's levy debit should stop. Check your bank statement the following month and contact MOM if a charge still appears.

Three Things You Must Do BEFORE Cancelling

1. Settle final salary in full. Includes pro-rated salary up to the last working day, unpaid off-day compensation, and unused rest days.
2. Get her signature on the settlement receipt. A simple A4 receipt with both signatures and date.
3. Have her physical air ticket ready. Upload the actual e-ticket PDF showing her name, flight date, and one-way destination.

Common Rejection Reasons (and How to Fix Them)

Edge Cases You Need to Handle Differently

Helper has absconded

Do NOT cancel the permit immediately. File a missing person or absconding report with the police and MOM's FDW Unit first. MOM will advise on cancellation timing. Cancelling without a report makes you liable for any incidents involving the helper.

Helper hospitalised at time of cancellation

Delay cancellation until she is discharged and certified medically fit to fly. Notify MOM of the situation and apply for a Special Pass extension if needed.

Cancellation overlapping with renewal

If you are mid-way through Work Permit renewal and decide to cancel instead, cancel the existing permit. The renewal application auto-voids.

Helper refuses to leave Singapore

If she stays past the 14-day exit window, she becomes an overstayer under ICA rules. Escalate immediately to ICA's enforcement hotline and notify MOM. Do not attempt to detain her or hold her passport.

Printable Cancellation Checklist

1. Confirm helper's last working day
2. Calculate final salary including pro-rated days and off-day compensation
3. Transfer salary via PayNow or bank, save the screenshot
4. Print settlement receipt, both sign and date
5. Book her one-way air ticket, save the e-ticket PDF
6. Gather helper's FIN, Work Permit number, and her physical permit card
7. Log in to MOM eService via Singpass
8. Submit cancellation form, upload all documents
9. Pay any outstanding levy on the spot
10. Save the MOM confirmation email (PDF) for your records
11. Confirm GIRO levy debit stops the following month
12. Verify insurer initiates security bond release within 14 working days
13. Drop helper at the airport, take a photo of her at departures (proof of repatriation)

What Does It Cost?

Cancellation on MOM eService is free. Your only costs are the helper's one-way air ticket (S$200 to S$400) and any outstanding levy or salary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does MOM take to process a Work Permit cancellation?

Most cancellations are approved within 1 working day if all documents are in order. Complex cases can take 3 to 5 working days.

Can I cancel the Work Permit before my helper's last working day?

Yes. You can submit cancellation with a future last working day. The permit becomes invalid only on the date you specified.

What if my helper does not want to sign the settlement receipt?

Contact MOM's FDW Unit before cancelling. They can mediate or accept alternative proof such as PayNow records combined with a witness statement.

Do I get my security bond back automatically?

Yes. Your insurer releases the premium balance within 7 to 14 working days after MOM confirms cancellation and ICA records the helper's departure.

What happens if I miss the 7-day cancellation window?

MOM may impose a fine and you continue to incur monthly levy charges until cancellation is processed. Submit as soon as possible with a written explanation.

Is there a fee to cancel the Work Permit?

No. MOM does not charge any fee. The only out-of-pocket costs are the helper's air ticket and any outstanding levy or salary owed.

What if my helper is pregnant or seriously ill at the time of cancellation?

Delay cancellation, notify MOM, and apply for a Special Pass if needed so she has legal status until she is fit to travel. Insurance must remain active throughout.