How to Check Work Permit Status in Singapore (2026) — Online Step-by-Step Guide
Whether you are verifying a candidate before signing a contract, confirming that a renewal has gone through, or simply trying to read the expiry date off your helper's Work Permit card, you need one reliable answer: what does MOM say the status is right now? Guessing from emails or screenshots is risky — Work Permit statuses change daily, and the only authoritative source is the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
This guide walks Singapore employers through the two official ways to check Work Permit status online — the public Check Work Pass and Application Status eService (no login) and the myMOM Portal for employers (Singpass + Corppass). We cover what each MOM status means, how to read an IPA (In-Principle Approval) letter, where to find the expiry date, and what to do when the status looks wrong.
Written by Wendy Tan, EA Personnel, Upwill Employment (EA Licence 24C2628). Last updated May 2026. About the reviewer.
Who can check, and what you need
There are two MOM channels, and they serve different audiences:
- Public eService — Check Work Pass and Application Status: open to anyone (helper, employer, agency) with the worker's date of birth plus either FIN or passport number. No login required. Best for a quick validity check.
- myMOM Portal: for employers and authorised employment agencies. Requires Singpass to log in and Corppass to access the work pass functions. Best for tracking your own applications, renewals and cancellations end-to-end.
Before you log in or open the eService, have the following ready:
- Helper's FIN (Foreign Identification Number) — printed on the Work Permit card — or her passport number
- Helper's date of birth
- If checking salary or application details from an IPA letter: the Date of Application shown on the IPA
- For myMOM Portal: your Singpass and a Corppass account with myMOM Portal access assigned by your Corppass admin
If you are an agency checking on behalf of an employer, you should already have written consent from the employer. At Upwill, this consent is captured at the point of engagement so we can act on the file without delay.
Step-by-step: check work permit status online
For the fastest path — a public status check without login — follow these steps:
- Open the MOM eService page: Check Work Pass and Application Status.
- Read the brief notice — the service covers Work Permit, S Pass, Employment Pass, Dependant's Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass, Training Employment Pass and EntrePass. Application records are available for the last 6 months.
- Choose what you are checking — application status, current pass validity, or Work Permit salary information.
- Enter the helper's date of birth.
- Enter either the FIN or the passport number. Both work; FIN is more reliable once a pass is issued.
- If you are checking Work Permit salary, also enter the Date of Application printed on the IPA letter.
- Complete the CAPTCHA and submit.
- Note down the status displayed. If you need a record, save the page as a PDF — the eService does not email results.
For employers managing their own applications, the myMOM Portal shows the full pipeline — submitted, IPA issued, issued, cancellation in progress — alongside levy bills and pass-holder lists.
What each MOM status means
MOM uses a small set of statuses that look similar but mean very different things. Here is how to read them:
| Status | What it means | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| Pending | Application received by MOM but not yet decided. | Wait. FDW eService applications are usually processed within about 1 week; manual form submissions take around 3 weeks. |
| Approved / IPA Issued | MOM has issued the In-Principle Approval letter. The helper has not yet entered Singapore or the permit has not been issued. | Arrange flights, insurance, security bond and medical exam. Sign and return the declaration forms. |
| Issued | The Work Permit itself has been issued. The helper is legally permitted to work for you. | Activate the SGWorkPass mobile app. Wait for the physical card (about 5 working days). |
| Rejected | MOM did not approve the application. | Read the rejection reason. You may appeal via myMOM Portal within the stated window. |
| Cancelled | The permit has been cancelled and is no longer valid. | Confirm the cancellation date. Stop the levy. Arrange repatriation or transfer. |
| Cancelled by Employer | The cancellation was initiated by the employer. | If you initiated it — proceed with repatriation / transfer paperwork. If you did not — contact MOM immediately. |
| Expired | The permit reached its validity date without being renewed. | Do not let the helper continue working. Renew immediately if eligible; otherwise cancel and arrange repatriation. |
IPA (In-Principle Approval) status and validity
The IPA letter is MOM's written approval to issue a Work Permit. It is emailed to the employer (and the agency, if applicable) once the application is approved. The IPA contains the helper's particulars, the approved salary, the employer's details and a Date of Application — keep this letter safe; you will need it to issue the permit and to check salary information through the eService.
The IPA is time-limited. If your helper cannot arrive in Singapore before the IPA validity ends, you must request an IPA extension via the FDW eService before it lapses. If the IPA expires without being used, the application is effectively closed and you will need to apply again. MOM does not automatically extend it — the request must come from the employer or agency.
Tip: do not book the flight or schedule the medical exam until the IPA is in your inbox and the particulars (name, passport, date of birth) match the helper's passport exactly. A mismatch will hold up the permit issuance even after she lands.
Work permit expiry: how to find it, what to do
A Work Permit for an FDW is usually valid for up to 2 years, subject to the validity of the security bond and the helper's age. The expiry date appears on:
- The front of the Work Permit card, printed below the photo and FIN
- The SGWorkPass mobile app, under the helper's profile
- The Check Work Pass and Application Status eService when you query her FIN
MOM sends a renewal letter about 8 weeks before expiry. From that point, you can renew online — most employers complete the renewal in a single sitting once medical examination and insurance are in order. Letting the permit lapse means you remain liable for levy after expiry and the helper cannot legally continue working.
For the full renewal walkthrough, see our guide on renewing a helper's Work Permit in Singapore. You should also have a current helper insurance policy in place before submitting renewal.
"Cancelled" vs "Cancelled by Employer" — what's the difference
This is the single most-asked question we get from employers checking status. The two look similar but have different implications:
- Cancelled is a generic state — the permit is no longer in force. It could be because of transfer, end of contract, the helper's own request to go home, MOM action, or other reasons.
- Cancelled by Employer specifically means the employer submitted the cancellation. This is the normal path when a contract ends, the helper resigns, or you no longer need her services.
If you see Cancelled by Employer but you did not submit a cancellation — call MOM immediately. For the full cancellation playbook (including levy stop dates and the 14-day repatriation window), see our guide on cancelling a maid Work Permit in Singapore.
If your helper is moving to a new employer rather than going home, the status path is different — see how to transfer a maid in Singapore for the cancellation-to-new-IPA timeline.
Can a maid agency check on my behalf?
Yes. A licensed Employment Agency (EA) can run the status check on your behalf, and a good agency will do so as a standard step before any contract is signed. At Upwill, we verify:
- The IPA matches the passport — name, date of birth, nationality
- The current pass status (Issued, Cancelled, Pending) before introducing a transfer candidate
- The historical employment record — see FDW employment history verification
- The levy concession status — see FDW levy for when the levy starts and stops
If the agency is using the public eService, no special access is needed — only the helper's DOB and FIN/passport. If the agency is acting through the myMOM Portal under your employer account, you must add them via Corppass.
What to do if status is wrong or stuck
Most "stuck" statuses resolve on their own within a few working days. Before escalating, check:
- Is it within the published processing time? FDW eService: about 1 week. Manual forms: about 3 weeks.
- Are particulars correct? A passport renewed between IPA and arrival is a common cause of mismatch.
- Has the medical exam been completed? Permit issuance cannot proceed without the medical result being uploaded.
- Is the security bond and insurance in force? Without these, MOM will not issue the permit even after IPA approval.
If the status is genuinely wrong — for example, showing Cancelled when you renewed last week — contact MOM through the myMOM Portal feedback channel or call 6438 5122. Keep a screenshot of the status, your application reference number, and the IPA letter on hand.
Quick checklist before you log in
Print this and tape it next to your computer:
- Helper's FIN or passport number
- Helper's date of birth
- IPA letter (PDF) — for Date of Application if you need salary details
- Singpass (for myMOM Portal) or no login needed (for the public eService)
- Corppass with myMOM Portal access assigned (for employers)
- A note of the last action taken (submitted, renewed, cancelled) and the date
- The MOM helpline: 6438 5122
About the reviewer: Wendy Tan is an EA Personnel with Upwill Employment (EA Licence 24C2628). She has processed over 500 work permit applications and status verifications since 2019. Source documents reviewed: MOM Work Permit for FDW.