Domestic Helper Home Leave Singapore 2026 — Entitlements, Levy Waiver, Air Ticket Rules

If your migrant domestic worker (MDW) has just completed her two-year contract — or is asking to visit her family after a long stretch in Singapore — you are probably wondering what the law actually requires. The short answer: home leave is not statutory in Singapore. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not set a minimum number of home-leave days. But it is one of the most common contractual terms in the standard MDW employment contract, and almost every employer agency uses the same default — 15 days of paid home leave (with return air ticket) at the end of every two-year contract. This guide explains what you owe, what is customary by nationality, how to claim the MOM levy waiver, and exactly what to do before, during and after she flies home.

Reviewed by Wendy Tan, Licensed Employment Agent, MOM EA Licence 24C2628. Last updated May 2026.

Home leave entitlement — what's required vs what's customary

Singapore employment law treats MDWs differently from local employees. The Employment Act excludes domestic workers, so there is no statutory annual leave and no mandated home leave. What you actually owe depends entirely on:

1. The written employment contract you signed when you hired her (or renewed her permit)
2. The safety agreement she signed before deployment
3. Any side letter or addendum (especially common for Filipino helpers, where the POLO contract overrides house-style terms)

MOM publishes a recommended Standard Employment Contract that most agencies adapt. Its default home-leave clause reads: "The FDW shall be entitled to 15 days of paid home leave inclusive of a return ticket to her city of origin, to be taken at the end of every 24 months of service." If she does not wish to take the leave, the contract usually allows her to encash the ticket as a lump-sum equivalent.

If you used your agency's house contract instead, check what was actually written. Verbal promises do not count if the contract is silent.

Typical home-leave norms by nationality

While the MOM standard says 15 days, the market has settled into nationality-specific norms driven by source-country contract templates and travel distance. These are the ranges Upwill sees in the 2026 hiring market:

If she is Filipino, also read our deeper guide: Filipino Maid Home Leave Singapore 2026 — OEC, POLO and re-entry rules.

How long should home leave be?

The sweet spot for most households is 2 to 4 weeks. Here is the trade-off:

• Under 7 days - you lose the MOM levy waiver entirely. Rarely worth it unless it's a short emergency trip.
• 7-14 days - qualifies for one month of levy waiver. Good for short family visits.
• 14-30 days - the most common range. Gives her real time with family and qualifies for one full month of waiver.
• 30-60 days - qualifies for up to two months of waiver, but you will likely need to apply to defer her 6-monthly medical exam (6ME).
• Over 60 days - the levy waiver is capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year. Anything beyond that you pay full levy on, even though she is overseas.

MOM levy waiver — the 7-day rule explained

This is the single most misunderstood part of home leave. The rules from MOM are:

• The helper must be overseas for at least 7 consecutive days (not counting the day she departs)
• The waiver is capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year
• You must continue paying levy during her absence - the waiver is applied retroactively after she returns
• You apply via the MOM e-Service within 1 year of the levy bill; missed claims expire
• You must keep proof of her departure and return - outbound and return air tickets, boarding passes, or passport entry/exit stamps

At the current S$300/month domestic levy (or S$60 concessionary), a 2-week home leave saves you S$300 or S$60 respectively. A 4-week trip can save up to S$600. See our full FDW Levy guide for the application walkthrough.

Air ticket — who pays and how to budget

Under the MOM Standard Contract and almost every agency house contract, the employer pays for the return ticket at the end of the 24-month contract. If she goes home mid-contract for a personal reason, the contract usually treats it as her cost unless you agree otherwise.

Budget guidance for 2026:

• Jakarta, Manila, Yangon - S$200-400 if booked 6-8 weeks ahead, off-peak
• Cebu, Surabaya, Mandalay, Chennai - S$350-550
• Peak periods (Christmas, Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, school holidays) - add 40-80%

Practical tips: book directly through the airline, avoid third-party booking sites, and always pay for a checked baggage allowance of at least 25kg - helpers invariably bring gifts home.

Maid insurance gap during home leave

Almost all MOM-mandated MDW insurance policies in Singapore are territorially restricted. The fine print usually says cover applies only while the insured is in Singapore. If she breaks her leg in Yangon or needs hospitalisation in Cebu, your Singapore policy will not pay. You should either:

1. Buy a short-term FDW travel insurance rider - most insurers offer one for S$15-40 per trip
2. Have her purchase travel insurance in her home country (cheaper but harder to claim from Singapore)

See our FDW Travel Insurance Singapore 2026 guide and our maid insurance comparison.

Documents she needs to fly home

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond her return date
• Confirmed return ticket back to Singapore
• Valid Work Permit card (physical card or SGWorkPass app)
• Employer letter confirming employment status and return date
• Sufficient cash or card for transit, taxi, and documentation fees

Generic employer letter template

To Whom It May Concern,

This letter confirms that [HELPER FULL NAME], passport number [XXXXX], holding Singapore Work Permit number [XXXXX], is employed in my household as a Migrant Domestic Worker from [START DATE] to present. She is travelling to [COUNTRY] from [DEPART DATE] to [RETURN DATE] for home leave, and will resume her duties in Singapore thereafter. Her Singapore Work Permit remains valid and her employment is continuing.

[Employer Name, NRIC, Address, Signature, Date]

What about her Work Permit?

Her Work Permit remains valid during home leave as long as you do not cancel it. She does not need a new pass to come back.

• Permit must not expire while she is away. If her permit expires within the next 4 months, renew it before she flies.
• Do not cancel her Work Permit for short home leave - re-applying costs more than just paying levy during the gap.
• If she will be away more than 30 days, consider applying for 6ME deferment in advance.

When she returns — settling-back checklist

1. Apply for the levy waiver through MOM e-Service. Upload boarding passes or passport stamps.
2. Reschedule her 6-monthly medical exam if it fell during the leave period.
3. Give her 1-2 lighter days - most helpers return with stomach bugs or fatigue.
4. Verify her Work Permit on the SGWorkPass app - confirm status is still "Valid".
5. Check her insurance - most policies auto-resume Singapore coverage when she lands.

Pre-departure checklist for employers

• Confirm passport validity (6 months beyond return)
• Confirm return ticket booked and printed
• Confirm her physical Work Permit card is with her
• Sign the employer letter
• Save next-of-kin contact numbers in her home country
• Take photos/scans of all her documents
• Brief her on what time to be at Changi (3 hours before flight)
• Arrange Grab/taxi to airport
• Settle any outstanding salary or remittance before she goes
• Agree on a check-in cadence
• Calendar her return date and set a reminder to apply for levy waiver after

Home leave done well is one of the best ways to retain a good helper. Explore helper insurance options with overseas cover before she flies.

Reviewed by Wendy Tan, Licensed Employment Agent, Upwill (MOM EA Licence 24C2628). Last reviewed May 2026.