How long does it take to hire a maid in Singapore as a first-time employer?

Plan for around 8 weeks end to end. The first 2 weeks are research, EOP completion and budgeting; weeks 3 to 4 are agency selection and interviews; weeks 5 to 6 cover the Work Permit, security bond, insurance and pre-arrival preparation; weeks 7 to 8 are arrival, the Settling-in Programme and onboarding. With MOM's FDW eService, the In-Principle Approval usually comes within 1 week.

Is the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) really mandatory?

Yes, for anyone employing a migrant domestic worker for the first time. It must be completed at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application is submitted. It is a paid course run by MOM-appointed providers: about 2 hours online or 3 hours in a classroom, with 2026 fees from S$29.98 to S$76.30 depending on provider, format and language.

How much should I budget for the first year of hiring a helper?

Start with the fixed statutory costs: a S$300 monthly levy (S$60 if you qualify for the concession), a S$5,000 security bond held as a guarantee, medical and personal accident insurance of at least S$60,000 each, Work Permit fees of S$35 on application and S$35 on issuance, the EOP and SIP fees, and 6-monthly medicals. Then add her salary, food, upkeep and your agency fee, which varies by agency.

How do I choose a trustworthy maid agency in Singapore?

Only deal with an agency holding a valid MOM Employment Agency licence (for example, Upwill operates under EA Licence 24C2628), and verify it on MOM's portal. Read recent reviews and get the service agreement in writing, including the cost breakdown, refund terms and replacement conditions. Walk away from any agency that pressures you, refuses to put fees in writing, or hides biodata.

Can I hold my helper's passport for safekeeping?

No. MOM says employers should not keep their migrant domestic worker's passport and should not force her to hand it over, and its employer guide says that if she asks you to keep it, you should tell her it is her personal document to keep. Give her a secure place in her room where she can reach it at any time.

What happens if the placement doesn't work out in the first few months?

Speak to your agency first, because your service agreement should set out replacement conditions and timeframes. If you end the employment, give notice or salary in lieu as your contract states and ask your helper whether she prefers to go home or find another employer. You must send her home if her Work Permit is cancelled, or the security bond can be forfeited.

Does my helper need her own room in Singapore?

MOM says she should have a separate room where possible, but it is not an absolute requirement. What is required: shelter from sun, rain and wind, at least a mattress, pillow and blanket, and enough ventilation. She must not sleep near dangerous equipment or the toilet, or share a room with an adult or teenage male, and her privacy must be protected if she has no room of her own.

Can I hire a maid in Singapore without an agency?

Yes. MOM lets employers apply for a new migrant domestic worker's Work Permit, or renew one, directly through the FDW eService with Singpass. You then handle the sourcing, checks, bond, insurance, SIP booking and arrival logistics yourself. Most first-time employers use a licensed agency because it screens biodata and handles the paperwork, and the Philippine Migrant Workers Office lists a licensed Singapore agency as a requirement for Filipino hires.

When does the levy start for a first-time helper?

For a helper who is new to Singapore, MOM starts the levy on the 5th day of her arrival, counting the arrival date. For other helpers it starts the day after arrival. The standard levy is S$300 a month for your first helper, or S$60 at the concessionary rate, and under GIRO each month's levy is deducted on the 17th of the following month.

First-Time Maid Employer Singapore 2026: The Complete 8-Week Checklist (Hiring Through a Maid Agency)

Published: 20 May 2026Last updated: 22 September 2026

TL;DR: To hire your first helper through a maid agency in Singapore, give yourself about 8 weeks. Weeks 1 to 2 are eligibility, the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) and budget; weeks 3 to 5 are agency selection, interviews, Work Permit, security bond and insurance; weeks 6 to 8 are arrival, the Settling-in Programme (SIP) and onboarding. Every rule and fee below was checked against MOM's own pages in September 2026.

First-time maid employer Singapore 2026 checklist showing 8-week timeline from decision to helper arrival — A first-time employer's 8-week roadmap from initial research to your helper's first day at home.

Hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW) for the first time in Singapore can feel overwhelming, and most first-timers start by searching for a trustworthy maid agency in Singapore before they realise how much else there is to plan: the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP), the S$5,000 security bond, the monthly levy, mandatory insurance and the helper's own Settling-in Programme. The good news: if you give yourself roughly eight weeks from decision to having a helper at your door, the process is genuinely manageable.

This pillar checklist walks you through every step in the order you should tackle it, links to in-depth guides for each decision point, and flags the seven mistakes first-timers make most often. Bookmark this page, it ties together the rest of our Singapore-employer library.

The 8-Week Timeline: From Decision To Helper-At-Your-Door

Visual 8-week timeline showing each step of hiring a maid in Singapore from week 1 eligibility check to week 8 settling in — Weeks 1 to 2 are research and admin; weeks 3 to 5 are agency and Work Permit; weeks 6 to 8 are arrival and onboarding.

Week 1: Self-eligibility check, budget planning, book the EOP
Week 2: Finish the EOP, decide nationality, confirm MOM's helper criteria
Week 3: Shortlist MOM-licensed agencies; biodata review
Week 4: Interviews and final selection
Week 5: Work Permit application, security bond, insurance
Week 6: Helper's medical and training in her home country; room prep at home
Week 7: Arrival, Settling-in Programme (SIP), medical examination, Work Permit issuance
Week 8: First payslip, house orientation, ongoing rhythm established

Step 1: Self-Eligibility Check (Week 1)

Before you spend a dollar, confirm that you actually qualify to hire a helper. MOM requires the employer to be 21 or older, not an undischarged bankrupt, and to have the mental capacity to understand and carry out an employer's responsibilities. MOM also looks at your caregiving needs (for example young children or elderly family members) and your financial ability to hire and upkeep a helper. MOM uses household income as a criterion but does not publish the exact figure. Sources: MOM employer requirements and MOM FAQ on minimum income.

Run through our full eligibility matrix in Criteria To Hire A Maid In Singapore (2026) before going further. MOM's application page also allows a sponsor to apply in some situations, so if you do not qualify on your own, ask MOM or your agency about sponsorship before you commit.

Step 2: Budget Planning (Weeks 1 to 2)

The single biggest first-timer surprise is that salary is only one line in the budget. These are the statutory costs MOM sets, as of September 2026:

Monthly levy: S$300 for your first helper, S$450 for each subsequent helper, or S$60 at the concessionary rate (MOM levy rates).
Security bond: S$5,000 per non-Malaysian helper, provided as a banker's or insurer's guarantee (MOM security bond).
Insurance: medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year for inpatient care and day surgery, plus personal accident cover of at least S$60,000 (MOM insurance requirements).
Work Permit fees: S$35 when the application is submitted and S$35 when the Work Permit is issued (MOM application page).
EOP and SIP course fees (see Steps 3 and 10), the pre-employment medical and every 6-monthly medical examination.
Upkeep: three meals a day, accommodation and her medical treatment are your responsibility (MOM employment rules).

Salary is agreed between you and the helper and must not be lower than what you declare to MOM. For Filipino helpers, the Philippine Migrant Workers Office in Singapore requires at least S$650 a month for contracts processed from 21 October 2025 (MWO Singapore). Agency fees vary, so get every fee in writing.

Work through the full 2026 cost breakdown to model your situation. Pay particular attention to the FDW levy and check whether you qualify for levy concession or relief. Qualifying households include those with a Singapore Citizen child below 16, or a Singapore Citizen or PR aged 67 and above, whose NRIC shows the same address as yours (MOM levy concession). The concession cuts the levy from S$300 to S$60 a month, a saving of S$2,880 a year.

Step 3: Complete The Employers' Orientation Programme (Week 1 to 2)

The EOP is mandatory for anyone employing an MDW for the first time, and it must be completed at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application is submitted. It is a paid programme run by MOM-appointed providers: about 2 hours online or 3 hours in a classroom. Fees listed by MOM in 2026 range from S$29.98 to S$35.65 online and from S$34.88 to S$76.30 in a classroom, depending on provider and language (English, Mandarin, Malay or Tamil). MOM lets some employers appoint a spouse or representative instead, for example those aged 60 and above with physical discomfort, or new and expectant mothers. Source: MOM EOP page.

Tip: complete it before you sign with an agency. It changes how you'll evaluate the rest of the process.

Step 4: Choose Nationality / Source Country (Week 2)

MOM approves helpers from a fixed list of source countries and territories. Upwill places helpers from three of them: the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. Each has different strengths around English ability, cooking style, childcare experience, salary expectations and processing time. There's no best nationality, only the right match for your family.

Read our head-to-head: Filipino vs. Indonesian vs. Myanmar Helper (2026). Then browse profiles directly: Filipino helpers, Indonesian helpers, and Myanmar helpers.

Step 5: Confirm She Meets MOM's Helper Criteria (Week 2 to 3)

Before you fall for a biodata, check the basics MOM applies to every first application. The helper must be 23 to below 50 years old when the Work Permit is applied for and have at least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate (MOM MDW eligibility). A good agency screens for this before showing you profiles, and MOM's guidance says the agency must give you her full biodata in the standard format and her Singapore employment history, if any, before you hire (MOM employer guide).

A new helper from her home country needs time for medical checks, training and travel after approval, which is why this checklist allows eight weeks.

Step 6: Pick A Licensed Maid Agency (Week 3)

Only deal with agencies holding a valid MOM Employment Agency licence (EA licence). MOM does let employers apply for a Work Permit themselves through the FDW eService with Singpass (MOM FAQ), but most first-timers use an agency for sourcing, screening and paperwork. Check the licence, recent reviews and the replacement policy in writing before signing. MOM's guide lists what a service agreement should cover: the breakdown of costs, fee refunds and their timeframe, replacement conditions, and dispute resolution avenues. Upwill operates under EA Licence 24C2628, and you can verify any agency on MOM's portal.

Use our shortlists: MOM-Approved Maid Agencies (2026) and How To Choose A Maid Agency. Walk away from anyone who pressures you, refuses to put fees in writing, or asks you to interview helpers without showing their biodata.

Step 7: Interview Candidates And Select (Weeks 3 to 4)

Plan to interview at least three candidates by video call. Prepare scenario questions (How would you handle a toddler tantrum? Talk me through how you'd cook a simple meal) rather than yes/no questions. Ask about previous employers and reasons for leaving, and verify those claims with the agency.

See How To Check A Helper's Employment History for the legal ways to verify past employment. Do not skip this step.

Step 8: Work Permit, Security Bond, Insurance (Weeks 4 to 5)

Once you've selected your helper, you or your agency apply for the Work Permit. With the FDW eService, MOM says the In-Principle Approval (IPA) usually comes within 1 week unless more information is needed; paper application forms take up to 3 weeks (MOM). Before she arrives you must also:

Buy the S$5,000 security bond (not needed for Malaysian helpers). The bank or insurer can take up to 3 working days to submit it, and it must be in force when she arrives. Details: Security Bond Guide.
Buy medical and personal accident insurance (minimum S$60,000 medical a year for inpatient care and day surgery, and S$60,000 personal accident).
Register her for the Settling-in Programme if she is a first-time MDW in Singapore.
Set up GIRO for the levy. For a first-time helper, the levy starts on the 5th day of her arrival (counting the arrival day), and GIRO deducts each month's levy on the 17th of the following month (MOM).

Your helper cannot fly until the IPA is in hand, and she must print the IPA letter for travel.

Step 9: Pre-Arrival Preparation (Weeks 5 to 6)

MOM requires proper accommodation: adequate shelter from sun, rain and wind; at minimum a mattress, a pillow and a blanket; and sufficient ventilation, with a fan if natural ventilation is not enough. She must not sleep near dangerous equipment or next to wet or unsanitary areas such as the toilet, and must not share a room with an adult or teenage male. MOM says she should have a separate room where possible, and if not, you must still protect her privacy (MOM employer guide). A lockable drawer for her documents and valuables is good practice.

Review the standards in our Accommodation Guide before her arrival. MOM encourages a written employment contract covering salary, placement loan, rest days, compensation in lieu of rest days and notice, and requires you and your helper to sign a safety agreement before she starts work, which sets the rules on cleaning window exteriors (MOM contracts and safety agreement).

Step 10: Welcome Day And First Month (Weeks 6 to 8)

On arrival day, collect your helper from the airport (or via the agency), let her rest, and avoid dumping the full house tour on day one. If she is a first-time MDW in Singapore she must attend the Settling-in Programme (SIP) within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays, and not on her arrival day. MOM lists SIP fees of S$76.40 to S$92.65 including GST, paid by the employer. If she misses the SIP window, she will not be issued her Work Permit and will be sent home (MOM SIP, MOM FAQ).

After arrival, MOM also requires a medical examination within 14 days and the Work Permit to be issued within 2 weeks. If MOM asks for fingerprint and photo registration, it must be done within 1 week of issuance at MOM Services Centre, by appointment, and the card is delivered within 5 working days after that (MOM).

In her first week, walk through expectations slowly: working hours, rest day, food, prayer or religious needs, communication style, and how you'll handle mistakes. Salary must be paid no later than 7 days after the end of each salary period; if you pay in cash, keep a salary record that you both sign (MOM salary guidelines). See How To Calculate Helper Salary (2026) for a template and worked examples.

The 7 Most Common First-Time Mistakes

Seven most common mistakes first-time maid employers in Singapore make including underestimating costs and holding passports — Seven first-month mistakes that turn into disputes, and how to avoid each one.

Budgeting for salary only. The levy, insurance, medical examinations, food and upkeep are all yours to pay. Model them before you sign.
Skipping a written employment contract. Verbal agreements collapse under stress. Put salary, rest days, scope and notice in writing, and sign the mandatory safety agreement.
Holding her passport. MOM says employers should not keep their helper's passport and should not force her to hand it over. Offer a secure place she can access any time instead. Read Helper Passport Rules (2026) and MOM on passports.
Mismanaging rest days. She is entitled to one rest day a week. If she agrees to work on a rest day, pay at least one day's salary on top of her salary, and since 1 January 2023 at least one rest day a month cannot be compensated away. See Mandatory Rest Day Rules and MOM rest days.
Inadequate food provision. MOM's guide says you are responsible for providing three meals daily, with a mix of rice, meat, vegetables and fruit. See Maid Food Allowance (2026).
Salary deduction confusion. Do not make deductions until you know which are allowed, and never keep her salary or money for her, even if she asks. Review Salary Deductions (2026).
Not planning for the 6-monthly medical. The 6ME screens for pregnancy and infectious diseases, and you pay for it. MOM posts you a notification and form when it is due. If you fail to send her on time, her Work Permit will be revoked. Details: 6-Monthly Medical Examination and MOM FAQ.

If Things Don't Work Out

Some placements do not work out, and that's okay if handled correctly. Speak to your agency first: your service agreement should set out the replacement conditions and timeframe. If you end the employment, MOM's guide says to give notice or salary in lieu as your contract states, and to ask your helper whether she prefers to return home or to seek another employer in Singapore. The paths are:

She moves to a new employer with your consent. See How To Transfer A Helper.
Terminate the contract and send her home. See How To Terminate A Maid Contract.
If she initiates termination, your obligations differ. Read If Your Maid Wants To Terminate.

Whichever path you take, the security bond can be forfeited if you fail to send her home when her Work Permit is cancelled or expires (MOM).

Your Printable First-Month Checklist

☐ EOP certificate saved
☐ IPA letter printed
☐ Security bond in force before arrival
☐ Medical (S$60,000) and personal accident (S$60,000) insurance active and printed
☐ Safety agreement signed before she starts work
☐ Written employment contract signed by both parties
☐ Sleeping area meets MOM's accommodation rules
☐ Rest day arrangement agreed and updated in FDW eService
☐ Three daily meals arranged, including any religious or dietary needs
☐ Passport kept by her, with a secure place she can access
☐ Salary payment method agreed (bank transfer if she requests it) and payslip template ready
☐ Settling-in Programme attended within 7 days of arrival (excluding Sundays and public holidays)
☐ Medical examination within 14 days and Work Permit issued within 2 weeks of arrival
☐ Fingerprint and photo registration done, if MOM asks
☐ Levy GIRO active
☐ 6-monthly medical reminder set in calendar
☐ Emergency contacts exchanged (yours, hers, agency, embassy, MOM's MDW Helpline 1800 339 5505)

Hiring your first helper is a relationship, not a transaction. Move slowly through the first eight weeks, document everything, and lean on a MOM-licensed agency that's willing to support you beyond placement. If you'd like Upwill's team to walk you through any step, we're here.