First-Time Maid Employer Singapore: 50-Question FAQ for 2026

Hiring a helper for the first time in Singapore is mostly paperwork, a few one-off costs, and one decision that matters more than the rest: which person you let into your home. This FAQ answers the 50 questions our consultants hear most often from first-time employers, with 2026 numbers and the current MOM rules.

Eligibility and qualifying

1. Who can hire a foreign domestic worker in Singapore?

You must be at least 21, a Singapore Citizen or PR (or a qualifying work-pass holder), able to financially support a helper, and have a genuine need, usually young children, elderly, or a household that justifies live-in help. MOM verifies this when you submit the application.

2. Is there a minimum household income?

MOM does not publish a hard floor, but in practice approval is straightforward when household income is around S$3,000 a month or higher. Lower-income households can still qualify, especially with caregiving needs, but expect closer review.

3. Can single people hire a helper?

Yes. Singles 21 and above can hire, though MOM may ask for the reason. Caring for elderly parents in the same household is the most common approval path.

4. Can work-pass holders hire a helper?

EP, S Pass, and certain other pass holders earning a fixed monthly income (currently around S$7,000+) can hire. Bond and insurance requirements are the same.

5. Do I need to attend the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP)?

Yes, all first-time employers must complete the EOP at least two working days before submitting the work permit application. It is free, takes about three hours, and is available online.

Choosing nationality

6. What are my nationality options?

The three main source countries are the Philippines, Indonesia, and Myanmar. Each has different strengths, salary ranges, and English ability.

7. What does a Filipino helper typically cost in 2026?

S$700 to S$780 a month basic salary. Stronger English, generally higher childcare and elderly-care experience, and the most consistent supply through licensed agencies. See our 2026 salary index for the full breakdown.

8. What about Indonesian helpers?

S$580 to S$650 a month in 2026. Typically more flexible on household chores and cooking. English varies, basic Bahasa Melayu often helps.

9. And Myanmar helpers?

S$500 to S$580 a month, the lowest of the three. Generally quiet, conscientious, and willing to learn. English is usually limited at arrival but improves quickly with daily exposure.

10. Which nationality is best for elderly care?

Filipino helpers dominate elderly care because of English fluency and a larger pool with prior caregiver training. Indonesian and Myanmar helpers can do well too if matched carefully and given proper orientation.

11. Which is best for infants and young children?

Filipino if English instruction matters to you. Indonesian and Myanmar helpers handle infants competently when there is overlap time with the mother or a previous caregiver.

Agency vs DIY hire

12. Can I hire directly without an agency?

Yes, but only if you are transferring an existing helper already in Singapore, or hiring through a personal contact you can verify. For fresh hires from overseas, MOM requires a licensed EA.

13. What does an agency actually do?

Sourcing, biodata screening, medical and skills checks, IPA application, flight and arrival logistics, settling-in support, and replacement if the match fails in the first six months. A good agency saves about 40 hours of your time and significantly reduces mismatch risk.

14. How do I check if an agency is licensed?

Search the agency name on the MOM EA Directory. Confirm the EA licence number (Upwill's is 24C2628) and check the key appointment holders. Avoid any agency operating without a visible licence.

15. What should agency fees be in 2026?

Total employer-side agency fee for a fresh hire typically falls between S$1,200 and S$2,500 depending on nationality, training level, and inclusions. Be cautious of fees under S$800, they often hide costs charged to the helper.

Budget and true costs

16. What is the foreign domestic worker levy in 2026?

S$300 a month standard, or S$60 a month concessionary if you have a child under 16, an elderly family member 67 or above, or a person with disabilities in the same household. Full rules on the FDW levy page.

17. What is the security bond?

S$5,000 to MOM for non-Malaysian helpers, payable as a banker's guarantee or insurance bond. Most employers use a bond-insurance bundle for about S$70 to S$120 a year.

18. What insurance is mandatory?

Medical insurance with minimum S$60,000 annual coverage for inpatient care and day surgery, plus personal accident insurance with minimum S$60,000 sum assured. Bundles run S$280 to S$450 a year. Details on our helper insurance page.

19. What does a 6-monthly medical exam cost?

About S$60 to S$90 each. MOM requires it twice a year, screening for pregnancy, TB, syphilis, HIV, and other conditions.

20. What is the realistic monthly cost of employing a helper?

For a Filipino helper at S$750 salary with standard levy: S$750 salary + S$300 levy + S$30 amortised insurance + S$200 food and toiletries = roughly S$1,280 a month. Concessionary levy households drop closer to S$1,040.

21. What is the 24-month total cost?

Approximately S$22,000 all-in for a Filipino helper on standard levy, including agency fees, salary, levy, insurance, medical, and household provisions. Use our cost calculator to model your own scenario.

Documents and application timeline

22. What documents do I need to start?

Your NRIC, proof of income (CPF statement or latest IRAS NOA), proof of address, and Singpass. Married couples may need the spouse's details too.

23. What is an IPA?

In-Principle Approval, the document MOM issues after approving the work permit application. The helper needs the IPA to fly into Singapore.

24. How long does the full process take?

From signing with the agency to helper arrival: typically 4 to 8 weeks for a fresh Filipino or Indonesian hire, 6 to 10 weeks for Myanmar. Transfer helpers can land in 5 to 10 working days. See the hiring timeline.

25. When do I pay the levy?

From the day the helper arrives in Singapore. MOM GIRO-deducts on the 17th of each month.

26. When do I issue the work permit card?

Within 14 days of the helper arriving. The agency handles the appointment at the MOM Work Pass Division on your behalf.

27. Do I need to register thumbprints?

Yes, the helper does, at the Work Pass Division when collecting the card.

Bond, deposit, and protections

28. What does the security bond actually cover?

It is MOM's protection, not yours. The bond can be forfeited if the employer or helper breaches MOM rules, for example overstaying, illegal deployment, or failing to send the helper home at the end of the contract.

29. Should I take a personal cash deposit from the helper?

No. Loan deductions or salary kickbacks by employers are illegal. Reputable agencies do not request this.

30. Are loan deductions to the agency legal?

Yes, for the helper's own placement loan, but capped by MOM at six months of basic salary and properly disclosed in the employment contract.

Pre-arrival preparation

31. Does the helper need her own room?

MOM strongly recommends a private room with a window or proper ventilation. Shared rooms are allowed only in genuine space constraints and must preserve the helper's privacy and modesty.

32. What should I have ready before she arrives?

Bed and bedding, locking cupboard or drawer for personal items, basic toiletries for the first week, a working SIM card, a notebook for instructions, and the house keys situation clarified.

33. Should I prepare a written contract?

Yes. The MOM standard employment contract is the baseline. Add your house rules in a separate, clearly worded document and sign both.

First week and first month

34. What is the Settling-in Programme?

A one-day mandatory MOM-approved course for first-time helpers in Singapore, covering safety, employer relations, stress management, and adaptation. Must be completed within three working days of arrival.

35. What should I cover in week one?

Home tour, appliance demonstrations, food preferences, medication for any family members, emergency contacts, off-day expectations, phone and Wi-Fi rules, and a written daily schedule.

36. How long until she settles in?

Most helpers reach steady-state performance in 6 to 10 weeks. Expect mistakes in week one and two. Correct calmly and specifically.

Day-to-day employer responsibilities

37. Is a weekly rest day mandatory?

Yes since 2023. One rest day a week, with the option to compensate in lieu only if the helper agrees in writing and is paid at least one day's salary. Full rules on the rest days page.

38. When do I pay salary?

Within seven days of the end of each salary period, typically monthly. Pay by bank transfer to the helper's own account and keep records.

39. Do I have to provide three meals?

Yes, adequate food or a food allowance of about S$300 a month if the helper prefers to cook for herself.

40. Can I keep her passport?

No. MOM prohibits employers from holding the helper's passport or work permit. Both must be in her possession.

41. Can I install cameras at home?

Yes, in common areas, with the helper informed. Cameras in bedrooms or bathrooms are not allowed.

42. Am I responsible for her medical bills?

Yes, beyond what the mandatory insurance covers, you are responsible for medical treatment costs for the duration of the employment.

When things go wrong

43. What if the match is not working in the first month?

Talk to your agency immediately. Most reputable agencies offer one free replacement within the first six months if the issue is genuine, not preference drift.

44. What if the helper wants to go home early?

You can repatriate her after notice. You pay the air ticket, settle salary up to last working day, and cancel the work permit. The agency handles the logistics.

45. What if she gets pregnant or contracts a serious illness?

MOM revokes the work permit on confirmed pregnancy or certain illnesses. Repatriation is at your cost. Insurance may cover part of the medical bill.

46. What if I suspect theft or dishonesty?

Document specifics, do not confront aggressively. Call the agency. For confirmed theft, file a police report. Forfeit of bond is possible if mishandled.

47. Can the helper file a complaint against me?

Yes, through MOM or the Centre for Domestic Employees. Common complaints are unpaid salary, insufficient food, and denied rest days. Document everything you do to stay defensible.

Replacement and transfer scenarios

48. What is a transfer helper?

A helper already in Singapore whose current contract is ending or being terminated, looking for a new employer. Faster onboarding, but always interview and reference-check thoroughly.

49. What is the cost of a transfer hire?

Agency fees similar or slightly lower than fresh hires, no flight cost, faster start, but no placement loan reduction on salary. See the maid salary page for transfer-vs-fresh salary norms.

50. When does the two-year contract end, and what are my options?

At the end of two years, you can renew (no new bond, just renewal), let the helper transfer to another employer, or send her home. Renewal is the smoothest path if the match is working.

Final note

Hiring a helper is a two-year commitment with one-off costs of around S$2,000 to S$3,000 and a recurring monthly cost near S$1,200. The decisions that matter most are not the paperwork. They are which person you choose, how you set expectations in the first month, and whether you treat her like a professional in your home. Get those three right and the rest is administration.