How to Renew Your Helper's Passport in Singapore (2026): Indonesian, Filipino, Myanmar Guide
TL;DR: To renew your maid's passport in Singapore, she books an appointment with her embassy (Indonesian, Philippine or Myanmar), attends in person with her current passport and Work Permit, and pays the fee. Then you update her new passport number in MOM's FDW eService. MOM's current guidance no longer ties her Work Permit to her passport validity, but an expiring passport still blocks travel, so start early.
Most employers focus on the Work Permit and forget about the passport behind it. MOM has loosened the link: its renewal page now says the helper's passport is no longer tied to her Work Permit duration, so you can renew her Work Permit even if her passport has expired or has less than 2 years' validity. But she still cannot fly home, and may struggle with other everyday transactions, on an expired passport. And MOM's records need her current passport details.
This guide walks through how to renew your helper's passport in Singapore in 2026 at the Indonesian, Philippine and Myanmar embassies, plus the employer's role and what to do after the new passport arrives.
Reviewed by Yvonne, Placement Consultant at Upwill Employment Services (MOM EA Licence 24C2628). Last updated 22 September 2026.
When to start the passport renewal process
The safe rule: start about six months before passport expiry. Airlines and transit countries set their own passport validity rules, and embassy appointment slots are not always available at short notice.
Practical timing markers:
- Six months before expiry: check appointment availability at the relevant embassy.
- Before any home leave trip: check her passport against the airline's rules before booking. See our home leave guide.
- Around her Work Permit renewal: MOM lets you renew the Work Permit even if the passport has expired or has less than 2 years left, so you do not have to wait for the new passport. Update MOM once it arrives. See our Work Permit renewal guide.
You can check current Work Permit status using our Work Permit status check guide.
Indonesian passport renewal at KBRI Singapore
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) at 7 Chatsworth Road, Singapore 249761, handles passport renewals for Indonesian nationals in Singapore, including domestic workers.
Important 2024 change: 5-year validity
KBRI's passport services page explains that under Regulation No. 19 of 2024 of Indonesia's Minister of Law and Human Rights, passports issued by Indonesian missions abroad, electronic and non-electronic, are valid for a maximum of 5 years, effective at missions no later than 2 September 2024. If your helper renews in Singapore, expect a 5-year passport, and diary the next renewal accordingly.
Documents required
KBRI's passport renewal checklist lists:
- Completed application form PERDIM 11.
- Current passport, original and copy.
- Singapore pass, copy (for a helper, her Work Permit card).
If she chooses to have the passport posted back, the embassy's registration portal also lists a SmartPac envelope and a signed postal delivery disclaimer form.
Appointment and fees
Appointments are booked online through KBRI's registration portal at register.indonesianembassy.sg, and your helper attends in person. KBRI lists its WhatsApp Business number as +65 9648 0017. Fees are set by Indonesian regulation and can change, so ask your helper to check the amount shown when she books and bring payment on the day.
Filipino passport renewal at the Philippine Embassy
The Philippine Embassy at 20 Nassim Road, Singapore 258395 handles passport renewals through its Consular Section.
Documents required
The Embassy's passport page lists:
- Screenshot or printout of the appointment confirmation email.
- The completed application form sent by email.
- Current Philippine passport, original and one photocopy of the data page.
- Valid Singapore pass (for a helper, her Work Permit), original and one photocopy.
- Additional PSA documents only if she is changing details, for example a married woman using her spouse's surname.
Personal appearance is required. The Embassy does not list an employer letter as a requirement, although you may still want to write one confirming she has time off for the appointment.
Appointment
Renewal appointments are booked through the DFA's Global Online Appointment System at passport.gov.ph, which the Embassy links to. The Embassy says a confirmed appointment is strictly required, no walk-ins are processed, appointments are free, and rescheduling is free. It warns applicants to report anyone charging for slots. Urgent requests, such as an expiring Singapore pass, can be emailed to [email protected] with the appointment confirmation, passport data page, work pass and proof of urgency.
Fees and collection
The Embassy's advisory on consular fees says the passport renewal fee was reduced from SGD 102 to SGD 84 with effect from 1 April 2024. Check the Embassy's fees page before the appointment in case it changes. When the passport is ready, your helper can check the passport collection page; the collection counter is open 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday except public holidays, and she should bring her current passport and collection slip.
Myanmar passport renewal at the Myanmar Embassy
The Embassy of Myanmar at 15 St Martin's Drive, Singapore 257996 renews passports for Myanmar nationals in Singapore.
Documents required
The Embassy's consular services page lists for renewal:
- The application form. There is a separate form for Work Permit (Domestic Helper) holders.
- One recent white-background passport-sized photo taken within 6 months. The Embassy does not offer photo-taking, but also takes a photo on site for the machine-readable passport.
- Original passport and 2 copies of the data and observation pages.
- Work Permit card, original and 2 copies.
Appointment, hours and fees
The Embassy publishes passport renewal lists with fixed appointment dates on its homepage, so ask your helper to check for her name and attend on the date given. Its listed hours are 8:30 am to 12:00 noon for application submission and 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm for passport collection, Monday to Friday. The Embassy lists a passport renewal fee of S$65, with higher fees for expired or damaged passports (S$100, or S$125 if expired over 2 years), S$110 to renew a passport that still has over one year of validity, and S$190 to replace a lost passport. It accepts cash only; cards and mobile payment are not accepted.
The employer's role
Embassies deal with your helper directly, but you can make the process much smoother:
- Agree who pays the fee. MOM's FAQ on passport renewal costs says you and your helper should mutually agree who pays, preferably at the start of employment and in the contract. MOM notes that passport renewal fees can be relatively costly for a helper, so many employers choose to help.
- Give time off for the appointment. Embassy slots are during weekday office hours.
- Respect that the passport is hers. If you are keeping it for safekeeping at her request, return it whenever she asks, and never use it as leverage. See our context piece on FDW employment history for related employer obligations.
- Help with transport and paperwork, such as photocopies of her Work Permit card.
After the new passport: update MOM
This is the step employers most often miss. MOM's page on notifying MOM of changes says you can update your helper's passport number or expiry date yourself using MOM's FDW eService.
- Log in to the FDW eService with Singpass.
- Select your helper's record and choose the option to update her particulars.
- Enter the new passport number and expiry date, and submit.
MOM says it will inform ICA of your helper's new particulars. If she wants to use the automated immigration gates, she can do so 4 working days after you receive MOM's email confirming the update. For other changes that need supporting documents, MOM provides a separate request form and replies within 7 working days.
Doing this matters because the next time you transact (a Work Permit renewal, an IPA check, or a home leave trip), MOM's records should show her current passport.
Lost or damaged passport
If the passport is lost or seriously damaged, the process changes:
- Lodge a police report with the Singapore Police Force. KBRI, for example, lists a Singapore police loss report among the documents for a lost passport.
- Contact the embassy for its lost or damaged passport requirements, and attend with the police report, Work Permit and any ID documents.
- Expect higher fees. The Myanmar Embassy, for example, lists S$190 to replace a lost passport against S$65 for a normal renewal.
- Update MOM through the FDW eService once the new passport is issued.
Passport renewal checklist
| Step | Who does it | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Diary the passport expiry date | Employer | At start of employment |
| Agree who pays the fee | Employer and helper | At start of employment |
| Book embassy appointment | Helper (with employer help) | About 6 months before expiry |
| Prepare copies of passport and Work Permit | Helper (with employer help) | Before the appointment |
| Attend the appointment | Helper, in person | On booked date |
| Collect the new passport | Helper | When the embassy says it is ready |
| Update MOM with new passport number | Employer via FDW eService | Soon after collection |
The whole sequence is straightforward when you start early. Most problems come from leaving it too late: squeezed appointment windows and home-leave flights pushed back because a passport is close to expiry.
Reviewed by Yvonne, Upwill Employment Services. MOM EA Licence 24C2628. This guide reflects MOM, KBRI Singapura, Philippine Embassy and Myanmar Embassy information checked on 22 September 2026; always confirm current fees and document requirements with the relevant embassy before attending.