How much does it cost to hire an Indonesian maid in Singapore in 2026?

The fixed MOM costs are a $35 application fee, a $35 issuance fee, the Settling-in Programme for first-time helpers ($76.40 to $92.65), a $5,000 security bond, and insurance of at least $60,000 medical and $60,000 personal accident. Monthly, you pay the levy ($300, or $60 if you qualify for the concession) plus salary. Agency fees and airfare vary, so ask for an itemised quote.

What is the minimum salary for an Indonesian maid in Singapore?

Singapore has no minimum wage for domestic workers; MOM says it does not prescribe minimum wages for any workers, including helpers. Salary is agreed between you and the helper, declared to MOM, and must be paid no later than 7 days after each salary period. Filipino helpers are different: the Philippines requires at least SGD 650 for contracts from 21 October 2025.

Can I hire an Indonesian helper without a maid agency?

For a new helper from Indonesia, not on your own. Indonesia's Law No. 18 of 2017 lets only the government agency, licensed placement companies (P3MI) and companies hiring for their own business place workers abroad, and bars individuals from placing workers. Households go through a P3MI, usually partnered with a Singapore agency. Renewing your current helper can be done directly with MOM.

What is KP2MI and how is it different from BP2MI?

KP2MI is Indonesia's Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection. In 2024, Presidential Regulations 165 and 166 of 2024 transformed BP2MI into KP2MI/BP2MI, giving migrant worker protection full ministry status. It oversees Indonesian workers placed abroad, including domestic helpers in Singapore. Placements still run through licensed P3MI companies under Law No. 18 of 2017.

Where is the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore?

The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore (KBRI Singapura) is at 7 Chatsworth Road, Singapore 249761. Its office line is 6737 7422 and its email is singapura.kbri@kemlu.go.id, according to the embassy's own contact page. It provides consular services to Indonesian citizens working in Singapore, including domestic helpers. Ask your agency which embassy steps apply to your helper's contract.

Is it better to hire an Indonesian or Filipino helper for eldercare?

Indonesian helpers are often chosen for eldercare involving Malay-speaking elderly or households requiring halal cooking. Filipino helpers usually have stronger English and suit households where English communication is essential. Both can be excellent. Match by the specific care needs, language at home and the individual helper's experience rather than by nationality alone.

Indonesian Maid Agency Singapore 2026: Complete Hiring Guide (Costs, Embassy Rules, Process)

Published: 20 May 2026Last updated: 22 September 2026

TL;DR: A maid agency in Singapore that places Indonesian helpers works with a licensed Indonesian placement company (P3MI), because Indonesian law bars individuals from placing migrant workers. The agency also handles MOM paperwork. Your fixed MOM costs are a $35 application fee, $35 issuance fee, $5,000 security bond, $60,000 medical and PA insurance, and a $300 monthly levy ($60 if you qualify for the concession).

If you are searching for an Indonesian maid agency in Singapore in 2026, you are likely weighing cost, eldercare suitability, and the rules on both sides of the Jakarta to Singapore route. Indonesian helpers are sought after by families with elderly parents, Malay-speaking households, and households that need halal cooking.

This guide explains how an Indonesian-focused agency works, which Indonesian rules apply, the MOM costs you cannot avoid, and how to vet an agency. Every rule below links to an official source we checked on 22 September 2026.

Indonesian domestic helper smiling with Singapore employer family in HDB living room — Indonesian helpers are often hired by Singapore families needing eldercare and halal cooking.

What an Indonesian Maid Agency in Singapore Actually Does

An Indonesian-focused maid agency is the bridge between two systems: Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Indonesia's migrant worker authorities. In 2024, Presidential Regulations 165 and 166 of 2024 turned BP2MI into the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (KP2MI)/BP2MI. In Singapore, the Indonesian government is represented by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI Singapura), 7 Chatsworth Road.

A properly run Indonesian agency:

Works with a licensed P3MI (Perusahaan Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia), the Indonesian placement company. Under Law No. 18 of 2017, a P3MI must hold a written SIP3MI licence from the Minister.
Coordinates the Indonesian-side steps: registration, the Indonesian employment agreement, medical clearance and departure documents.
Handles MOM-side paperwork: the Work Permit application, security bond, insurance, the Settling-in Programme (SIP) for first-time helpers, and Work Permit issuance.

If an agency cannot tell you who its P3MI partner is, walk away. That missing link is the first thing to check.

Why Employers Specifically Want Indonesian Helpers

Indonesian helpers fill a distinct niche. The reasons employers give are consistent, though every helper is an individual:

Eldercare. Many helpers come from multigenerational households and are comfortable caring for elderly family members. Ask about specific experience with dementia or stroke recovery rather than assuming it.
Halal cooking. Many Indonesian helpers are Muslim and can cook halal meals confidently, which matters for Malay-Muslim households.
Bahasa Melayu. Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Melayu are closely related, which helps when the elderly person being cared for speaks mainly Malay.
Salary flexibility. Singapore sets no minimum wage for domestic workers, so salary is agreed between you and the helper. Filipino helpers, by contrast, now have a Philippine-set floor of SGD 650.

For a side-by-side comparison, see our breakdown of Filipino vs Indonesian vs Myanmar helpers in 2026.

Indonesian Rules You Must Know

Placement through a licensed P3MI. Law No. 18 of 2017 lists who may place Indonesian workers abroad (Article 49) and prohibits individuals from carrying out placements (Article 69). This is why a household employer goes through an agency chain rather than hiring directly.
Minimum age. Indonesian law sets a minimum of 18 (Article 5). MOM's own rule is stricter: a new helper must be aged 23 to below 50 at the Work Permit application, so MOM's minimum is the one that applies in practice.
Social security and documents. Article 5 also requires Indonesian migrant workers to be registered with Indonesian social security and to hold complete documents before departure.
The Indonesian Embassy. KBRI Singapura at 7 Chatsworth Road provides consular services to Indonesian citizens, including helpers. Your agency can explain what embassy steps apply to your contract.

The Step-by-Step Process (Indonesia to Singapore)

Seven-step flow diagram showing Indonesian helper recruitment from Jakarta to Singapore deployment — The Indonesian deployment pipeline from candidate biodata to first day of work.

Tell the agency what you need: age range, experience, religion, languages, eldercare or childcare focus.
Review biodata sourced through the agency's P3MI partner: experience, training, family situation and any past overseas work.
Video interview your shortlist. Biodata can be polished; a live call shows temperament, language level and confidence.
Indonesian-side clearance through the P3MI: employment agreement, medical clearance, social security registration and departure documents.
MOM Work Permit application with the helper's written consent. MOM says eService applications are usually processed within 1 week unless more information is needed. She must not be in Singapore while the application is made.
Before she flies: the $5,000 security bond and medical and personal accident insurance must be in place.
After arrival: medical examination within 14 days, the SIP within 7 days for first-time helpers, then Work Permit issuance.

Cost Breakdown for an Indonesian Helper (Verified MOM Figures, 2026)

Cost breakdown chart for hiring Indonesian maid in Singapore 2026 showing agency fee, airfare, insurance, levy — Upfront and recurring costs of hiring an Indonesian helper in Singapore, 2026.

Work Permit fees: $35 application and $35 issuance (MOM).
Settling-in Programme (first-time helpers): $76.40 to $92.65 including GST, depending on provider (MOM).
Security bond: $5,000, as a banker's or insurer's guarantee. You pay the premium, never the helper (MOM).
Insurance: at least $60,000 medical and $60,000 personal accident cover per year. Premiums are set by insurers (MOM).
Monthly levy: $300 for your first helper, $450 for subsequent helpers, or $60 concessionary for households with a young child, an elderly member or a person with disability (MOM). See our FDW levy guide.
Salary: agreed between you and the helper; pay it no later than 7 days after each salary period (MOM).
Agency fee and airfare: vary by agency. Get an itemised written quote.

For year-one totals across all nationalities, see the cost to hire a maid in Singapore 2026.

Can You Hire an Indonesian Helper Without an Agency?

On the Singapore side, MOM lets you self-apply for or renew a Work Permit. On the Indonesian side, a new placement must go through a licensed P3MI, because Indonesian law does not let individuals carry out placements. In practice:

Renewing your current Indonesian helper: you can renew directly with MOM through the FDW eService.
A new helper from Indonesia: expect to work through a P3MI and a Singapore agency partnered with it.

How to Vet an Indonesian-Specialised Agency

All the usual checks from our guide on criteria for hiring a maid in Singapore apply, plus these:

Verify the EA licence in MOM's EA Directory, and check its customer rating, retention rate and placements. See our list of MOM-approved maid agencies in 2026.
Ask for the P3MI partner's name. A reputable agency will name it without hesitation.
Ask what Indonesian-side and embassy steps are included in the fee, in writing.
Read recent reviews that mention Indonesian helpers specifically.

What to Expect During Settling-In (First 4 Weeks)

Week 1: orientation. HDB layouts, induction cookers and dishwashers may be new. Demonstrate rather than explain. First-time helpers also attend the SIP.
Week 2: food familiarity. Share your household's usual dishes and a few recipe photos.
Week 3: homesickness. Allow video calls home and agree her rest day. MOM requires one rest day a week, with at least one a month that cannot be compensated away (MOM).
Week 4: rhythm. If she is still visibly anxious or withdrawn, talk to your agency early.

Replacement Terms to Ask About

Replacement terms are set by each agency, not by MOM, so get them in writing before you pay. Ask:

How many replacements are included, and within what period?
Are there exclusions (for example, helper runs away versus mismatch)?
Who pays the original helper's air ticket home? Under MOM rules, the employer must buy the ticket when the Work Permit is cancelled (MOM).
Is a partial refund offered instead of a replacement?

About Upwill's Indonesian Helper Placement

Upwill (EA Licence 24C2628) is a MOM-licensed Singapore maid agency placing new Filipino, Indonesian, and Myanmar helpers. Browse available Indonesian candidates or learn more about our maid placement service.