How long is a helper's IPA valid in Singapore?

The IPA for a domestic helper is typically valid for six months from the date of issue. The helper must enter Singapore, complete her medical examination within 14 days of arrival, and have the Work Permit issued within that window. If the IPA lapses, you generally need to submit a fresh Work Permit application.

Can I check the IPA online without Singpass?

Yes. MOM's Check Work Pass and Application Status eService at service2.mom.gov.sg/workpass/enquiry does not require Singpass login. You only need the helper's date of birth plus either her FIN (on the IPA) or her passport number to retrieve the application status.

What if the helper renewed her passport after the IPA was issued?

Update MOM with the new passport details through Work Permit Online before the helper boards her flight. Immigration matches the IPA to the passport she presents at Changi — a mismatch will result in her being denied entry. Your EA can submit the update on your behalf.

Can the IPA be extended if my helper cannot arrive in time?

MOM may grant an IPA extension in limited circumstances — passport renewal delays, source-country deployment freezes, family emergencies. The request must be submitted through Work Permit Online before the IPA expires. Extensions are not automatic and cannot be made after the IPA has lapsed.

How do I know an IPA letter is genuine and not fake?

Cross-check the IPA on the MOM Check Work Pass and Application Status eService using the FIN and date of birth shown on the document. If the application does not appear or the status does not match, the IPA is not genuine. Also verify your EA's licence number on the MOM Employment Agency Directory.

Singapore Work Permit IPA Check Online — How to Verify Your Helper's IPA (2026)

By Upwill Editorial Team•MOM-licensed agency • EA Licence 24C2628

Reviewed by Wendy Tan, Director, Upwill Pte Ltd

Published: 20 May 2026

The In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter is the doorway between a Work Permit application and an actual Work Permit being issued. Once the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) approves your domestic helper application, it sends an IPA — a PDF that authorises the helper to enter Singapore, sets out the terms of employment, and triggers the clock for everything that has to happen before the Work Permit card is finally issued. If anything on the IPA is wrong, missing, or expired, the helper will be turned away at the airport, the medical examination will be flagged, or the Work Permit will simply fail to issue. This guide shows you how to check the IPA online, what to verify line by line, and how to spot the rare but real cases of doctored IPA letters circulating in informal channels.

Reviewed by Wendy Tan — Upwill Employment, MOM EA Licence 24C2628.

What is the IPA letter

The IPA — short for In-Principle Approval — is the official document MOM issues once your Work Permit application for a domestic helper is approved. It is not the Work Permit itself. Think of it as a conditional approval that says, in effect, "based on what you have submitted, this helper is approved to come to Singapore and have a Work Permit issued, provided the remaining steps are completed within the validity window."

The IPA is what the helper presents at Changi Airport immigration. It is also what enrols her for the mandatory medical examination and lets the employer purchase the bond, insurance and Settling-In Programme. Without a valid IPA, none of those downstream steps can happen.

The IPA arrives as a PDF — typically forwarded by the employment agency, or sent directly to the employer's registered email if the application was submitted in-house. You will also be able to view its status online (covered below).

Step-by-step: how to check the IPA online

MOM provides a free, no-login eService called Check Work Pass and Application Status. It is the same tool used to verify any Work Permit, S Pass, Employment Pass, Dependant's Pass or IPA in Singapore.

Go to service2.mom.gov.sg/workpass/enquiry. No Singpass login is required.
Select the pass type — for a helper, choose Work Permit.
Enter the helper's date of birth.
Enter either the FIN (Foreign Identification Number, shown on the IPA) or the helper's passport / travel document number.
Complete the CAPTCHA and submit.

The system returns the current status — Application In-Process, Approved (IPA issued), Work Permit Issued, Expired, Cancelled, or Rejected — plus the validity window and salary details if you also have the Date of Application from the IPA itself.

For the broader question of whether a Work Permit is currently live, see our companion guide on how to check Work Permit status in Singapore.

Key fields on the IPA — what to verify

Before you accept the IPA as valid, read it like a contract. A single mis-keyed character on the helper's particulars can hold up the medical, the Settling-In Programme, or the Work Permit issuance.

Field	What to verify
Helper's full name	Exactly matches the passport — including middle names, suffixes and spacing
Date of birth	Matches passport DD/MM/YYYY
Passport number	Matches current passport — if she renewed her passport after the application, you must update MOM
Nationality	Correct country of origin
FIN	Single, unique Foreign Identification Number issued for this application
Employer name & NRIC	Your name as it appears on your NRIC, not a nickname
Approved monthly salary	Matches what you agreed in writing — binding for the Employment Contract
IPA issue date & validity	Read the expiry date — see next section
MOM reference / application number	Used for all subsequent communications

If any field is wrong, contact your EA immediately, or write to MOM through the WPOL portal to request amendment before the helper boards the flight.

IPA validity period and extension

An IPA for a domestic helper is typically valid for six months from the date of issue. Within that window, three things must happen:

The helper must enter Singapore.
She must complete the medical examination within 14 days of arrival.
The Work Permit must be issued (registered for the biometric card).

If the IPA expires before the helper enters Singapore, the IPA simply lapses. You would normally need to apply for a fresh Work Permit, paying the application fee again. In limited circumstances MOM allows an IPA extension request submitted before the IPA expires, with a written reason. Once it lapses, an extension is no longer possible.

Always diary the IPA expiry the day it arrives. This is a different timeline from the renewal cycle for an existing Work Permit — for that, see renewing a helper Work Permit.

Common IPA mismatch issues

Passport renewed after IPA issued. Very common with Indonesian and Myanmar passports near expiry. The IPA will carry the old passport number; immigration will block boarding. Update the new passport details with MOM through WPOL and obtain a re-issued IPA before the flight.
Name spelling variations. Filipino names with multiple given names, Indonesian single-name conventions, Myanmar transliterations. The IPA must match the passport exactly.
Date of birth discrepancy. Some source-country IDs and passports record different DOBs. Always use the passport DOB on the IPA.
Salary mismatch. If the salary on the IPA is lower than what you actually agreed verbally, do not let the helper sign the Employment Contract until the IPA is corrected. The IPA salary is the floor for what you must pay.
Employer's NRIC or address outdated. If you moved house between submission and IPA, update the address before issuance.

For employers transferring an existing helper, see how to transfer a helper in Singapore.

How to spot a fake IPA

Fraudulent IPAs are rare but they do circulate, usually in informal recruitment channels overseas. How to protect yourself:

Always cross-check on the MOM eService. If the IPA you hold cannot be verified at service2.mom.gov.sg/workpass/enquiry using the FIN and DOB, the IPA is not real. This is the single most reliable test.
Check the issuer. Genuine IPAs are issued by the Ministry of Manpower, Work Pass Division. The PDF metadata should show MOM as the originator.
Look for the security elements. Genuine IPAs carry a unique application reference number, a structured FIN, and a clean digital signature block. Doctored copies often have inconsistent fonts or visible artefacts from PDF editing.
Validate the application number with your EA. A licensed EA can confirm the IPA against their own WPOL records.
Be wary of "agents" who only operate over messaging apps and cannot show you an EA licence number. Upwill's number is 24C2628.

What happens after the IPA is issued

Helper arrives in Singapore — she presents the IPA at Changi Airport immigration.
Settling-In Programme — first-time helpers must attend the one-day SIP within three working days of arrival, before starting work.
Medical examination — completed within 14 days of arrival at any MOM-recognised clinic.
Security bond and insurance — the employer must have a valid S$5,000 security bond and a Work Permit-compliant medical and personal accident insurance policy in place. Upwill's helper insurance plans meet the 2026 requirements.
Work Permit issuance — once medical is cleared and bond/insurance are in place, MOM issues the Work Permit.
Sign the Employment Contract — covering salary (matching the IPA), rest day, deductions, leave.

Keep the PDF: you will need it whenever you renew, transfer, or eventually cancel the helper's Work Permit, and to update her FDW employment history record.

Pre-arrival IPA verification checklist

IPA PDF received and saved to a permanent folder
Status confirmed as Approved on MOM Check Work Pass and Application Status eService
Helper's name, DOB, passport number and nationality match her current passport exactly
Passport has at least seven months of validity remaining
Approved salary on IPA matches the agreed amount in writing
Employer name, NRIC and address are current and correct
IPA expiry date diarised — flight booked well before expiry
Settling-In Programme slot pre-booked if first-time helper
Helper insurance and S$5,000 bond ready to activate on arrival
EA licence number of any agent you are working with verified on MOM's EA Directory

Reviewed by Wendy Tan, licensed employment consultant at Upwill Employment (MOM EA Licence 24C2628). For help reviewing an IPA before your helper's arrival, contact the Upwill team — we'll cross-check every field against the MOM record at no charge.