Helper Work Permit Renewal Singapore 2026: 8-Week Timeline & Costs

If your helper is approaching the end of her 2-year work permit, you have a decision to make, and a clock that has already started. Most employers think the renewal window opens 4 weeks before expiry. It does not. The MOM eService accepts renewal applications up to 8 weeks before expiry, and starting at the 4-week mark is the single most common reason renewals get scrambled, medical appointments are rushed, and helpers end up on temporary stay extensions.

This guide walks through the full 2026 renewal flow: when to start, the Singpass step-by-step, 2026 costs, common rejection reasons, and the edge cases that come up most often.

Renewal vs new hire vs transfer: which path makes sense

Before you renew, sanity-check the alternatives. The numbers in 2026 make the choice obvious for most employers, but only if the working relationship is solid.

Renewal is roughly one-eighth the cost of a fresh hire because you skip the agency fee, airfare, Settling-in Programme, and full medical workup. You are essentially paying MOM the permit fee, refreshing insurance, and doing the standard 6-monthly medical examination (6ME) that was due anyway. If you are unsure whether to renew or switch, see our guide on how to transfer a maid in Singapore.

The 8-week renewal timeline

Start at 8 weeks before the permit expiry date. This is the most important sentence in this guide. The MOM EP eService opens the renewal application window 8 weeks ahead, and the steps below cannot all be compressed into the final fortnight without significant stress.

Week 8 to 6: medical and insurance

• Book the 6-monthly medical examination (6ME). If your helper's last medical was over 5 months ago, schedule the next one now. Results must be uploaded before the renewal application is approved. Slots at MOM-approved clinics fill up fast in March and September because of school-holiday hiring cycles.
• Check passport validity. Her passport must have at least 7 months of validity from the new permit start date. If she needs a passport renewal, send her to her country's embassy in Singapore now. Filipino and Indonesian renewals typically take 2 to 4 weeks; Myanmar passports can take 6 to 8 weeks.
• Shop for new insurance. The current policy ends with the current permit. You need a fresh 12 or 24-month policy in force from the day the new permit takes effect. See our helper insurance page for 2026 minimums and bundle pricing.

Week 6 to 4: renewal application

• Submit the renewal application via MOM EP eService using Singpass. The form pulls your existing employer details and helper details automatically, you confirm them, attach the latest 6ME report and insurance certificate, and pay the S$70 work permit fee.
• Wait for MOM approval. Standard processing is 1 to 5 working days. You will receive an email when the renewal is approved or if MOM needs more information.

Week 4 to 2: contract and finalisation

• Re-sign the employment contract. A new 2-year contract is generated with the renewed permit. Salary, rest day arrangement, and scope of work should be reviewed and signed by both parties.
• Update GIRO levy details. The levy continues uninterrupted, but confirm your GIRO arrangement covers the new permit number.
• Confirm bond continuation. If your existing security bond is from an insurance provider and there is no break in employment, it usually rolls over. Confirm in writing with the bond provider.

Week 2 to 0: permit issuance

• New permit card arrives. MOM mails the new card to your registered address within 5 to 7 working days of approval. The old card can be discarded after the new one arrives.
• Biometric refresh, if requested. Most renewals do not require a fresh biometric, but MOM occasionally asks for one. If so, book a slot at the MOM Services Centre, Bendemeer Road.

The Singpass renewal flow, step-by-step

Most renewals are submitted by the employer directly on the MOM website. The 2026 flow:

1. Log in to www.mom.gov.sg with your Singpass.
2. Navigate to eServices > Work Permit For Foreign Domestic Worker > Renew Work Permit.
3. The system pulls up your helper's current permit details. Confirm her passport number, name, nationality, and current expiry date.
4. Upload the latest 6ME medical report (PDF, certified by the MOM-approved clinic).
5. Upload the new insurance certificate (must show coverage for the full new permit period, minimum S$60,000 medical and S$60,000 personal accident).
6. Confirm the security bond arrangement (most are auto-rolled if from an insurance provider, otherwise upload a new banker's guarantee).
7. Review the renewed employment contract terms, including salary. If you are giving a raise, the new salary goes here.
8. Pay the S$70 work permit fee by credit card or Singpass eNets.
9. Submit. You will see a confirmation reference number, save this.
10. MOM processes within 1 to 5 working days. You receive an email when approved.

Documents to have on hand before you log in

• Helper's current passport (need her passport number and expiry date)
• Your NRIC (must match the NRIC on the current permit)
• Latest 6ME medical examination report (PDF from the clinic)
• New insurance certificate showing the new permit period
• Bank or insurance bond confirmation for the new permit term
• The agreed new salary figure (decided before you start the form)

Missing the 6ME report is the single most common reason employers have to abandon and restart the application. Book and complete the medical before you touch the form.

Cost of renewal in 2026

Compared to roughly S$4,000 for a fresh hire all-in, renewing is the cheapest way to keep a helper you already trust. The numbers do not include the levy, which continues uninterrupted at S$300 a month standard or S$60 concessionary. Use our cost calculator to model the full 2-year picture including salary, levy, and insurance.

Salary considerations at renewal: when to raise

The 2-year mark is the natural pay review point. Your helper has Singapore experience, knows your household, and likely has market alternatives if she transfers. A modest raise at renewal saves the agency fee and disruption of starting over.

2026 reference salaries for renewing helpers, based on Upwill's placement data:

• Filipino helper: S$700 to S$780 starting, S$750 to S$850 at 2-year renewal with good performance
• Indonesian helper: S$580 to S$650 starting, S$620 to S$700 at renewal
• Myanmar helper: S$500 to S$580 starting, S$550 to S$630 at renewal

Raises of S$50 to S$100 a month are typical at renewal. Larger raises (S$150 or more) are usually reserved for helpers who took on additional caregiving. See the 2026 helper salary index and our maid salary guide for negotiating fairly. Agree the new salary before you start the Singpass form, the form asks for it directly.

Common rejection reasons

About 1 in 10 renewals in our caseload hits a snag. The reasons are predictable and almost all avoidable.

What changes at renewal, and what stays the same

The renewal is technically a re-issuance, not a continuation. Here is what shifts and what does not.

• Levy: continues. Same monthly rate, same GIRO. No break, no recalculation.
• Contract: re-signed. A fresh 2-year contract with the renewed permit. Use this moment to update salary, rest day arrangement, and scope.
• Insurance: new policy. The old policy ends with the old permit. You need a new 12 or 24-month policy in force from the new permit start.
• Bond: usually continues. If your bond is from an insurance provider and there is no break in employment, it rolls over automatically. Confirm with the provider. If you are on a banker's guarantee, you may need to refresh it.
• Permit card: new physical card. New permit number on the same employer-helper pair. Old card can be returned to MOM or discarded once new card arrives.
• Helper's Singapore work history: preserved. The years of service on the renewed permit add to her overall record, which matters for future transfers and the FDW concessionary levy criteria.
• Biometric: usually not redone. Existing biometric record carries over unless MOM specifically requests a refresh.

Edge cases that come up

Mid-pregnancy renewal

MOM does not allow renewal if the 6ME shows pregnancy. The current permit will run to its expiry, then the helper must be repatriated. This is a hard rule and there is no appeal. If your helper discloses pregnancy during the renewal window, contact your agency or EA Personnel to plan the repatriation properly and avoid bond forfeiture.

Mid-medical-condition renewal

Conditions that cause renewal denial include active TB, untreated syphilis, HIV positive, and certain chronic mental health diagnoses. Less severe findings (high blood pressure, anaemia, controlled diabetes) can usually be cleared with a doctor's letter and a confirmation that treatment is in place. Talk to the MOM-approved clinic; they have done this many times.

Helper-initiated non-renewal

Sometimes the helper decides she does not want to renew, even when the employer wants to continue. Common reasons: family circumstances at home, fatigue, wanting to try a new household, or returning to her home country to start a business. This is her right, and MOM does not require her to renew. The current permit runs to expiry, then she is repatriated. Sometimes she will transfer to another household instead, in which case her current employer signs a release.

Employer-initiated non-renewal

If you decide not to renew but the helper is still in scope, you must inform her at least 4 weeks before expiry, settle the final salary and any pro-rated benefits, and arrange repatriation. The current insurance and bond must remain in force until she physically leaves Singapore. See our hiring process timeline for the end-of-contract steps.

Late renewal (less than 2 weeks before expiry)

If you have less than 2 weeks left, MOM may still process the renewal but you risk the permit expiring before approval. A lapsed permit means the helper is technically out of status and you can face penalties. In urgent cases, contact MOM directly to request a temporary stay extension while the renewal is processed.

Concessionary levy status changed

If your child turned 16, your elderly parent moved out, or other concessionary criteria no longer apply, the levy increases from S$60 to S$300 a month at the next renewal. Plan the household budget for this. See the FDW levy guide for who currently qualifies.

After renewal: what to keep on file

Once the new permit card arrives, save these in a permanent file (digital plus printed):

• New work permit card (front and back photo)
• Renewed employment contract, signed
• New insurance certificate
• Bond confirmation for the new term
• 6ME report that supported the renewal
• MOM approval email or letter

You will need these for the next renewal in 2 years, for any future transfer, and for any insurance claims during the new term.

Final word

Renewal is the cheapest, fastest, lowest-risk way to keep a helper relationship that is working. Start at week 8, do the 6ME and insurance early, and the Singpass form takes 20 minutes. The mistakes that hurt are starting too late, missing the 6ME, and skipping the contract review. If you hit an edge case (pregnancy, medical concerns, lapsed bond, NRIC change), get a licensed EA involved before you submit. For first-time employers, see our first-time employer FAQ for the full lifecycle picture.