Maid Levy in Singapore Explained: Concessions, Charges, and How to Pay

Last updated: June 2026

If you are hiring a helper for the first time, the maid levy in Singapore is one of the charges that surprises families most. It is a monthly fee you pay to the government, separate from your helper's salary, and it can quietly add up over a year if you are not on the right rate. The good news is that many households qualify for a much lower concessionary rate, and the rules around it are simpler than they look once someone walks you through them.

This guide is the plain-English version we share with families at the start of the hiring process. We cover what the levy is and why it exists, the difference between the standard and concession rates, who qualifies for a concession, how to apply through the CPF Board, the small mistakes that cost families their lower rate, and how payment actually works month to month.

If you are still at the stage of choosing a helper, our full-time helper service and the wider guidance on our homepage can help you plan the full cost picture before you commit. Let us start with the basics.

What the maid levy is and why it exists

The foreign domestic worker levy, often called the maid levy, is a monthly fee that the employer pays to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It is not a tax on your helper and it is not part of her wages. You pay it on top of her salary, her food, and her accommodation.

The levy is a pricing tool. According to MOM, the government uses it to manage the number of foreign domestic workers in Singapore. By setting a monthly price on hiring a helper, the levy helps keep the overall number of foreign domestic workers at a sustainable level for the country.

A few points that often clear up confusion. The levy is owed by you, the employer, for as long as your helper holds a valid Work Permit, even during months when she is on home leave. The amount is the same regardless of your helper's nationality, so a helper from the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, or anywhere else attracts the same levy.

The levy is also separate from the security bond. MOM requires a security bond of SGD 5,000 for helpers of most nationalities (Malaysian helpers are the usual exception), but that is a one-time guarantee, not a recurring monthly charge. In our experience at Femme5, families sometimes blur the two together, so it helps to keep them in separate mental boxes: the bond is a deposit-style guarantee, the levy is the monthly fee.

Standard rate vs concession rate (current 2026 figures)

There are two main levy rates: the standard rate and the lower concessionary rate.

For 2026, the standard rate is SGD 300 per month, and the concessionary rate is SGD 60 per month (source: Ministry of Manpower). The concession is not automatic. You have to qualify for it and apply for it, which we cover in the next two sections.

The difference is large over a full year. Choosing the concession instead of the standard rate saves a household about SGD 2,880 per year for one helper. That is money many families would rather keep, so it is worth checking your eligibility carefully.

Levy type	Monthly rate (2026)	Approximate yearly cost
Standard rate	SGD 300	SGD 3,600
Concessionary rate	SGD 60	SGD 720

(Rates from the Ministry of Manpower. Yearly figures are simple 12-month estimates for illustration.)

The question families ask us most is whether they can be put on the concession from day one. In many cases yes, as long as the qualifying household member is already in place and the paperwork lines up. We always suggest confirming your rate before the first levy bill arrives, rather than discovering later that you have been paying the standard rate by default.

Who qualifies for a concession

Your household qualifies for the levy concession if it includes at least one person in a qualifying group. Based on MOM criteria, the main qualifying categories are:

• A Singapore Citizen child under the age of 16.
• An elderly Singapore Citizen aged 67 or above.
• A person with disabilities who has been certified as needing help with daily activities.

You only need one qualifying person to bring the whole levy for one helper down to the concessionary rate. You do not need to tick more than one box.

There are a few conditions that matter in practice. The qualifying person generally has to live at the same registered address as you and your helper. The child or elderly person usually needs to be a Singapore Citizen, not a Permanent Resident, for these particular concessions. For the persons with disabilities concession, certification is required.

Because individual situations vary, we always point families to the official criteria on the MOM website and the CPF Board for the final word. You can also browse available helpers on our maids listing while you decide.

How to apply for the concession

The levy concession is applied for and managed through the CPF Board, not separately at MOM. The CPF Board administers the concession on MOM behalf, which is why the application and any checks usually run through CPF channels.

In most cases the process is straightforward. When your household has a clear qualifying person, such as a young Singapore Citizen child living with you, the concession is often applied based on records the authorities already hold, so you may not need to submit much at all. In other cases, particularly the persons with disabilities concession, you will need to provide supporting documents.

Documents that are commonly relevant include:

• Proof of the qualifying person identity and Singapore Citizenship, such as a NRIC or birth certificate for a child.
• Proof that the qualifying person lives at the same registered address as you.
• For the disability concession, a medical certification or assessment confirming that the person needs help with daily activities.

In our experience at Femme5, the smoothest applications are the ones where families gather these documents before the helper arrives. For the precise forms and the current submission steps, the CPF Board pages are the authoritative source. Our FAQ also covers some of the common levy questions families raise during onboarding.

Common mistakes that lose families their concession

The concession is easy to keep once it is in place, but there are a handful of recurring slip-ups we see.

The one mistake we see most often is not updating the authorities when the qualifying person situation changes. A levy concession is tied to a qualifying person. If that person no longer qualifies, for example a child turns 16, or the qualifying person moves out or passes away, the concession can end, and the levy may revert to the standard rate. If you do not update your records, you can end up owing the difference.

Here is a typical example. A family hires a helper while their youngest child is 15 and qualifies under the under-16 concession. The child turns 16 the following year, but the family does not realise the concession is linked to that child age. Months later they find they should have been paying the standard SGD 300 rather than SGD 60, and they have a shortfall to settle.

Other common mistakes include:

• Assuming the concession is automatic and never confirming the rate after the helper starts.
• Mixing up Permanent Resident and Singapore Citizen status, since several concessions require the qualifying person to be a Citizen.
• Forgetting that the qualifying person generally must live at the same registered address.
• Letting GIRO fail because of an empty or closed bank account.

A simple habit helps: each year, glance at whether your qualifying person still qualifies, and confirm your current rate. When in doubt, the CPF Board can confirm your status, and our contact page is open if you want a second pair of eyes before you act.

How payment works and what happens if you miss a payment

The levy is billed monthly. Each month levy is due by the 17th of the following month. So the levy for a given month is collected the month after.

Most employers pay by GIRO. GIRO is an arrangement where the levy is deducted automatically from your bank account each month, so you do not have to remember to pay manually. Setting up GIRO once and keeping enough money in the account is the simplest way to stay on top of the levy, and it is the method we usually recommend to families.

If GIRO is not your preference, MOM also accepts payment through AXS machines and apps, SingPost outlets, and internet banking. The key is that the levy reaches MOM by the due date, whichever channel you use.

What happens if you miss a payment? Unpaid levy is not something to leave alone. Missing payments can lead to late penalties, and in more serious or prolonged cases, unpaid levy can affect your helper Work Permit and any future applications you make to hire a helper. MOM is the right place to confirm the current consequences and any appeal process if you fall behind.

In our experience at Femme5, the families who never think about the levy again are the ones who put it on GIRO, keep a buffer in the account, and do a quick yearly check on their concession. Do those three things and the levy becomes a quiet line item rather than a worry.

If you would like help mapping out the full monthly cost of hiring before you commit, our homepage lays out how the process works from end to end.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the maid levy in Singapore in 2026?

For 2026, the standard maid levy is SGD 300 per month, and the concessionary rate is SGD 60 per month, according to the Ministry of Manpower. Over a year, the concession saves a household roughly SGD 2,880 for one helper.

Is the maid levy the same for every nationality?

Yes. The levy amount does not depend on your helper nationality. A helper from the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, or elsewhere attracts the same monthly levy. What can differ by nationality is the security bond. MOM requires a security bond of SGD 5,000 for helpers of most nationalities, with Malaysian helpers being the usual exception.

Who qualifies for the levy concession?

A household qualifies if it includes at least one person in a qualifying group: a Singapore Citizen child under 16, an elderly Singapore Citizen aged 67 or above, or a certified person with disabilities who needs help with daily activities. You only need one qualifying person to bring one helper levy down to the concessionary rate.

How do I apply for the maid levy concession?

The levy concession is applied for and managed through the CPF Board. For some households, the concession may be applied based on records the authorities already hold. For others, especially the persons with disabilities concession, you will need supporting documents such as proof of identity, proof of address, and a medical certification.

What happens if I miss a levy payment?

Unpaid levy is not something to ignore. Missing payments can lead to late penalties, and prolonged non-payment can affect your helper Work Permit and any future applications to hire a helper. The simplest way to avoid trouble is to pay by GIRO and keep enough money in the linked account each month.

Can I lose my concession, and how?

Yes. The concession is tied to a qualifying person, so if that person stops qualifying, the concession can end. Common triggers include a child turning 16, the qualifying person moving out, or a change in the household. A quick yearly check on whether your qualifying person still qualifies usually prevents any nasty surprise.

When is the maid levy due each month?

The levy is billed monthly and is due by the 17th of the following month. Most employers set up GIRO so the amount is deducted automatically. MOM also accepts AXS, SingPost, and internet banking, as long as payment reaches MOM by the due date.

A final word

The maid levy looks intimidating on paper, but for most families it comes down to three habits: get on the right rate, set up GIRO, and do a quick yearly check that your qualifying person still qualifies. Get those right and the levy stops being a worry.

If you are planning to hire and want a clear picture of the full monthly cost, including the levy, before you commit, we are happy to walk you through it. You can reach the Femme5 team through our contact page for a free, no-pressure consultation, and we will help you work out which rate applies to your household and what to budget.

About the author

The Femme5 Team helps Singapore families match with full-time foreign domestic helpers and guides them through the MOM hiring process, including levy, paperwork, and onboarding, every working day.