If you are thinking about hiring a maid in Singapore for the first time, you are probably feeling excited and a little nervous. A new person is about to live in your home, there are government rules you have never dealt with, and you worry about getting something wrong. That is normal, and it becomes very manageable once you can see the whole path. This guide walks you through seven steps, from deciding what you need to her first week at home, with the current MOM rules and figures at each stage.
A domestic helper is hired on a Work Permit, the pass from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that lets her live and work in your home for you. MOM now calls the role a migrant domestic worker (MDW), and older documents say foreign domestic worker (FDW). Both mean the same thing.
We have written this for first timers, so we explain the jargon as we go. Take it one step at a time and it stops feeling overwhelming.
Step 1: Decide what your household really needs
Before you look at a single profile, sit down as a household and write out what you need help with day to day. In our experience this prevents most mismatches later.
Is it care for a newborn or toddler? Support for an elderly parent who needs companionship and help moving around? General housework? Cooking? Or, as is common, a mix? Rank your priorities. A helper who is wonderful with infants may have less elderly care experience, and a confident cook may be newer to chasing an active toddler. Knowing what cannot be compromised makes the shortlist far easier.
Think about the home itself too: how many rooms, whether there are pets, whether anyone is a light sleeper, and where she will sleep. These practical details shape who will be happy with you.
Talk it through with everyone who lives with you, not only the person doing the hiring. Is everyone comfortable sharing the home? Elderly family members may need time to adjust to a helper whose first language differs from theirs, so think about which languages matter most at home. Plan for her rest days now as well. If she will care for young children, an elderly parent or pets, decide who will cover on those days.
You will also choose between a helper coming to Singapore for the first time and a transfer helper who is already here. Our comparison of new and transfer maids sets out the trade offs.
Step 2: Check you are eligible and attend the EOP
MOM’s employer requirements say you must be at least 21, not an undischarged bankrupt, and have the mental capacity to carry out an employer’s responsibilities. MOM also considers your household’s caregiving needs and whether you can afford to hire and house a helper. Household income is one of the criteria, but MOM does not publish the exact amount, so be wary of anyone who quotes a fixed figure. Spouses can combine income, and there are schemes for joint income and for older applicants without income.
As a first time maid employer, you must also complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application is submitted. The online version takes 2 hours and costs $29 to $36; the classroom version takes 3 hours and costs $35 to $76. It covers your responsibilities and is worth doing early, because it answers many of the questions in this guide.
Step 3: Choose a licensed agency, or decide to hire directly
MOM allows direct hiring. Its own guide notes that it can be more affordable but takes more effort on your part. Using an unlicensed agency is an offence, so whichever route you choose, check the agency’s MOM licence first.
A good agency does more than hand you profiles. It guides you through the MOM paperwork, arranges the medical examination and insurance, manages her arrival and stays reachable in the early months. When comparing agencies, look for:
- a clear written breakdown of fees, with no vague admin charges;
- a real office you can visit;
- honest answers about what happens if a placement does not work out;
- support for both you and the helper after she starts.
MOM requires agencies to refund at least 50% of the employer’s service fee if the helper’s employment ends within the first 6 months, for contracts from 1 June 2022, subject to conditions. Agencies cannot set their own refund terms instead. Be cautious of anyone who rushes you or will not explain costs in writing.
You can read more about how we work on our about Femme5 page, and our full-time helper service explains what we handle from matching to arrival.
Step 4: Your MOM obligations and costs when hiring a maid in Singapore
This is the part that sounds intimidating, so here it is in concrete terms.
Levy
You pay a monthly levy to the government. According to MOM’s levy page, it is $300 a month for your first helper and $450 for each additional helper. The concessionary rate is $60 if your household includes a Singapore citizen child below 16, an eligible elderly person aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities. The concession is applied automatically once you meet the criteria and complete the steps MOM sets out on its levy concession page. For your own child, or for you or your spouse at 67, no listing is needed; other eligible persons must live at the same NRIC address and be listed as household members in FDW eService, and a person with disabilities also needs a recommendation letter from the Agency for Integrated Care. Levy is due on the 17th of the following month.
Security bond and insurance
You must put in place a $5,000 security bond for every helper except Malaysians, usually as a guarantee from a bank or insurer. You must also buy medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000 and personal accident insurance of at least $60,000. These costs cannot be passed on to your helper.
Salary, food, rest and housing
MOM sets no minimum salary, but you must pay the salary you declared, no later than 7 days after the end of each salary period. You must provide adequate food, one rest day a week or at least one day’s salary for each rest day she agrees to work, and at least one rest day each month that cannot be compensated away. Her accommodation must protect her from sun, rain and wind, give her privacy, and include at least a mattress, pillow and blanket. She must not share a bedroom with a male adult or teenager.
Safety
Your helper must not clean the outside of a window unless it has a grille that stays locked throughout and an adult supervises. You must not keep her passport, her salary or any other money belonging to her, or her bank book or bank card.
Agency fees and salary vary by household, so ask for a written estimate of one-off and monthly costs. Our maid cost breakdown lists every item.
Step 5: Match and interview with care
Once your needs are clear, you will see a shortlist of candidates. We share maid profiles on request, and the interview, often by video call, is where you find out whether someone fits beyond the paper.
Skip yes or no questions. Ask open ones that show how she thinks and works:
- “Tell me about a typical day in your last job.”
- “What did you enjoy most, and what did you find hard?”
- “How would you handle a toddler who refuses to nap?”
- “How do you usually settle in when you are far from home?”
Listen for warmth, honesty and problem solving rather than rehearsed answers. Be plain about your expectations too: working hours, rest days, house rules and the food your family eats. Families who interview two or three candidates and treat it as a two-way conversation tend to find a better match. Our list of interview red flags helps you prepare.
Step 6: Work through the paperwork timeline
Once you choose a helper, a sequence of paperwork begins. In broad strokes:
- Apply. The Work Permit application is submitted to MOM, after your EOP. MOM’s application page lists a $35 application fee and says online applications take about 1 week.
- In-principle approval. When the application is approved, you receive an in-principle approval letter.
- Bond and insurance. The security bond must be in effect before she arrives, or she will not be allowed into Singapore. Insurance is bought before the permit is issued.
- Arrival and medical. She must have a medical examination by a Singapore-registered doctor within 2 weeks of arrival.
- Settling-in Programme. A first time helper must attend the one-day SIP within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays.
- Issue the permit. The Work Permit is issued, with a $35 issuance fee.
For a first time helper, levy starts on the 5th day of her arrival, counting the day she lands as day 1. You do not need to memorise every form, and an agency tracks each deadline for you. Our Work Permit application guide covers the forms in detail.
Step 7: Settling in and the first week at home
The Settling-in Programme covers safety and adjusting to life in Singapore, and she can only start work after attending it. Fees, including GST, range from $76.40 to $92.65 depending on the provider, and you pay them.
A short settling window is one of the most underrated parts of the process. A helper who arrives calm and oriented starts far better than one thrown straight into a full household. Our boarding house gives newly arrived and transferring helpers a safe place to stay during that transition, and we pre-train helpers before placement.
Before she arrives, prepare her room with a bed, storage and a fan if ventilation is poor, plus her own toiletries and a clean towel. Small gestures of welcome go a long way. Ask early about her dietary needs, too. Some helpers do not eat pork or follow other religious or dietary practices, so check what she can and cannot eat and have suitable food from day one.
In the first days, walk her through the home and your routines slowly. Show her where things are and how the appliances work. Write down emergency contacts, your address and house rules, because she is taking in a great deal at once. Teach rather than test: show her how you like tasks done instead of expecting her to guess. Agree her rest day and quiet hours early.
Above all, be patient with what takes time: cooking that is not yet to your taste, the school route she is still learning, the child still warming up. Families who invest in a calm, kind first week tend to build a relationship that lasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to hire a maid in Singapore for the first time?
Costs vary, but the fixed government items are clear: a $35 Work Permit application fee and $35 issuance fee, $29 to $76 for your EOP, $76.40 to $92.65 for her Settling-in Programme, plus a $5,000 security bond, medical and personal accident insurance, and a monthly levy of $300 or $60 at the concessionary rate. Salary and agency fees come on top, so ask for a written breakdown before you commit.
Is there a minimum income or minimum salary?
MOM considers household income when assessing an application but does not reveal the exact amount, and spouses can combine their income. MOM also sets no minimum salary for helpers, but you must pay the salary you declared in the Work Permit application and pay it no later than 7 days after each salary period ends.
Do I have to attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme?
Yes, if you have never employed a helper before. You must complete the EOP at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application is submitted. It runs online in 2 hours or in a classroom in 3 hours, and MOM allows a representative to attend for some employers, such as those aged 60 and above with physical discomfort or an expectant mother due within a month.
How long does the whole process take?
It depends on whether she is coming from overseas or transferring locally and how fast documents move. MOM says online Work Permit applications take about 1 week, but you also need time for the EOP, the interview, her travel, her medical examination within 2 weeks of arrival and her Settling-in Programme, so most families should plan for several weeks from choosing a candidate to her starting work.
What are my ongoing responsibilities after she starts?
Each month you pay her salary and the levy and give her rest days, including one a month that must be taken. Every six months she needs a medical examination (6ME), which you pay for, though helpers aged 50 and above only need one at renewal. You also keep her insurance valid and renew the Work Permit, which usually lasts up to 2 years, before it expires.
Conclusion
Hiring a helper for the first time carries real responsibilities, but it follows a clear path. Decide your needs, check your eligibility and attend the EOP, choose a licensed agency or hire directly with care, understand the levy, bond, insurance and rest day rules, interview thoughtfully, let the paperwork run in order, and invest in a kind first week. MOM rules do change, so check the figures on MOM’s website before you apply.
If you would like a friendly, no-pressure conversation about your first hire, we are glad to help. You can get in touch with the Femme5 team to discuss your family’s needs, read more about how we work with employers, or explore what a good placement looks like.
The Femme5 Team
Maid placement specialists, Femme5 Maid Agency
Our consultants work with Singaporean and expatriate families on helper matching, contracts and MOM compliance, and we verify the regulatory guidance in our articles directly against the Ministry of Manpower’s published requirements.
