Most employers never think about maid vaccination in Singapore until a form asks them about it. Since 1 September 2025, that form is part of the Work Permit process for many families. If there is a young child in your home who is not fully vaccinated against measles, the Ministry of Manpower now expects your helper to be immune to measles, and you have to declare her status when her permit is issued or renewed. This guide explains what the rule requires, how to prove immunity, who pays and when to act.
The rule is narrow. It is not a general mandate for every helper, and it does not replace her medical examinations. In many homes the declaration is simple; in others it means a blood test or two clinic visits spread over weeks, so timing matters.
Families also ask about flu jabs and other vaccines. That is a health question rather than a permit one, so we stick to official HealthHub guidance and link every source.
What the measles immunity rule says
MOM announced the requirement in its June 2025 press release on mandatory measles immunity for migrant domestic workers. From 1 September 2025, employers must ensure their helper has immunity against measles if the household has a child below 7 years old who is not fully vaccinated against measles. The aim is to protect unvaccinated young children, who face a higher risk of serious complications.
Two conditions have to be true for the rule to bite. There must be a child under 7 in the household who is not fully vaccinated against measles, and your helper must not already be immune. If either is false, MOM’s Q&A confirms you do not need to vaccinate her.
The same requirement now appears on MOM’s Work Permit renewal page, so it is part of the normal permit process.
Why a child is not “fully vaccinated” yet
The footnote in MOM’s press release notes that the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule recommends two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 and 15 months. That means every baby under 12 months is, by definition, not yet fully vaccinated, and so is a toddler between the first and second dose. Children who missed doses also count, so check your child’s immunisation record before you declare.
The three declaration options
Employers with children below 7 in the household declare one of three things when the helper’s Work Permit is issued (for a new helper) or renewed (for an existing helper):
- The helper is already vaccinated or immune to measles. This is the case if she has completed two doses of MMR, has a blood test showing immunity, or has laboratory confirmation of a past infection.
- All children below 7 in the household are fully vaccinated. Your helper’s own status then does not trigger the requirement.
- The helper is not yet vaccinated, but a vaccination appointment has been booked. This option exists because full vaccination takes time.
MOM’s Q&A says it will carry out sample checks and may ask for documentary proof of immunity. If an employer with children under 7 is found with a helper who is not immune, MOM says their work pass privileges may be suspended until vaccination proof is submitted. Only declare what you can back up.
MOM also encourages, but does not require, employers to vaccinate or confirm the immunity of their helper where a household member is immunocompromised.
How your helper can prove measles immunity
MOM’s press release gives these examples of acceptable documentary proof:
- Proof of completed vaccination, meaning records of two MMR doses.
- A serology test result, which is a blood test showing antibodies against measles.
- Laboratory confirmation of a past measles infection.
If your helper has no reliable vaccination record from home, a serology test is a sensible first step: if it shows she is already immune, no vaccination is needed. If it does not, the doctor can advise on vaccination.
Helper measles vaccination: doses, timing and where to go
The measles vaccine in Singapore is given as MMR. According to MOM, full vaccination requires two doses given at least 28 days apart. MOM’s press release says vaccination is available at private GP clinics and advises calling ahead to book an appointment.
That 28-day gap is why timing matters.
For a new helper
- Before she arrives, ask her or your agency whether she has vaccination records, and check whether your household has a child under 7 who is not fully vaccinated.
- After arrival, she has her pre-employment medical examination with a Singapore-registered doctor within 2 weeks. Ask the clinic whether it can also handle a measles serology test or MMR vaccination, or book a separate GP appointment.
- When the Work Permit is issued, make the declaration that matches your situation. If vaccination has been booked but not completed, that is the third option.
- Complete both doses at least 28 days apart and keep the clinic records.
For a renewal
- MOM sends a renewal letter about 8 weeks before the Work Permit expires. Use that letter as your trigger to check the measles position.
- If you have a child under 7 who is not fully vaccinated, and your helper’s immunity is unknown, book a serology test or her first dose straight away. MOM encourages employers of existing helpers to check immunity before renewal.
- Declare her status at renewal.
When a baby arrives mid-permit
The declaration is made at issuance and renewal, but if a baby is due mid-permit there is no reason to wait. Sorting out your helper’s immunity before the birth protects the household member most exposed. Our guide to prenatal care in Singapore helps you plan the months before. See also our guide to hiring a helper for newborn care at the same time.
If you are taking on a transfer helper, her new Work Permit is issued under your name, so ask MOM or your agency how the declaration applies at that point and gather her records before the transfer date.
Who pays for the vaccine and tests
The employer pays. MOM’s alert to employment agencies states that any costs incurred in meeting the measles immunity requirement, such as vaccination and serology tests, will be borne by employers. MOM’s Q&A estimates the cost of two vaccine doses at $80 to $140 and advises employers to check with their medical provider. Clinic prices vary, so ask for a quote when you book.
This fits the wider principle in the Work Permit conditions, which say the employer bears the medical expenses of any medical examination MOM requires. You should not deduct the cost from your helper’s salary or ask her to pay for it herself.
How this fits with her other medical checks
The measles requirement is separate from routine screening. The pre-employment medical examination screens for tuberculosis, HIV, syphilis and malaria and checks fitness to work. The six-monthly medical examination (6ME) covers pregnancy, VDRL, HIV and TB tests on set intervals, plus BMI and checks for signs of abuse. None of these is a vaccination, and none of them confirms measles immunity on its own.
So a helper can pass every required medical and still need measles proof. Where clinic runs are hard to fit around the family’s schedule, our helper transport service covers trips to medical appointments.
Treatment costs beyond required checks fall under her compulsory insurance; see our guide to maid medical insurance.
Other vaccines, including the flu jab
MOM’s current pages for helpers list no other vaccination requirement. Anything else is her personal health decision, made with a doctor, so we share only official guidance. For your children, our guide to chickenpox in children covers another common infection.
HealthHub’s influenza page says a flu shot is most beneficial for people at higher risk of complications, including adults aged 65 and above, young children and people with certain chronic conditions. It adds that household members of those at risk can do their part by getting an annual flu shot, that yearly vaccination is recommended because flu viruses keep changing, and that the vaccine takes about 2 weeks to take effect.
If you would like your helper to have a flu jab, offer it rather than order it, let her ask the doctor questions, and cover the cost as a health benefit. This is especially relevant where she cares for an elderly parent through an elderly caregiver placement.
If your helper feels unwell after any vaccine, or has symptoms such as a high fever or a rash at any time, take her to a doctor. For breathing difficulty, collapse or any emergency, call 995.
Records to keep
Keep a simple folder, paper or digital, ready for an MOM sample check:
- Copies of her vaccination records or vaccination card, if she has them.
- Serology test results, with the clinic’s name and date.
- Clinic records of each MMR dose, showing the dates.
- A note of which declaration option you chose and when, at each issuance and renewal.
- Your child’s immunisation record, if you declared that all children under 7 are fully vaccinated.
Her medical records are hers. Give her copies, and a complete set when she moves on, since a future employer may need the same evidence.
Related guides: Maid Off Day Rules in Singapore: 2026 Guide for Employers and Domestic Helper Work Permit Singapore: How to Apply (2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every helper in Singapore need a measles vaccine?
No. Under MOM’s rule, you only need to vaccinate your helper if she is not already immune to measles and your household has a child below 7 years old who is not fully vaccinated against measles; if all children under 7 are fully vaccinated, or she is already immune, no vaccination is required.
Who pays for my helper’s measles vaccination or blood test?
The employer pays all costs of meeting the measles immunity requirement, including MMR doses and serology tests, and MOM estimates two vaccine doses at $80 to $140, though you should confirm the price with your clinic.
When do I make the measles declaration?
You declare your helper’s measles immunity status when her Work Permit is issued for a new helper, or when it is renewed for an existing helper, choosing whether she is immune, all children under 7 are fully vaccinated, or a vaccination appointment has been booked.
What if my helper has no vaccination records?
Ask a GP about a measles serology test, which checks her blood for antibodies; if it shows immunity, that result is accepted proof, and if not, she can complete two MMR doses at least 28 days apart.
Is the flu vaccine compulsory for helpers?
No, MOM does not require it, but HealthHub notes that household members of people at higher risk, such as young children and adults aged 65 and above, can do their part by getting an annual flu shot, so it is worth discussing with a doctor.
Conclusion
The measles rule asks one clear question of families with young children: is your helper protected? Answering it well means checking your child’s vaccination status, finding out whether your helper has records or needs a serology test, allowing at least 28 days between MMR doses, paying the cost yourself and keeping the paperwork. Start the moment you know a baby is coming or a renewal letter arrives, not the week the permit is due.
Other vaccines, including the flu jab, sit outside the permit rules. Follow HealthHub’s guidance, involve a doctor and let your helper make an informed choice.
If you are planning for a new baby or a renewal and want help thinking through the medical and permit steps, our consultants can walk you through them. 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.
