Sooner or later, most helpers ask to go home for a while. It might be a wedding, a new grandchild, a parent who is unwell, or simply two years without seeing her own children. FDW home leave is one of the most human parts of the employment relationship, and it goes much more smoothly when both sides have planned for it well before the flight is booked.

Employers often assume rules exist here that do not. Migrant domestic workers are not covered by the Employment Act, so there is no statutory annual leave or home leave entitlement of the kind most Singapore employees have. Instead, what she gets depends on what the two of you agreed in the employment contract, and on what you agree when the question comes up.

That flexibility means the details matter. The air ticket, pay, length of leave, levy and household cover are all best settled well before departure.

This guide covers what MOM says, what contracts usually include, the levy waiver, her travel documents and covering the home while she is away. We link to the official MOM pages throughout.

Is FDW home leave a legal entitlement?

No. Helpers are protected under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act and its Work Pass regulations, which deal with salary, rest days, food, accommodation and medical care. They are not covered by the Employment Act, and MOM sources set no statutory annual leave or home leave entitlement.

MOM’s advice column, Ask Jaya, addresses this directly in its answer on what to look out for when your helper asks for home leave. It suggests discussing whether the leave will be paid or unpaid based on the terms of her employment contract. It also describes a common practice of offering 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked, and notes that some employers pay salary in lieu if she prefers not to use the days to travel.

Treat that as a reference point, not a requirement. What binds you is your contract and anything you later agree in writing.

Home leave is also separate from rest days. A helper who spends two weeks at home in June is still entitled to her weekly rest days, including the monthly rest day that cannot be compensated away, in the months either side. Our guide to maid rest day and off day rules explains those obligations.

What maid home leave terms usually cover

Because there is no statutory template, a good contract clause does the work. The clauses that cause the fewest disagreements answer these questions plainly:

How much leave, and when it is earned. For example, a set number of days after completing a two-year contract, or a shorter break each year.
Paid or unpaid. Say which, and whether salary continues in full, in part or not at all during the trip.
The air ticket. Who pays for the return flight is usually agreed in the contract. MOM’s home leave guidance does not set a rule on it, so write down exactly what you agreed.
Notice and dates. How much notice each side gives, and how the dates are chosen around family commitments and her own events back home. If she travels with your family instead, read our guide to taking your helper overseas.
Salary in lieu. Whether she can choose payment instead of leave if she does not want to travel.
Late return. What happens if a flight is cancelled or she needs a few more days, and how she should let you know.

Home leave is most often discussed at renewal, after the first two years. If you are weighing up whether to continue, our article on renewal versus replacement covers the wider decision. MOM sends a renewal letter about 8 weeks before her Work Permit expires, according to its renewal page, so that is a natural moment to agree leave dates as well.

Levy while she is overseas: how the waiver works

This is the part that saves employers money if they know about it. MOM’s overseas leave guidance is clear that you will continue to be charged levy while your helper is away. You can, however, apply for a levy waiver for the period she was overseas once she is back.

The key conditions, from MOM’s page on applying for a levy waiver, are:

Minimum length. The leave must be at least 7 consecutive days.
Annual cap. Waivers for overseas leave are capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.
Keep paying first. Levy is still billed and paid as normal while she is away. You apply after she returns.
How to apply. Use the “Check and pay foreign worker levy” e-service. You can apply from the 1st of the month after you receive the bill, and must apply within 1 year of that bill.
Processing. MOM says it usually takes 12 working days, and the waived amount is credited against your next bill.

MOM does not require documents for an overseas leave waiver, but both its overseas leave page and Ask Jaya advise keeping a copy of her travel ticket or itinerary. It is a small habit that makes any later query simple. For the wider picture on rates, concessions and payment dates, see our guide to the maid levy in Singapore.

You can cancel the Work Permit for a long absence instead, but you would then need a new Work Permit to employ her again, and Ask Jaya notes those costs may exceed keeping the permit and claiming the waiver.

Travel documents and getting back into Singapore

The practical checks are short but worth doing a few weeks ahead. MOM’s overseas leave page advises employers to:

Make sure her passport is valid for the trip. If it is close to expiry, see our guide to helper passport renewal.
Make sure she carries her passport and her digital work pass or Work Permit card, so that she can re-enter Singapore. MOM encourages using the digital work pass in the SGWorkPass app to reduce the risk of losing the physical card.
Check her home country’s immigration requirements with her embassy, since her home country may have its own paperwork she must complete to travel out and back without problems.
Keep a copy of her ticket or itinerary.
Request a deferral of her 6ME if her six-monthly medical examination falls during the trip.

It is also sensible to compare her return date with her Work Permit expiry date and her renewal timeline, so nothing lapses while she is away. Ask Jaya also suggests saving contact numbers for her relatives and friends back home, with the right country code, before she leaves, in case she becomes uncontactable.

If she decides not to come back, MOM says to cancel her Work Permit to stop the levy. MOM discharges the security bond once it has verified that she left and did not re-enter. If she re-enters Singapore before the bond is discharged, you must send her home. A helper who fails to return from leave is also one of the cases covered by the levy waiver rules, once the permit has been cancelled.

Covering the household while she is away

Two weeks is long enough to feel the gap, so plan cover when you agree the dates. Our guide to planning household cover for home leave walks through each step.

Family rota. Relatives taking fixed days, with written routines and medication notes.
A part-time helper. Booking a part-time helper for regular sessions covers cleaning and cooking without the commitment of a second live-in hire.
A one-off clean. Some households book home cleaning for the week before she returns, so she does not come back to a backlog.
Care arrangements. For an elderly parent who needs daily help, look at day care or respite options well before her leave starts.

If you need airport transfers on either end of her journey, Femme5 also offers helper transport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my helper entitled to annual leave or home leave by law?

No. Migrant domestic workers are not covered by the Employment Act, and MOM sources set no statutory annual leave or home leave entitlement. Leave is a matter for the employment contract and mutual agreement between you and your helper. MOM’s Ask Jaya column describes 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked as a common practice, but it is not a legal minimum.

Who pays for my helper’s air ticket home?

That is usually agreed in the employment contract, and MOM’s home leave guidance does not set a rule on it. Check what your contract says first, and if it is silent, agree the arrangement openly with her. Whatever you decide, put it in writing before she books, and keep a copy of the ticket, since MOM advises keeping it as a record for a levy waiver.

Do I still pay levy while she is on home leave?

Yes, levy continues to be billed while she is overseas. If the leave lasts at least 7 consecutive days, you can apply for a levy waiver after she returns, through MOM’s “Check and pay foreign worker levy” e-service. Overseas leave waivers are capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year, applications must be made within 1 year of the levy bill, and the waived amount is credited against your next bill.

What does she need to bring to re-enter Singapore?

MOM says she should carry her valid passport and her digital work pass or Work Permit card so that she can re-enter Singapore. The digital work pass in the SGWorkPass app reduces the risk of losing the card. It is also worth checking her home country’s own immigration requirements with her embassy before she travels.

What should I do if my helper does not come back?

First, talk to her to understand whether the decision is final. If it is, MOM advises cancelling her Work Permit to stop the levy, and keeping a copy of her ticket or itinerary as proof that she left. MOM discharges the security bond once it has verified she left and did not re-enter Singapore.

Conclusion

FDW home leave has no statutory formula, which is exactly why it rewards planning. Agree the length, pay, air ticket and notice in the contract, ideally at renewal. Check her passport, work pass and Work Permit dates a few weeks out. Keep paying levy while she is away, keep her ticket, and claim the waiver when she is back if the trip ran to at least 7 consecutive days. Then arrange cover for the household at the same time you agree the dates.

Remember, too, what the trip means to her: for many helpers it is the only time in two years they see their children or parents. Rules do change, so confirm current requirements on the MOM website before you finalise anything.

If you would like to talk through your helper’s home leave, renewal terms or cover while she is away, our consultants are happy to help. You can get in touch with the Femme5 team to discuss your household’s plans, read more about how we work with employers, or arrange part-time help for the weeks she is away. A short conversation now tends to prevent a longer one later.

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.

Femme5 Placement Team

Written by the placement specialists at Femme5 Agency Pte Ltd (MOM Licence 19C9763), who match Singapore families with domestic helpers every day.

FDW Home Leave in Singapore: What Employers Should Plan For