Our maids from the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and Mizoram

Choosing a maid in Singapore starts with your household, not a nationality. Think about who needs care, the languages spoken at home, your daily routines and your budget, then look at each helper’s experience, training and personality. The nationality profiles above are a starting point, and the steps below explain what happens once you have found the right person.

Start with your household’s needs

Before you look at profiles, it helps to write down what a typical day in your home looks like. Useful questions include:

• Who needs care? Young children, a newborn, an elderly parent or a family member with mobility needs each call for different experience.
• Which languages are spoken at home? Clear communication matters most with the people she will spend the most time with, such as grandparents or young children.
• What does the housework involve? The size of your home, cooking expectations and any pets all shape the workload.
• What rest-day arrangement suits your family? Every helper is entitled to a weekly rest day, so plan for it from the start.

With this list, we can shortlist helpers whose experience matches your home. Our article on how to shortlist the right helper walks through this in more detail, and choosing between Filipino, Indonesian and Myanmar helpers looks at nationality as one factor among many.

Who can work as a helper in Singapore

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sets eligibility rules for migrant domestic workers. A helper must be female and aged 23 to below 50 when the Work Permit application is made, and she needs at least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate. She must come from an approved source country or region, which includes the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar and India (Mizoram is a state in India). She must not be related to you, and she must work at your NRIC-registered address.

You also need to meet MOM’s employer requirements: you must be at least 21, not an undischarged bankrupt, and able to fulfil an employer’s responsibilities. MOM also looks at your caregiving needs and your financial ability to hire and house a helper.

New helper or transfer helper?

A new helper comes to Singapore from her home country for the first time. You may need to allow more time for training, and she will attend MOM’s one-day Settling-in Programme within 7 days of arrival (excluding Sundays and public holidays) before she starts work. A transfer helper is already working in Singapore and is moving from another employer, which usually means local experience and a faster start. A transfer needs her current employer’s consent. You can read more on our transfer maids page or in new maid vs transfer maid.

The hiring steps at a glance

1. Attend the EOP if you are a first-time employer. The Employers’ Orientation Programme must be done at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application. The online version takes 2 hours and costs $29 to $36.
2. Apply for the Work Permit. The application fee is $35, and processing takes about 1 week through FDW eService.
3. Buy the security bond and insurance. This means a $5,000 security bond, medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000, and personal accident insurance of at least $60,000.
4. Arrival, medical and settling in. A helper coming from overseas must pass a medical examination by a Singapore-registered doctor within 2 weeks of arrival.
5. Issue the Work Permit. The issuance fee is $35.

Our step-by-step Work Permit guide covers each stage in detail.

Ongoing costs and obligations

Once she starts, you pay a monthly levy of $300 for your first helper, or $60 at the concessionary rate if your household includes, for example, a Singapore citizen child below 16 or an eligible elderly person aged 67 or above. MOM does not set a minimum salary, but you must pay the salary declared in the Work Permit application, no later than 7 days after the end of each salary period. You also pay for her six-monthly medical examination, provide suitable accommodation, and give her 1 rest day a week, at least 1 of which each month cannot be compensated away. See our guides to the maid levy and the full cost of hiring.

DISCLAIMER: Ultimately, maids are individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses. Other factors like work experience, age, education and training should also be considered when hiring a maid.