Hiring a Domestic Helper in Singapore (2026): Rules and Costs

To hire a domestic helper in Singapore, you apply to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker (MDW), either through an employment agency or directly. You must be 21 or older, first-time employers must complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme, and you will need to buy a $5,000 security bond (unless your helper is Malaysian) and medical and personal accident insurance. The monthly levy is $300 for your first helper, but it drops to $60 when you have a Singapore Citizen child under 16 living with you.

Below we cover MOM’s rules, a realistic cost table, agency versus direct hire, and how to settle a helper in when you have a newborn. All rules and fees are as at October 2026; check MOM’s website before you apply, as they do change.

MOM eligibility rules for employers and helpers

You, as the employer

• Be 21 years old or above.
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt.
• Have the mental capacity to understand and carry out your responsibilities as an employer.
• Show a genuine care-giving need and the financial ability to hire and look after a helper. MOM assesses this case by case; there is no single published income figure.
• If it is your first time hiring, complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) at least two working days before you submit the Work Permit application. Expectant mothers and new mums within a month of the application can ask to send a representative instead.

Your helper

• Female, at least 23 years old and below 50 at the time of the first application. Work Permits can be renewed until she turns 60.
• At least eight years of formal education with a recognised certificate.
• From an approved source country or region: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan or Thailand.
• Not related to you, and she can only work at the residential address declared to MOM.

How much a domestic helper costs in Singapore

MOM does not set a minimum salary for helpers. Salaries depend on nationality, experience and what you agree, and some source countries set their own minimums through their embassies. Treat the ranges below as a guide.

With the levy concession, many families budget roughly $800 to $1,200 a month in running costs, plus several thousand dollars upfront. Our guide to the cost of raising a child in Singapore puts this into a wider family budget. If a live-in helper feels like more than you need, compare the costs of hiring a part-time helper. For occasional childcare instead, see our guide to babysitter and nanny options.

The levy concession for young children

The concessionary levy of $60 a month applies if you have a Singapore Citizen child below 16 in your household. If you are the parent, the concession starts automatically from your child’s date of birth. If you are not the parent, for example a grandparent employing the helper, the child must share your NRIC address and be added as a household member on MOM’s FDW eService. One concession applies per eligible person, up to two helpers per household. The levy is due by the 17th of the following month, usually by GIRO.

Security bond, insurance and medical checks

Security bond

You need a $5,000 security bond for each non-Malaysian helper. It can be forfeited if the Work Permit conditions are broken, for example if salary is paid late, your helper is not sent home when her permit ends, or she goes missing. You are usually not held liable for her breaches if you can show you explained the rules to her and reported problems promptly.

Insurance

Medical insurance must cover inpatient care and day surgery with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000. For claims above $15,000, insurers pay 75% and employers 25%. Personal accident insurance must have a sum assured of at least $60,000. You cannot pass these costs on to your helper.

Medical examinations

Your helper needs a pre-employment medical examination, then a six-monthly medical examination (6ME) screening for pregnancy and infectious diseases, plus other checks. Helpers aged 50 and above only need one at Work Permit renewal. For a household with a newborn, it is also reasonable to ask your paediatrician whether your helper should have any vaccinations, such as flu or pertussis, and to offer to pay for them.

Settling-in Programme, rest days and employment rules

• Settling-in Programme (SIP): first-time helpers must attend a one-day programme within seven days of arriving, excluding Sundays and public holidays, and cannot start work until they finish it. It is taught in her own language and covers safety, her rights and adapting to Singapore.
• Rest days: your helper is entitled to one rest day a week, agreed between you. If she chooses to work on a rest day, you must pay at least one day’s salary in compensation. At least one rest day a month cannot be compensated away.
• Work location: she may only do domestic chores at your registered address. If she needs to care for your baby at a grandparent’s home, notify MOM first and make sure she is not doing the full housework in both homes.
• Window cleaning: she may only clean window exteriors above ground level if grilles are installed and locked and an adult from your household is present to supervise.

Agency or direct hire?

Direct hiring, often of a helper who is already in Singapore and transferring, saves on agency fees. You submit the Work Permit application yourself through MOM’s FDW eService and arrange the bond, insurance, medical exam and, for a first-timer, the SIP. It suits employers who are comfortable with admin and have a trusted referral. Our guide to transfer maids in Singapore compares transfer and fresh helpers.

If you use an agency, check that it is licensed on MOM’s Employment Agency directory, get all fees in writing and ask about replacement terms and any loans your helper is repaying.

Hiring a helper when you have a newborn

Many families hire a helper to support a mum returning to work. A few things make the first months smoother:

• Time the arrival. Aim for your helper to arrive a few weeks before your leave ends, so you can train her while you are still home. If you have a confinement nanny, overlapping briefly can help. See confinement nanny vs confinement centre.
• Teach safe sleep. Baby on their back, in their own cot, with no pillows, bolsters or soft toys. Our safe sleep guide is worth going through together.
• Write down the routine. Feeds, nap times, bottle and breast milk handling, sterilising and bath time. Pictures on the fridge help.
• Agree on red flags. Make sure she knows when to call you immediately: fever in a baby under three months, breathing difficulty, a fall, or a baby who is floppy or unusually drowsy.
• Build trust gradually. Start with shorter periods alone and increase as you both grow confident. Respect her privacy, rest and phone time, and check in on how she is adjusting.

If you are planning your return, our guide to returning to work after maternity leave covers childcare options, including a helper plus infant care combination.

The bottom line

Hiring a helper in Singapore means meeting MOM’s employer rules, buying a $5,000 security bond and $60,000 insurance cover, and budgeting for salary, the levy and upkeep. With a Singapore Citizen child under 16 at home, the levy drops to $60 a month automatically for parents. Agencies save you effort for a fee, while direct hire saves money but takes more admin. Whichever route you choose, take time to train and support your helper, especially around your newborn. MOM’s Work Permit for migrant domestic worker pages have the full rules, and our money and admin section has more guides.