How Apply For or Renew a Maid Permit in Singapore

Domestic helpers are indispensable members of many Singapore households.

But before your domestic helper can legally work for you, she will need to be issued a maid permit, which must be renewed every two years.

Applying for or renewing a maid permit can be done through a maid agency at a cost, or on your own as employer. Applying on your own enables you to avoid paying agents’ fees, although you will still have to pay application fees directly to MOM and bear other costs such as insurance for your helper.

If you’d like to do so on your own, rest assured that the process is not complicated and can be done by anyone with a valid SingPass, Internet access and a credit or debit card.
 

How much can you save by DIYing?

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Your maid agency can apply for and renew maid permits on your behalf for a fee. Fees can vary dramatically from agency to agency, but a typical price range is about $300 to $400 and does not include costs such as renewal fees or insurance.

As the application and renewal process are straightforward and can be done online, it’s well worth the trouble to learn how to do so when you hire your first domestic helper. This will enable you to save hundreds of dollars every two years.
 

How to apply for a maid permit in Singapore

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At least 2 weeks before your helper’s arrival:

1. Use your SingPass to log in here.
2. Fill in the online form and submit.
3. Pay $30 using Visa, MasterCard or eNets direct debit.
4. Wait for the application to be processed. For online applications, this typically takes no more than 1 week. 
5. Log in to the same website to check the status of your application at any time. When your application has been approved, you will receive a Letter of Notification or In-Principal Approval Letter. 
6. Send this letter to the domestic worker. If she is not in Singapore, she will need to show this letter to enter the country.
7. Prior to your helper’s arrival, you will have to:
   1. Buy a security bond (not applicable for Malaysian helpers), 
   2. Buy medical and personal accident insurance for her, like Income’s Domestic Helper Insurance, and, 
   3. (If she is a first-time domestic worker in Singapore) Register her for MOM’s Settling-In Programme, which she must attend within 3 days of her arrival.

After your helper’s arrival:

1. After your helper arrives in Singapore, log in here and submit a request for her Work Permit to be issued.
2. Pay $30 by VISA, MasterCard or eNets direct debit for issuance of the Work Permit.
3. Print out the Temporary Work Permit that is issued to you and give it to your domestic helper. It will be valid for 1 month.
4. If the Temporary Work Permit indicates that your helper needs to register her fingerprints and photo at MOM Services Centre - Hall C, make an appointment for her immediately and arrange to have her sent there within 1 week of issuance of the pass. She should bring along her original passport, Appointment Letter and Temporary Work Permit at her appointment.
5. Within 4 working days after your helper has been registered and had her documents verified, you or one of your authorised recipients will receive an SMS notifying you of delivery of the card. If your helper did not require registration, the Work Permit card will be delivered 4 working days after her documents are verified. After two unsuccessful delivery attempts, you will have to pick up the card at MOM Services Centre - Hall C 3 working days after the second attempted delivery.
6. For domestic helpers who were already in Singapore previously, return her old pass card by post to MOM’s Work Pass Division at 18 Havelock Road 059764. Note that you need to apply for a new permit for your helper even if she was already in Singapore working for another employer before being hired by you.

 

How to renew a maid permit in Singapore

 

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You are typically required to renew your domestic helper’s maid permit every 2 years. 5 weeks before your helper’s work permit expires, you will receive a Renewal Letter from MOM. You can renew your helper’s work permit through an agency or do it yourself.

1. Using your SingPass, log in here.
2. Fill in the online form and submit, using the instructions on your Renewal Letter as a guide. You will need to upload a scanned copy of your helper’s passport’s personal particulars page, security bond (not applicable for Malaysian helpers), personal accident insurance, medical insurance and details for secure card delivery.
3. Pay $30 using Visa, MasterCard or eNets direct debit.
4. Within 4 working days after the documents are verified, you or one of your authorised recipients will receive an SMS notifying you of delivery of the card. After two unsuccessful delivery attempts, you will have to pick up the card at MOM Services Centre - Hall C 3 working days after the second attempted delivery.
5. Return your helper’s old pass card by post to MOM’s Work Pass Division at 18 Havelock Road 059764.

Whether you are applying for a permit through an agency or doing it on your own, you will need to protect your helper with a good maid insurance policy. Income’s Domestic Maid Insurance offers personal accident coverage, hospital and surgical expenses and wage compensation so your helper can do her job with peace of mind.