Bringing a helper into your home in Singapore starts with one essential document: the Work Permit. It is what makes her employment legal, and as the employer you are the one responsible for applying, paying the levy, and keeping everything in order. The good news is that the process is well-structured, and once you understand the steps it is far less daunting than it first appears. Here is a warm, plain-English guide to the whole journey, from your very first application right through to renewal.
Who applies and who pays
For a Migrant Domestic Worker (MDW), the Work Permit is always applied for by you, the employer, not by the helper herself. You are also responsible for the monthly Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) levy, the mandatory $5,000 security bond (this is waived for Malaysian helpers), and her upkeep and wellbeing throughout her stay. Thinking of these as your ongoing duties from day one helps everything else fall into place.
Before you apply: the Employers’ Orientation Programme
If you are a first-time employer or you are changing helpers, you will usually need to complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) before you submit the Work Permit application. It is a short programme that explains your responsibilities, costs, and the support available to you. Getting this done early means there is no last-minute scramble when you are ready to apply.
Step one: the application and in-principle approval
Once your EOP (where required) is settled, the application itself is submitted to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). If everything is in order, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA). The IPA is essentially MOM saying “yes, this can go ahead” and it allows your helper to enter Singapore. It also lists the conditions of employment, so it is worth reading carefully and keeping a copy.
Keep your helper’s IPA, passport details, and bond paperwork together in one folder from the start. When renewal or any MOM matter comes up later, having everything in one place saves a great deal of stress.
Step two: arrival, settling in and medical checks
After your helper arrives, there are a few first-time steps to complete promptly. A first-time helper must attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP), a one-day programme, within the first few days of arrival. She will also need to pass a medical examination. From there, the Work Permit can be issued and her thumbprint registered so the card can be produced.
Step three: issuance of the Work Permit card
Once the medical and registration steps are done, MOM issues the actual Work Permit. This is the formal card confirming she may work for you. Do double-check that all the details are correct when it is issued, and let her keep or access her own documents as required.
Keeping the permit valid: the 6-monthly medical
While the permit is valid, your helper must undergo a medical examination every six months (commonly called the 6ME). This 6-monthly check screens for pregnancy and certain infectious conditions such as syphilis (VDRL) and is separate from her arrival medical. Diarising these every six months keeps you compliant without any last-minute panic.
Renewal: doing it on time
A Work Permit for an MDW is not indefinite. It generally needs to be renewed around every two years, and MOM will usually remind you ahead of the expiry date. To renew, you confirm you wish to continue the employment, ensure the levy and bond arrangements remain in place, and complete the renewal before the permit lapses. Because exact timeframes and any updated requirements can change, do check MOM for the current requirement when your renewal window approaches.
- Watch for MOM’s renewal reminder and act early, never on the last day.
- Make sure levy payments are up to date so renewal is not held up.
- Confirm the security bond and insurance remain valid for the new period.
- Keep her 6-monthly medicals current throughout.
How Ming Hwee helps
At Ming Hwee, a licensed MOM Employment Agency (Licence 12C6072), we guide you through every one of these steps so nothing slips through the cracks. From the EOP and Work Permit application to the security bond, medicals, SIP and timely renewals, we handle the paperwork and the reminders so you can focus on welcoming your helper into your home. This is general guidance only, not legal advice, so do verify the latest details on the MOM website. When you are ready, find your helper with us, or simply drop us a WhatsApp message and we will walk you through it.
Related guides
- The Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP): A Quick Guide
- Off-Day Rules: Compensation vs Rest Day in Lieu
- The 6-Monthly Medical Examination (6ME): A Simple Guide
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