You can hire a domestic helper in Singapore if you are at least 21 years old, are not an undischarged bankrupt, can fully understand and carry out your responsibilities as an employer, and MOM is satisfied that you need the help and can afford to house and keep her acceptably. The helper must be a woman aged 23 to below 50 with at least 8 years of formal education, from one of 13 approved countries. These are the Ministry of Manpower’s rules.
The employer
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 21 years or older |
| Financial standing | Not an undischarged bankrupt |
| Capacity | You must have the mental capacity to fully understand and carry out the responsibilities of an employer |
| Need and means | MOM considers your care-giving needs, such as young children or elderly family members, and your financial ability to hire, maintain and house a helper acceptably |
| Health | You should not have a medical condition that would impair your ability to supervise and look after the helper’s well-being. MOM gives Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and schizophrenia as examples |
| First-time employers | You must complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme before you apply |
The application names one employer, and the name and NRIC or FIN on the Employers’ Orientation Programme registration must match it exactly. See EOP and SIP explained.
Changing helpers often
If you have had more than three helpers in 12 months, hiring a fourth means attending a one-hour CONNECT Workshop first. More in if the helper does not work out.
The helper
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Age | 23 to below 50 when the Work Permit is applied for |
| Renewal | A helper aged 50 or above can renew only until she is 60 |
| Education | At least 8 years of formal education, with a recognised certificate |
| Source country | Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan or Thailand |
| Relationship | She must not be related to you |
| Where she works | At your address registered with MOM (the NRIC address) |
| Where she is when you apply | Outside Singapore, for a new helper from overseas. She can come in only after you hold the in-principle approval and have bought the $5,000 security bond. Malaysian helpers do not need the bond |
First-time helper. A helper who has never worked in Singapore as a helper. That includes someone who has a MOM helper record but never actually worked here. She must attend the Settling-In Programme.
What you must have ready
- Singpass, to apply or to authorise an agency;
- the security bond and the medical and personal accident insurance, before she arrives;
- a place for her to live that meets MOM’s conditions: see employer duties;
- the monthly levy: the levy and the bond.
Questions
Can a single person hire a helper? The requirements on MOM’s page are age, bankruptcy, capacity, need and means, and health. MOM has a separate FAQ for single employers, so check it for your own case, or ask us.
Can a relative be my helper? No. She must not be related to you.
Do I need a reason to hire? MOM considers your care-giving needs, for example young children or elderly family members. If you are not sure whether your household fits, ask us before you start.
Source: MOM, employer requirements and helper eligibility. Tell us about your household and we will tell you honestly what to expect.
General information as of the date above. MOM's current rules and your own service agreement are what apply.