Hiring a Helper as an Expat in Singapore (2026): Who Can Hire, Costs and Tips

Many expat families in Singapore hire a live-in domestic helper, and for good reason: childcare is expensive, families are far away, and a helper makes daily life far easier. But if you are new to Singapore, the rules can feel unfamiliar. Can foreigners hire a helper? What will it cost? What happens when you leave?

This guide answers those questions for expats, step by step.

Can expats hire a domestic helper in Singapore?

Yes. You don’t need to be a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident to hire a helper. Foreigners living in Singapore on a valid pass can apply for a helper’s work permit. For example, MOM says Long-Term Visit Pass holders can hire a helper as long as their pass is valid when they apply. MOM’s FAQs also cover other pass types, such as the Personalised Employment Pass.

When MOM assesses an application, it considers your household’s care-giving needs and your financial ability to hire and look after a helper. The basic employer requirements are the same for everyone. You must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt
• Have the mental capacity to understand and carry out your responsibilities as an employer
• Complete the Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) before you apply, if it is your first time hiring a helper in Singapore

Her work permit depends on you as her employer, so keep your own pass renewal dates in mind.

What it costs an expat to hire a helper

The costs are the same as for any employer, with one important difference: the levy.

• Monthly salary: agreed between you and your helper. Read our maid salary guide for typical ranges.
• Foreign worker levy: S$300 a month for your first helper. The concessionary rate of S$60 a month is for households with a Singapore Citizen child under 16, a Singapore Citizen aged 67 or above (or a Permanent Resident aged 67+ with a Singaporean spouse or family member, under MOM’s rules), or a person with disabilities who meets MOM’s criteria. Most expat households pay the full rate, but if your spouse or child is a Singapore Citizen, check whether you qualify. See how much the maid levy is.
• Maid insurance: compulsory medical and personal accident cover. Compare plans in our maid insurance guide.
• Security bond: S$5,000 for most helpers, usually bought as an insurance guarantee for a small premium. See our security bond guide.
• Food, lodging and medical costs: you provide her meals, a safe place to sleep and pay her medical bills.
• One-off costs: work permit fees, her medical examination, and agency fees if you use an agency.

How to hire a helper, step by step

1. Attend the Employer Orientation Programme if it’s your first time hiring in Singapore. It’s a short online course.
2. Find your helper. Browse profiles, watch video intros and shortlist helpers who fit your family. Helpers already in Singapore can start sooner and you can meet them in person.
3. Interview her by video or in person, and agree her salary, rest days and duties.
4. Buy maid insurance and the security bond.
5. Apply for her work permit through MOM. You can do this yourself online, or involve an agency to handle the paperwork. Our guide on how to apply for an FDW work permit walks you through it.
6. Welcome her home. She completes a medical examination, and a first-time helper in Singapore attends the Settling-in Programme.

Living together: accommodation and house rules

Your helper lives with you, at the address on her work permit. She must have a safe and decent place to sleep, with privacy, ventilation and protection from the weather. If your apartment doesn’t have a helper’s room, plan where she will sleep before you hire.

Many expats have never had live-in help before. A clear, kind set of house rules for her first day makes the first weeks much easier for both of you.

What happens when you leave Singapore

Expat assignments end, so plan ahead:

• Tell your helper early. Give her time to find a new employer.
• Help her transfer. Many helpers move to a new family in Singapore as a transfer helper. Another employer can apply for her work permit before yours is cancelled.
• Or send her home. If she isn’t transferring, you cancel her work permit and must pay for her air ticket home, including check-in luggage. She must leave within 2 weeks of the cancellation (MOM).
• Settle her salary and any money owed before she leaves your home.

Our guide on ending a helper’s contract early covers notice and the steps with MOM.

Tips for first-time expat employers

• Consider a transfer helper. Transfer helpers already know Singapore homes, food and rules, which helps if you are new here too.
• Agree everything in writing: salary, rest days, duties and house rules. Use our contract generator.
• Ask about experience with your kind of household: young children, pets, or Western cooking.
• Be patient for the first month. Even an experienced helper needs time to learn your family’s way of doing things.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hire a helper on a Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass?

MOM says Long-Term Visit Pass holders can hire a helper if their pass is valid when they apply for her work permit. Check MOM’s employer requirements for your specific pass.

Do expats pay a higher maid levy?

No, the levy is the same. But the S$60 concessionary rate depends on having Singapore Citizen children, elderly or persons with disabilities in the household, so most expats pay the standard S$300 a month.

What happens to my helper if my pass expires?

Her work permit depends on you as her employer, so you must cancel it or help her transfer to a new employer before you leave. Plan this around your own pass renewal.

Do I need an agency to hire a helper as a foreigner?

No. You can find a helper and apply for her work permit yourself, or use an agency for some or all of the process.