Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families — Timeline and processing benchmarks

Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families in Singapore follows a defined Ministry of Manpower pathway: eligibility checks, a Work Permit application, a security bond, insurance and a settling-in programme. This guide sets out realistic timelines and processing benchmarks for families relocating with domestic staff.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

What helper / FDW hiring for HNW families involves

A Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) in Singapore is employed under a Work Permit administered by the Ministry of Manpower. For high-net-worth families relocating from overseas, the helper is usually essential to household continuity, so the paperwork should start in parallel with the family’s own passes rather than after arrival.

The employer of record is the individual household member who meets MOM’s eligibility criteria, not a company. The Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 sets the conditions attached to a Work Permit, including the employer’s responsibilities for upkeep, medical care and repatriation of the worker.

Who is eligible to employ an FDW

The prospective employer must be at least 21 years old, not an undischarged bankrupt, and able to demonstrate the financial capacity to maintain and pay the helper. There is no fixed income threshold published as a single number, but MOM assesses the household’s ability to support a helper, and HNW families rarely have difficulty here.

The employer must also complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme if hiring a first-time helper or a first-time employer, and must purchase medical and personal-accident insurance for the worker. Families arranging company incorporation alongside relocation may find our corporate reference on Property Tax for Companies in Singapore (2026): Commercial Property Guide useful for wider household and asset planning.

Costs, levies and the security bond

Budget for several recurring and one-off items. The monthly FDW levy is S$300 at the standard rate, reduced to S$60 under the concessionary rate where the household has a qualifying young child, elderly person or person with disabilities. A security bond of S$5,000 is required for non-Malaysian helpers, usually satisfied through a bond insurance policy costing a modest annual premium rather than a cash deposit.

Add agency fees (commonly S$1,000 to S$3,000 for a placement), the helper’s airfare, medical examination fees, and monthly salary which for experienced helpers with HNW households often ranges from S$700 to S$1,200. Mandatory insurance covering medical and personal accident is also required before the Work Permit is issued.

Timeline and processing benchmarks

In a clean case, allow 2 to 4 weeks end to end. Work Permit in-principle approval is often granted within one week of a complete application. After the helper arrives, she must complete a medical examination and, for first-time helpers, the Settling-in Programme within three days of arrival and before starting work.

The Work Permit card is typically issued within one to two weeks of the helper passing her medical examination and the employer completing formalities. Families relocating with children should sequence school placement in parallel; the practical trade-offs are covered in our companion guides linked below.

Step-by-step process

Confirm employer eligibility and complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme if required. Select the helper directly or through a licensed employment agency. Purchase the required medical and personal-accident insurance and arrange the security bond. Apply for the Work Permit through MOM and obtain in-principle approval. Arrange the helper’s travel, medical examination and Settling-in Programme. Collect the Work Permit card once all conditions are met.

Households winding down a prior structure or company as they relocate can review the process in our note on How to Strike Off a Singapore Company: Complete ACRA Guide, and families planning the wider move should read the Helper / FDW hiring for HNW families — Costs and fees breakdown.

Common mistakes

The frequent error is letting a helper begin work before the medical examination and Settling-in Programme are complete, which breaches Work Permit conditions under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990. Another is under-insuring; MOM sets minimum medical and personal-accident cover, and gaps will delay issuance.

Always confirm current levies, bond amounts and insurance minimums directly with the authorities, since these are periodically revised. See the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority at ica.gov.sg for entry matters and the Housing and Development Board at hdb.gov.sg for housing rules that can affect where a live-in helper may be employed.

FAQs

How long does it take to hire an FDW?
A complete case usually runs 2 to 4 weeks, with in-principle approval often within a week and the Work Permit card issued after the helper’s medical examination and, for first-timers, the Settling-in Programme.

What is the FDW levy?
The standard monthly levy is S$300, reduced to the concessionary S$60 where the household has a qualifying young child, elderly member or person with disabilities.

Is a security bond required?
Yes, a S$5,000 security bond applies to non-Malaysian helpers, usually met through a low-cost bond insurance policy rather than a cash deposit.

Can a first-time helper start work immediately on arrival?
No. First-time helpers must complete a medical examination and the Settling-in Programme, generally within three days of arrival and before starting work.

Related guides

Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

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