Insights for work and life.
Can an S Pass or EP Holder Hire a Domestic Helper? MOM Rules for Pass Holders
Short answer: Yes. Employment Pass and S Pass holders can hire a domestic helper by applying for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker. You must be at least 21, not an undischarged bankrupt and able to support a helper. First-time employers attend an orientation programme first, then buy a $5,000 security bond and insurance.
Key facts at a glance
- EP and S Pass holders can hire a helper. MOM confirms this on its FAQ page, last updated 14 March 2024 (per MOM, as at 2 November 2026).
- Employer criteria: at least 21 years old, not an undischarged bankrupt, and mental capacity to discharge the employer’s duties (per MOM employer requirements page, updated 11 March 2026).
- MOM does not publish a minimum income figure. It assesses whether the household can afford the helper’s salary, levy, insurance, food and other costs (per MOM FAQ).
- Monthly levy: $300 for the first helper, $450 for each subsequent helper, $60 at the concessionary rate (per MOM, page updated 8 July 2026). No CPF is payable for a helper.
- Security bond of $5,000 per helper (none for Malaysian helpers), bought before she arrives (per MOM, page updated 2 February 2026).
- Medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000, and personal accident insurance with a sum assured of at least $60,000 a year (per MOM, page updated 18 September 2026).
- First-time employers must complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme at least 2 working days before applying (per MOM, page updated 7 August 2026).
This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. For matters needing legal advice, we work with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms.
Relocating professionals often ask whether they can hire a domestic helper once the family arrives. The short answer above is yes, and the rules that decide whether MOM approves are set by the employer’s household, not by the type of pass alone. This guide sets out who can hire a domestic helper on an EP or S Pass, the documents MOM asks for, the costs, and the order of steps. Every figure carries its source and the date MOM last updated that page.
Can an EP or S Pass holder hire a domestic helper in Singapore?
Yes. MOM states that if you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass, you can apply for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker (MDW). There is no separate pass-type test beyond holding a valid pass, so the employer must still meet the same household criteria that apply to everyone.
The same applies if your family holds Long-Term Visit Passes. MOM says a Long-Term Visit Pass holder can hire an MDW, provided the pass is valid when the Work Permit application is made. If you are a Dependant’s Pass holder or are planning the family move, our guide to the Dependant’s Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass for relocating staff explains how the family passes fit together. For a general overview of the helper scheme, see our foreign domestic worker employer guide.
What does MOM require of the employer?
MOM’s employer requirements are age, solvency, capacity and, for first-time employers, orientation. They are assessed on you as the employer, whatever your pass.
| Requirement | What MOM says (as at 2 November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Age | At least 21 years old |
| Bankruptcy | Not an undischarged bankrupt |
| Capacity | Mental capacity to understand and discharge the employer’s responsibilities; no medical condition that would impair supervision of the helper’s well-being |
| Household needs | MOM considers care-giving needs, such as young children or elderly family members |
| Financial ability | MOM considers your ability to hire, maintain and upkeep the helper in acceptable accommodation |
| First-time employer | Attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme before applying |
Source: MOM, Employer requirements for hiring an MDW (updated 11 March 2026).
Is there a minimum salary for an EP or S Pass holder to hire a helper?
MOM has not published a minimum income figure. Its FAQ says household income or monthly salary is a qualifying criterion, but MOM is unable to reveal the exact amount. The requirement is set against the realistic overall cost of hiring a helper, including salary, levy, insurance, food and other expenses.
The income MOM looks at depends on the type of application. Married couples can combine income. Under the Joint Income Scheme, an applicant can combine income with one immediate family member, other than a spouse, living at the same address. The Sponsorship Scheme is for applicants aged 60 and above who earn no income and live with no working adults. Because the figure is not published, an EP or S Pass holder should not assume that meeting the pass salary threshold will satisfy MOM on affordability. Both are separate tests.
What documents does an EP or S Pass holder submit?
MOM asks pass holders for identity, pass and income evidence. The list below is MOM’s, from its FAQ updated 14 March 2024.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Your passport | Copy |
| Your work pass, or your spouse’s Long-Term Pass | Copy |
| Your child’s birth certificate or student pass | For Long-Term Visit Pass holders |
| You and your spouse’s Income Tax Notice of Assessment | Current or previous assessment year, if any; alternatively, consent to MOM verifying income with the Comptroller of Income Tax |
If you or your spouse cannot produce a Notice of Assessment, which is common in the first year after arrival, MOM says you must give the reasons in writing and an employment letter on company letterhead stating the employment start date and monthly salary. For other missing documents, MOM accepts reasons in writing, other documentary proof of income, an overseas Income Tax Notice of Assessment or a fixed deposit statement with a local bank.
What does a helper cost an EP or S Pass household?
Beyond the helper’s salary, you pay a monthly levy, a $5,000 security bond and two insurance policies. The helper cannot be asked to pay for the bond or the insurance.
| Cost | Amount | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Levy, first helper | $300 a month | MOM, updated 8 July 2026 |
| Levy, subsequent helpers | $450 a month each | MOM, updated 8 July 2026 |
| Levy, concessionary rate | $60 a month | MOM, updated 8 July 2026 |
| Security bond | $5,000 per helper, except Malaysian helpers | MOM, updated 2 February 2026 |
| Medical insurance | Annual claim limit of at least $60,000 | MOM, updated 18 September 2026 |
| Personal accident insurance | Sum assured of at least $60,000 a year | MOM, updated 18 September 2026 |
| Employers’ Orientation Programme (first-time employers) | $35 to $76 classroom; $29 to $36 online | MOM, updated 7 August 2026 |
You do not pay CPF contributions for a helper. Levy is payable by the 17th of the following month, and MOM revokes the Work Permit the following month if you miss levy payments for two consecutive months. For the medical insurance, MOM’s enhanced rules include a co-payment of 75% by insurers and 25% by employers for claim amounts above $15,000, for policies starting from 1 July 2023.
Can a pass-holder household get the $60 concessionary levy?
Only if an eligible person lives in the household, and MOM’s listed categories are built around Singapore citizens. The categories are a Singapore citizen child below 16, a Singapore citizen aged 67 and above, a permanent resident aged 67 and above where you or your spouse is a Singapore citizen, and a person with disabilities who is a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident with a citizen parent, spouse or child.
Concession is capped at one helper per eligible person and two helpers per household. On those criteria, a household made up only of foreign pass holders would not appear to qualify, so budget for the $300 normal rate and check the live criteria on MOM’s levy concession page before assuming otherwise. The rate can change when your household or number of helpers changes, with the new rate taking effect immediately.
Who can you hire as a helper?
The helper must meet MOM’s own criteria, which apply whatever pass the employer holds. MOM’s page, last updated 14 March 2024, sets these out:
- Female, aged from 23 to below 50 at the time of application (helpers aged 50 and above can only renew until they are 60).
- From an approved source country or region, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand.
- At least 8 years of formal education with a recognised certificate.
- Not related to the employer, and working at the employer’s NRIC-registered address.
- Outside Singapore during the application, except for Malaysian workers.
First-time helpers must attend the Settling-in Programme, and MOM tells employers in the in-principle approval letter if a helper needs to attend. If a licensed agency is handling the paperwork, you will need to authorise it first; see our guide on how to authorise an employment agency for your helper’s Work Permit.
What are the steps to hire a domestic helper on an EP or S Pass?
The order matters because the security bond must be in effect when the helper lands. This sequence follows MOM’s pages, as at 2 November 2026.
- Confirm you meet the employer criteria and that your pass is valid.
- If you have never employed a helper in Singapore, complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme at least 2 working days before you submit the application. MOM confirms that foreigners who bring in their own helper must also attend if it is their first time employing one in Singapore.
- Apply for the helper’s Work Permit with the documents listed above, either yourself or through an employment agency you have authorised.
- Wait for the in-principle approval (IPA) letter. Your helper cannot enter Singapore before you have the IPA and have bought the security bond.
- Before she arrives, buy the $5,000 security bond, medical insurance and personal accident insurance. You can buy them as a package or separately. Ask your bank or insurer to send the bond details to MOM, which takes up to 3 working days.
- Make sure the bond takes effect on her arrival date. MOM says that if the bond is not in effect, the immigration officer will not allow her to enter and you will have to send her home immediately.
- Arrange the Settling-in Programme if your helper is a first-timer, and set up GIRO or PayNow QR to pay levy.
Levy starts on the 5th day after arrival for first-time helpers, counting the arrival date, and the day after arrival otherwise. It ends when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires.
What happens to the security bond and what are the common mistakes?
MOM discharges the bond usually one week after the helper leaves Singapore, provided you cancelled the Work Permit, she has returned home and no bond conditions were breached. It may be forfeited if you or your helper break Work Permit or bond conditions, if you do not pay salary on time, if you fail to send her home when the permit expires, is revoked or is cancelled, or if she goes missing. Our guide on when MOM can forfeit a Work Permit security bond explains the risks in more detail.
The mistakes we see most are practical:
- Applying before completing the Employers’ Orientation Programme, when you are a first-time employer.
- Assuming the pass salary threshold also answers MOM’s household income test.
- Buying the bond so late that it is not in effect when the helper arrives.
- Passing the cost of the bond or insurance on to the helper, which MOM does not allow.
- Budgeting for the $60 concession when no household member fits MOM’s categories.
Frequently asked questions
Can an S Pass holder hire a maid?
Yes. MOM states that an S Pass holder can apply for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker, and must meet the same employer criteria as any other applicant.
Can a Long-Term Visit Pass holder hire a helper?
Yes, if the pass is valid when the Work Permit application is made and all other employer criteria are met. MOM has a separate FAQ for Personalised Employment Pass holders, which this article does not summarise, so check it on mom.gov.sg.
Do I have to attend the Employers’ Orientation Programme if I am a foreigner?
Yes, if it is your first time employing a helper in Singapore. MOM says this applies to foreigners who bring in their own helper too. Classroom sessions cost $35 to $76 and online sessions $29 to $36, depending on the provider and language.
Do I pay CPF for my helper?
No. MOM states that employers do not pay CPF contributions for a helper, but must pay the monthly levy instead.
How much is the security bond, and can my helper pay for it?
The bond is $5,000 for each helper, except Malaysian helpers. MOM states that you cannot ask your helper to pay for it.
If you are planning a move to Singapore and want help with pass, PR and citizenship applications, or with the paperwork for your family’s helper, contact Little Big Employment Agency. Email [email protected] or Call/SMS/WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. For the official rules, see MOM’s pages on employer requirements, levy and pass holders employing an MDW.
Last reviewed: 2 November 2026. The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency.
Real people. Right here in Singapore.