Getting ready for a new helper in Singapore: housing rules, paperwork deadlines and her first day (2026)

Yiru · Updated 1 November 2026

Before a new helper (maid) arrives, get three things ready: where she will sleep, the paperwork deadlines, and what to give her on day one. Under Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rules, her accommodation must protect her from sun, rain and wind, be well ventilated, have at least a mattress, pillow, blanket and toiletries, and she must not share a room with an adult male or teenager. The security bond must take effect on her arrival date. After she arrives: the Settling-In Programme (SIP) within 7 days for first-timers, a medical exam within 14 days, and the Work Permit within 2 weeks. Keep her first day light.

Her accommodation: what MOM requires

Based on the accommodation section of MOM's “Rest days, health and well-being” page (updated 16 January 2026, checked October 2026):

Requirement	What it means
Shelter	Protects her from sun, rain and strong wind
Basic amenities	At least a mattress, pillow and blanket, plus bathroom amenities and toiletries
Ventilation	Enough ventilation; if natural ventilation isn't enough, provide a fan or other mechanical ventilation
Safety	She must not sleep near equipment or structures that could hurt her
Modesty	She must not sleep in the same room as an adult male or teenager
Space and privacy	Ideally a separate room; if that's not possible, enough space and privacy
Cameras	If you have cameras at home, tell her where they are; none where she sleeps, changes or bathes

Paperwork: before she arrives

From MOM's “Apply for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker” page (updated 15 June 2026):

Security bond (not needed for Malaysian helpers): your bank or insurer sends the details to MOM, which can take up to 3 working days. The bond must take effect on her arrival date; otherwise she won't be allowed in, MOM can't change the date, and she would have to go home. Buy it early.
Two insurance policies: medical and personal accident.
Settling-In Programme (SIP): register her if it's her first time working in Singapore.

She should carry a printed copy of her in-principle approval (IPA) letter to show the immigration officer.

Paperwork: deadlines after she arrives

When	What
Within 7 days of arrival (excluding Sundays and public holidays; not on the arrival day)	SIP for first-time helpers, paid by the employer (MOM SIP page, updated 1 September 2025)
Within 14 days of arrival	Medical examination, for every helper
Within 2 weeks of arrival	Request Work Permit issuance: $35, processed immediately; print the Temporary Work Permit (valid 1 month)
Within 1 week of issuance (only if her Temporary Work Permit says so)	Fingerprint and photo registration at MOM Services Centre Hall C, by appointment. She brings her original passport, appointment letter, Temporary Work Permit and a local-number phone with the Singpass and SGWorkPass apps
After registration	MOM aims to deliver the card within 5 working days

Many agencies handle some of these for you. Ask which ones they do and which are yours. Rules can change; MOM's website is the final word.

What to give her on day one

MOM's “Rest days, health and well-being” page (updated 16 January 2026) says employers must provide 3 meals a day and respect her religious and dietary needs, and suggests showing her how to contact her family to help with homesickness.

The rest is our own practice, not a rule:

Internet: your Wi-Fi password, or a local SIM card. She'll also need a local-number phone for fingerprint registration.
A small card: your home address, your phone number, and emergency numbers 995 (ambulance, fire) and 999 (police).
Food: ask what she can't eat and agree on meal times.
House guide: write the few most important things first and add the rest during the week. See the house guide template.

Keep her first day light

MOM notes that a new helper needs time to get used to your way of life, and that employers should take time to orient and train her early on.

Show her around: her room, where things are kept, how the appliances work;
Explain only two or three things on day one and leave the rest for the first week;
Agree on break times, for example a two-hour midday rest and nothing planned after 9 pm;
She has had a long journey; let her rest early.

With Yiru, she has a house guide from week one

Your house rules live in your head. Explaining them all on day one, in a language that isn't hers, is a lot to take in.

Before she arrives: take a photo of your handwritten notes and send it to Momo, who turns it into a house guide; nothing is created until you confirm.
When she arrives: in Family members, tap “Invite link” and send it to her (for example on WhatsApp). She opens it, signs in and taps Join.
She reads it in her own language: Burmese, Indonesian, Filipino and more, 9 languages in all. If something is unclear she taps “I have a question” and asks in her language; you read it in yours.

FAQ

Can I hire a helper if I don't have a spare room?

MOM prefers a separate room; if that isn't possible, she must still have enough space and privacy, must not share a room with an adult male or teenager, and must sleep somewhere safe and well ventilated.

When should I buy the security bond?

Before she travels. It must take effect on her arrival date, and the bank or insurer can take up to 3 working days to send it to MOM; with the wrong date she can't enter. Malaysian helpers don't need one.

How soon after arrival are the medical exam and SIP due?

First-time helpers attend the SIP within 7 days of arrival (excluding Sundays and public holidays); every newly arrived helper has a medical exam within 14 days.

Does she need a local phone number?

If her Temporary Work Permit requires fingerprint registration, she must bring a local-number phone with Singpass and SGWorkPass to MOM Services Centre. She'll also need internet access to keep in touch with family.

Sources

Checked October 2026. Rules can change; the official websites are the final word.