Singapore helper six-monthly medical exam (6ME) 2026: how often, what's tested, and what employers must do

Q: I didn't get the letter. What now?

Log in to MOM's FDW eService to see when the next 6ME is due and reprint the 6ME form.

Yiru · Updated 1 November 2026

Under Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rules:

While your helper (maid) works for you, she must have a medical exam every 6 months, called the 6ME (six-monthly medical examination). It screens for pregnancy and infectious diseases.
You pay. It must be done at a clinic and certified by a Singapore-registered doctor, and neither you nor anyone you send can be present during the exam.
It must be done by the due date. If it's missed, her Work Permit is revoked. Helpers aged 50 and above don't need the 6ME.

Good practice: when the letter arrives, agree a day with her and tell her a few days ahead which clinic, what to bring and what the checks are.

What the rules say

Based on MOM's page "Six-monthly medical examination (6ME) for MDWs" (updated 23 September 2026, checked October 2026):

Rule	What it says
How often	Every 6 months while she works for you
What's tested	Pregnancy and syphilis (VDRL): every 6 months; HIV: every 2 years; tuberculosis (TB): once, when she has been in Singapore for 2 years; plus height and weight for BMI and a check for visible injuries
Who pays	The employer, including any medical costs that come from it
Where	At a clinic, with results certified by a Singapore-registered doctor. Home-based 6MEs stopped on 29 August 2021 (MOM press release, August 2021)
When	MOM posts a notification letter and 6ME form when it's due; she must finish it by the due date
Results	Clinics submit them to MOM; you can check on MOM's FDW eService whether they've been submitted and see the results
During the exam	You and your representatives are not present
Aged 50 and above	No 6ME; she only needs a medical exam when her Work Permit is renewed

FDW eService also shows her last 6ME date and when the next one is due, and lets you reprint the form if the letter goes missing.

What if the 6ME is missed?

According to MOM's FAQ (updated 6 August 2024):

If you don't send her on time, her Work Permit will be revoked.
If you want to keep employing her, contact MOM quickly: call 6438 5122 or submit a request on MOM's website.
If not, arrange for her to leave Singapore right away; an overstaying fine may apply.

So the most important thing is to remember the due date and not leave it to the last few days.

What if she doesn't pass?

MOM's rule: if your helper does not pass her 6ME, you must cancel her Work Permit and send her home immediately.

Special cases

It falls due while she's on home leave: you can ask to postpone the 6ME until she's back (MOM: overseas leave). For the handover before she goes, see how to hand over housework before her home leave.
She's going home within 1 month of the due date: you can skip this 6ME.
You plan to keep her more than 1 month past the due date: you need to apply for a waiver.

On the day: how to plan it

These are our suggestions, not rules.

Pick the day as soon as the letter comes, and tell her a few days ahead, not that morning. Don't put it on her rest day.
Say where and how: which clinic, the address, how to get there, roughly how long it takes.
Say what to bring: the 6ME form from the letter. Call the clinic first to ask what ID they need.
Explain the checks in words she understands: a pregnancy test, a blood test, height and weight; HIV every 2 years, and a TB check once she's been here 2 years. Knowing what's coming makes it less stressful.
Tell her you won't be in the room: that's MOM's rule. You can take her to the clinic and wait outside.
Keep that morning light, so she doesn't have to rush to catch up.
Check the result on FDW eService and note the next due date.

Yiru makes this easier

Add a "Just once" item: what time to leave, which clinic, bring the 6ME form. You can add photos to each step, such as the clinic entrance or what the form looks like.
She reads it in her own language, such as Burmese, Indonesian or Filipino, and her phone reminds her on time.
If anything is unclear, she taps "I have a question" and asks in her language; you read it in yours.

FAQ

How much does a 6ME cost?

MOM's website doesn't list a price, and clinics charge differently, so call ahead. The employer pays, including medical costs that come from it.

Can the 6ME be done at home?

No. Since 29 August 2021, all 6MEs must be done at a clinic.

Can I go into the exam room with her?

No. MOM says employers and their representatives should not be present during the exam. You can take her to the clinic and wait outside.

I didn't get the letter. What now?

Does a helper aged 50 or above need the 6ME?

No. She only needs a medical exam when her Work Permit is renewed.

What if the 6ME falls due while she's on home leave?

You can ask MOM to postpone it until she's back.

Sources

All checked in October 2026. Rules and figures may change; official websites take precedence.