Employer Checklist After IPA Approval but Before Arrival

The in-principle approval (IPA) letter is good news, but several tasks must be done before your helper boards her flight. Missing one, especially the security bond, can stop her at immigration.

Checklist after the IPA

1. Send her the IPA letter. She needs to show it to the immigration officer on arrival. It is in English and her native language and states her salary, rest days and your name.
2. Buy the security bond (not needed for Malaysian helpers) and ask your bank or insurer to send MOM the bond details, which takes up to 3 working days. If they ask for her FIN, it is on the IPA; for new helpers it is assigned within 3 working days of approval, so regenerate the IPA to see it.
3. Check the bond takes effect by her arrival date. MOM cannot change the effective date later, and a helper whose bond is not in effect will not be allowed to enter.
4. Buy medical and personal accident insurance for her, as a package or separately. MOM states you cannot pass the cost to her.
5. Print the security bond acknowledgement letter and send her a copy.
6. Register her for the Settling-in Programme if she is a first-time helper.
7. Extend the IPA through FDW eService if she needs more time to arrive.
8. Prepare her space: a mattress, pillow, blanket, toiletries, ventilation and privacy, in line with MOM's accommodation guidance.
9. Set up GIRO for the levy if you have not already.

What happens after she lands

• Settling-in Programme within 7 days (excluding Sundays and public holidays) for first-time helpers.
• Medical examination within 14 days.
• Work Permit issuance, and registration at MOM Services Centre if required.

Our security bond guide explains the bond in more detail, and our first-time employer guide covers the full timeline.

Official source: MOM's apply for a Work Permit page.

Common hold-ups and how to avoid them

• Bond effective date: if her flight changes, confirm the bond still takes effect by the new arrival date.
• Names and passport numbers: check that the insurance, bond and IPA all match her passport exactly.
• Travel requirements: MOM reminds helpers to comply with the latest travel requirements, so ask the agency to confirm these before she flies.
• Arrival day: agree who will meet her, and plan a quiet first evening so she can rest before the medical examination and SIP.

Keep all of these documents in one folder, digital or paper: the IPA, the bond acknowledgement letter, the insurance policy and the SIP booking. You will need several of them again when the Work Permit is issued.

Common questions

How long is the IPA valid?

The validity is shown on the IPA letter. If your helper needs more time, you can extend it through FDW eService before it lapses.

Can my agency handle these steps?

Most agencies arrange the bond, insurance and SIP for you. Ask for copies of each document and check the bond's effective date yourself.

Last reviewed: September 2026. Procedures change, so confirm the current steps on mom.gov.sg or with your licensed employment agency.