Maid Agency Fees in Singapore: What You Pay and What to Ask

Maid agency fees in Singapore vary widely, and quotes are hard to compare because agencies bundle different items. This guide explains what MOM regulates and what it leaves to the market, what usually sits inside a quote, the refund rule if a placement ends early, and the questions to ask before you sign. When you are ready to compare, you can browse licensed maid agencies in Singapore and their published biodata on SmartMaid.

What MOM regulates, and what it does not

Fees charged to you, the employer: MOM does not cap them. Agencies set their own service fees, so it pays to compare.
Fees charged to the helper: capped. A Singapore agency may collect no more than one month of her fixed monthly salary for each year of service, up to two months in total. The cap is based on her basic salary plus fixed allowances, not bonuses or overtime.
Filipino helpers: Philippine rules go further, with no placement fee at all for domestic workers. See direct hiring a Filipino maid for the details.
Refunds to you: regulated since 1 June 2022 (explained below).

The amount the helper pays the Singapore agency is shown in the IPA letter MOM issues to her, so both of you can see it. Our guide to placement fee arrangements explains how her fee and any placement loan work.

What is usually inside an agency quote

Ask for a written breakdown, because "package" prices mix the agency's own fee with costs it pays on your behalf:

Agency service fee: matching, interviews, paperwork and support after placement.
Government fees: Work Permit application and issuance fees paid to MOM.
Insurance and security bond: the medical and personal accident insurance MOM requires, and the bond for non-Malaysian helpers.
Arrival costs for new hires: medical examination in Singapore, the Settling-in Programme, and her travel to Singapore.
Home-country costs: training, medical checks or documents required by her own country.
Optional extras: extra training you request, replacement packages, or longer support periods.

Transfer helpers usually involve fewer arrival costs than overseas new hires, which is one reason quotes for a transfer maid look different. For the full budget beyond agency fees, see our cost of hiring a maid in Singapore guide.

The refund rule if the placement ends early

For employer–agency contracts signed on or after 1 June 2022, the agency must refund at least 50% of your service fees if the helper's employment ends within the first six months, whether you or she ends it, provided MOM's refund conditions are met. MOM states that agencies should not set their own extra conditions for the refund.

Some items are excluded from the refund, including:

government fees, such as the Work Permit fees;
costs to bring her into Singapore, such as the Settling-in Programme, the medical examination and her one-way ticket;
costs to meet her home country's requirements;
any placement loan you extended to her;
third-party training you chose to add.

To claim, tell the agency within a reasonable time that you intend to cancel her Work Permit, send her home or transfer her, before ending the employment. The agency must pay within 14 working days of your written request or the Work Permit cancellation, whichever is later.

Questions to ask before you sign

Can you give me an itemised breakdown that separates your service fee from government fees and third-party costs?
Which items fall under MOM's 50% refund rule, and which are excluded?
What does the replacement arrangement include, for how long, and does it cost anything extra?
How much will the helper pay you, and is any placement loan involved?
What support do you give after she starts, and how do you handle disputes?

Keep the signed service agreement and all receipts. Our maid salary and total cost guide helps you plan the ongoing monthly costs as well.

Comparing two quotes fairly

Line up the same items side by side: service fee, government fees, insurance, bond, arrival costs.
Check whether insurance quotes meet MOM's current minimum coverage.
Compare what happens if the match does not work out, not only the headline price.
Confirm both agencies are licensed in the MOM EA Directory. Our guide to checking a maid agency shows how.

Red flags

The agency will not put the fee breakdown in writing.
Refund terms that add conditions beyond MOM's rules.
The helper is asked to pay more than the legal cap, or a Filipino helper is asked to pay a placement fee.
Pressure to sign before you have seen her biodata or interviewed her.

FAQ

Is there a maximum fee a maid agency can charge me?

MOM does not cap the fees agencies charge employers. It caps what agencies may collect from the helper and requires a refund of at least half of your service fees if the placement ends within six months, subject to conditions.

Are transfer maid agency fees lower?

Often, because there is no overseas recruitment, travel or Settling-in Programme for a helper who has worked here before. Ask each agency for an itemised quote rather than assuming.

Can I avoid agency fees completely?

MOM lets employers apply for a Work Permit themselves through the FDW eService, which some employers do for transfers. For new Filipino hires, Philippine rules require a licensed agency.