The Work Permit is the spine — this page is the checklist
Hiring a migrant domestic worker (MDW / FDW) in Singapore is not finished when you like a biodata. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Work Permit is the legal spine: without an approved application, in-principle approval (IPA), arrival compliance, and issuance, she cannot lawfully work in your home. This page is an employer checklist for the Work Permit application journey — from eligibility and EOP through documents, insurance and security bond, GIRO / levy orientation, IPA, arrival medical, Settling-In Programme (SIP) hooks, and the differences between transfer and overseas / new hires.
It is not a fee table, not a substitute for MOM’s live Work Permit apply page, and not a deep-dive into any single compliance topic. Use the linked hubs when you need depth:
- Employer orientation (before WP apply): What is the Employer Orientation Programme (EOP) and who must attend? (unique #18)
- Helper settling-in (after arrival): Settling-In Programme (SIP) — preparing for a first-time helper (unique #17)
- Insurance + security bond basics: Insurance and security bond for domestic helpers — employer basics (unique #10)
- Levy / GIRO overview: Foreign worker levy for domestic helpers — a simple employer overview (unique #8)
- Arrival medical timing: Pre-employment medical check — timing after your helper arrives (unique #14)
- Full first-time journey: How to hire a domestic helper in Singapore
- Transfer vs overseas choice: Transfer maid vs new hire from overseas — which is right for you?
- Budget framing (separate from fees): Maid salary and total cost in Singapore
- This article: end-to-end WP application checklist and sequencing
Hard rule: do not invent Work Permit application or issuance fees, bond amounts, insurance premiums, levy rates, or salary figures from this article. Confirm live amounts on mom.gov.sg, with your insurer / bank, and with your licensed employment agency (EA).
SmartMaid.com.sg is a search marketplace. You browse and shortlist biodata published by licensed agencies; SmartMaid is not a maid agency and does not submit Work Permits, buy bonds, set up GIRO, or issue IPAs. See How Smart Maid Singapore differs from a maid agency.
Who does what (employer / EA / MOM / platform)
| Party | Typical role on the WP path |
|---|---|
| You (employer of record) | Meet eligibility; complete EOP if required; decide salary / rest days; fund insurance, bond, levy; keep GIRO funded; confirm IPA / arrival plan; remain responsible even when an EA helps |
| Licensed EA | Often submits the WP application on your behalf, coordinates insurance/bond packages, SIP registration, medical booking, and IPA logistics — as service, not a transfer of your legal duties |
| MOM | Sets rules, runs FDW eService / WP Online, approves or rejects, issues the permit, enforces levy and conditions |
| SmartMaid | Lets you search and shortlist biodata; does not file WP applications or act as your EA |
If you hire through a licensed EA, most paperwork is coordinated for you — still read every form that carries your NRIC / FIN and name. If you pursue a direct / non-EA path where MOM allows it, you own more of the eService steps yourself. Soft MOM: confirm the live “who can apply” wording (employer, sponsor, or authorised EA) on mom.gov.sg before you assume either path.
Agency relationship framing: Working with a maid agency in Singapore — what to expect (unique #9) · What to ask a maid agency before you sign (unique #3).
Step 0 — Employer eligibility and EOP gate
Before anyone clicks “submit” on a Work Permit application, soft MOM expects you to be an eligible employer (commonly: at least 21 years old, not an undischarged bankrupt, able to understand and perform employer duties — verify live wording). Caregiving need and suitable accommodation expectations also sit in the eligibility conversation with your EA.
First-time employers generally must complete the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) before submitting the Work Permit application, with a soft MOM buffer of about two working days after EOP so attendance can match your NRIC / FIN on the application. Do not treat “I booked EOP next week” as “I can submit today.” Full employer-side playbook: unique #18 EOP.
Quick gate checklist
- Confirm with your EA in writing: “Am I a first-time employer for EOP?”
- If yes, finish EOP early; match identity fields exactly to the WP form.
- Confirm household eligibility / accommodation expectations before you pay non-refundable placement deposits.
- Lock salary, rest days, and house rules in writing — cost framing: maid salary and total cost.
EOP is not SIP. EOP is your orientation; SIP is hers after arrival (#17).
Step 1 — Documents and details you will need
Exact field lists change — treat this as an employer packing list, then verify with your EA and FDW eService.
Commonly required (employer side)
- Your NRIC / FIN and contact details (must match EOP attendance if applicable)
- Household / residential address and accommodation notes your EA asks for
- Income or other eligibility particulars MOM’s form requests at the time of apply (do not invent what to declare — follow the live form)
- Authorisation if a licensed EA submits on your behalf
Commonly required (helper side — via EA / passport pack)
- Passport particulars (valid travel document; check remaining validity with your EA)
- Personal particulars for the MDW application
- Education / prior work details as the form and source-country rules require
- For transfers: current Work Permit / FIN and transfer-related clearances your EA coordinates
Do not submit nicknames, outdated FIN formats, or mismatched spellings between EOP, insurance, bond, and the WP form — identity mismatches are a high-friction rejection / delay pattern.
Step 2 — Insurance and security bond (before she arrives)
Soft MOM framing employers use as a calendar rule:
> Buy medical insurance and personal accident insurance, and (for most non-Malaysian helpers) a security bond, so cover is in force when she arrives. Insurer / bank transmission of bond details to MOM can take up to a few working days — do not leave this to the airport morning.
Deep basics (what each product is for, renewals, pitfalls — still no invented $): unique #10. On this checklist page, remember only:
- Insurance and bond are employer obligations, even when the EA sells a package
- Bond effective date must align with arrival (soft MOM: if the bond is not in effect on arrival, entry can be refused and she may have to be sent home)
- FIN for new helpers often appears on the IPA after approval — regenerate / print the IPA when your insurer asks for FIN (confirm live MOM steps with your EA)
- Malaysian helpers often follow a different bond path — verify; do not assume the same package
Step 3 — GIRO and levy orientation (before / around apply)
You pay a monthly foreign worker levy for an MDW. Soft MOM expects a GIRO arrangement so levy can be deducted; failed deductions can put the Work Permit at risk. Set GIRO up early enough that the bank / eGIRO path clears before the first deduction window.
This page only orients you to GIRO / levy as a WP prerequisite. Rate tables, concession eligibility, and payment troubleshooting belong on:
- Unique #8 — levy overview (what it is, who pays, GIRO orientation, concession concept)
- MDW levy concession Singapore employer guide — concession deep-dive when relevant
Hard rule reminder: no levy dollar amounts are quoted here — check mom.gov.sg.
Step 4 — Submit the Work Permit application
| Soft MOM orientation | Employer habit |
|---|---|
| Who can submit | Employer, sponsor, or authorised licensed EA — confirm live |
| Channel | FDW eService / MOM online paths your EA uses |
| After submit | Wait for approval or rejection; respond quickly if MOM asks for more information |
| Typical outcome if approved | In-principle approval (IPA) letter / digital pack |
Ask your EA in writing for: submission date, application reference, who pays the MOM application fee (amount on mom.gov.sg — not invented here), and the expected decision window. Soft MOM processing times are published on the apply page and can lengthen when more information is required — build buffer into flight booking for overseas hires.
Step 5 — IPA: what to do when approval lands
The IPA is not the finished Work Permit card. It is the approval to proceed toward arrival / issuance. Employer / EA responsibilities after IPA typically include:
- Print / save the full IPA set your helper (and airline / immigration touchpoints) may need
- Complete insurance + bond with correct FIN and effective dates (#10)
- For first-time helpers: register SIP with an appointed provider (#17)
- Align flight / transfer handover dates with bond start and SIP / medical calendars
- Keep a copy of the security-bond acknowledgement path your EA / MOM process uses
Do not treat IPA as permission for her to start full household duties. Issuance, medical fitness, and (where required) SIP still sit ahead.
Step 6 — Arrival hooks: medical and SIP
After she arrives (or, for some transfers, after the transfer WP steps your EA confirms):
| Hook | Soft MOM orientation | Deep page |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-employment / arrival medical | Usually within a short window after arrival — confirm live days with MOM / EA; unfit results can stop issuance | Unique #14 |
| SIP (first-time helpers) | One-day programme; she typically must attend before starting work; often not on the same calendar day as arrival | Unique #17 |
| WP issuance | Employer / EA issues the permit via FDW eService after medical (and SIP if required) clear | MOM apply / issue pages |
| Ongoing 6ME | Starts later on a six-monthly cadence — not the arrival medical | Unique #13 |
Home readiness while paperwork runs: Preparing your home before your domestic helper arrives (unique #12). Living-together onboarding after she can start: First two weeks with a new domestic helper — onboarding tips (unique #16).
Transfer vs overseas / new — same spine, different clocks
| Topic | Overseas / new / fresh hire | Transfer (already in Singapore) |
|---|---|---|
| Upstream clock | Source-country exit, IPA, flight, bond-before-landing | Current employer release, transfer WP steps, shorter geography |
| EOP | Still required if you are a first-time employer | Same — EOP is about you, not her path |
| SIP | Often yes if she is first-time in Singapore | Often no if she already worked here as an MDW — confirm with EA |
| Arrival medical | Usually starts from wheels-down | Confirm whether a fresh pre-employment medical is required for *this* transfer (#14) |
| Insurance / bond | Must be ready for entry | Still required for the new employment relationship — sequence with transfer date |
| GIRO / levy | Set before / around start | Continues / restarts under your employer account — confirm handover with EA |
Timeline depth: New/fresh MDWs from home country — longer timelines explained (unique #11) · Transfer maid timeline — how long until she can start (unique #7) · choice framing: transfer maid vs new hire.
Copyable employer WP application checklist
Use with your licensed EA; tick only what applies to *this* hire.
Before submit
- [ ] Employer eligibility confirmed (age, bankruptcy, duties — live MOM wording)
- [ ] EOP completed + ≥ soft MOM working-day buffer if first-time employer (#18)
- [ ] Salary, rest days, and house rules agreed in writing
- [ ] Helper passport / particulars pack complete; identity fields consistent
- [ ] EA authorisation / service agreement understood (#3 / #9)
- [ ] GIRO for levy initiated early enough to clear (#8)
- [ ] Budget conversation done without relying on invented blog fees (salary / total cost)
On / after submit
- [ ] Application submitted (you or authorised EA); reference saved
- [ ] Watch for MOM requests for more information
- [ ] IPA printed / saved when approved
- [ ] Medical + PA insurance purchased to current MOM minima (#10)
- [ ] Security bond arranged (if applicable); insurer/bank notified MOM; effective date aligns with arrival
- [ ] SIP registered if she is first-time (#17)
- [ ] Flight / transfer handover dated only after bond / IPA readiness
- [ ] Arrival medical booked inside the live window (#14)
- [ ] WP issuance completed after medical (and SIP if required)
- [ ] Digital / card Work Permit path followed per MOM’s current issue steps
- [ ] First levy deduction date diarised; GIRO account kept funded
Common mistakes that delay or derail WP applications
- Submitting before EOP matches — first-time employers who ignore the two-working-day buffer (#18).
- Identity typos across EOP, WP form, insurance, and bond.
- Buying the bond too late — soft MOM entry refusal if cover is not effective on arrival (#10).
- Assuming SIP is optional for a true first-time helper (#17).
- Stacking arrival day = SIP day = medical day without rest or escort plans (#14 / #17).
- Treating SmartMaid shortlist as “application filed” — platform ≠ agency.
- Ignoring GIRO until the first failed levy deduction (#8).
- Copy-pasting overseas steps onto a transfer (or the reverse) without EA confirmation (#7 / #11).
FAQ
Can I apply for the Work Permit before I finish EOP?
If you are a first-time employer, soft MOM expects EOP before submit, with a short working-day buffer. Details: unique #18.
Does SmartMaid submit my Work Permit?
No. SmartMaid is a biodata search marketplace. A licensed EA (or you, where MOM allows) submits via MOM channels.
What is the difference between IPA and the Work Permit?
IPA is in-principle approval to proceed. The Work Permit is issued later — typically after arrival compliance (medical, and SIP if required). She should not be treated as fully cleared to work on IPA alone.
Do transfer helpers skip this whole checklist?
No. The spine remains; clocks and SIP / medical assumptions differ. Confirm each line with your EA for *this* transfer.
Where do I find official fees?
On mom.gov.sg — apply for a Work Permit for MDW and related insurance / bond / levy pages. This article quotes no dollar amounts.
When does ongoing 6ME start?
After she is working — on MOM’s six-monthly cadence. Do not confuse 6ME with the arrival medical: unique #13 vs #14.
Where does salary fit?
Salary and rest-day terms belong in your written agreement before or alongside WP submit; they are not a substitute for MOM fees. Framing: maid salary and total cost.
Next steps
- Confirm with your licensed EA whether you need EOP and whether she needs SIP for this hire.
- Run the copyable checklist above; park insurance/bond (#10) and GIRO (#8) early.
- Shortlist only after eligibility is realistic — search maids · transfer maids — then let the EA file the WP.
- When IPA lands, open #14 (medical) and #17 (SIP) so arrival week is sequenced, not improvised.
- For the wider journey map, use the first-time employer guide or transfer vs new.
- Confirm live steps on mom.gov.sg — Work Permit for MDW (apply).
*This article is general employer guidance only. Work Permit eligibility, fees, processing times, insurance and bond rules, levy / GIRO requirements, IPA conditions, medical and SIP windows, and transfer procedures can change. Confirm current requirements with your licensed employment agency and on mom.gov.sg. No application fees, bond amounts, premiums, levy rates, or salary figures are quoted here.*
## What changed vs live
- Replaced A6 twin-template body (generic first-time hiring: eligibility blurb, role definition, paperwork list, home prep Soft CTA — WP named once) with a full end-to-end employer Work Permit application checklist.
- Added sections for who does what (employer / EA / MOM / platform), eligibility + EOP gate, documents, insurance/bond, GIRO/levy orientation, submit + IPA, arrival medical + SIP hooks, transfer vs overseas table, copyable checklist, common mistakes, and FAQ.
- Linked unique #18 EOP, #17 SIP, #10 insurance/bond, #8 levy, #14 arrival medical, #13 6ME (boundary only), #12/#16 home/onboarding, #7/#11 timelines, #9/#3 agency, first-time pillar, transfer vs new, salary / total cost, platform-vs-agency, and soft MOM apply URL. No invented $.
- Kept SERP intent distinct from unique #17 (SIP), #18 (EOP), #8 (levy), #10 (insurance/bond), #13 (6ME), #14 (arrival medical): this page owns the WP application sequence hub. Also distinct from unique #1–#16.
## Suggested next unique #20 candidate
`work-permit-renewal-timeline-for-mdws` — HTTP 200; inventory A4 canonical (permit renewal / end-of-employment twin cluster; several fee/insurance-renewal siblings already 301 → this slug). Natural downstream compliance hub after this WP-application checklist (#19): renew vs first apply, notice windows, insurance/6ME adjacency without cannibalising #10/#13.
Alt: `cancellation-checklist-for-employers` — only if still 200 and not twin-merged into A4; end-of-employment counterpart to apply/renew. Or `mdw-levy-concession-singapore-employer-guide` — HTTP 200; concession deep-dive complementary to #8 (verify not already enriched).
Avoid for #20: A6 twins still on the 301 list (`employer-debarment-…`, `giro-setup-for-fdw-levy-…`, `hiring-through-an-ea-vs-direct-…`, `mdw-interview-with-mom-…`), A7 IPA / eligibility / pass-map twins (301 → SIP), rework of this WP hub / #17 SIP / #18 EOP, twin 6ME cost/scheduling URLs (cannibalise #13), further levy/insurance duplicates of #8/#10, nationality interview clones, and skill×angle twins.
