After your helper's Work Permit is issued, MOM delivers the physical Work Permit card to the address you gave. MOM's current guidance is delivery within 5 working days after she completes fingerprint and photo registration (if required) and her documents are verified. In the meantime she can use her digital work pass on the SGWorkPass app.
Before the card arrives
- Registration: check the Temporary Work Permit. If it says she must register fingerprints and a photo, book an appointment for her at MOM Services Centre (Hall C) within one week of the permit being issued.
- Digital work pass: during registration MOM helps her set up Singpass and the SGWorkPass app, so she can show her pass and see her employment details before the card arrives.
- Authorised recipients: when the permit is issued you name up to three people who can receive the card. MOM cannot change them afterwards, so choose people who are usually at home.
Receiving the card
- The courier hands the card only to your helper or to an authorised recipient.
- Your helper shows her passport or digital work pass; an authorised person shows an NRIC, FIN or passport.
- The recipient acknowledges receipt.
- If delivery fails twice, the card can be collected at MOM Services Centre (Hall C) three working days later without an appointment.
Handing it to your helper
The Work Permit card is her proof of her right to work in Singapore, and she may be asked to show it, for example at MOM interviews or when travelling. Good practice is to hand it to her straight away and let her keep it. Suggest she keeps a photo of it on her phone and stores the card safely.
Check the details
- Name, Work Permit number and expiry date.
- Your details as employer.
- If anything is wrong, contact MOM promptly.
If the card is later lost or damaged, report it and apply for a replacement through MOM. See MOM's Work Permit application steps and our FDW eService portal guide.
If the card is lost later
MOM asks employers to apply for a replacement within 1 week through WP Online, with a police report if the card was stolen. Fees apply, and they are higher for repeat losses. MOM also encourages helpers to use the digital work pass in the SGWorkPass app for everyday checks, which lowers the risk of losing or damaging the physical card. Read our lost card guide.
A simple habit helps: agree with your helper where she keeps the card at home, and check it is with her before any trip abroad.
Common questions
Can a neighbour receive the card?
Only your helper or the authorised recipients named when the permit was issued can receive it, and they must show identification.
Can my helper work before the card arrives?
Once the permit is issued she can use her digital work pass on the SGWorkPass app while the card is being delivered.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Procedures change, so confirm the current steps on mom.gov.sg or with your licensed employment agency.
