Hiring a helper for the first time in Singapore means paying several costs before she starts work. These are the Work Permit application and issuance fees, a S$5,000 security bond for a non-Malaysian helper, mandatory insurance, a medical examination, the Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP), the Settling-In Programme (SIP), the first levy and your employment agency’s fee.
In a January 2026 parliamentary reply, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) put the median upfront recruitment outlay for a new migrant domestic worker (MDW) at about S$4,700. Around half of that was a loan to the helper that employers later recover.
That median is a benchmark, not a price list. Your own bill depends on the agency, the insurer and whether your helper is new to Singapore or transferring from another employer. Below, each cost is set out in turn, followed by what the law says about borrowing to cover it and when waiting may be the better choice. Figures are as of 1 October 2026.
The costs MOM requires before your helper starts work
MOM sets the requirements for every employer in Singapore hiring a migrant domestic worker, and several of them carry a cost. As of 1 October 2026, the fixed government fees are modest: S$35 to apply for the Work Permit and S$35 to have it issued. Most of the other items are priced by the bank, insurer, clinic or course provider you choose.
| Cost | Applies to | Requirement or amount (as of 1 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Work Permit application fee | All employers | S$35 |
| Work Permit issuance fee | All employers | S$35 |
| Security bond | Employers of non-Malaysian helpers | A S$5,000 guarantee from a bank or insurer, not a cash payment to MOM |
| Medical insurance | All employers | Minimum annual claim limit of S$60,000; the employer bears the cost |
| Personal accident insurance | All employers | Minimum sum assured of S$60,000; the employer bears the cost |
| Pre-employment medical examination | All new helpers | Within 2 weeks of arrival; paid by the employer |
| Employers’ Orientation Programme (EOP) | First-time employers | S$35–S$76 in a classroom or S$29–S$36 online; completed at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application |
| Settling-In Programme (SIP) | First-time helpers | S$76.40–S$92.65 including GST, depending on provider; attended within 7 days of arrival; paid by the employer |
| Levy | All employers | S$300 a month for a first helper, S$450 for each subsequent helper, or S$60 at the concessionary rate |
Two of these are easy to misread. The security bond is not S$5,000 in cash. You arrange a S$5,000 guarantee through a bank or insurer, and you cannot make your helper pay for it.
The levy is the other. For a helper arriving for the first time, it starts on the fifth day of her arrival, counting the arrival day itself. That makes it part of your first month’s costs as well as a monthly one.
Agency fees, the placement loan and costs outside MOM’s list
Employment agency fees in Singapore are not fixed by MOM. They vary by agency and by the services included, which is why MOM’s January 2026 median of about S$4,700 is a useful reference point rather than a quote. Around half of that median was a loan to the helper, which employers later recover.
Agencies sometimes describe this arrangement in “loan months”. Ask for the quote to show the agency’s service fee and any placement loan as separate lines, because MOM treats them differently. Its rules on refunding agency service fees to employers, for example, exclude the helper’s placement loan.
MOM also limits what a Singapore employment agency can charge the helper herself: recruitment fees are capped at two months’ salary for two years of service. Whether her air ticket is part of the package depends on the agency, so read the quote line by line.
Then there are the costs that sit outside any quote. A bed or mattress, bedding, toiletries, a phone or SIM card and extra groceries all add up in the first weeks. What you spend depends on what you already have at home, so set your own budget for these rather than relying on a typical figure.
Monthly costs, eligibility and the concessionary levy
Once a helper starts work in Singapore, the employer’s recurring costs are her salary, the monthly levy, her food, her medical care and other upkeep. MOM’s key facts on the MDW Work Permit set no fixed minimum salary, so the salary you agree is a figure you control. The levy is not fixed: as of 1 October 2026, it is S$300 a month for a first helper.
A few later costs belong in the budget from day one. Your helper needs a medical examination every six months, paid by you. When the employment ends, MOM requires the employer to pay for her repatriation.
Eligibility comes before any of this. MOM requires an employer to be at least 21, not an undischarged bankrupt, and have the mental capacity to carry out an employer’s responsibilities. MOM also considers your financial ability and caregiving needs, but it does not publish a fixed minimum household income.
The concessionary levy of S$60 a month applies, as of 1 October 2026, when your household includes a Singapore Citizen child below 16, a qualifying elderly person aged 67 or above, or a qualifying person with disabilities. For families hiring a helper to care for a parent after a hospital stay, or for a young child, it is worth checking before you set a budget. The difference is S$240 every month.
Transfer helper or new helper: where the costs differ
Choosing a transfer helper already working in Singapore changes some upfront costs, but not all of them. The SIP is required for first-time MDWs, so a helper who has worked here before may not need to attend it. The security bond, insurance, and a Work Permit issued in the new employer’s name are still needed either way.
The other variable is the agency. MOM does not set agency fees for either route, so the clearest comparison is two itemised quotes side by side, one for each.
Options for paying the upfront bill
If savings will not cover the upfront costs of hiring a helper, there are four broad options: wait and save for a few more months, choose a transfer helper, ask the agency whether its fee can be paid in stages, or take a personal loan from a licensed moneylender. They differ in cost and in the paperwork you receive, so compare the total you would pay rather than the monthly amount alone.
If an agency offers staged payments, ask for the schedule and any extra charges in writing before you agree.
A personal loan from a licensed moneylender in Singapore comes with protections set by law. Its charges are capped, the terms must be explained to you in a language you understand, and you receive a copy of the Note of Contract. Approval is subject to the lender’s assessment of your income, existing loans, and repayment ability. The next two sections set out how much you can borrow and what it can cost.
Borrowing limits and legal charges at licensed moneylenders
As of 1 October 2026, if you are a Singapore Citizen or PR earning less than S$20,000 a year, licensed moneylenders can lend you at most S$3,000 in unsecured loans in total, across all licensed moneylenders combined. If you earn S$20,000 or more, the cap is six times your monthly income. Foreigners residing in Singapore face lower tiers: S$500 with an annual income below S$10,000, and S$3,000 from S$10,000 to below S$20,000. Secured loans have no statutory cap.
These are aggregate limits, not per-lender limits. Before granting a loan, a licensed moneylender must request a credit report, and loans are checked against the Moneylenders Credit Bureau (MLCB).
The charges are capped as well. As of 1 October 2026, a licensed moneylender in Singapore can charge at most:
- interest of 4% a month, calculated on the principal remaining after each repayment
- late interest of 4% a month, only on the amount repaid late
- a late fee of S$60 for each month of late repayment
- an administrative fee of 10% of the principal, charged when the loan is granted
Interest, late interest, the administrative fee and late fees combined can never exceed the principal. The only other charge allowed is legal costs ordered by a court. Within those caps, the rate you are quoted depends on the lender’s assessment.
A worked example: borrowing S$4,000 over 6 or 12 months
At the legal maximum of 4% a month, a S$4,000 personal loan repaid in equal monthly instalments costs S$578.29 in interest over 6 months, or S$1,114.49 over 12 months. With an administrative fee of up to S$400, total charges stay well below the S$4,000 legal cap in both cases. This illustrates the ceiling set by law as of 1 October 2026. It is not a quote from ABM Creditz.
Take a dual-income couple in an HDB flat hiring their first helper after a baby arrives. One of them earns more than S$20,000 a year and borrows S$4,000 towards the upfront bill.
| At the legal maximum (as of 1 October 2026) | 6 months | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly instalment | S$763.05 | S$426.21 |
| Total interest | S$578.29 | S$1,114.49 |
| Administrative fee (maximum 10%) | S$400.00 | S$400.00 |
| Total charges | S$978.29 | S$1,514.49 |
| Legal cap on total charges | S$4,000.00 | S$4,000.00 |
| Total paid, including the fee | S$4,978.29 | S$5,514.49 |
The longer term cuts the monthly instalment by about S$337 but adds about S$536 in interest. That trade-off matters more than it looks, because the instalment sits on top of a new monthly salary and levy.
The figures assume interest on the remaining principal, as the law requires, and every instalment paid on time. A late instalment would add late interest of up to 4% a month on the overdue amount and a late fee of up to S$60 for that month. As of 1 October 2026, ABM Creditz publishes repayment periods from 6 months up to 30 months. Your actual rate, fee and term depend on the lender’s assessment.
Your protections when you take a personal loan
A licensed moneylender in Singapore must explain the contract terms in a language you understand, give you a copy of the Note of Contract, issue a receipt for each repayment, and send you a statement of account at least every January and July. It may not keep your NRIC or other ID documents, and it may not ask for your Singpass login details.
The documents ABM Creditz lists for an application are your NRIC, proof of income such as payslips, CPF statements where applicable, and proof of residence. Additional documents may be needed depending on your profile. A lender may ask to see your NRIC, but it cannot hold on to it.
There is now a cooling-off period too. For unsecured non-business loans disbursed on or after 15 September 2026, you have three business days to cancel, not counting the disbursement day, weekends or Singapore public holidays. Cancel within that window, and no interest is charged. As of 1 October 2026, the lender may keep part of the approval fee: up to S$50 for a loan of S$5,000 or below, or up to 3.5% of the principal for a larger loan. On the S$4,000 loan in the example above, that means at most S$50.
Your repayments also leave a record. Licensed moneylenders must submit repayment information to the credit bureau, and later lenders check that record before granting a loan.
Signs a “helper loan” offer is not from a licensed lender
A licensed moneylender in Singapore can advertise in only three places: business or consumer directories, in print or online; its own website; and in or on the outside of its business premises. As of 1 October 2026, the Registrar’s Advertising and Marketing Directions prohibit promotional SMS, WhatsApp and WeChat messages and emails to the public, patrons or former patrons. An unsolicited message offering a loan for helper costs is a warning sign in itself.
Before you deal with any lender, check its name and licence number on the Ministry of Law’s List of Licensed Moneylenders. The Registry of Moneylenders can be reached on 1800-2255-529. If you suspect an unlicensed lender, report it to the police.
When borrowing for helper costs is not the right move
A loan for helper costs adds a repayment on top of new monthly costs: her salary, the levy, food and upkeep. If those together leave little room each month, if you already have loans to repay, or if your income is uncertain, borrowing can make a tight budget tighter.
In those situations, safer starting points are waiting a few months to save, checking whether you qualify for the concessionary levy, choosing a transfer helper, or sharing the cost within the family.
If you worry about borrowing more than you can manage, the MLCB’s self-exclusion scheme blocks new unsecured loans from licensed moneylenders while it is active, except debt consolidation loans. As of 1 October 2026, Citizens and PRs choose a minimum period of 1 or 2 years, and foreigners have a default minimum of 2 years. It generally cannot be withdrawn during the minimum period, and it continues afterwards until you withdraw it.
If repayments are already a struggle, the Ministry of Law’s borrower FAQ lists organisations that help with debt: Adullam Life Counselling, AMP, Arise2Care, Blessed Grace Social Services, Credit Counselling Singapore, One Hope Centre and Silver Lining Community Services. Credit Counselling Singapore handles cases that also involve bank debts. Check each organisation’s current contact details before you call.
Borrow only what you need and can repay on time. Before signing, work out the total you will pay, not just the monthly instalment, and read the Note of Contract in full. If a repayment looks likely to slip, speak to your lender early, before late charges build up.
A short checklist before you commit
- Get an itemised agency quote that separates the service fee from any placement loan, and shows whether the air ticket is included.
- Check whether your household qualifies for the concessionary levy.
- If you have never employed a helper, book the EOP early, since it must be completed at least 2 working days before the Work Permit application.
- Budget for the monthly salary, levy and upkeep before deciding whether to borrow.
- If you do borrow, confirm the lender’s licence on the Ministry of Law’s list, and work out the total cost, not just the instalment.
Speaking to ABM Creditz
If you would like to talk through whether a personal loan suits your situation, ABM Creditz can explain its terms before you decide. Approval is subject to the lender’s assessment of your income, existing loans, and repayment ability.
ABM CREDITZ SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
Licensed by the Ministry of Law’s Registrar of Moneylenders (Licence No. 46/2026)
1 Park Road, #01-12, People’s Park Complex, Singapore 059108
+65 6737 3392
You can verify any moneylender’s licence on the Ministry of Law’s List of Licensed Moneylenders.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower: Checklist for hiring an MDW, Security bond, Insurance requirements, Medical examination, Apply for a Work Permit, Paying levy, Levy concession, Employer requirements, Employers’ Orientation Programme, Settling-in Programme, Key facts on the MDW Work Permit, Transfer to a new employer, Medical expenses FAQ, Refund of EA service fee, Oral answer on MDW recruitment costs, January 2026, Response on EA fees (2019)
- Registry of Moneylenders, Ministry of Law: FAQs on Borrowing From Licensed Moneylenders, List of Licensed Moneylenders, Advertising and Marketing Directions
- Singapore Statutes Online: Moneylenders Act 2008
- ABM Creditz: FAQs
