How to Transfer a Maid to a New Employer in Singapore
Transferring a helper to a new employer? Follow our step-by-step guide to learn more about the insurance requirements & what you need to do.
Key takeaways
- A direct transfer allows a helper to move to a new employer in Singapore without returning to her home country.
- Both the current & new employers must complete specific steps via the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) foreign domestic worker (FDW) eService.
- The new employer must start the process at least 30 days before the helper's Work Permit expires.
- The helper's previous insurance is non-transferrable. The new employer must purchase fresh medical & personal accident insurance, each with a minimum of S$60,000 coverage.
- A new S$5,000 security bond must also be arranged by the new employer before the transfer date.
Hiring a transfer maid is often speedier and more practical than bringing a helper over from overseas. She is already in Singapore, familiar with how things work here, and can start with you more quickly once the paperwork is sorted.
But the process still involves clear steps from both the current employer and the incoming employer. This guide walks you through exactly what needs to happen, and when, so the transfer goes smoothly from both sides.
What is a direct maid transfer?
A direct maid transfer is when she moves from one employer to another within Singapore without needing to return to her home country first.
For the transfer to go through, three things need to happen:
The current employer must consent to the transfer
The helper must agree to the move
The new employer must meet MOM's eligibility requirements and apply for a new Work Permit
None of these steps can be skipped. All three conditions must be met before MOM will process the transfer.
4 steps current employers need to follow for the maid transfer
If you are the current employer releasing your helper, your responsibilities are straightforward. MOM requires you to complete the following before the transfer goes through:
Send your helper for her biannual medical examination if she has not had one recently.
Log in to MOM's FDW eService and approve the transfer request once you receive it from the new employer.
Pay up till the date the new employer issues the Work Permit.
Cut and discard the cancelled Work Permit card once the new one is issued.
Your helper's security bond will be discharged approximately one week after your helper starts working for the new employer. MOM will notify you by post once this is done.
4 steps new employers need to do for the transfer
If you are the new employer, you carry the heavier administrative load. MOM requires these steps to be completed in sequence:
1. Verify your helper's Work Permit & medical examination status
Do this at least 30 days before your helper's Work Permit expires. Check that her biannual medical examination is up to date and that her Work Permit has more than 30 days remaining. If her permit is close to expiry, the current employer can request a short extension via MOM's FDW eService to provide enough time for you as the new employer.
2. Request consent & apply for the Work Permit
Similar to the first step, you need to do this at least 30 days before your helper's Work Permit expires.
Login to MOM's FDW eService to request the current employer's consent for the transfer. Once consent is given, proceed to apply for the helper's new Work Permit. MOM typically processes the application within one week and will email you an In-Principle Approval (IPA) if successful. Employers can also log in to MOM's FDW eService to download the IPA and declaration form.
3. Prepare for the transfer
Once you receive the IPA, you need to:
Download and print the Declaration form from MOM's FDW eService
Have both yourself and your helper sign the Declaration form
Purchase a new security bond of S$5,000
Purchase fresh medical insurance and personal accident insurance
4. Issue the new Work Permit on the agreed transfer date
Contact the current employer to arrange the date for the helper’s transfer.
On the agreed transfer date, login to MOM's FDW eService to issue the new Work Permit, upload the signed Declaration form, and print the Temporary Work Permit for your helper. The helper's current Work Permit will be automatically cancelled.
Maid insurance coverage you need as a new employer
This is one of the most commonly misunderstood parts of a maid transfer: take note that your new helper's previous insurance policy does not carry over to you as the new employer. You need to purchase a completely fresh policy before the transfer is finalised.
MOM requires the new employer to purchase two types of insurance:
Insurance type | MOM minimum requirement |
Medical insurance | S$60,000 annual claim limit for hospitalisation and surgical expenses, including day surgery |
Personal accident insurance | S$60,000 sum assured for sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents resulting in accidental death or accidental permanent disability |
The full cost sits with you as the new employer. You cannot pass it to your helper. For a full breakdown of what each coverage type means in practice, read our guide on maid insurance requirements.
How Income's Domestic Helper Insurance covers the transfer
Income's Domestic Helper Insurance meets all of MOM requirements, making it easier for new employers to comply with coverage requirements during the transfer process.
Depending on which Domestic Helper Insurance plan you get, the benefits include:
Get preferential rates1 for general practitioner and specialist consultations, dental treatments and vaccinations plus compulsory 6-monthly medical examination through MediPass app2
Letter of Guarantee3, with hassle-free convenience with no upfront deposit required for hospital admission. We will also pay for your helper’s hospitalisation expenses directly to the hospital on your behalf
- Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions4 if your helper is employed for more than 12 months in Singapore, we will cover her for hospitalisation for pre-existing medical conditions4
Claim wages compensation if your helper is hospitalised or on hospitalisation leave and is unable to carry out her duties (up to 30 days). Available for Standard or Enhanced Plan
Add on MOM security bond protector to your main plan, which will limit your liability of $5,000 (security bond for each maid you employ) to only $250 if you did not cause the breach of the bond
Remember to get your new helper covered before she starts
A maid transfer is one of the faster ways to bring a helper into your household, but the insurance step is one you cannot leave until the last minute. Your helper's previous policy ends the moment her old Work Permit is cancelled, and a gap in coverage is not something MOM permits.
Sort out your insurance and security bond as soon as you receive your IPA so everything is in place well before the agreed transfer date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about transferring a maid to a new employer in Singapore
1. Can I transfer a maid in Singapore without her returning to her home country?
Yes. A direct transfer allows a helper to move to a new employer within Singapore without needing to go home first. Both employers need to complete the required MOM steps, and the helper must agree to the transfer.
2. How long does a maid transfer take in Singapore?
A direct transfer typically takes one to three weeks from application to the new Work Permit being issued. Starting the process at least 30 days before the helper's Work Permit expires helps avoid delays.
3. Does the new employer need to buy new insurance for a transfer maid?
Yes. The helper's previous insurance does not carry over to the new employer. Fresh medical insurance and personal accident insurance, each with a minimum of S$60,000 coverage, must be purchased before the transfer is finalised.
4. What insurance coverage is required for a transfer maid?
MOM requires medical insurance with an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000 and personal accident insurance with a sum assured of at least S$60,000. Both must be in place before the new Work Permit is issued. The full cost is borne by the new employer.
5. What happens to the current employer's security bond after a transfer?
The current employer's security bond is discharged approximately one week after the helper starts working for the new employer. MOM will notify the current employer by post once the discharge is processed.
6. Can I complete a maid transfer without using an employment agency?
Yes. Both employers can complete the transfer directly through MOM's FDW eService without involving an agency. Many employers still choose to use an agency for convenience, but it is not a requirement.
1 For the avoidance of doubt, the preferential rates for general practitioner, specialist consultations, dental treatments, vaccinations and 6-monthly medical examinations are independent from the Domestic Helper Insurance Plan and subject to separate terms and conditions. They do not constitute, nor should they be construed as a component of the Domestic Helper Insurance Plan. The Preferential Rates are provided by third-party service providers, Income Insurance bears no liability for any modifications, limitations or discontinuation of such rates.
2 The application (“App”) is owned, hosted and managed by MY-INSURER PTE LTD, a service provider of Income Insurance Limited (“Income”). Income may from time to time change the service provider or terminate this service without prior notice. Income is not responsible for the contents of the App, the consequences of accessing the App, any transaction in the App and the services provided in the App. The App, the service and the benefits therein are not part of any insurance policy.
3 This Letter of Guarantee (LOG) service is only applicable if your domestic helper is hospitalised at a Singapore government restructured hospital. The LOG limit will be up to a maximum of $60,000 per year and the LOG amount issued will depend on the actual hospital bill and is subject to our policy terms and conditions and individual hospital guidelines.
4 Covers pre-existing medical condition provided your domestic helper has been working in Singapore as a foreign domestic helper for more than 12 months in a row.
This article is meant purely for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, solicitation or advice to buy or sell any product(s). It should not be relied upon as financial advice. The precise terms, conditions and exclusions of any Income Insurance products mentioned are specified in their respective policy contracts. Please seek independent financial advice before making any decision.
These policies are protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact Income Insurance or visit the GIA/LIA or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.lia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).
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