The Domestic Helper Levy in Singapore: Rates, Concession and Waivers
If you employ a domestic helper, you pay the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) a monthly levy: S$300 for a first helper and S$450 for each additional one, or S$60 at the concessionary rate if an eligible person lives with you. You can ask for a waiver when your helper is overseas or in hospital for a while.
By David Bensadon, Founder and Managing Director · EA personnel reg. no. R1552212
Published 27 October 2026 · Last checked 27 October 2026 · 2 min read
How much is the levy?
| Levy each month | Amount |
|---|---|
| First helper | S$300 |
| Each additional helper | S$450 |
| Concessionary rate | S$60 |
You pay it to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), not to the agency, for every month your helper is employed. It is not part of We Are Caring's fees.
The simplest way to pay is by GIRO, deducted from your bank account each month: apply for GIRO for your levy payment on the Ministry's site. With eGIRO, it takes about a minute, and the Ministry processes it in 3 working days.
Who qualifies for the concessionary rate?
You pay S$60 a month if one of these people lives with you:
- a Singapore citizen child under 16
- a Singapore citizen aged 67 or above
- a permanent resident aged 67 or above, in some cases: for example, your parent or grandparent when you or your spouse is a Singapore citizen
- a person with disabilities who needs help with at least one activity of daily living, certified by a Singapore-registered doctor and recommended by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)
They must live in your household and be listed as a household member in the Ministry's FDW eService. For most of them, your NRIC and theirs must show the same address. The concession covers one helper per eligible person, and two helpers at most per household.
You don't need to apply in most cases: the concession is granted once the conditions are met, and it shows in your next two levy bills, backdated.
When is the levy waived?
You can ask for a waiver when your helper:
- is on overseas leave for at least 7 days in a row, up to 60 days a year
- is on hospitalisation leave given by a Singapore-registered doctor, up to 60 days a year, with her medical certificate
- is held by the police or her embassy, with their letter
- has passed away, with the death certificate
The levy is still billed. You apply afterwards, from the 1st of the month after the bill and within a year of it, through the Ministry's "Check and pay foreign worker levy" eService. The waiver is credited to your levy account and offsets your next bills.
When does the levy stop?
- When she transfers to a new employer, you pay until her new work permit is issued. Her current permit is then cancelled automatically, and your levy billing stops.
- When her work permit is cancelled, the levy is charged until the day before the cancellation.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Levy concession for a migrant domestic worker, page updated 7 July 2026, checked 27 October 2026
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Apply for levy waiver for a migrant domestic worker, page updated 26 June 2025, checked 27 October 2026
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): Transfer a migrant domestic worker directly to a new employer, page updated 14 March 2024, checked 27 October 2026
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM): How do I apply for GIRO for my levy payment?, page updated 4 August 2026, checked 28 October 2026
FAQ
Is the levy included in We Are Caring's fees?
No. The levy is paid every month to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), for as long as you employ your helper. Our fees cover the hiring only.
Do I pay the levy while my helper is on home leave?
Yes, it is still billed. If she is away for at least 7 days in a row, you can apply for a waiver when she is back, and the amount is credited to your levy account.
Who pays the levy when my helper transfers to a new employer?
You do, until her new employer's work permit is issued. Then her current work permit is cancelled automatically, and your levy billing stops.
