Last updated: October 2026 | SeaMoneyTips
Summary
The Singapore maid levy is $300 per month for your first helper and $450 for a subsequent helper, according to the Ministry of Manpower. The concessionary rate of $60 per month cuts that bill by $240 a month, or $2,880 a year, for households with an eligible child, elderly member, or person with disabilities. This guide covers the 2026 rates, the concession criteria, how to apply, how the waiver works when your helper travels, and the penalties for missing a payment.
What Is the Singapore Maid Levy?
The maid levy is a monthly fee you pay to the government for employing a migrant domestic worker (MDW). MOM describes the levy as a pricing mechanism to regulate the number of foreigners working in Singapore. It applies to every Work Permit holder you employ as a domestic helper, and it is separate from the salary you pay your helper directly.
One common point of confusion: as a domestic helper employer, you do not pay CPF contributions for your helper. Other work pass holders get employer CPF contributions, but the levy replaces that obligation for MDWs. Your total cost of employment is therefore helper salary plus levy, and nothing else is mandatory except insurance and the security bond requirements that come with the Work Permit.
When the Levy Starts and Stops
For a first-time helper, the levy begins on the 5th day from her arrival in Singapore, including the arrival date itself. If your helper has worked in Singapore before, the levy begins the day after she arrives. The levy stops when the Work Permit is cancelled or expires. That gap matters for budgeting: even a short delay in applying for the permit can shift your first bill by a few days of daily-rate levy.
Singapore Maid Levy Rates 2026
| Type of levy | Monthly rate | Daily rate |
|---|---|---|
| Normal, first helper | $300 | $9.87 |
| Normal, subsequent helpers | $450 | $14.80 |
| Concessionary | $60 | $1.98 |
The daily rate only applies when your helper did not work a full calendar month, for example during her first or last month in Singapore. MOM calculates it as (monthly rate x 12) / 365, rounded up to the nearest cent, which is why the first helper daily rate is $9.87 rather than $10.
Two rates sit above the standard $300: a second helper costs $450 a month, and there is no volume discount for employing more. If you are weighing a second helper against other childcare or eldercare options, compare the full cost: $450 levy plus salary, food, and accommodation can cross $1,400 a month before you count any agency or insurance fees.
What the Levy Costs Per Year
| Scenario | Monthly levy | Annual levy |
|---|---|---|
| First helper, normal rate | $300 | $3,600 |
| Second helper, normal rate | $450 | $5,400 |
| Helper with levy concession | $60 | $720 |
The concessionary rate saves $2,880 a year compared with the standard first-helper rate. Over a typical two-year contract, that is $5,760, which is more than many families spend on the helper's airfare and insurance combined. Checking your concession eligibility before the helper arrives is the single biggest saving available.
Maid Levy Concession: Who Qualifies for $60 a Month
You qualify for the concessionary levy if an eligible person lives in your household. The concession is granted for one helper per eligible person, and it is capped at two helpers per household, so a second concessionary helper requires a second eligible person.
1. Young Child Who Is a Singapore Citizen
A child below 16 years old who is a Singapore citizen qualifies. For parents, the concession starts automatically from the date your child was born. If the helper's employer is not the child's parent, the concession starts from the date you add the child as a household member in the FDW eService. If the child recently became a citizen, records update within about a month, and the concession is granted automatically once everything is in order.
2. Elderly Aged 67 and Above
A Singapore citizen aged 67 or older in the household qualifies. If the elderly person is you or your spouse, the concession starts automatically when you turn 67. If the elderly person is someone else, such as a parent living with you, two conditions must be met: the elderly person's NRIC and your NRIC show the same address, and the person is listed as your household member on the FDW eService. Permanent residents aged 67 and above qualify through a narrower path that requires a citizen link in the household, so check the MOM page for your exact family structure.
3. Person with Disabilities
A person with disabilities qualifies when a Singapore-registered doctor certifies that she or he needs help with at least one activity of daily living, such as washing, feeding, dressing, moving around, transferring, or toileting. The person must be a Singapore citizen, or a permanent resident with a parent, spouse, or child who is a citizen. You apply through the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and receive a recommendation letter, after which the concession is granted.
How the Concession Appears in Your Bill
Once the criteria are met and the required steps are done, the concession is granted automatically. MOM states the new lower rate and any backdated adjustments will show within your next two levy bills. If no concession appears and you believe you qualify, MOM provides a form to check why the levy concession was not granted, and that is the fastest way to get it reviewed.
Concession Example: The Monthly Saving
Take a household with a newborn and one helper. At the normal rate, the family pays $300 a month, or $3,600 a year. Once the citizen-child concession is granted, the bill drops to $60 a month, or $720 a year. Over the child's first 16 years, the difference between qualifying and not qualifying is $46,080 in levies, which is why this concession is worth acting on immediately after a birth.
How to Pay the Maid Levy
You must pay each month's levy by the 17th of the following month, or the next working day if the 17th falls on a weekend or public holiday. The exact due date is printed on your levy bill, and the bill arrives after the levy month ends.
MOM recommends GIRO for payment. Once your GIRO arrangement is approved, the levy is deducted automatically from your bank account on the 17th of the following month. Keep enough funds in the account by 6pm one working day before the deduction date, and check that your GIRO deduction limit is sufficient. If you do not have GIRO, you can pay using PayNow QR through the myMOM Portal.
Penalties for Missing a Payment
Late or missing levy payments carry real consequences:
- A late payment penalty is charged on unpaid amounts.
- Your helper's Work Permit can be revoked the following month if you miss levy payments for two consecutive months.
- You can be barred from applying for new Work Permits.
- MOM may take legal action to recover unpaid levy.
The two-month revocation rule is the one that surprises employers most. Missing payments is not a billing inconvenience; it puts your helper's legal right to work at risk within weeks. If cash flow is tight, it is better to plan the cost into your monthly budget from day one. Our Singapore cost of living breakdown shows how to fit fixed commitments like this into a household budget.
Levy Waiver: When You Do Not Pay While Your Helper Is Away
A waiver cancels levy for specific periods rather than reducing the rate. You can apply when:
- Your helper goes on overseas leave for at least 7 consecutive days, capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.
- Your helper is on hospitalisation leave issued by a Singapore-registered doctor from a local medical institution, also capped at 60 days per year.
- Your helper is in the custody of the police or an embassy, with a letter from the relevant organisation.
- Your helper passes away, with a copy of the death certificate.
The overseas-leave waiver needs no documents; you apply after she returns and enter the departure and return dates. Hospitalisation leave requires a medical certificate showing the helper's name and FIN, the leave period, the clinic or hospital name, the doctor's name, and the MC number.
How the Waiver Is Calculated
MOM uses a daily-rate calculation for partial months. Using their published example: a helper on a $300 monthly rate (or $9.87 daily) is away on waiver from 1 to 15 September. Levy is payable for the remaining 15 days: 15 x $9.87 = $148.05. The amount waived is $300 minus $148.05, which equals $151.95. The waived amount is credited to your levy account and offsets your next bill.
You can apply from the 1st of the month after you receive the levy bill, and you must apply within one year of that bill. Processing takes about 12 working days. If a credit remains after offsetting future bills and you have no upcoming levy, you can apply for a refund to your bank account.
Sample Levy Budgets for 2026
| Household situation | Levy per month | Total helper cost per month |
|---|---|---|
| First helper, no concession | $300 | $1,100 to $1,500 with salary, food, levy |
| First helper with child concession | $60 | $860 to $1,260 |
| Two helpers, one concessionary | $510 | $1,900 to $2,600 |
Salary figures use the minimum monthly salary requirements for MDWs set by MOM, with food and lodging on top. Use the levy line as your fixed, non-negotiable amount and treat the rest as controllable spending. If you employ a helper mainly to care for an elderly parent, read our guide to nursing home costs in Singapore to compare the two care options directly.
How the Maid Levy Fits Your Total Cost of Employing a Helper
Beyond levy and salary, budget for the helper's levy-month quirks. Your first bill may cover a partial month at the daily rate, concession changes apply from specific dates and are backdated automatically, and waivers must be claimed actively, not automatically. Employers who set up GIRO, apply for the concession immediately after a birth or a move, and file waivers after every long trip end up paying measurably less over a two-year contract than employers who treat the levy as a fixed $300.
If you are also planning for the longer term, the CPF system offers related support for care needs. See our guides to CPF MediSave withdrawal limits and the Home Protection Scheme to understand how healthcare and mortgage protection interact with household staffing costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the maid levy in Singapore in 2026?
The standard rate is $300 per month for a first helper and $450 for subsequent helpers. Households with an eligible person, such as a young Singapore citizen child or an elderly member aged 67 and above, pay the concessionary rate of $60 per month.
How do I qualify for the maid levy concession?
You qualify if an eligible person lives in your household: a Singapore citizen child below 16, a Singapore citizen or qualifying PR aged 67 and above, or a certified person with disabilities. The concession covers one helper per eligible person and is capped at two helpers per household.
Is the maid levy concession automatic?
Yes, in most cases. For a citizen child, it starts from birth for parents. For elderly household members, it starts when they turn 67 or when address and household-member conditions are met. Persons with disabilities require an AIC application first. Once granted, the lower rate appears within your next two levy bills.
Can I get a waiver when my helper goes on holiday?
Yes. Overseas leave of at least 7 consecutive days qualifies for a levy waiver, capped at 60 calendar days per year. Apply after she returns through the myMOM Portal, entering her departure and return dates. No documents are needed for overseas leave.
When is the maid levy due each month?
Each month's levy is due by the 17th of the following month, or the next working day if the 17th is a weekend or public holiday. Most employers pay through GIRO deduction or PayNow QR.
What happens if I pay the maid levy late?
You are charged a late payment penalty, and if you miss payments for two consecutive months, your helper's Work Permit can be revoked the following month. You may also be barred from new Work Permit applications and face legal action to recover unpaid levy.
Do I pay CPF for my domestic helper?
No. Employers of migrant domestic workers do not pay CPF contributions. The monthly levy replaces that obligation, which is why the levy plus salary is your complete mandatory cost, apart from insurance and security bond requirements.
Is the maid levy waiver available for hospitalisation?
Yes. If a Singapore-registered doctor from a local medical institution issues hospitalisation leave for your helper, you can claim a waiver of up to 60 calendar days per year with a medical certificate showing her name, FIN, leave period, and the MC number.
Key Takeaways
- The Singapore maid levy is $300 a month for a first helper, $450 for a second, and $60 with a concession.
- The concession saves $2,880 a year and is automatic for citizen children and elderly household members who meet the criteria.
- One concessionary helper per eligible person, capped at two per household.
- Levy is due by the 17th of the following month; GIRO is the recommended payment method.
- Waivers cover overseas leave of 7 days or more and hospitalisation, each capped at 60 days a year.
- Missing two consecutive months of levy can revoke your helper's Work Permit the following month.
Conclusion
The Singapore maid levy in 2026 is a fixed $300 for most households, but the gap between paying full rate and the $60 concessionary rate is $2,880 a year. Check your concession eligibility before your helper arrives, set up GIRO, and file a waiver every time she is away for a week or more. Those three habits keep the levy at its legal minimum.
For related planning, read our guides to the cost of living in Singapore and nursing home costs and subsidies, or see how the Home Protection Scheme protects your family's home finances.
This article was written by the SeaMoneyTips Editorial Team, focused on personal finance education for Indonesia and Singapore readers. For inquiries, please contact us.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Levy rates, concession criteria, and waiver rules are set by the Ministry of Manpower and may change; verify current details on mom.gov.sg before making decisions.
Sources: MOM, Paying Levy for a Migrant Domestic Worker, MOM, Levy Concession for a Migrant Domestic Worker, MOM, Apply for Levy Waiver, and MOM Foreign Worker Levy FAQ. This article is for education only and is not financial advice.