Helper Home Leave Singapore 2026: Real Cost ($500-$1,500)
One of the questions I hear most often from employers is some version of this: my helper has been with us for two years, she keeps asking about going home to see her family, and I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to do or what it will cost me. It's a fair question, and the answer isn't as complicated as it sounds once you understand a few things clearly. Home leave is one of those parts of employing a domestic helper that feels bigger and scarier than it really is.
So let me walk you through it the way I would if you were sitting across from me in the office. We'll cover what the rules actually say in 2026 (and, just as importantly, what they don't say), how much a trip home really costs when you add everything up, and how to plan it so there are no unpleasant surprises for you or her. By the end, you'll know exactly what to budget and what to do.
At a Glance: What Home Leave Costs in Singapore (2026)
No statutory home-leave entitlement — it's contractual, commonly 14-21 days The standard FDW renewal contract recommends about 15 days of paid home leave plus a return ticket Return airfare in 2026 runs roughly S$200-S$650 depending on her home country Total cost of a 14-day home leave typically lands between S$500 and S$1,500 The S$300/month levy keeps running while she's away — but you can claim a waiver afterwards Levy waiver needs at least 7 consecutive days overseas, capped at 60 days per calendar year
Is there actually a rule about home leave?
Here's the part that surprises most people: there is no MOM rule that forces you to give home leave at all. Migrant domestic workers are not covered by the Employment Act, so their terms of employment are contractual rather than fixed by statute. That means home leave is something you and your helper agree on, either in her employment contract or through a conversation the two of you have.
In practice, though, almost every employer does offer it, and there's a good reason for that. The standard FDW employment contract that agencies use includes a home-leave clause on renewal — the recommended arrangement is around 15 days of paid home leave, inclusive of a return ticket to her city of origin. If she chooses not to use her home leave, the common practice is that you pay her a lump sum equivalent to that return ticket instead. So while nobody can force you, the norm across Singapore sits comfortably in the 14-to-21-day range, usually after she completes a two-year contract or when you're renewing it.
Do keep home leave separate in your mind from her rest days. She's entitled to one rest day a week, and since 2023 there is also a mandatory monthly rest day that cannot be compensated away — you simply cannot ask her to work on that day. If you want the full picture there, our write-up on the maid rest day rules in Singapore covers it properly.
What employers typically offer
Because home leave is negotiable, what you offer depends a lot on your situation and hers. A helper finishing her first two years and renewing with you is in a very different position from one who's leaving for good. The table below shows the arrangements I see most often, and it's a reasonable starting point for your own conversation.
Scenario | Typical length | Who pays the ticket | Paid or unpaid |
Renewing after a 2-year contract | 14-21 days | Employer (per contract) | Paid |
Mid-contract compassionate trip | By mutual agreement | Often shared or helper-paid | Often unpaid |
Helper waives her home leave | None taken | Employer pays lump sum instead | Lump sum in lieu |
End of employment (repatriation) | Not home leave | Employer must pay air ticket | Not applicable |
Don't confuse home leave with repatriation
This is worth pausing on, because employers mix the two up all the time. Home leave is a holiday — she goes home, visits her family, and comes back to continue working for you. Repatriation is different: it happens at the end of employment, when the working relationship ends and she returns home for good.
For repatriation, the rules are firm and non-negotiable. You must pay for her air ticket, including check-in luggage, to the international port of entry nearest her hometown, and she must depart within two weeks of the Work Permit being cancelled. And here's a line I want you to remember clearly — airfare can never be deducted from her salary, not for repatriation and not as a condition of home leave. If your helper's contract is ending, that's a separate planning exercise with its own costs, and we've covered it fully elsewhere.
The levy keeps running — but you can get some back
This is the part that catches employers off guard financially. When your helper flies home on leave, the monthly levy doesn't pause on its own. It keeps running the whole time she's away, and it's pro-rated daily. For a standard first helper in 2026 that's S$300 a month, which works out to roughly S$10 a day.
The good news is that you can apply for a levy waiver after she returns, provided her overseas leave was at least seven consecutive days. The waiver is capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year, so a typical two-week trip falls comfortably within that. Keep a copy of her ticket or departure itinerary — you'll want it for the application. If needed, you can also defer her six-monthly medical examination while she's overseas.
One practical note before she flies: make sure her passport is valid for at least six months, and that she carries both her passport and her digital work pass or Work Permit card so she can re-enter Singapore without trouble at the airport. If you're on the concessionary S$60 levy because you care for an elderly family member, the sums are smaller but the same waiver rules apply — you can read more about the FDW levy concession for elderly care if that's your situation.
What a return ticket really costs in 2026
Airfare is the single biggest variable, and it swings a lot depending on where home is and when she flies. The figures below are realistic return estimates from Singapore for 2026. Bear in mind that peak season — December and Christmas, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, and the school holidays — adds roughly 30 to 50 percent, so timing matters enormously.
Home country | Off-peak return | Peak-season return |
Philippines (Manila/Cebu) | S$250-S$500 | S$325-S$750 |
Indonesia (Jakarta/Surabaya) | S$200-S$400 | S$260-S$600 |
Myanmar (Yangon) | S$300-S$550 | S$390-S$825 |
Sri Lanka (Colombo) | S$350-S$650 | S$455-S$975 |
Cambodia (Phnom Penh) | S$250-S$450 | S$325-S$675 |
India (Chennai) | S$300-S$550 | S$390-S$825 |
Adding it all up: the real cost of a 14-day trip
So what does a fortnight home actually cost you once everything is on the table? Let's build it out for a typical case — a Filipino helper on a S$650 salary, flying off-peak, with paid home leave as her contract provides. The point of the table below isn't to give you one exact figure but to show you where the money goes so you can plan honestly.
As you can see, the total for a paid two-week trip usually lands somewhere between roughly S$500 and S$1,500, depending mostly on airfare and whether you claim the levy waiver. Claim the waiver and fly off-peak, and you'll sit near the bottom of that range. Book late over Chinese New Year for a longer-haul destination, and you'll drift toward the top. Neither is a crisis — it's simply a matter of planning ahead.
Cost item | Estimated amount | Notes |
Return airfare | S$250-S$650 | Depends on country and season |
Paid salary during leave | S$270-S$330 | About 14 days of a S$580-S$700 salary |
Levy for the period | About S$140 | Pro-rated at ~S$10/day, first helper |
Less levy waiver (if claimed) | Up to -S$140 | Needs 7+ consecutive days overseas |
Insurance kept active | No extra if already paid | Keep coverage running throughout |
Estimated total | S$500-S$1,500 | Lower end with waiver and off-peak booking |
How to plan it so nothing goes wrong
The employers who have the smoothest experience are simply the ones who plan early. Start the conversation about dates three to four months ahead — this gives you time to book flights before prices climb and to arrange cover for the household while she's away. Once you've agreed on dates, book early rather than hoping fares drop, because they rarely do close to departure.
In the final week, confirm the flight details a few days before she leaves and arrange to pick her up (or have her met) at the airport when she returns. Keep her medical insurance active throughout the trip, don't let it lapse. And keep that copy of her ticket safe, both for your levy waiver claim and, in the rare event things go sideways, as proof of her travel.
Discuss and lock in dates 3-4 months ahead
Book the ticket early to avoid peak-season jumps
Confirm passport validity (at least 6 months) before booking
Make sure she carries her passport and digital work pass to re-enter
Confirm flight details a few days before departure
Arrange airport pickup and keep insurance active throughout
The one scenario to prepare for: she doesn't come back
It doesn't happen often, but it's worth knowing the drill. If your helper doesn't return from her overseas leave, cancel her Work Permit promptly to stop the levy from running, and keep a copy of her ticket as proof that she left. After MOM verifies that she departed and did not re-enter, the security bond — S$5,000 for a non-Malaysian helper — will be discharged.
One thing to watch: if she somehow re-enters Singapore before the bond is discharged, you must send her home immediately, or the bond may be forfeited. It's an edge case, but a costly one to get wrong, so if you ever find yourself there, our guide on what to do if your helper does not return walks you through it step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is home leave mandatory in Singapore?
No. There is no statutory MOM home-leave entitlement, because migrant domestic workers are not covered by the Employment Act. Home leave is contractual or mutually agreed. That said, the standard FDW renewal contract recommends around 15 days of paid home leave with a return ticket, and most employers offer 14 to 21 days after a two-year contract.
Do I still have to pay the levy while she's overseas?
Yes, the levy keeps running while she's on overseas leave and it's pro-rated daily. For a first helper in 2026 that's S$300 a month, or roughly S$10 a day. You can apply for a levy waiver after she returns if her leave was at least seven consecutive days, capped at 60 days per calendar year.
Who pays for her flight home for home leave?
Under the standard renewal contract, the employer provides the return ticket as part of paid home leave. If she chooses not to take her home leave, the common practice is to pay her a lump sum equal to that return ticket. This is separate from repatriation at the end of employment, where you must pay her air ticket and it can never be deducted from her salary.
How many days of home leave should I give?
The common range is 14 to 21 days, and the standard contract recommends about 15 days of paid leave. A fortnight also happens to comfortably exceed the seven-day minimum you need for a levy waiver, so 14 days is a sensible default for most families.
What should she carry to re-enter Singapore?
Make sure her passport is valid for at least six months, and that she travels with both her passport and her digital work pass or Work Permit card. Without these she may face trouble re-entering. Keep a copy of her ticket and itinerary too, which you'll need for the levy waiver claim.
What happens if she doesn't return from her trip?
Cancel the Work Permit promptly to stop the levy, and keep a copy of her ticket as proof she left. MOM will discharge the S$5,000 security bond after verifying she departed and did not re-enter. If she re-enters before the bond is discharged, send her home immediately or the bond may be forfeited.
At the end of the day, home leave is a good thing — a helper who gets to see her family and comes back refreshed is worth far more than the few hundred dollars it costs to send her. Plan the dates early, book the flight before the peak-season rush, claim your levy waiver, and the whole thing becomes routine rather than stressful. If you're unsure how it fits with your particular contract or renewal, just give us a call and we'll help you work through it — that's what we're here for.
Ready to find the help your home deserves? Check out our guide on which nationality suits you best.
Let us guide you home.
Contact iHome Agency:
📲 WhatsApp: 8042 6581
đź“ś EA License:Â 26C3446
đź“Ť Punggol & Northshore Specialist
