Work Permit Renewal Singapore 2026: $35 for Your Helper
Every two years, your helper's work permit comes up for renewal. It is one of those admin tasks that quietly turns urgent if you leave it too long — and unlike most paperwork in Singapore, you do not control the timeline. MOM does.
The good news: renewing is cheap and quick. The MOM processing fee is just $35, and once your helper's documents and insurance are in order, the whole renewal is submitted online in about five minutes — with an immediate outcome. The catch is that you can only renew after MOM sends a renewal letter, roughly eight weeks before the work permit expires. This guide covers exactly what that letter triggers, what each piece costs, and the mistakes that leave families scrambling for backup care.
At a Glance
• Renewal fee: $35 — flat MOM fee, same for every household (a brand-new application for a different helper costs $70 in total) • Timing: MOM's renewal letter arrives about 8 weeks before expiry — renew as soon as your bond and insurance are confirmed • Processing: immediate — the outcome comes back the moment you submit and pay in the FDW eService • New security bond required at every renewal for non-Malaysian helpers (Malaysian helpers are exempt) — your insurer sends the details to MOM, which takes up to 3 working days • Insurance must be extended — medical insurance and personal accident insurance of at least $60,000 each must cover the new permit period • Miss the expiry date and your helper cannot work — not even for one day, and you are still liable for the levy. If you are running late, request an extension from MOM before the date passes.
What Does Work Permit Renewal Cost in 2026?
Renewing your existing helper's work permit is by far the cheaper path — the MOM fee alone is $35 versus $70 for a fresh application, and you avoid the agency fees, levy deposit and flight costs that come with hiring someone new. Here is the full picture:
Cost Item | Renewal (Same Helper) | New Application (Different Helper) |
MOM processing fee | $35 | $70 ($35 application + $35 issuance) |
Medical examination (if required) | $50–$80 at a clinic | $50–$80 |
Insurance — medical + personal accident | $280–$500 for a new policy covering the permit period | $280–$500 |
Security bond (non-Malaysian helpers) | New $5,000 guarantee required — usually bundled with the insurance package | New $5,000 guarantee required |
Typical all-in cost | $365–$615 | $2,000–$4,000+ (agency fees, levy deposit, flights, settling-in) |
When Does the Renewal Window Open?
About eight weeks before your helper's work permit expires, MOM sends a renewal letter. That letter is your green light — you cannot renew before it arrives, and page 2 of the letter tells you whether your helper needs a medical examination for this cycle. Some employers assume MOM will chase them if the date slips past. It will not. The renewal letter is the only reminder you get.
The timeline that actually works looks like this:
When | What To Do |
About 8 weeks before expiry | Renewal letter arrives from MOM — read page 2 for the medical examination requirement |
As soon as the letter arrives | Book the medical examination if required; the clinic sends the results directly to MOM |
The same week | Arrange the new security bond (non-Malaysian helpers) and extend medical and personal accident insurance — your bank or insurer sends the details to MOM, which takes up to 3 working days |
Once the bond and insurance are confirmed | Log in to the FDW eService and submit the renewal — about 5 minutes, immediate outcome, $35 |
After approval | Keep using the existing work permit card unless MOM's letter says a new card will be delivered |
One useful detail on the bond: its effective date can be post-dated to as late as one day after the current work permit expires, so you do not need to buy it months in advance — but you do need it confirmed before you submit the renewal.
What Documents Do You Need?
Gather these before you sit down at the computer:
Scanned copy of your helper's passport — the personal particulars page, including any amendments. MOM must hold her most up-to-date passport record.
Medical examination form — only if page 2 of the renewal letter requires it. The clinic submits the results to MOM directly.
New security bond details (non-Malaysian helpers only) — your bank or insurer sends these to MOM; allow up to 3 working days.
Extended medical and personal accident insurance — both policies must cover the full new permit period.
Card delivery details — a residential or office address and the names and mobile numbers of up to three authorised recipients — only if MOM's letter says a new card will be issued.
One thing to watch early: if your helper's passport has less than six months of validity left, renew it first. Passport renewal takes two to three weeks and around $80 to $120 depending on her embassy, and MOM will not approve the work permit renewal on an expiring passport. Check the passport date the moment the renewal letter lands, not the week before the deadline.
Step-by-Step: How to Renew in the FDW eService
The renewal is done online through MOM's FDW eService, and most employers finish it in a single sitting:
Read the renewal letter carefully — especially page 2, which states whether a medical examination is required and what to do next.
Complete the medical examination if required — the clinic sends the signed form to MOM; double-check it has been received.
Confirm the new security bond and extended insurance with your bank or insurer — this can take up to 3 working days to reach MOM, so start it immediately.
Log in to the FDW eService with your Singpass.
Submit the renewal and upload the required documents — the system shows your helper's work permit details, including the exact expiry date.
Pay the $35 fee — Visa, Mastercard or PayNow.
Save the confirmation and check whether a new card will be delivered; if so, set up the address and authorised recipients.
Processing is immediate. Unlike a new application, which takes about a week, a renewal comes back the moment payment goes through — as long as the bond and insurance are already confirmed with MOM.
The Insurance and Bond Requirements — Don't Overlook These
Renewal is not just a $35 fee and a form. MOM requires your helper to be continuously covered, and both policies must be extended or replaced before the new permit period begins. Medical insurance must provide an annual claim limit of at least $60,000 for inpatient care and day surgery. Since July 2023, employers co-pay 25% of any claim amount above $15,000; and from July 2025, premiums are age-banded (50 and below, and above 50) with insurers paying hospitals directly on admissible claims.
• Personal accident insurance must have a sum assured of at least $60,000 per year, covering accidental death and permanent disability. The payout goes to your helper or her beneficiaries — it protects her family, not your household budget.
• A new security bond is required at every renewal for non-Malaysian helpers — the standard $5,000 banker's or insurer's guarantee. Your insurer sends the details to MOM (up to 3 working days), and the effective date can be post-dated to one day after the current permit expires. Malaysian helpers are exempt.
A gap between the old policy and the new one is itself a breach of MOM's conditions — never let the old policy lapse before the replacement is confirmed. Our maid insurance guide breaks down what a compliant 26-month package costs and what is actually worth paying for.
What If You Miss the Expiry Date?
This is where it gets stressful, and the consequences are real:
Your helper cannot work legally — not even for one day after the expiry date.
You are still liable for the levy after expiry, and levy penalties or an overstaying fine may also be imposed.
If you genuinely cannot renew in time, you can request an extension from MOM — but make the request before the current permit expires, not after.
There is a gap in care for your family. If you rely on your helper for childcare, elderly care or basic household management, even a week of cover arrangements throws the whole routine off.
The families who get into trouble are usually the ones who confused the expiry date with the contract start date, or who assumed a reminder would come. Check the expiry date printed on the work permit card against the one in the FDW eService now — they should match, and that is the date everything runs from.
Renewal vs Hiring a New Helper: When to Choose Each
Sometimes renewal is not the right call — and that is fine. Here is an honest comparison:
Factor | Renew (Same Helper) | Hire a New Helper |
MOM fees | $35 | $70 ($35 application + $35 issuance) |
All-in cost | $365–$615 | $2,000–$4,000+ |
Time | About a week, end to end | 4–8 weeks |
Risk | Low — you know her work and habits | Higher — new interview, new settling-in period |
Best when | Helper is settled, trusted and performing well | Performance issues, changed family needs, or your helper wants to return home |
If you are weighing the money side, our transfer maid versus new maid cost comparison shows the full financial picture. And if the real question is whether your helper is performing, start with our performance management guide — most issues are fixable with a clear conversation long before the renewal date arrives. For the full process of ending employment the right way, see our guide to terminating a maid in Singapore.
Five Mistakes That Delay Renewals
Waiting for a reminder that never comes — the renewal letter about 8 weeks before expiry is the only prompt MOM sends. Act on it the week it arrives.
Using the wrong date — the work permit expiry is tied to the date MOM issued the permit, which can differ from your helper's start date or contract anniversary.
Letting insurance lapse between policies — a coverage gap is a breach of MOM's conditions, even if it lasts only a few days.
Forgetting the new security bond — every renewal needs a fresh $5,000 guarantee for non-Malaysian helpers. Insurance alone is not enough.
Leaving the passport until the last minute — less than six months of validity blocks the renewal, and passport renewal adds two to three weeks.
After the Renewal: What Stays the Same
Once the new work permit is issued, everything continues as before — your monthly levy ($300 at the standard rate, or $60 with a levy concession), your obligations for accommodation, rest days and salary, and your helper's regular medical examinations under MOM's six-monthly schedule. None of that changes with renewal.
The one habit worth building: mark the new expiry date in your calendar the moment the renewal is approved, and set a reminder for eight weeks before it. That single reminder is everything MOM will give you — and it is enough, as long as you act on it. Our complete guide to your responsibilities as a Singapore employer covers the rest of the compliance picture, and our end of contract guide explains what happens when the cycle eventually ends.
Final Thoughts
Work permit renewal is not complicated — $35, five minutes online, immediate outcome — but it does demand attention at the right moment. The employers who get it wrong are the ones who wait for a reminder, mix up their dates, or leave the bond and insurance until the final week. Start when the letter arrives, and the whole thing is done before you have had time to worry about it.
If your helper's renewal is coming up and you want to make sure the bond, insurance and paperwork are all in order, iHome is here to help. We have guided hundreds of Singapore families through this exact process, and we know precisely what MOM expects.
If you are approaching your helper's renewal and want everything checked properly — or you are deciding whether to renew or start fresh with a new helper — message us on WhatsApp.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to renew a domestic helper's work permit in 2026?
The MOM processing fee for a work permit renewal is $35 — a flat rate for every household. Budget $365 to $615 all-in when you include the medical examination (if required), a new insurance policy and the new security bond for non-Malaysian helpers. By comparison, applying for a new helper's work permit costs $70 in MOM fees alone ($35 application + $35 issuance).
When should I apply for my helper's work permit renewal?
MOM sends the renewal letter about 8 weeks before the work permit expires, and you can only renew after it arrives. Submit the renewal as soon as your new security bond and extended insurance are confirmed with MOM — usually within a week or two of the letter. Do not leave it to the final fortnight; there is no second reminder.
Do I need a new medical examination for work permit renewal?
Only if MOM requires it — page 2 of your helper's renewal notification letter states whether a medical examination is needed for this cycle and what to do. If it is required, book it early: the clinic submits the signed form directly to MOM, and this can take a few days to appear in the system.
What happens if my helper's work permit expires before I renew?
Your helper cannot work legally for even one day after expiry, and you remain liable for the levy after the permit expires — levy penalties or an overstaying fine may also apply. If you cannot renew in time, request an extension from MOM before the expiry date passes. There is no automatic grace period you can rely on.
Do I need a new security bond when renewing?
Yes — every renewal requires a fresh $5,000 security bond for non-Malaysian helpers. Your bank or insurer sends the new bond details to MOM, which takes up to 3 working days, and its effective date can be post-dated to one day after the current permit expires. Malaysian helpers are exempt from the security bond requirement.
How long is a domestic helper's work permit valid?
Two years from the date MOM issues it — not from the date you hire her or the date she arrives. The expiry date is printed on the work permit card and can be checked any time in the FDW eService. Helpers can work in Singapore up to the age of 60 under current MOM rules.
Contact iHome Agency:
📢 WhatsApp: 8042 6581
đź“ś EA License: 26C3446
đź“Ť Punggol & Northshore Specialist
