Licensed Employment Agencies for Foreign Maids in Singapore

Yes, Singapore employers can hire a domestic helper without an agency. However, anyone in Singapore who regularly connects job seekers with employers or substantially influences employment terms must hold an employment agency licence. If you choose agency support, use a licensed employment agency for foreign maids.

An agency can help coordinate placement, paperwork and the Work Permit application. Before proceeding, understand what the agency handles and verify its licence.

This guide explains how to use Singapore’s Employment Agencies and Personnel Search service, assess an agency’s record, and understand the help available with paperwork and approvals. It also covers practical checks for contact details and replacement support, so you can choose the hiring route that suits your household.

Agency office contact numbers and addresses

Use Singapore’s Employment Agencies and Personnel Search service to find an agency’s listed contact details. The service is available 24 hours, so you can look up an agency before calling or visiting. Search by agency name when you already have one in mind, or use the available filters to find agencies serving foreign domestic workers.

Compare the directory entry with the agency’s own contact information, including its phone number and address. If you plan to visit, call first to confirm the location and arrange your enquiry. This can help prevent a wasted trip if the agency uses more than one contact channel.

Before sharing personal or payment information, confirm that you are contacting the agency you intended to reach. Singapore government websites use the .gov.sg domain, and secure websites use HTTPS. These checks are useful when searching online, but they do not replace verifying the agency’s directory entry.

• Save the directory listing: Keep the agency name, phone number and address together for reference.
• Call using the listed number: Ask to speak with someone about domestic helper placement and note the response.
• Match the office details: Check the address against the agency’s own published contact information before travelling.

Be alert to impersonation. Ministry of Manpower officers will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank login details by phone or email. If you’re unsure whether a contact is a scam, call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799. Use the official directory to locate agency contact details, and ScamShield for scam concerns; they serve different purposes.

A clear contact trail also helps you compare agencies fairly. Record when you called, who assisted you, and whether the person explained the next steps. Those notes make it easier to follow up on your enquiry without relying on memory.

Agency support with paperwork and approvals

In Singapore, an agency can assist with placement paperwork and Work Permit applications, but employers remain responsible for their own obligations. Placement, the permit process, medical examination and settling-in are connected steps that should follow the applicable Ministry of Manpower requirements.

Placement Paperwork and Approvals

Ask what the agency prepares and submits, and which decisions still need your attention. Placement paperwork should clearly state the helper’s job offer and employment terms, so both parties understand the arrangement before proceeding. For an overseas hire, ask how documents and approvals are coordinated at each stage rather than treating placement as a single form.

First-time employers must complete the Employer Orientation Programme. Include this in your planning and ask the agency how it fits into the placement sequence. Employers of non-Malaysian domestic helpers must arrange a S$5,000 security bond, according to the Singapore Ministry of Manpower. Ask how the bond requirement is addressed in the hiring checklist and what action remains yours.

Work Permits, Medical Exams, and Settling In

Work Permit support can include preparing the application and organising required paperwork. Medical examination and settling-in steps should also be included in the process, with timing and instructions guided by the applicable requirements. Ask which step comes next, what documents you need to provide and how you will know when each task is complete.

Compare agencies by how clearly they explain their process, not just by how many tasks they claim to handle. A useful explanation connects placement documents, the permit application, medical examination and settling in, while distinguishing agency support from employer duties.

• Request a written sequence of the paperwork and approval stages.
• Identify documents the agency prepares and those you must provide.
• Ask how the agency communicates updates and outstanding tasks.

For households arranging a new placement, Work Permit application support can help organise the relevant administrative steps.

How to find a licensed employment agency for foreign domestic workers in Singapore?

Start with Singapore’s Employment Agencies and Personnel Search service. You can search for agencies serving foreign domestic workers, foreign workers and local workers, including Singaporeans and permanent residents. Narrow the results to agencies that handle the placement you need.

Licensing depends on the activity, not simply where the employer or worker lives. In Singapore, entities and individuals carrying out activities here must hold an employment agency licence if they regularly connect job seekers with employers or substantially influence employment terms. This applies whether the prospective employer or employee is based in Singapore or overseas.

You can hire a helper without an agency. If you want agency support, use the official search service and follow a consistent process:

1. Choose the relevant worker category. Select foreign domestic workers when searching for agencies that handle domestic-helper placements. This keeps your results aligned with the role.
2. Search by agency name or location. If a family member recommends an agency, search its exact name. Otherwise, review the agencies returned for the relevant category and area.
3. Record the licence details. Note the agency’s registered name and licence information from its result. Use those details when discussing placement, paperwork, and the hiring process.
4. Match the agency to your household needs. Prepare a short description of the duties, experience, and language abilities you need. For example, a household seeking an experienced Indonesian helper should explain the relevant care and household tasks.

Before proceeding, compare how each agency explains its placement process and responsibilities. A clear response distinguishes the agency’s assistance from decisions and duties that remain yours as the employer. Keep the listing and your notes together to refer to the same details during follow-up discussions.

How to check an employment agency licence and track record in Singapore’s MOM EA Directory?

Use the Ministry of Manpower’s EA Directory to check an agency’s details and spot entries that need caution. Search by agency name, then compare the listing with the details provided during your enquiry. A matching name helps confirm that you are dealing with the agency you intended to contact.

Pay particular attention to the directory’s “Under revocation / suspension / surveillance” tab, which lists employment agencies to avoid. If an agency appears there, pause and review the situation before proceeding.

For a consistent comparison, record the following details for each agency:

• Agency name: Note the exact name shown in the EA Directory, including any differences from a trading name.
• Licence information: Keep the displayed licence details with your notes, so you can refer to the same entry during discussions.
• Directory status: Check whether the agency appears under “Under revocation / suspension / surveillance”.
• Contact match: Compare the directory’s agency details with the contact information used in your enquiry.

The directory helps you check an agency’s licence and status, but it cannot tell you whether its placement support suits your household. Compare its explanation of the process, paperwork and responsibilities with the directory record. Note whether staff specify what they handle and what remains your responsibility, rather than relying on a general claim of experience.

Keep a dated record of the agency’s name, directory result and key answers from your conversation. If time has passed since your initial search, revisit the EA Directory before committing. This gives you a consistent basis for comparison without treating a listing as a complete measure of service quality.

For help discussing a household placement, share your domestic helper requirements with an employment agency.

Suria Employment Agency: New Maid Placement

Suria Employment Agency helps Singapore households find a domestic helper through its New Maid Placement service. Choose this support when you want help coordinating placement paperwork and Work Permit steps as you look for a suitable helper.

Before starting, outline your household’s needs, including the main duties and experience you value. This keeps the placement discussion focused and helps clarify the next steps. Suria also handles Work Permit Application and Renewal, Home Leave Processing, and Renewal & Endorsement of Passports for relevant helper arrangements.

For employers comparing agencies, a direct conversation can help clarify which placement tasks are handled and what information you need to provide. Contact Suria Employment Agency to discuss New Maid Placement, or visit hisuria.com.

Choose the next step that fits your household

Once you have identified a licensed employment agency for foreign maids, assess how well its process fits your household’s priorities. Before deciding, list the duties you need help with, the experience that matters most and any unanswered questions. This gives you a practical basis for comparing your options.

Consider how each agency explains its role, communicates next steps and helps you understand your responsibilities. A clear comparison is more useful than relying on a general impression when choosing an arrangement for your family.

Review your priorities and decide which hiring route suits them. A clear set of requirements helps you prepare for an informed placement discussion and move forward thoughtfully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Hire a Helper Without a Maid Agency?

Yes, you can hire a helper without an agency. With direct hiring, you arrange candidate discussions yourself and agree on duties, salary, rest-day arrangements and communication expectations with the helper. Write down the agreed terms before proceeding so both parties have a clear reference. This route may suit employers who have already identified a helper and can coordinate the process directly.

What documents and steps are needed to hire a foreign domestic worker in Singapore?

Prepare the employer’s particulars, the helper’s identification and passport details, and a record of the agreed employment terms. Organise these details before starting an application, then keep copies of submitted documents and any correspondence together. Employers of non-Malaysian domestic helpers must arrange a S$5,000 security bond, according to the Singapore Ministry of Manpower. A tidy record helps track outstanding items and follow-up.

How do employment agency fees, services, and refund policies compare in Singapore?

Compare agencies by their licence and directory status, the clarity of their placement and paperwork support, and how they explain replacement assistance. Employers commonly advance agency fees for helpers and recover them gradually from salary over 4-6 months, but no specific agency fee or refund terms are provided here.

What are the fees for hiring a foreign domestic worker through a Singapore employment agency?

A new Work Permit costs S$35 to apply for and S$35 to issue. Employers commonly advance agency fees on behalf of helpers and recover the amount gradually from salary over 4-6 months; specific agency fee amounts are not provided.

What are the risks of using an unlicensed employment agency or an overseas maid broker?

Entities and individuals carrying out activities in Singapore must hold an employment agency licence if they regularly connect job seekers with employers or substantially influence employment terms, whether the employer or worker is based in Singapore or overseas. Check the EA Directory’s “Under revocation / suspension / surveillance” tab, which lists agencies to avoid.

What should employers check in an employment agency contract before hiring a foreign domestic worker?

Make sure the job offer and employment terms are clear. Establish which paperwork the agency prepares or submits and which duties remain yours. Ask for the placement steps in writing and clarify the terms and fees for replacement assistance before proceeding.