At a Glance
- Transfer helper: already in Singapore, can start within about 1 to 3 weeks (MOM gives the outcome within 1 week).
- Transfers need the current employer's consent, requested via MOM's FDW eService, at least 30 days before her Work Permit expires.
- Settling-in Programme (SIP) is only for first-time helpers. Transfers and ex-Singapore helpers skip it.
- New (fresh) helper: must attend the 1-day SIP within 7 days of arrival (excluding Sundays and public holidays), fee paid by you.
- Ex-Singapore helper: has Singapore experience but is overseas, so you wait for her to fly in.
- Check any experienced helper's past employers on MOM's records before you commit.
Friends, the first question every new employer asks us is "fresh or transfer?"
There is actually a third option most people forget: the ex-Singapore helper.
Each one changes your cost, your waiting time and how much training you'll do in month one. Here is how they compare.
What is the difference between a new, transfer and ex-Singapore maid?
New
Never worked in Singapore
May have worked in Hong Kong, Taiwan or the Middle East, or be completely new to domestic work. Hired from overseas.
Transfer
In Singapore right now
Holds a valid Work Permit with her current employer and moves straight to you. You can interview her face to face.
Ex-SG
Worked here before, now home
Finished a previous contract and went back. Knows Singapore homes, but needs a new permit and a flight in.
Fresh vs transfer vs ex-Singapore maid: how do they compare?
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Factor | New | Transfer | Ex-Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where she is | Overseas | Singapore | Overseas |
| Interview | Video call | In person | Video call |
| Settling-in Programme | Required | Not needed | Not needed |
| Airfare | Yes | None | Yes |
| Salary expectation | Usually lowest | Usually higher | Usually higher |
| Training needed | Most | Least | Some refresh |
| Old habits to unlearn | Fewest | Possible | Possible |
Salary depends on nationality, experience and the agency. Treat the salary row as a general pattern, never a fixed rule.
What are the pros and cons of hiring a fresh maid?
Pros
- Learns your way of doing things from day one, with no Singapore habits to undo.
- Usually the lowest salary expectation of the three.
- Often eager to learn and keen to complete her first contract.
- The SIP gives her a grounding in safety and living in Singapore before she starts.
Cons
- Longest wait, since she is overseas and her home country may have its own exit paperwork.
- Video-call interviews only, so less to judge her by.
- Needs patient training: HDB appliances, local food, our pace.
- Homesickness and culture shock can hit in the first few months.
What are the pros and cons of a transfer maid?
Pros
- Fastest start, no flight and no SIP.
- Meet her in person and watch how she talks to your kids or parents.
- You can check her past Singapore employers and speak to her current one.
- Already knows local food, markets, MRT and HDB living.
Cons
- Usually expects a higher salary and knows her rest-day rights well.
- Brings routines from her last home that may clash with yours.
- Depends on the current employer agreeing and cooperating on timing.
- You need to find out honestly why she is leaving.
What about hiring an ex-Singapore maid?
- Good middle ground if you want Singapore experience but none of the transfer helpers you've met clicked.
- No SIP, because the SIP is only for first-time helpers.
- Her history is checkable, since her past Singapore employers sit on MOM's records.
- You still pay for her flight and wait for her to arrive, much like a new helper.
- Ask why she left Singapore and what she did in between. A finished contract and a family break are both normal answers.
How long does a maid transfer take in Singapore?
MOM's direct transfer process runs in this order:
1
Check she has done her 6-monthly medical exam and her permit is valid for more than 30 days.
2
Request the current employer's consent in FDW eService, then apply. Outcome within 1 week.
3
Buy the security bond and insurance, both sign the declaration form.
4
On the agreed date, issue the permit and give her the Temporary Work Permit. Her old one cancels automatically.
- Steps 1 and 2 must be done at least 30 days before her current Work Permit expires.
- The new permit must be issued within 21 days of approval or by her current permit's expiry, whichever is earlier.
- The current employer pays levy until the day you issue the new permit, so a clear transfer date helps both families.
Does a transfer maid need the current employer's consent?
Yes, for a direct transfer.
You send the consent request through MOM's FDW eService, and the current employer approves it there before you can apply.
Direct transfer
She stays with her current family until the agreed date, then moves to you. Consent comes from that employer.
Transfer through an agency
The agency takes over responsibility for her while it finds a new employer. Common when she is already staying at the agency.
How do I check a transfer maid's employment history?
MOM keeps the record of her past Singapore employers, and you can view it during the hiring process.
We wrote a full walkthrough here: where to check a maid's employment history.
Then go beyond the record:
- Match her story to the record. Number of employers and length of each job should line up with what she tells you.
- Call the current employer. Ask what she did daily, what she did well, and whether they'd hire her again.
- Ask her reason for leaving in her own words, then ask the employer separately.
- Test the real job. Ask how she'd handle a crying toddler, a fall risk with grandma, or a sick dog.
- Check the medical exam is done, because MOM needs it before the transfer.
What are the red flags when hiring a transfer maid?
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Many employers in a short time | Ask about each one. A family migrating is fine; a pattern of leaving after a few months is worth a hard look. |
| Her story differs from the employer's | Probe gently. Small differences are normal; a totally different reason is a warning. |
| Employer refuses to talk | Ask the agency why. Sometimes it's just a busy family, sometimes it isn't. |
| Permit expires in under 30 days | A direct transfer can't proceed until the current employer extends it. Plan the timing first. |
| Asked to pay her or the employer "under the table" | Walk away. Use the official MOM process and a licensed agency. |
Which type of maid should I hire?
Pick new if...
You can wait, have time to train, and want someone who learns your home's routine from scratch.
Pick transfer if...
You need help soon (new baby, ailing parent) and want to meet her before saying yes.
Pick ex-SG if...
You want Singapore experience with a checkable record and can wait a few weeks for her flight.
New, transfer or ex-Singapore, see them all in one place.
Filter helpers from agencies across Singapore by type, nationality and experience.
Browse SearchmaidP.S. "Fresh or transfer?" is a bit like "HDB or condo?"... everyone has a strong opinion, and the right answer still depends on your own family. Whatever. Meet a few, check their records, then trust your gut.
