When Should I Cancel My Maid's Work Permit (WP) in Singapore?

At a Glance

Cancel your helper's Work Permit within 1 week after her last day of work.
If she has already left Singapore for good, cancel within 1 week of her departure date.
Levy is charged until 1 day before the cancellation date.
Her flight home must be within 2 weeks of the cancellation, and the employer pays the air ticket with check-in luggage.
She shows the Special Pass and a valid passport at immigration when she leaves.
Transferring her to a new employer means no manual cancellation: MOM cancels the old permit when the new one is issued.

Friends, every helper's contract ends some day.

And then comes the question we get asked a lot... do I cancel her Work Permit before she flies, or after?

I used to think you just book the flight and wave goodbye at Changi. There is a bit more paperwork than that (MOM likes its forms), so here is the order that keeps you out of trouble.

When must I cancel my maid's Work Permit in Singapore?

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

Situation	Cancellation deadline (MOM)
Employment has ended, helper still in Singapore	Within 1 week after her last day of work
Helper has left Singapore and will not return to work for you	Within 1 week from her departure date
Work Permit has already expired	No cancellation needed. If she is still in Singapore, request a Special Pass so she does not overstay
Transferring her to a new employer	No manual cancellation. It is cancelled automatically once the new employer's Work Permit is issued

Source: MOM, Cancel a Work Permit for an MDW, checked 15 Oct 2026.

Should I cancel the Work Permit before or after my helper flies home?

Cancellation is immediate, and from that moment she cannot work for you, even while she waits for her flight.

Her flight must also be within 2 weeks of the cancellation. So many employers cancel close to the flight date, often a day or two before, once the ticket is booked.

Cancel before she flies

Print the Special Pass and give it to her. She shows it with her passport at immigration. She must leave before the Special Pass expires.

She leaves first

If she has left and will not come back to work for you, cancel within 1 week of her departure date.

What must I do before cancelling my helper's Work Permit?

Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.

Task	What MOM asks
Settle what you owe	Settle all outstanding employment issues she may raise, including salary
Check her passport	Make sure it is valid
Agree in writing	Before buying the ticket: transit plan (connecting flights, layover hours) and the allowance she needs during transit
Buy the ticket	Employer pays. Include check-in luggage and connecting transport to the international port of entry nearest her hometown
Get it acknowledged	Ask her to acknowledge the transport payment in writing, to avoid disputes

Source: MOM, Sending an MDW home, checked 15 Oct 2026.

Our tip: pay her final salary by bank transfer. The record speaks for you later if anyone asks.

How do I cancel my maid's Work Permit online?

Use MOM's FDW eService. The employer, sponsor or employment agent can cancel.

Cancel

Cancellation takes effect at once. Flying her somewhere other than home? Declare it on the cancellation page.

Print the Special Pass

Give it to her. She shows it with her passport at immigration.

Sources: MOM cancellation page and MOM FAQ on other destinations, checked 15 Oct 2026.

When does the maid levy stop after cancellation?

1 day

before cancellation

Levy is charged up to this day. Each extra day you wait is another day of levy.

Transfer

date counts

If she moves to a new employer, you pay levy until the new Work Permit is issued, even if she waits at the agency.

1 week

to bond discharge

The S$5,000 security bond is usually discharged about 1 week after she departs, if all conditions are met.

What if my helper misses her flight after I cancel the Work Permit?

Log in to WPOL and change her departure date.
Extend her Special Pass in the same place, so she stays legal.
Book the new flight inside the allowed window. (Source: MOM FAQ, checked 15 Oct 2026.)

Can I transfer my maid to a new employer instead of cancelling?

Yes. If she wants to keep working in Singapore, a transfer saves her a trip home and saves the next family a fresh search.

The new employer requests your consent through the FDW eService. You get an email, then log in to approve.
The new employer applies for her Work Permit and issues it on the agreed transfer date.
Your Work Permit is then cancelled automatically and your levy billing stops.
Cut the old Work Permit card in half and discard it.
Your security bond is discharged 1 week after she starts with the new employer.

Source: MOM, Transfer an MDW directly to a new employer, checked 15 Oct 2026.

What should I do on departure day and after?

Many employers send their helper to the airport to see her off. If you cannot, some agencies offer a runner service for a fee.
Keep copies of payslips, bank transfers, the written transit agreement and her ticket acknowledgement.
Watch for the security bond discharge. MOM's guide on ending employment has the full checklist.

Looking for your next helper?

Browse helpers listed by Singapore-registered maid agencies, all in one place.

Browse Searchmaid

So, Friends... cancel within the week, book the flight within two, and print that Special Pass.

She goes home with her papers in order, and you get your bond back.

P.S. Print two copies of the Special Pass. Printers have a talent for jamming on flight day.

This guide is general information, checked against MOM pages on 15 Oct 2026. Rules change, so check mom.gov.sg before you act.