If you are looking to hire a Filipino maid in Singapore, you probably want to know two things first: what she will cost, and how to find one you can trust.
Filipino helpers are one of the most requested nationalities in Singapore, so plenty of families are weighing the same questions you are.
The hiring can feel confusing the first time, with salaries, agency fees, MOM rules, and the choice between using an agency or hiring direct.
This guide lays it all out step by step, from what a Filipino maid agency charges to the full hiring process, so you know what to expect before you commit.
Whether this is your first helper or your fourth, you will find clear, current answers here.
Families pick Filipino helpers for a few reasons, but one sits above the rest: English.
It is the single biggest thing that makes daily life with a helper easier, and it shapes everything from childcare to elderly care.
English is part of everyday life in the Philippines, taught in schools and used at work, so most Filipino helpers arrive already comfortable speaking it.
For families with school-age children, that is a real advantage.
An English-speaking Filipino helper in Singapore can read to young children, help with simple homework, and explain things clearly.
For busy working parents, a helper who communicates easily with the kids takes a lot of daily stress off everyone.
A Filipino maid for elderly care is the second big reason families choose this nationality.
Looking after an ageing parent needs patience, clear communication, and the ability to follow medical instructions correctly.
A carer who cannot communicate well is a safety risk, and this is where Filipino helpers stand out.
They can take and pass on medical instructions, flag changes in symptoms or behaviour, and build genuine rapport with elderly family members, many of whom speak English or some dialect themselves.
Many Filipino helpers arrive with real domestic experience, whether from earlier postings in Singapore, Hong Kong or the Middle East, or from training back home.
Some hold caregiving or first-aid certificates.
The Philippines also runs one of the more structured overseas worker systems in the region, so helpers hired through proper channels come with documented work histories and health clearances.
For a first-time employer, that means less guessing about who is actually walking through your door.
There are two parts to the cost: the one-time amount to bring her in, and the monthly cost to keep her employed.
The minimum starting salary for a Filipino helper in Singapore is usually S$650 to S$750 a month.
This floor is set by the Philippine Embassy in Singapore for its citizens, which is why Filipino salaries run a little higher than most other nationalities.
A helper with no prior experience usually starts at the S$650 baseline.
One with experience in Singapore or abroad typically asks for S$750 or more.
Certificates in caregiving, infant care, nursing or cooking, or a larger household with young children or elderly to care for, will push the figure higher.
The final salary is agreed between you and the helper and declared to MOM.
On top of salary, every employer pays the monthly maid levy to MOM.
The standard levy is S$300 a month.
It drops to S$60 if you qualify for the concession, which covers households with a child under 16, an elderly person aged 67 or above, or a family member with disabilities.
The levy is paid by you, not taken from her salary, so check if you qualify before you budget for the full S$300.
Bringing a new Filipino helper in comes with a set of one-time costs that catch first-timers by surprise.
The agency fee is the biggest, usually S$1,000 to S$2,000 depending on the agency and what is included.
Filipino agency fees tend to run higher than other nationalities, because Filipino helpers cannot be charged placement-fee loans, so more of the cost sits with you upfront.
You will also need a S$5,000 security bond, almost always covered through an insurer as a Letter of Guarantee for a small annual premium rather than paid in cash.
Mandatory FDW insurance runs about S$200 to S$400 a year, the medical check on arrival is around S$80 to S$100, and the Settling-In Programme for first-timers is about S$75.
The work permit costs S$70 in total, and airfare from the Philippines is usually folded into the agency fee.
There are also small Philippine government fees, since every Filipino helper is deployed through the Philippine system: contract verification at the Philippine Embassy, OWWA membership and the Overseas Employment Certificate, which together come to roughly S$60 to S$120 and are usually handled by the agency.
The table below sums up every cost, one-time and monthly.
|
Cost item |
Typical amount (SGD) |
|
Filipino maid salary |
From S$650/month, experienced from S$750 |
|
Maid levy |
S$300/month, or S$60 with concession |
|
Agency fee (one-time) |
S$1,000 to S$2,000 |
|
FDW insurance |
S$200 to S$400/year |
|
Security bond |
S$5,000 (usually covered in insurance) |
|
Work permit (application + issuance) |
S$70 |
|
Medical check |
S$80 to S$100 |
|
Settling-In Programme (SIP) |
S$75 |
|
Philippine govt fees (OWWA, OEC) |
~S$60 to S$120 |
|
Estimated upfront cost |
S$1,500 to S$3,500 |
Put together, here is what most families actually spend.
Upfront, to bring a Filipino helper in, budget S$1,500 to S$3,500 once the agency fee, work permit, medical and other one-time costs are added up.
Each month after that, most homes spend S$1,150 to S$1,550 in total, covering her salary plus around S$500 to S$700 for food, transport such as an EZ-Link card, and daily expenses.
The Philippines has a very strict law to protect their helpers.
This makes hiring them uniquely different compared to hiring the Indonesians, Burmese and Indians.Here is a fair look at what each one actually involves.
A licensed agency does the whole job for you.
They source and vet candidates, handle the MOM work permit, arrange insurance and the security bond, organise the Settling-In Programme, and usually give you a free replacement if the match does not work out within a set period.
You pay more upfront, but you are buying time, fewer mistakes, and a safety net.
For a first-timer who has never dealt with MOM, that is usually worth the premium.
A good agency also steps in if problems come up later, giving both you and the helper a structured way to sort things out in the early months.
Direct hire is legal, but the name is misleading, especially for a helper coming from the Philippines.
The Philippines requires every overseas worker to go through its official system, so to bring a Filipino helper in from home you must use a Singapore agency accredited by the Philippine Migrant Workers Office (MWO) to handle the Philippine-side paperwork.
In other words, hiring from the Philippines is never truly agency-free.
What you skip is only the recruitment service: the agency processes a helper you have already found, rather than sourcing one for you.
You save on the recruitment fee, but you take on the rest yourself, including the MOM In-Principle Approval, your own insurance and bond, and the Settling-In Programme.
If the paperwork goes wrong there is no agency to absorb it, and if the match fails there is no replacement.
|
|
Agency hire |
Direct hire |
|
Cost |
Higher upfront (agency fee) |
Lower upfront (no recruitment fee) |
|
Paperwork |
Agency handles everything |
You handle IPA, insurance, bond |
|
Candidate sourcing |
Agency sources and vets |
You identify the helper yourself |
|
Timeline |
Typically 4 to 8 weeks |
Typically ~6 weeks |
|
Replacement guarantee |
Usually included |
No guarantee |
|
Best for |
First-time employers |
Experienced employers with a known candidate |
Here is the part worth thinking about.
If your helper is coming from the Philippines, you have to pay an agency for the Philippine-side processing anyway, so the gap between direct hire and a full agency hire is smaller than it looks.
For a bit more in fees, a full agency hire adds the recruitment, the full paperwork, and a free replacement if the match does not work out.
For most first-time employers, that safety net is worth it.
Direct hire really only makes sense when you already know the helper, such as a transfer from a friend's household, and simply want to skip the recruitment fee for someone you have already found.
To hire a helper, you need to be a Singapore citizen, permanent resident, or a foreigner on an eligible pass, at least 21 years old, with no adverse records at MOM and enough income to support and house her.
Your helper must be female, between 23 and 50 years old, from an approved source country such as the Philippines, and have at least eight years of formal education.
She also needs a clean record and must be medically fit.
Here is the full process, from your first enquiry to her first day at home.
Enquire and get matched. Tell the agency what you need, and they will shortlist suitable Filipino helpers for you.
Interview your shortlist, by video call for helpers still overseas, or in person for transfer helpers already here.
Agree on the terms. Settle the salary, the weekly rest day and any benefits, with salary meeting the Philippine Embassy minimum of S$650.
Apply for the work permit. Once you choose your helper, the agency files the In-Principle Approval with MOM and handles the Philippine-side paperwork through an MWO-accredited agency.
Sort out the insurance. You need mandatory maid insurance, which also covers the S$5,000 security bond, so you do not put down the bond in cash.
She arrives and does her medical check. Every helper takes a medical examination within two weeks of arriving, around S$80 to S$100.
Complete the Settling-In Programme. First-time helpers attend the SIP within three working days of arrival, about S$75.
She starts work. Once the medical clears and the SIP is done, MOM issues the work permit and she can begin.
If speed and a lower upfront cost matter, a transfer helper already in Singapore is worth a serious look.
A Filipino transfer maid is a helper already working in Singapore who is moving to a new employer, either at the end of her contract or with her current employer's consent before it ends.
The advantages are practical.
There is no airfare and no overseas settling-in costs, and because she is already here, she can often start within days instead of weeks.
She also comes with a local track record you can check, and her English and household experience are already proven.
Transfer helpers usually ask for a higher salary for that experience, but with no airfare and a lower agency fee, the total upfront cost is often lower than a fresh overseas hire.
The process is simpler than an overseas hire.
The current employer cancels her existing work permit, and you apply for a new one for the same helper, which you can do yourself through MOM's FDW eService or hand to an agency.
This is also the one case where direct hire is genuinely simpler, since she is already in Singapore and there is no overseas deployment to arrange.
The Philippine Embassy still requires you to verify the new employment contract, but that is the main step left.
Always make sure the transfer is happening with her full knowledge and consent, and ask why she is leaving her current employer.
A quick conversation with the current employer, where possible, tells you more than any profile.
Not all agencies are the same, so it pays to check before you sign.
Every legitimate agency in Singapore must hold a valid Employment Agency licence from MOM.
Before you pay any deposit, look the agency up on MOM's Employment Agency Directory and confirm the licence is current.
While you are there, check its placement volume, transfer rates, demerit points etc.
An agency with no valid licence is operating illegally, so walk away.
Ask these directly, and watch how they answer, not just what they say:
What is your replacement policy, how many replacements, and within what time frame?
What exactly does the fee cover, including airfare and the Settling-In Programme?
Can I see the helper's full employment history and her last employer's contact?
Has she worked in Singapore before, and why did the last job end?
What happens if the work permit is rejected, and do you refund the fee?
A good agency answers clearly and without pressure, and never charges the helper a placement fee, which is illegal under MOM rules.
Vague answers, or a push to sign before you have the full picture, are red flags in themselves.
At SearchMaid, we believe that picking a good agency does not guarantee a good maid, because any single agency only shows you its own limited pool of helpers.
You could choose a great agency and still miss the right match, simply because she is sitting in another agency's pool.
That is why we built SearchMaid: instead of being stuck with one agency, you compare available Filipino helpers from over 100 MOM-licensed agencies in one place, and connect directly with the agency that has the right one.
Browse available Filipino helpers on SearchMaid and start with the widest choice, not the narrowest.
This is where the comparison actually happens.
Over 100 MOM-licensed agencies list their available Filipino helpers on SearchMaid, which gives you more than 2,000 profiles to look through in one place.
Each listing shows you what matters before you call: her experience, the languages she speaks, her caregiving background, her expected salary, and whether she is a fresh hire or a transfer already in Singapore.
You shortlist the helpers who fit your home, then deal with the agency behind them directly.
The agency handles the paperwork, the work permit, the bond, and the insurance, the same way it would if you had walked into its office.
Every agency listed here holds a valid Employment Agency licence from MOM.
If you want to check one yourself before you reach out, search the agency name at mom.gov.sg/ea-directory and confirm the licence is current.
Use the listings below to start comparing.
Filter by experience, by caregiving needs, or by transfer status, then reach out to the agency behind the helper you like.
A Filipino maid in Singapore costs about SGD 1,150 to 1,550 per month all in. This covers her salary of SGD 650 to 850, the monthly levy of SGD 300 (or SGD 60 with the concession), and around SGD 300 to 400 for food and daily upkeep. Bringing her in costs a separate SGD 1,500 to 3,500 upfront.
The minimum is about SGD 650 per month, set under Philippine government (DMW) rules for Filipino domestic workers deployed overseas. This floor is non-negotiable, so Singapore employers should budget from SGD 650 regardless of the agency or arrangement. A helper with experience in Singapore or abroad usually asks for SGD 750 or more.
A Filipino maid agency in Singapore charges about SGD 1,000 to 2,000 in placement fees. Fees for Filipino hires sit higher than other nationalities because there are no salary-deduction loan arrangements. Including the work permit, insurance, medical check, and Settling-In Programme, total upfront costs usually come to SGD 1,500 to 3,500.
It depends on the route. To bring a helper in from the Philippines, you still need a Singapore agency accredited by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) to clear the deployment, so that route is never fully agency-free. For a transfer helper already in Singapore, you can do the Work Permit transfer yourself through MOM, with contract verification at the Philippine Embassy.
Yes. English fluency is the main reason Singapore families choose Filipino helpers over other nationalities. The Philippines uses English as the medium of instruction in schools, so most Filipino maids arrive already comfortable speaking with children, elderly family members, and employers.
The monthly levy is SGD 300 at the standard rate. It drops to SGD 60 under the concession rate if your household has a child under 16, an elderly person aged 67 or older, or a person with disabilities. If you employ a second helper, the levy for the second helper is SGD 450 per month.
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SearchMaid - FAQ About Filipino Maid in Singapore
A Filipino maid in Singapore costs about SGD 1,150 to 1,550 per month all in. This covers her salary of SGD 650 to 850, the monthly levy of SGD 300 (or SGD 60 with the concession), and around SGD 300 to 400 for food and daily upkeep. Bringing her in costs a separate SGD 1,500 to 3,500 upfront.
The minimum is about SGD 650 per month, set under Philippine government (DMW) rules for Filipino domestic workers deployed overseas. This floor is non-negotiable, so Singapore employers should budget from SGD 650 regardless of the agency or arrangement. A helper with experience in Singapore or abroad usually asks for SGD 750 or more.
A Filipino maid agency in Singapore charges about SGD 1,000 to 2,000 in placement fees. Fees for Filipino hires sit higher than other nationalities because there are no salary-deduction loan arrangements. Including the work permit, insurance, medical check, and Settling-In Programme, total upfront costs usually come to SGD 1,500 to 3,500.
It depends on the route. To bring a helper in from the Philippines, you still need a Singapore agency accredited by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) to clear the deployment, so that route is never fully agency-free. For a transfer helper already in Singapore, you can do the Work Permit transfer yourself through MOM, with contract verification at the Philippine Embassy.
Yes. English fluency is the main reason Singapore families choose Filipino helpers over other nationalities. The Philippines uses English as the medium of instruction in schools, so most Filipino maids arrive already comfortable speaking with children, elderly family members, and employers.
The monthly levy is SGD 300 at the standard rate. It drops to SGD 60 under the concession rate if your household has a child under 16, an elderly person aged 67 or older, or a person with disabilities. If you employ a second helper, the levy for the second helper is SGD 450 per month.
