The Answer in 60 Seconds

Per the Ministry of Manpower (mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker/renew-a-work-permit), MOM sends a renewal letter approximately 8 weeks before the FDW's Work Permit expires. Before renewing, the employer must purchase (or extend) medical insurance with at least S$60,000 annual coverage, personal accident insurance with S$60,000 sum assured, and a S$5,000 security bond for non-Malaysian helpers. The insurer transmits these details to MOM (typically 1-3 working days), then the employer renews via MOM's FDW eService for a S$35 fee. Per MOM's 31 March 2023 press release, policies with a start date on or after 1 July 2025 must comply with Stage 2 enhancements: standardised exclusion clauses, age-differentiated premiums (split at age 50), and direct hospital reimbursement.

The Step-by-Step

Step 1 - Note your dates (8 weeks before expiry). Per MOM, the renewal letter is sent ~8 weeks pre-expiry. MOM says you can renew after you receive the letter, and if you need to renew earlier you can submit a request. Track the expiry date yourself; if the letter has not arrived, you can print a copy online.

Step 2 - Schedule the 6-monthly medical examination (6ME) if due. Page 2 of the renewal letter says whether your FDW needs a medical examination for the renewal; if she does, upload the doctor's signed form when you renew. Helpers under 50 must also go for a 6ME every 6 months; helpers aged 50 or above do not go for 6ME and only need a medical examination upon renewal.

Step 3 - Purchase the new insurance and security bond. Required coverage (per MOM):

  • Medical insurance: minimum S$60,000 annual claim limit (Stage 1 effective 1 July 2023). Sub-limits per disability/inpatient/day surgery must each be ≥ S$60,000.
  • Personal accident insurance: minimum S$60,000 sum assured.
  • Security bond: S$5,000 for non-Malaysian FDWs.

Stage 2 enhancements (policies starting on or after 1 July 2025): per MOM's 31 March 2023 press release, "Other enhancements (ie. standardisation of allowable exclusion clauses, age-differentiated premiums, and direct reimbursement by insurers) will be applied to policies on or after 1 July 2025." Practical effects:

  • Premiums are set in two age bands, 50 and below and above 50; MOM says premiums for helpers aged 50 or below will generally be lower than for older helpers. The exact uplift varies by insurer; obtain comparative quotes via your licensed adviser rather than relying on rule-of-thumb percentages.
  • All insurers now use a standardised list of allowable exclusion clauses - easier to compare like-for-like.
  • Once a claim is assessed as admissible, the insurer pays the hospital directly for the claimable portion, which reduces the cash you need to pay upfront.

Step 4 - Confirm the insurer transmits security bond and insurance details to MOM. Per Great Eastern's FDW renewal guide: "Upon successful application, [the insurer] will transmit the Insurance Guarantee Bond details (for non-Malaysian helper) to MOM within 2 working days." Income's guidance is similar (1-3 working days). Until transmission is complete, you cannot proceed with the Work Permit renewal in the FDW eService.

Step 5 - Renew the Work Permit on the FDW eService. Log in at mom.gov.sg/eservices using SingPass. MOM's FDW eService page says a renewal takes about 5 minutes. Pay the S$35 fee (Visa, Mastercard or PayNow). Outcome is typically immediate.

Step 6 - Print the Temporary Work Permit; check whether a new card is issued. Check the Temporary Work Permit: it states whether your helper keeps her existing card or gets a new one. A new card is delivered within 5 working days after registration or document verification. Two unsuccessful delivery attempts = pickup at MOM Services Centre.

Step 7 - Hand over the policy and explain it to your FDW. Under Stage 2, once a claim is assessed as admissible, the insurer pays the hospital directly for the claimable portion. Make sure your FDW knows the insurer's name and policy number.

Common Mistakes / What Goes Wrong

  1. Buying a 14-month policy when the WP is for 2 years. MOM expects continuous coverage for the entire WP period. A 26-month policy aligns with WP duration and avoids a renewal mid-employment.
  2. Letting the policy lapse for even one day. MOM treats this as non-compliance under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
  3. Skipping age-band repricing. For policies starting on or after 1 July 2025, premiums are set in two age bands, 50 and below and above 50, and MOM says premiums for helpers aged 50 or below will generally be lower than for older helpers. If you didn't rebudget, the renewal invoice may surprise you.
  4. Trying to pass the cost to the FDW. Prohibited under MOM rules. Don't deduct from salary.
  5. Forgetting the embassy bond. Some source countries (e.g., Philippines) require a separate embassy bond on top of the MOM bond. Check before WP renewal.

What This Means for Your Business

If your business runs a household component (e.g., live-in caregiver for a director's family) or you're a household employer, treat FDW insurance like any other regulated annual filing: calendar-it 90 days before expiry, run a 3-quote comparison, and don't pay above market. IPG's 2026 maid insurance guide says a basic MOM-compliant package for a 26-month Work Permit cycle "typically falls in the low hundreds of dollars"; since July 2025, premiums are quoted differently for helpers aged 50 or below and above 50.

The one risk that never goes away: under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, you remain ultimately liable for medical expenses above the policy limit. The S$60,000 minimum is now generous, but a complex hospitalisation can still exceed it. Consider whether enhanced limits make sense for your situation - your licensed adviser will price this against your risk appetite.

Questions to Ask Your Adviser

  1. Does the policy I'm being quoted comply with Stage 2 requirements (start date on or after 1 July 2025)?
  2. How does the insurer's direct payment to the hospital work, and which costs will I still pay myself?
  3. Is the security bond included in the package, and is bond-protect (reduces my S$5,000 exposure to S$250) added?
  4. How are pre-existing conditions handled? For policies starting on or after 1 July 2025, MOM's list of allowable exclusions lets insurers exclude them only within the first 12 months of employment under the same employer.
  5. If my helper will be above 50 at the next renewal, will she move into the higher age band, and by how much will the premium change?

Related Information

Published 3 May 2026. Source verified 3 May 2026.