Planning and readiness
The time between choosing a helper and her starting work depends on the hiring route (overseas or transfer), source-country requirements, MOM application processing, travel, medical and settling-in steps. There is no responsible single number that fits every placement. Use the stage-by-stage board below to track your own candidate's progress against actual confirmations rather than relying on an estimate.
Tell Apex your household duties, preferred nationality and target start date. Apex explains which stages apply to the actual candidate and route.
Biodata is hosted on SearchMaid and may require a login. You can request a shortlist directly on WhatsApp.
By APEX Maids Agency Pte. Ltd. · MOM EA Licence 25C3180 · UEN 202547196H. Based in Jurong West and serving households across Singapore. Our website is apexmaids.sg and our phone is 8405 6661.
Use this board to record general progress as each stage is confirmed. Do not enter names, passport or FIN numbers, addresses or health information. The stages apply to overseas and transfer routes for Indonesian and Filipino helpers, and to other nationalities with appropriate adjustments. Columns are left blank: fill them for the actual candidate.
| Stage | Who confirms | Evidence / status | Next action / date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shortlist, interview and worker consent | Employer and agency | ________________ | ________________ |
| Confirm the hiring route | Agency | ________________ | ________________ |
| Responsible agency or authority for each step | Agency | ________________ | ________________ |
| MOM Work Permit application and IPA | MOM (via agency or employer) | ________________ | ________________ |
| Applicable source-country checks | Source-country authority / agency | ________________ | ________________ |
| Travel and arrival | Agency and employer | ________________ | ________________ |
| Medical examination | Registered clinic | ________________ | ________________ |
| Settling-in Programme (if first-time helper) | SIP provider | ________________ | ________________ |
| Work Permit issuance | MOM | ________________ | ________________ |
| Household handover | Employer | ________________ | ________________ |
Swipe sideways on a phone to read the remaining columns.
MOM states that FDW eService applications are usually processed within one week unless more information is needed. These are application processing windows, not total placement timelines. Source-country processing, matching, travel and other steps add time.
SIP attendance alone does not constitute a work permission. The Work Permit must be issued. Check the current official process for full conditions.
A transfer helper already in Singapore follows a different process. The release arrangements, transfer consent, new Work Permit application and any source-country documentation triggered by the change of employer each take time. MOM publishes the employer-to-employer transfer process; an agency-facilitated transfer follows its applicable MOM route. Neither comes with a fixed guarantee of days.
Indonesian and Filipino helpers may have different source-country requirements. For Filipino helpers, the Philippine contract verification and OEC process is separate from the MOM application: see the contract verification guide. For an Indonesian candidate, ask the agency to identify and confirm the applicable source-country steps for that candidate.
The total calendar time depends on whether steps can run in parallel or must be sequential. Ask the agency to identify which steps are currently outstanding and which can overlap.
Source check: 20 October 2026. MOM Work Permit application and issuance (eService processing, medical, SIP and permit issuance windows). MOM Settling-in Programme. MOM transfer process. Check the current official process for full conditions; processing times and requirements may change.
Track actual confirmations stage by stage, from selecting a candidate to completing the applicable hiring requirements.
Questions
There is no single answer. The total depends on the hiring route (overseas or transfer), MOM application processing, source-country requirements, travel, medical and settling-in steps. Track each stage against its own confirmation rather than relying on a fixed number of days.
Not necessarily. A first-time helper must attend the Settling-in Programme within seven days of arrival, excluding Sundays and public holidays; attendance on the arrival day is not allowed. Complete SIP before work starts and satisfy the other MOM conditions. The medical examination is due within 14 days; the employer must get the Work Permit issued within two weeks, subject to requirements.
A transfer helper avoids overseas travel, but the release arrangements, transfer consent, new Work Permit application and any source-country documentation still take time. Neither route comes with a fixed guarantee.
Both nationalities need the applicable MOM permission, with different processes for overseas hiring and transfers. Source-country requirements can also differ. Filipino helpers have a separate Philippine contract verification and OEC process. Confirm the applicable steps for the actual candidate and route.
Talk to us
Tell us your preferred nationality, route and target start date. We explain which stages apply and the expected next checkpoints.
