The letter from MOM arrives, and suddenly there are a dozen small questions. Which clinic? Do you need to book? What do you bring? Does she need a chest X-ray? Do you have to collect the report afterwards?
None of this is complicated, but almost nobody explains it in order. Here is the 6-monthly medical examination (6ME), step by step, from the letter to the result.
First: What the 6ME Actually Is
Every six months, your helper goes for a short medical screening. It is a condition of her Work Permit, and you pay for it, along with any medical costs that come out of it.
There is one exception worth knowing: MOM does not require a 6ME for helpers aged 50 and above.
Step 1: The Letter Arrives
When her 6ME is due, MOM posts you a notification letter and a 6ME form. This is the form clinics ask you to bring when they say "please share the 6ME".
If the letter never arrived or you have lost it, you do not need to wait for another one. Log in to MOM's Work Permit eServices with Singpass and print a duplicate.
You can also check her last 6ME date, and whether she is due, in the FDW eService at any time.
Step 2: Choose a Clinic
MOM's rule is simply that the 6ME must be done in a clinic. You are not assigned one.
In practice, employers usually pick a clinic close to home that already does 6MEs regularly. Call ahead and ask two things: whether they do helper 6MEs, and whether you need an appointment. Some chains publish a price list online; others simply ask you to bring the form.
Expect to pay roughly S$30 to S$60. MOM does not set the price, so it varies by clinic.
Step 3: What She Is Tested For
This is where most of the confusion sits, because not every test happens every time.
| Test | How often |
|---|---|
| Pregnancy | Every 6 months |
| VDRL (syphilis) | Every 6 months |
| HIV | Every 2 years |
| Tuberculosis | Once, after 2 years in Singapore |
| BMI and visible signs of abuse | Checked at the exam |
So no, she does not need a chest X-ray at every 6ME. The tuberculosis screening is a one-time check at the two-year mark, not a six-monthly one.
The BMI and abuse check is worth noticing too. The 6ME is partly there to protect her. If her weight has changed a lot, the clinic may ask about it, and that is exactly the point of the check.
Step 4: On the Day
Bring your helper, the 6ME form, and her Work Permit card.
You can take her to the clinic, but you should not be in the room during the examination. MOM is explicit about this: employers or their representatives should not be present. Wait outside.
Step 5: The Results
You do not collect or submit the report. The clinic submits the results to MOM directly through MOM's Medical Examination portal.
MOM then emails you, usually by the next working day after the clinic submits. You can view the result in the FDW eService.
If you have heard nothing within three weeks of the exam, call the clinic and check that they submitted it.
If the Result Is Not Clear
If your helper does not pass the 6ME, MOM's instruction is that you must cancel her Work Permit and send her home.
This is rare, and it is a difficult moment for both of you. If a result comes back unclear, speak to the clinic doctor before doing anything else, so you understand exactly what was found.
If You Miss the Deadline
This is the one that genuinely causes trouble. If she misses her 6ME on time, her Work Permit is revoked.
If you want to keep employing her, contact MOM quickly, either by calling 6438 5122 or through MOM's online enquiry form. If you do not, you will need to send her home immediately, and an overstaying fine may apply.
It falls due four times across a two-year contract, which is exactly why it slips. The simplest protection is a reminder set the day she arrives, not the day the letter comes.
A Quick Checklist
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Letter arrives | Check the due date, keep the 6ME form |
| Letter missing | Print a duplicate in Work Permit eServices |
| Before the day | Pick a clinic, call to confirm and book if needed |
| On the day | Bring her, the form and her Work Permit card, wait outside |
| Within 3 weeks | Check the result email, or call the clinic |
| Always | Set the next reminder six months ahead |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 6ME test for in Singapore?
Pregnancy and VDRL (syphilis) every six months, HIV every two years, and tuberculosis once after two years in Singapore. The clinic also checks her BMI and looks for visible signs of abuse.
Does my helper need a chest X-ray for every 6ME?
No. MOM requires tuberculosis screening only once, after your helper has been in Singapore for two years. It is not part of every six-monthly check.
Which clinic should I use for my helper's 6ME?
MOM only requires that the 6ME is done in a clinic, and does not assign one. Most employers choose a nearby clinic that regularly does helper 6MEs and call ahead to confirm and book.
Do I need to submit my helper's 6ME report to MOM?
No. The clinic submits the results directly to MOM, and MOM emails you, usually by the next working day. If nothing arrives within three weeks, check with the clinic.
Can I go into the examination room with my helper?
No. MOM states that employers or their representatives should not be present during the examination. You can accompany her to the clinic and wait outside.
What happens if my helper misses her 6ME?
Her Work Permit is revoked. To keep employing her, contact MOM quickly by calling 6438 5122 or through MOM's online enquiry form. Otherwise you must send her home immediately, and an overstaying fine may apply.
How HelperMate Helps
The 6ME is easy to miss precisely because it only comes around twice a year. HelperMate keeps MOM deadlines like the 6-monthly medical, Work Permit renewal and passport expiry in one place, with reminders before they are due. Your helper sees the same household schedule in her own language, so the appointment is not a surprise for either of you.