The day your new helper lands in Singapore, a short but important sequence of steps begins — and getting them right keeps everything legal and gets her settled quickly. Whether you hired through an agency (who'll handle much of this) or did it yourself, here's exactly what happens from the airport to the moment she's holding her Work Permit card. To prepare your home before she arrives, pair this with our first-time employer checklist.
Before She Flies: The IPA
Once MOM approves the Work Permit application, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter is issued. This is the document that allows her to enter Singapore. A copy should reach her in her home country — it confirms her job, employer, and basic terms in her own language. Make sure she travels with it; she'll need it on arrival.
Arrival Day: Airport Pickup
- Meeting her: If you used an agency, they often handle the airport pickup and initial processing. If you're doing it yourself, be there to meet her — arriving alone in a new country is daunting.
- First essentials: A local SIM or your home WiFi so she can tell her family she landed safely (see our WiFi guide), a meal, and a chance to rest. First impressions of kindness matter.
- Her room: Have her space ready so she can settle in immediately (see our helper room setup guide).
The Medical Examination
Within 2 weeks of arrival, she must complete a full medical examination at an MOM-approved clinic. This is required before the Work Permit can be issued, and it also covers the first 6-monthly medical screening. As the employer, you arrange and pay for it. Results go to MOM as part of issuing the permit.
The Settling-In Programme (SIP)
If this is her first time working as a helper in Singapore, she must attend the Settling-In Programme (SIP) — a one-day course — within 3 working days of arrival, and before she starts work. It costs around S$75 and covers:
- Safety — including the rules on working at heights (cleaning windows in a high-rise is heavily restricted, for good reason)
- Adjusting to living and working in Singapore
- Managing relationships with the employer and stress
- Her rights, and where to get help
The SIP exists to keep her safe and set her up well. Treat it as a genuine orientation, not a box to tick — helpers who understand the safety rules from day one are far less likely to have accidents.
Thumbprinting & the Work Permit Card
After the medical and SIP, the final step is registration: she has her fingerprints and photo taken for MOM, and the Work Permit card is then produced (usually issued within about a week). She should carry her own Work Permit card — it's her proof of legal status. The card belongs with her, not locked in your drawer (more on that in our note on holding documents).
The First 14 Days: A Quick Admin Checklist
- She arrives with her IPA letter
- Medical examination booked and completed (within 2 weeks)
- Settling-In Programme attended (first-timers, within 3 working days, before work starts)
- Insurance (medical + personal accident) active from day one
- Thumbprint/photo registration done
- Work Permit card issued and given to her to keep
- Onboarding at home begun (see our first week onboarding guide)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the process when a new maid arrives in Singapore?
After the Work Permit is approved, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) lets her enter Singapore. On arrival she does a medical examination within 2 weeks, attends the one-day Settling-In Programme within 3 working days if she's a first-timer, and then completes thumbprint and photo registration so her Work Permit card can be issued — usually within about a week. Agencies often handle much of this for you.
What is the Settling-In Programme (SIP)?
The Settling-In Programme is a mandatory one-day course for first-time foreign domestic workers in Singapore, attended within 3 working days of arrival and before starting work. It costs around S$75 and covers safety (including the rules on working at heights), adjusting to life and work in Singapore, relationship and stress management, and where to get help. It's designed to keep her safe and well-oriented.
When does the new helper do her medical exam?
She must complete a full medical examination at an MOM-approved clinic within 2 weeks of arriving in Singapore. It's required before her Work Permit can be issued and also serves as her first 6-monthly medical screening. The employer arranges and pays for it.
When does my helper get her Work Permit card?
After the medical and (for first-timers) the Settling-In Programme, she completes fingerprint and photo registration with MOM, and the Work Permit card is typically issued within about a week. She should carry her own card as proof of her legal status to work.
How HelperMate Helps
Those first two weeks have a lot of moving parts — HelperMate keeps them organised:
- A clear checklist for the medical, SIP, insurance, and card so nothing is missed
- 10-language support so her very first instructions are understood from day one
- Daily routines ready to share the moment onboarding begins
Start her arrival organised and welcoming, and the next two years start on the right foot.
Download HelperMate on Google Play → | App Store →
This guide reflects MOM procedures and common practice as of 2026. Always check current MOM guidance, as timelines and requirements can change. This article is for informational purposes only.