- MOM requires a $5,000 security bond for every helper, except Malaysians.
- The bond is a banker's or insurer's guarantee, so you do not pay $5,000 cash upfront.
- You cannot ask your helper to pay for the bond.
- The bond must be in effect when she lands, or immigration will not let her enter. MOM takes up to 3 working days to process it.
- It can be forfeited if she goes missing, salary is late, or she is not sent home after her permit ends.
- It is usually discharged about 1 week after she leaves Singapore, once the permit is cancelled.
Friends, salary and levy are the costs everyone expects.
Then the agency mentions a $5,000 security bond, and first-time employers go a bit pale.
Relax... in most cases you never hand over $5,000 in cash. Here is how it actually works, based on MOM's own rules.
What Is the $5,000 Maid Security Bond?
MOM describes it as a binding pledge to pay the government if either you or your helper breaches the Work Permit conditions.
- Amount: $5,000 per helper you employ.
- Who must post it: the employer, for helpers of every nationality except Malaysian.
- Form: a banker's guarantee or an insurer's guarantee.
- Where to buy: any bank or insurance company.
- Who pays: you. Passing the cost to your helper is not allowed.
Banker's Guarantee or Insurance Guarantee: Which Is Simpler?
Both satisfy MOM. The difference is how you get it.
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Point | Insurer's guarantee | Banker's guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Usually bundled into your maid insurance package | Arranged separately with your bank |
| Cash upfront | No $5,000 deposit to MOM | Check your bank's terms |
| Sent to MOM by | Your insurer | Your bank |
MOM lets you buy the bond, medical insurance and personal accident insurance as a package or separately.
What Is a Waiver of Counter Indemnity in Maid Insurance?
When an insurer issues the guarantee, it pays MOM if the bond is forfeited.
A counter indemnity is the insurer's right to then recover that money from you.
When Must I Buy the Security Bond?
Before your helper arrives in Singapore. The order matters:
When Will the Security Bond Be Forfeited?
MOM lists these situations:
- You or your helper breaks any Work Permit or security bond condition.
- You do not pay her salary on time.
- You fail to send her home when her Work Permit is expired, revoked or cancelled.
- Your helper goes missing.
How Is the Security Bond Discharged When My Helper Leaves?
You are released from the bond only when all three are true:
Swipe left or right to see the full table on mobile.
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Permit cancelled | You have cancelled her Work Permit |
| She went home | Your helper has returned to her home country |
| No breach | You did not breach any security bond condition |
The bond is usually discharged one week after she leaves Singapore, and MOM notifies you by post.
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Source: MOM, Security bond requirements for MDWs (last updated 2 February 2026). Searchmaid is not an insurer or licensed financial adviser. This is general information, not advice. Policy terms prevail.
P.S. The $5,000 that made you go pale at the start mostly lives on paper... as long as salary goes out on time and the flight home is booked when her permit ends.
