Hiring a confinement nanny in Singapore: MOM's rules, permit and costs
MOM's Work Permit for a confinement nanny is only for Malaysians. MOM says you can apply from 4 weeks before the expected delivery date until 16 weeks after the birth. The permit lasts at most 16 weeks from the child's date of birth and cannot be renewed. It costs S$35, and the levy is S$60 a month for a Singapore citizen newborn or S$300 otherwise. Employing a foreigner without a valid work pass is a criminal offence.
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026
This page sets out MOM's rules for the permit. It does not say whether to hire a confinement nanny. For your own and your baby's health after the birth, see HealthHub, your polyclinic or KKH. In an emergency, call 995.
Who can hire, and who can be hired
| Who or what | MOM's rule |
|---|---|
| The employer | Aged 21 or over when applying, with a newborn under 4 months old. Must get the Work Permit and pay the monthly levy. |
| The nanny | Malaysian, aged at least 23 and below 70 when you apply. She works at your home. |
| Salary | No minimum salary. MOM says her salary is taxable in Singapore (see IRAS). |
| Other nationalities | This permit is only for Malaysians. MOM's page for helpers (migrant domestic workers) has different rules; see hiring a helper. |
Sources: MOM eligibility (updated 20 August 2026) and MOM key facts. MOM also says you and the nanny are bound by the Work Permit conditions. For example, she cannot work for other employers.
The 16-week window
- When you can apply: MOM says from 4 weeks before the expected date of delivery, up to 16 weeks after the birth. "Beyond that, you should apply for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker instead."
- How long it lasts: at most 16 weeks from the child's date of birth. The count starts at the birth, not when she starts work. MOM says "If you apply after your child is born, the validity will be shorter." It cannot be renewed.
- Her stay: MOM says she gets a single-entry visit pass at immigration. If it doesn't cover the job, you ask MOM to extend her stay before it expires. MOM replies within 2 weeks, and charges S$40 once her stay adds up to 90 days or more.
How to apply, and how long it takes
- Get the nanny's written consent.
- Apply on MOM's FDW eService, yourself or through an employment agency. Pay S$35. MOM says it takes "within 1 week, unless more information is required".
- Tell MOM her start date, in the application or afterwards on the FDW eService. MOM says she can't work for you until you have.
- She shows the in-principle approval letter at immigration. MOM says she gets a Work Permit letter, not a card.
- When the job ends, MOM says to cancel the permit within 1 week of her leaving Singapore, unless it has already expired. She must leave before her visit pass expires.
Levy, insurance and the published costs
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work Permit application | S$35 |
| Levy, Singapore citizen newborn | S$60 a month |
| Levy, newborn not a citizen | S$300 a month |
| Extending her stay | S$40, once her stay reaches 90 days or more |
MOM says that if you also employ a helper, the levies are combined in one GIRO deduction. On insurance, MOM's nanny page says medical insurance of at least S$60,000 a year applies to policies starting on or after 1 July 2023. MOM's insurance page says its current minimum applies to all helpers "including confinement nannies". MOM says a medical examination for the nanny is optional.
We found no official or neutral source for typical confinement nanny fees, only agencies' own price pages, so we don't give a figure.
Hiring without a permit
MOM says it is a criminal offence for "Employers to employ foreigners without a valid work pass". MOM lists the penalty under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act: a fine of S$5,000 to S$30,000, or up to 12 months in jail, or both. For a repeat conviction, MOM says jail is mandatory and the fine is S$10,000 to S$30,000.
Dates set by MOM's rules, for a baby due on 15 June 2027
This is an example, not advice. It shows the dates MOM's rules fix, for a baby born on the due date. If the baby comes earlier or later, the 16 weeks count from the actual birth.
| When | What the source says |
|---|---|
| From 18 May 2027 | Confinement nanny Work Permit applications open (4 weeks before the due date). Source: MOM |
| 15 June 2027 | Birth on the due date, in this example. For a parent employer with a helper, the levy concession for a Singapore citizen child starts automatically from this date. Source: MOM |
| 5 October 2027 | 16 weeks after the birth: the latest end of any confinement nanny Work Permit, and the last day to apply for one. After this MOM says to apply for a helper's Work Permit instead. Source: MOM |
For your own due date or birth date, the free tool shows the confinement nanny window with your other payments and deadlines.
Confinement centres and confinement food delivery are not covered here. We found no official licensing scheme for confinement centres.
Hiring a helper when you have a baby · Planning parental leave between you · Deadlines after your baby is born
Not yet confirmed
These details were not published on the official pages when we checked them on 29 September 2026. We will update this page when they are.
- Typical confinement nanny fees. We found only agencies' own price pages, not an official or neutral source.
- Whether the S$60 concession applies to a helper and a confinement nanny at the same time for the same child. MOM's helper page allows 1 helper per eligible person; its nanny page gives S$60 for a citizen newborn.
- Whether MOM's measles immunity rule for helpers also applies to confinement nannies. MOM's announcement mentions only migrant domestic workers.
- Whether confinement centres need a licence. We found no official licensing scheme; they are outside this page.
Sources
- MOM: Confinement nanny key facts
- MOM: Confinement nanny eligibility
- MOM: Apply for a confinement nanny's Work Permit
- MOM: Insurance requirements
- MOM: Extend a confinement nanny's stay
- MOM: Cancel a confinement nanny's Work Permit
- MOM: Employment of Foreign Manpower Act
- MOM: Levy concession
Checked against official sources on 29 September 2026
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