Confinement nanny work permit in Singapore: who qualifies, the levy, insurance and how to apply

The confinement nanny work permit is a short-term Work Permit from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for a Malaysian confinement nanny, usually issued for up to 16 weeks from your baby's birth. It isn't renewable. You qualify if you're 21 or older and have a newborn under 4 months old, and the nanny must be Malaysian and at least 23 and under 70 when you apply. You or an employment agent apply online from 4 weeks before your due date, pay $35 per application, and MOM usually decides within a week. You then pay a monthly levy of $60 if your baby is a Singapore citizen, or $300 if not, and buy medical insurance for her. Every rule here comes from MOM's own pages, read on 11 October 2026; Fussy Mama doesn't arrange permits.

The work permit at a glance

Who can apply

You, the employer, must be at least 21 when you apply and have a newborn under 4 months old. You also agree to pay the monthly levy. The nanny must be Malaysian, aged at least 23 and below 70 at the time of the application, and must work at your home. She can't work for other employers or in a different job from the one on her permit.

MOM's page covers Malaysian nannies only. If you'd rather not deal with a permit at all, a Singaporean or PR confinement nanny doesn't need one; our guide to hiring a confinement nanny covers both routes.

When to apply: the 16-week clock

You can apply from 4 weeks before your expected delivery date up to 16 weeks after the birth. The permit's 16 weeks run from your baby's date of birth, not from the day the nanny starts, so applying after the birth gives you a shorter permit. If you need help beyond 16 weeks after the birth, MOM says to apply for a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker instead.

Applying 3 to 4 weeks before your due date gives MOM its usual week to process and leaves time for her travel. Our due date calculator shows when that window opens.

How to apply, step by step

1. Get the nanny's written consent to work for you.
2. Apply online as the employer, or appoint an employment agent to apply for you.
3. Pay the $35 application fee by Visa, Mastercard or PayNow.
4. Wait for the outcome, usually within 1 week. If she needs to start quickly, give her start date in the application.
5. Print the in-principle approval (IPA) letter. She shows it to the immigration officer when she arrives.
6. Tell MOM her start date before she begins work. She gets a Work Permit letter instead of a card, because the job is short.

Her salary as a confinement nanny is taxable. MOM's page links to IRAS for the details.

Levy and costs

The levy depends on your baby's citizenship: $60 a month for a Singapore citizen, $300 a month otherwise. If you already have a helper registered under your name, MOM combines both levies into one monthly GIRO deduction. MOM's helper levy page says each month's levy is due by the 17th of the following month and that part months are charged at a daily rate. Our maid levy calculator helps you budget it.

Her wage is agreed between you and her (or the agency), and MOM sets no minimum. Our infant care vs nanny cost tool compares the bigger picture.

Insurance, medical exam and security bond

Medical insurance is required. MOM's confinement nanny page states a minimum of $15,000, rising to $60,000 a year for policies starting on or after 1 July 2023, which covers any policy you buy now. MOM's insurance page says this enhanced cover applies to confinement nannies too, with an annual claim limit of at least $60,000 and a co-payment of 75% by insurers and 25% by employers.

A medical exam is optional, but MOM suggests you may want one because she'll be in close contact with your newborn. MOM's confinement nanny pages don't mention a security bond, and its helper page says the $5,000 bond isn't needed for Malaysian helpers.

Extending her stay

She enters Singapore on a single-entry visit pass for a fixed period. If it runs out before the permit ends, you apply to extend it through MOM by uploading her documents, including her SG Arrival Card, and MOM emails the outcome within 2 weeks. An extension fee of $40 applies once the visit pass reaches 90 days or more from her entry.

Cancelling the permit

• Cancel within 1 week of the day she leaves Singapore. Cancellation is immediate.
• The levy stops 1 day before the cancellation date.
• You don't need to cancel a permit that has already expired.
• She must leave Singapore before her visit pass expires.

Employing a foreigner without a valid work pass is an offence. For helpers, MOM's rules set fines of $5,000 to $30,000, up to a year in jail, or both, so keep track of her permit and pass dates.

Planning the weeks after birth? Our confinement guide covers what the month involves, our confinement centres guide covers the main alternative, and our guide to infant care, helpers or grandparents covers what comes after the 16 weeks.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a confinement nanny work permit valid?

Up to 16 weeks from your baby's date of birth, and it can't be renewed. If you apply after the birth, the permit is shorter.

How much is the levy for a confinement nanny?

$60 a month if your newborn is a Singapore citizen, or $300 a month if not, on MOM's page read on 11 October 2026.

Can I hire a confinement nanny from a country other than Malaysia?

Not on this permit. MOM's confinement nanny Work Permit covers Malaysians only.

When can I apply for the work permit?

From 4 weeks before your expected delivery date up to 16 weeks after the birth. MOM usually processes it within a week.

Do I need a security bond or medical check-up for a confinement nanny?

MOM's confinement nanny pages don't mention a security bond, and Malaysian helpers are exempt from the helper bond. A medical exam is optional, though MOM suggests considering one. Medical insurance is required.