How to Choose the Right Domestic Helper for Your Family

03 Nov 2026

Nov 3, 2026 · @Helper Junction

Quick answer

To choose the right domestic helper in Singapore, first list your family's real needs (childcare, elderly care, cooking, cleaning). Then shortlist helpers who meet MOM rules: female, aged 23 to below 50 for a new Work Permit, with at least 8 years of formal education. Finally, interview each candidate, check her references and documents, and choose on proven experience and fit, not price alone.

This guide walks through each step, with interview questions and a red-flags checklist.

Last updated: 3 November 2026

Step 1: What does your family actually need from a helper?

Start with your family's needs, not a helper profile. Most hiring mistakes happen because the employer wanted one thing and screened for another.

Write down your answers to these questions:

Main duty: Is it infant care, childcare, elderly care, cooking, or general housekeeping?
Household size: How many adults, children and pets live in the home?
Special care: Does anyone need help with mobility, feeding, or medication reminders?
Language: Which language must she speak with your children or elderly parents?
Food: Do you need someone who cooks a specific cuisine, or keeps a vegetarian, halal or other kitchen?
Rest day: Which day off works for your family? Helpers are entitled to a weekly rest day under MOM rules.
Accommodation: Can you provide a separate room, or what sleeping arrangement can you offer?

Pick one or two must-haves. Treat everything else as nice-to-have. A shorter list gets you better matches.

Step 2: Which helpers are eligible to work in Singapore?

A new helper must meet the Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) Work Permit rules. Check these before you shortlist anyone, so you don't waste time on a candidate who can't be approved.

Requirement
MOM rule
Sex
Female
Age (new Work Permit)
23 to below 50 (Malaysians: 23 to below 58). Over 50s can only renew, up to age 60
Education
At least 8 years of formal education, with a recognised certificate
Source country
An approved country, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia
Relationship
Must not be related to the employer
First-time helpers
Must attend the Settling-In Programme
Source: MOM: MDW eligibility

Employers have rules too. You must be at least 21 and not an undischarged bankrupt. First-time employers must complete the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) before applying. See MOM: employer requirements.

Step 3: How do you assess a helper's experience and skills?

To assess a helper's experience, judge what she has actually done, not what her profile says she can do. Match her track record to the must-haves from Step 1.

If you need

Look for

Ask her to describe

Infant care

Prior work with babies under 1 year
A typical day: feeding, sleep routine, bathing

Childcare

Experience with children of a similar age
How she handles a tantrum or homework time

Elderly care

Caregiving experience, ideally a caregiver course
Helping someone move, bathe, or take medication on time

Cooking

Cuisines she has cooked for past employers
Three dishes she cooks well, and how

Housekeeping

Experience in a home of a similar size
Her weekly cleaning routine

Transfer or new helper?

A transfer helper is already working in Singapore. She knows local routines and can usually start sooner, and you can speak to her current employer.
A first-time helper comes from overseas. She may need more training, and she must attend the Settling-In Programme before starting.

Neither is better by default. Choose based on how much time you have to train her.

Step 4: What questions should you ask in a helper interview?

The best interview questions ask for real examples from past jobs. Interview by video call if she is overseas. Keep it to about 30 minutes and let her talk.

About her experience

Tell me about your last job. What did a normal day look like?
Why did you leave, or why do you want to leave?
What part of the job did you find hardest, and how did you handle it?

About the role

Have you cared for a child (or elderly person) like ours before? What did you do?
What would you do if our child had a high fever and we couldn't be reached?
Which dishes can you cook without a recipe?

About fit and expectations

What do you expect from an employer?
How do you like to spend your rest day?
Do you have any health issues or family commitments we should know about?
What questions do you have for us?

Tip: Her questions for you show what she cares about. A helper who asks about the children or the household routine is usually thinking about the job, not just the salary.

Be honest about the workload, house rules and rest days. If expectations don't match at the start, the hire usually doesn't last.

Step 5: How do you check a helper's references and documents?

Check a helper's references and documents yourself before you commit. A 10-minute call with a past employer tells you more than any profile.

☐ Speak to a past or current employer. Ask what she did well, what she struggled with, and whether they would hire her again.
☐ See her passport. Check that her name and date of birth match her profile, and that she meets MOM's age rule.
☐ See her education certificate. MOM requires at least 8 years of formal education.
☐ For a transfer helper, confirm her current Work Permit and when her contract ends.
☐ Ask about her employment history. Look for unexplained gaps or many short jobs, and ask about them openly.
☐ Confirm her health. New helpers must pass a medical examination for the Work Permit.

If anyone avoids any of these checks, treat that as a warning sign.

Step 6: Should you hire directly or through an agency?

Both routes are legal in Singapore. The right choice depends on your time, budget and how much support you want.

Direct hiring

Through a licensed agency

Cost

Lower. No agency fee
Higher. Agency fee on top of MOM costs

Paperwork

You apply for the Work Permit, insurance and security bond yourself
The agency handles it

Choice

You search, shortlist and interview yourself
The agency shortlists for you

Time

More of your own time
Less of your own time

Support if it doesn't work out

Depends on your own arrangements
Often includes a replacement policy (check the terms)

Best for

Employers who are comfortable with MOM processes
First-time employers or busy families

On Helper Junction you can do either. Browse helper profiles and contact them directly, or work with a licensed agency. It's your choice.

What are the red flags when choosing a helper?

Walk away, or at least dig deeper, if you see any of these:

Vague answers about past jobs, or a story that changes between conversations
No contactable reference for someone who claims years of experience
Pressure to decide fast, or to pay before you have met or interviewed her
Documents that don't match, such as different names, ages or dates across her papers
Promises that sound too good, such as "can do everything" with no examples
Requests to skip MOM processes or to employ her on a different Work Permit. This is illegal

A good match is rarely the fastest one. Take an extra week now to save months of trouble later.

Frequently asked questions

What is the age requirement for a domestic helper in Singapore? For a new Work Permit, a helper must be aged 23 to below 50 (23 to below 58 for Malaysians). Helpers aged 50 and above can only renew their Work Permit, up to age 60.

Can I hire a domestic helper without an agency in Singapore? Yes. Direct hiring is legal. You apply for the Work Permit, buy the required insurance and security bond, and handle the paperwork yourself.

Is a transfer helper better than a new helper? Not always. A transfer helper knows Singapore routines and can start sooner. A new helper may need more training but can be a good fit if you have time to guide her.

What should I ask a domestic helper in an interview? Ask about her last job, why she left, how she handled a difficult situation, and what she expects from an employer. Ask for real examples, not yes-or-no answers.

How long does it take to hire a domestic helper? It depends on whether she is a transfer or a new helper, and how fast documents are ready. A transfer helper is usually faster because she is already in Singapore.

What do first-time employers need to do before hiring? First-time employers must complete MOM's Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) before applying for the helper's Work Permit.

About the author

Tapesh Biswas is the CEO and co-founder of Helper Junction, a Singapore marketplace where families can hire a domestic helper directly or through a licensed agency.

Find your helper on Helper Junction. Browse helper profiles for free, shortlist the ones that fit your family, and hire directly or through an agency. Start your search at helperjunction.com