EOP and SIP: courses for first-time employers and helpers

Short answerThese are two short MOM programmes for first-timers. MOM says you must attend the Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP) if you are hiring a migrant domestic worker for the first time, at least 2 working days before submitting a Work Permit application; if you meet MOM's conditions, you may be allowed to appoint a representative or sponsor to attend on your behalf. A first-time migrant domestic worker must attend the Settling-in Programme (SIP) within 7 days of her arrival in Singapore, excluding Sunday and public holidays, and MOM says she can start work only after attending. This page covers MOM's SIP for migrant domestic workers, not MOM's separate SIP for other Work Permit holders.

This page follows MOM's EOP page, last updated on 7 August 2026, MOM's SIP page for first-time migrant domestic workers, last updated on 1 September 2025, and MOM's answers to common questions. It links to MOM's lists of training providers rather than repeating them. It covers the SIP for migrant domestic workers only: MOM runs a separate SIP, which it says non-Malaysian Work Permit holders in the construction, marine shipyard, process and manufacturing sectors must attend. For the rest of the permit process, see our work permit guide.

What the EOP and SIP are

• The EOP, for you. MOM describes the EOP as a 3-hour programme that will help you understand your role and responsibilities as an employer of a migrant domestic worker.
• The SIP, for her. MOM describes the SIP as a 1-day orientation programme for first-time migrant domestic workers to educate them on safety precautions and living in Singapore.

Who must attend the EOP

MOM says first-time employers must complete the EOP at least 2 working days before submitting a Work Permit application, and its EOP exemption page says the programme is compulsory for first-time employers.

• If you are a foreigner bringing in your own helper. MOM says attending the EOP is required as long as the employer is employing a migrant domestic worker for the first time in Singapore.
• If the Work Permit application is rejected. MOM says you cannot get a refund, but if you have attended the EOP, you can use your attendance for future Work Permit applications.

Classroom or online

MOM says you can take the EOP either in the classroom or online. On MOM's EOP page the classroom programme takes 3 hours and the online programme takes 2 hours, and the online programme is offered in English, Mandarin, Malay or Tamil. MOM says the case studies and personal experiences shared in class will give you a better understanding of how to work with your helper to meet expectations.

MOM's EOP page lists the accredited training providers for the classroom and online programmes, with their languages, class schedules and online registration. MOM's EOP page says the name, NRIC or FIN, and all other information in the EOP registration and the Work Permit application forms should be the same, so that MOM can match the records.

EOP exemption: someone attending on your behalf

MOM says a first-time employer is required to attend the EOP, but you may be allowed to appoint a representative or sponsor to attend on your behalf if you meet MOM's conditions. MOM sets them out in two groups, quoted here in MOM's words.

First group. You meet one of these conditions:

• "Suffer from a chronic medical condition."
• "Have a physical disability and are unable to walk."
• "Are 60 years old and above and suffer physical discomfort."

And one of the following applies to you:

• "Have a sponsor or representative (above 21 years old) who has attended EOP on your behalf."
• "Have a sponsor or sponsor's spouse who has employed an MDW."

Second group. You "are a new or expectant mother", and one of the following applies to you:

• "Your date of delivery is within 1 month from the date you applied for your spouse to represent you to attend the EOP."
• "You delivered a child within 1 month or less from the date you applied for your spouse to represent you to attend the EOP."

On sponsors, MOM's answer is that a sponsor who has not employed an MDW before must attend the EOP only if the official employer has a valid reason for not being able to attend, for example being 60 years of age or older and suffering a physical disability. MOM says that as the sponsor will be managing the helper, attending the EOP will help them know their legal responsibilities and obligations.

How to appoint your representative or sponsor

• They attend first. MOM says your spouse, sponsor, sponsor's spouse or representative has to attend the EOP on your behalf at least 2 working days before you apply online to appoint them.
• Then apply online. MOM says you or a third party, such as your employment agency, are required to apply online through its EOP exemption eService, and you will be notified of the outcome immediately. Employers and representatives log in with Singpass; agencies use Corppass.
• What you need. MOM lists Singpass, the employer's personal particulars, the personal particulars of the sponsor, spouse or representative, and the employment agency's contact details if applicable. Use the same name and identification number as the one used to register for the EOP.
• The Work Permit application. MOM says you can proceed with it one working day after your application to appoint a representative or sponsor is successful.

If your representative attended for you, MOM says to keep all documents for at least 3 months for audit purposes. For a chronic medical illness, being unable to walk, or being 60 years old and above with physical discomfort, MOM lists your NRIC or FIN, the sponsor's, sponsor's spouse's or representative's NRIC or FIN, medical documents, and the sponsor's or representative's certificate of attendance of EOP if applicable. For a new or expectant mother, it lists your NRIC or FIN, your spouse's NRIC or FIN, your child's digital birth certificate or a doctor's certification of the expected date of delivery, and your spouse's certificate of attendance of EOP. MOM's exemption eService page also lists keeping the certificate of attendance, a letter from a doctor for chronic medical conditions or physical disability, and a copy of the marriage or divorce certificate, for three months.

Who must attend the SIP, and when

• First-time helpers. MOM says you will have to send a first-time migrant domestic worker for the SIP within 7 days of her arrival in Singapore, excluding Sunday and public holidays.
• Who counts as first-time. In its answer for foreigners bringing in their own helper, MOM says a first-time MDW is one who does not have an employment record with MOM's Work Pass Division, or has Work Permit records with MOM but did not collect her Work Permit card, or collected the card but did not eventually work in Singapore.
• How you find out. MOM says you will be informed of the requirement in the Letter of Notification to bring MDW into Singapore, and you can also check WP Online, which our FDW eService guide explains.
• Not on the day she arrives. MOM says she is not allowed to attend on the same day of her arrival, to allow sufficient time for her to rest and to optimise her learning experience and outcomes.
• Starting work. MOM says she can start work only after she has attended the SIP.
• Registering. MOM's SIP page says: "You are advised to register your MDW for the SIP early to secure a training slot within 7 days of her arrival in Singapore, excluding Sunday and public holidays." MOM says the SIP fees are borne by the employer.
• If she does not attend. MOM says that if a first-time migrant domestic worker fails to attend the SIP within 7 days of arrival, excluding Sunday and public holidays, she will not be issued her Work Permit and will be sent home.

What the SIP covers

MOM says the SIP is conducted in her native language. The topics MOM lists are:

• Adapting to working and living in Singapore
• Conditions of employment
• Working safely
• Relationship and stress management

MOM's SIP page lists the appointed training providers, with online registration and contact details.

What she brings to the SIP

MOM lists the documents to submit when she goes to the SIP training centre:

• The in-principle approval (IPA) letter, full set
• Her passport
• A copy of her educational certificate
• A copy of her digital arrival card issued by ICA

Her arrival card and the other steps after she lands are in our work permit guide.

Sources, checked 18 Oct 2026: MOM, Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP); MOM, Apply for exemption from Employers' Orientation Programme (EOP); MOM, Settling-in Programme (SIP) for first-time MDWs; MOM, Settling-in Programme (SIP) for Work Permit holders; MOM FAQs: sponsors and the EOP, foreigners and the EOP, EOP refunds, checking the SIP requirement, foreigners and the SIP, missing the SIP.

Common questions