Short answerHome leave is something you agree with your helper. MOM's guidance is to agree the dates, and whether the leave is paid, based on her employment contract; MOM's Ask Jaya column says a common practice is 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked. Levy is still charged while she is away, but if she is overseas for at least 7 consecutive days you can apply for a levy waiver when she returns, up to 60 calendar days a year.
Your helper may wish to take time off to visit her family, and a little planning makes the trip easier for both of you. This page sets out what MOM says about home leave, the levy while she is away, public holidays and rest days, using only MOM's own pages. For the levy itself, see our maid levy guide.
Home leave: what to agree with her
- The dates. MOM's Ask Jaya column suggests making sure you are both comfortable with the days she will be away, and reaching a consensus.
- Paid or unpaid. Discuss whether the leave is paid or unpaid, based on the terms of her employment contract.
- How many days. The column says a common practice is to offer 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked. This is a common practice, not a MOM rule.
- If she does not want to go home. Some employers pay salary in lieu of leave, though not everyone does.
Before she travels
- Make sure she has a valid passport, and check with her embassy on her home country's immigration requirements. Our Indian, Indonesian, Filipino, Myanmar and Sri Lankan helper guides list each embassy's official pages.
- She needs her passport and her digital work pass or Work Permit card to re-enter Singapore. MOM encourages using the digital work pass in the SGWorkPass app, which is free, so her card is less likely to be lost or damaged.
- Keep a copy of her travel ticket or departure itinerary.
- The column also suggests saving the phone numbers of her family or friends at home, with the country code, in case her Singapore SIM card does not work there, and reminding her not to carry goods for other people.
The levy while she is away
You are still charged the levy while she is on overseas leave. If she is away for at least 7 consecutive days, you can apply for a levy waiver when she returns. The waiver is capped at 60 calendar days per calendar year.
- How. In MOM's Check and pay levy eService, select "On overseas leave" and enter the date she left Singapore and the date she returned. MOM's waiver page says no documents are needed.
- When. From the 1st of the month after you receive the levy bill, and within 1 year of that bill.
- Outcome. MOM processes the request within 12 working days. The amount waived is credited to your levy account to offset your next bills, or you can apply for a refund if you have no upcoming bills.
- MOM's example. For a waiver from 1 to 15 September at the SGD 300 monthly rate (SGD 9.87 a day), the levy payable is 15 days at the daily rate, SGD 148.05, so SGD 151.95 is waived.
Her medical examination
If her 6-monthly medical examination falls while she is away, you can ask MOM to postpone it until she returns.
Long leave: keep or cancel her permit?
If she is away for a long time, you can cancel her work permit, but you would then need to apply for a new one to employ her again. The Ask Jaya column suggests weighing the costs first, such as reapplying for the permit and insurance, which may cost more than keeping her current permit.
If she does not come back
Try to talk with her to understand why, and check whether her decision is final. If it is, MOM says you must:
- Cancel her work permit to stop the levy.
- Keep a copy of her travel ticket or itinerary as proof.
- Advise her to cut her card in half and throw it away.
Once MOM verifies she left and did not re-enter Singapore, it discharges the security bond. If she re-enters before then, you must send her home immediately, or the bond may be forfeited. You can apply for a levy waiver by selecting "Failed to return from overseas leave". If she left belongings at your home, ask whether someone will collect them for her.
Public holidays
Helpers are not covered by the Employment Act, whose rules include public holidays. MOM says this is because it is not practical to regulate parts of domestic work such as hours of work and work on public holidays. MOM encourages a written employment contract with terms you both agree on, so agree in writing whether she has public holidays off and what she is paid if she works on one.
Rest days still apply
Whatever you agree on leave and holidays, MOM's rest day rules apply. She is entitled to one rest day a week, on a day you agree together. If she agrees to work on it, you pay her at least 1 day's salary on top of her basic salary, but at least one rest day a month cannot be compensated away. See our rest day guide for the flexible options.
Put it in writing
MOM suggests the contract covers salary, any placement loan, rest days per month, compensation in lieu of a rest day, the notice period and compensation in lieu of notice. You can also write down what you agree on home leave, who pays for her ticket and public holidays, so you both know what to expect. Looking for an agency to help draft it? Start with our directory of licensed agencies.
Sources, checked 15 Oct 2026: MOM, Overseas leave for MDWs; MOM, Apply for levy waiver for an MDW; MOM, Ask Jaya: my MDW is asking for home leave; MOM, Six-monthly medical examination; MOM, Contracts and safety agreement; MOM, Rest days, health and well-being.
Common questions
Is a maid entitled to home leave in Singapore?
Home leave is agreed between you and your helper. MOM's guidance is to agree the dates, and whether the leave is paid or unpaid, based on her employment contract. A common practice is 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked.
How many days of home leave do maids usually get?
MOM's Ask Jaya column says a common practice is 14 days of paid overseas leave for every two years worked. It is a practice, not a rule.
Do I still pay the levy while my helper is on home leave?
Yes, the levy is still charged. If she is away for at least 7 consecutive days, apply for a levy waiver after she returns, in the Check and pay levy eService. The waiver is capped at 60 calendar days a year and no documents are needed.
Can I postpone her 6-monthly medical exam while she is on leave?
Yes. You can ask MOM to postpone it until she returns to Singapore.
Are domestic helpers entitled to public holidays in Singapore?
Helpers are not covered by the Employment Act, which sets public holiday rules for other employees. Agree in her contract whether she has public holidays off and what she is paid if she works on one.
What if my helper does not come back from home leave?
Cancel her work permit to stop the levy, keep a copy of her ticket as proof, and advise her to cut her card in half. MOM discharges the bond after it verifies she did not re-enter Singapore. You can also apply for a levy waiver.