Sri Lankan maid in Singapore: MOM rules and what to check

Short answerYou can hire a Sri Lankan maid in Singapore because Sri Lanka is one of MOM's approved source countries. She must meet the same MOM rules as every helper: aged 23 to below 50 when you apply, with at least 8 years of formal education and a recognised certificate. Sri Lanka adds its own steps: her employment contract must be verified by the Sri Lankan mission, and she must register with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) before she leaves.

Sri Lanka is one of the countries MOM accepts helpers from, and a Sri Lankan helper follows the same Singapore rules as every other helper. Sri Lanka also has its own rules for citizens who go abroad to work. This page sets out both, using only MOM, High Commission of Sri Lanka and SLBFE sources. To compare nationalities side by side, see helpers by nationality.

MOM rules for a Sri Lankan helper

• Sri Lanka is on MOM's list of approved source countries.
• She must be aged 23 to below 50 when you apply, with at least 8 years of formal education and a recognised certificate. A helper aged 50 or above can only renew her permit, until she is 60.
• She must not be in Singapore while you apply. She can come in only after you receive the in-principle approval letter and buy the SGD 5,000 security bond.
• She works at your NRIC-registered address and must not be related to you.

The full process is in how to hire a maid and the work permit guide.

Sri Lanka's own steps

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is the government body for Sri Lankans going abroad to work. Its rules apply to her before she leaves Sri Lanka:

• Registration. Every Sri Lankan who leaves the country for work must register with SLBFE first. She needs a passport valid for at least 6 months, her visa or entry permit and her service agreement.
• Contract verified in Singapore. For domestic work in Singapore, SLBFE says her employment contract must be verified by the Sri Lankan mission here, the High Commission of Sri Lanka.
• Age. SLBFE's minimum age for a woman going to a domestic job outside the Middle East is 21. MOM's minimum of 23 is higher, so MOM's rule decides.
• Family Background Report. Women below 45 must submit one, obtained from their local Divisional Secretariat.
• Experience or training. SLBFE asks for proof of experience or training. It runs courses such as a 15-day Indoor Housekeeping Assistant course for those who need one.

These rules are set by Sri Lanka and can change, so ask your agency and the High Commission what applies to her before she travels. MOM also asks employers to check with the helper's embassy whether she needs anything extra to leave her country.

The High Commission of Sri Lanka

The High Commission's employment and welfare services include employment contract registration, renewal of SLBFE registration and a security deposit refund process. Ask the High Commission or your agency which documents, fees or deposits apply to your hire. The High Commission is at 51 Newton Road, #13-07/12 Goldhill Plaza, Singapore 308900. For problems with her job or salary in Singapore, she or you can also contact MOM.

Help in Sinhalese and Tamil from MOM

• Safety agreement: MOM's safety agreement comes in English and Sinhalese, and in English and Tamil, among other language pairs. The copy she signs is in her native language, and you, she and the agency each keep one.
• Settling-In Programme: a first-time helper attends it, and MOM says it is conducted in her native language.
• Handy guide: MOM publishes its handy guide for helpers in English and Tamil. We did not find a Sinhalese edition.

Her passport while she works here

• Renewing in Singapore: the High Commission of Sri Lanka issues new passports for Sri Lankan adults in Singapore. Ask it how to apply.
• Tell MOM: when she has a new passport, update her passport number and expiry date in MOM's FDW eService.

Salary and costs

MOM does not set a minimum wage for helpers of any nationality, but you must pay at least the salary you declare to MOM. Her salary is also written in the contract the High Commission verifies, so agree it before that step. If you want to know whether Sri Lanka has its own salary requirements, ask the High Commission or your agency. Her other costs, such as the levy, insurance and the security bond, are the same as for any helper: see the cost of hiring a maid and salary rules.

Finding an agency for a Sri Lankan helper

Our directory lists agencies licensed by MOM. It does not show which nationalities each agency places, so ask each agency directly:

• Do you place Sri Lankan helpers now, and is she a first-time helper or already working in Singapore?
• Who arranges the contract verification at the High Commission and her SLBFE registration?
• What is in your fee, item by item? See agency fees.

A helper already in Singapore can be a transfer helper. Whoever you consider, check her employment history and read how to choose an agency. Her experience, languages and work history tell you more about fit than her nationality.

Sources, checked 15 Oct 2026: MOM, MDW eligibility; MOM, Apply for a Work Permit; MOM, Settling-in Programme; MOM, Contracts and safety agreement; MOM, Handy guide for MDWs (English and Tamil); MOM, Notify MOM of changes; MOM FAQ on minimum wage; SLBFE, Registering for a foreign job; High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore, Employment and welfare; High Commission of Sri Lanka in Singapore, Contact.

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