First-time Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) (i.e. those who have not worked in Singapore before) must fulfill the following requirements within the first three working days of their arrival (excluding the day of arrival), before commencing employment with their employers.
FDWs must produce recognised educational certificates
as documentary proof that they have had a minimum of 8 years of formal education. A photocopy of the FDW's educational certificate must be submitted at the test centre before she is allowed to sit for the FDW Entry test.
View the list of educational institutions recognised by MOM.
For first-time FDWs, they must pass the written test within three attempts within three working days after their arrival in Singapore. Should they fail the entry test on the third attempt within the three working days, they will not be issued with a Work Permit and must be repatriated.
Employers and employment agencies (EAs) will be informed of this requirement in the ‘Letter of Notification to bring FDW into Singapore'.
A first-time FDW is one who:
- Has no employment record with the Work Pass Division; or
- Has Work Permit records with the Division but did not collect their Work Permit cards previously. This includes FDWs who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.
Employment Agents (EAs) should only place FDWs for employment after they have passed the test. This is in accordance with the EA licence conditions. In addition, the EA is responsible for the FDW's upkeep and maintenance, including the provision of proper accommodation, from her arrival until she is successfully placed for employment, or until she is repatriated if unsuccessfully placed. The EA is required to repatriate the FDW, and bear the cost of doing so, if she is unsuccessfully placed.
The National Safety Council of Singapore (NSCS) and the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) are joint administrators for the entry test.
Please register the FDWs for the entry test before they arrive in Singapore. Only FDWs who have previously been registered for the test may take the test.
FDWs must produce the following documents at the test premises before they are allowed to take the entry test:
- Original IPA;
- Passport; and
- Photocopy of the FDW's educational certificate.
After the test, result slips will be issued by the test administrators on the same day. The test results can also be viewed through WP Online.
Registration for FDW Entry Test |
Language: | English | To register:- | |
Test Fee: | $5 (nett) | Contact No: | (65) 6423 9626 |
Venue: | NSCS Training Centre 10 Raeburn Park
#02-05 to #02-09
Singapore 088702
| Email: | |
| | Website: | |
| | Operating Hours: | Excluding Public Holidays 9.00am - 6.00pm
(Monday to Friday) 9.00am - 1.30pm (Saturday) |
Entry Test Sample
A sample of the cover page, answer sheet and test questions are also available below to help employers and employment agencies prepare potential FDWs for the entry test.
The Safety Awareness Course (SAC) is a four-hour training course which provides FDWs with an introduction to working in Singapore households. It includes basic information on safety in high-rise residences, domestic safety, information on FDWs' legal rights and obligations and also helps to orientate FDWs to their new life in Singapore.
The SAC is compulsory for all first-time FDWs who have not worked in Singapore before. A first-time FDW is one who:
- Has no employment record with the Work Pass Division; or
- Has Work Permit records with the Division but did not collect their Work Permit cards previously. This includes FDWs who have worked in Singapore for brief periods in the past, or who have applied for Work Permits but did not eventually work in Singapore.
First-time FDWs must attend the SAC within three working days after their arrival in Singapore. Employers and employment agencies (EAs) will be informed of this requirement in the ‘Letter of Notification to bring FDW into Singapore'. FDWs who fail to attend the SAC within the three working days will not be issued with a Work Permit and must be repatriated.
FDWs will not need to sit for a test as part of the SAC.
Employment Agents (EAs) should only place FDWs for employment after they have attended the SAC. This is in accordance with the EA licence conditions. In addition, the EA is responsible for the FDW's upkeep and maintenance, including the provision of proper accommodation, from her arrival until she is successfully placed for employment, or until she is repatriated if unsuccessfully placed. The EA is required to repatriate the FDW, and bear the cost of doing so, if she is unsuccessfully placed.
Please register the FDWs for the SAC before they arrive in Singapore. Employment agencies/employers are advised to ensure that the same set of FDWs' identification numbers and all other personal particulars (e.g. name, date of birth) provided on the Work Permit application and SAC registration forms is identical. Failure to do so may result in the FDW's Work Permit application being rejected because attendance of the SAC has not been captured.
FDWs who have past working experience in Singapore are also encouraged attend the SAC.
