Skip to main content
About us

Interim relaxation of New Dormitory Standards (NDS) for migrant worker dormitories

Work passes and permits

As part of the Government’s continuous efforts to build up sufficient supply of dormitory beds for migrant workers, MOM will introduce two interim relaxations to the New Dormitory Standards (NDS) from 1 January 2027.

Dormitory operators can choose to adopt these relaxations, subject to securing the relevant approvals from the technical agencies and MOM. Relevant Foreign Employee Dormitories Act (FEDA) requirements will also be correspondingly modified to facilitate the operational relaxation to NDS.

Summary of key relaxations to the NDS

Type of dormitory Key relaxations to living space and occupancy requirements under NDS
Dormitories approved on or after 18 September 2021 that are built to NDS, with:
  • ≥ 4.2 sqm of living space per resident
  • ≤ 12 residents per room
  • ≥ 1m spacing between beds
 MOM will allow the following operational relaxations:
  • ≥ 3.6 sqm of living space per resident
  • ≤ 14 residents per room
The ≥ 1m spacing between beds remains mandatory.

The above operational relaxations will apply from 1 January 2027 to 31 January 2030. Thereafter, the NDS will apply.
New short-term dormitories such as Construction Temporary Quarters (CTQs), Temporary Occupation Licence Quarters (TOLQs), Quick Build Dormitories (QBDs) that will cease operations before 2040 Instead of the NDS, MOM will relax the planning parameter to allow new dormitories to be built to the DTS standards. Key DTS requirements:
  • ≥ 3.6 sqm of living space per resident
  • ≤ 12 residents per room
  • ≥ 1m spacing between beds (recommended)

The planning parameter relaxation will apply from 1 January 2027. Dormitories that intend to continue operating from 2040 onwards must continue to be built to NDS.

Application process

Interested dormitory operators are required to obtain the relevant approvals from the technical agencies first.

For more info

Refer to the New Dormitory Standards page for more details on the relaxation measures and how dormitory operators can apply for them.