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Cancel a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker (MDW)

You must cancel your MDW's Work Permit if she no longer works for you or when her Work Permit expires.

At a glance

When to cancel the Work Permit

Depending on which comes first, you must cancel the Work Permit either:

  • Within 1 week after the last day of work.
  • 1 day after the Work Permit expires.
Who can cancel Employer, sponsor or employment agent
How long it takes Cancellation is immediate
When levy stops 1 day before cancellation

Note: If your helper has left Singapore and will not return to work for you, you must cancel her Work Permit within 1 week from her departure date.

Instead of cancelling your helper’s Work Permit, you can consider transferring her directly to another employer or through an employment agency. 

If you still need help with household chores, but do not plan to hire a helper, you can consider part-time household services.

Before cancelling

As an employer, you need to:

  1. Agree on the last day of work with your helper.
  2. Settle all outstanding employment issues that your helper may raise, including salary payments. 
  3. Ensure your helper has a valid passport.
  4. Have a discussion and written agreement with your helper on the following before buying an air ticket:
    • Transit arrangements, such as connecting flights and layover hours
    • The allowance needed to sustain your helper during the transit
  5. Buy an air ticket with check-in luggage and pay for all connecting transport costs to the international port of entry in your helper’s home country or the region nearest to their hometown. The departure date must be within 2 weeks from the Work Permit cancellation.

Before booking the flight, please check:

  • Whether the airline has any requirements for boarding, such as pre-departure COVID-19 tests, and ensure your helper complies with them. Otherwise, they may not be allowed to board.
  • The home country's or region's embassy website for entry requirements. Alternatively, you may refer to MFA’s travel guides.

How to cancel

 
  1. Log in to our FDW eService to cancel the Work Permit. 
  2. Print the Special Pass and give it to the helper. The Special Pass allows the helper to stay in Singapore before leaving.
  3. The helper needs to show the Special Pass and a valid passport to the immigration officer when leaving Singapore.
If you need your helper to work only for a short period beyond the Work Permit expiry date, you can request for a short extension of her permit.

You must ensure your helper leaves Singapore before the Special Pass expires. The security bond will usually be discharged 1 week after your helper’s departure, and if all conditions are met.

 
  1. Log in to our FDW eService to cancel the Work Permit.
  2. Select “My helper or I wish to end this employment or she has gone home and will not be returning” as the cancellation reason from the drop-down list.

The security bond will be discharged within 2 weeks after we have verified that the helper has left Singapore, and if all conditions are met.

After cancelling

Once the Work Permit is cancelled, your helper cannot work, even while waiting to leave Singapore. Your helper’s levy will be charged until 1 day before the cancellation.

Once the Work Permit is cancelled, please cut the card in half and discard it to prevent misuse.

Consequences of overstaying

If your helper is still in Singapore, please ensure that they have a valid legal stay throughout. Otherwise, an overstaying fine will be imposed. 

It is also a criminal offence for: 

  • Foreigners to remain beyond the expiry date of a visa
  • Employers to employ foreigners without a valid work pass