Singapore - Relatives or Nanny/Au pair Visa Paperwork
Relatives
Travellers coming from Western Europe, North America, Australia, New
Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong and Asian countries can visit Singapore for a
short period of time without a visa. On entry, a passport will be stamped
with a 14 to 90 day visitor visa. (For more information on visitors' visas
see Immigration-Types of Visa.)
For a relative to stay longer in Singapore you will need to apply for a
Social Visit Pass on their behalf. You can obtain and submit an application
form at :
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Immigration and Checkpoint Authority
Visitor Services Centre
4th Floor, ICA Building
10 Kallang Road
Singapore
208718
Tel: + 65 6391 6100
website: www.ica.gov.sg
You can also down load an application form and find more information at: http://app.ica.gov.sg/serv_visitor/social_visit/application_types.asp#short
Maids
Many expatriates as well as local Singaporean families employ
foreign maids. The maids usually come from Indonesia or the Philippines. It
is also possible to employ maids or nannies of other nationalities.
There are many rules and regulations covering the area
of maid employment. The employer is responsible for the activities of
the domestic helper even on her days off. The employer pays a security
deposit of S$5,000 in case the maid breaks Singapore law or the terms of her
work permit and has to be sent back to her home country. The employer is
also responsible for providing accommodation and food.
The website of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has comprehensive information
about visa and work permits for foreign domestic workers: www.mom.gov.sg . The following general
information is taken from that website under the heading of ‘Work Permits’.
The following information may not apply to nannies who have a professional
child care qualifications. They may be able to obtain a work permit in a
different category.
Basic Requirements and Procedures for Employing a Foreign Domestic Worker
1. A foreigner who is on social visit such as on holiday or
short term visit to Singapore is not allowed to apply for a Work
Permit.
2. A foreign domestic worker (FDW) must be at least 18 and below 50 years
old at the time of the Work Permit application. The foreign domestic worker
is allowed to work in Singapore up to the age of 60 years old provided that
she is medically fit for employment and she has not contravened any of the
Work Permit Conditions.
3. An employer who wishes to employ a foreign domestic worker must apply for
a Work Permit. A foreign domestic worker can come into Singapore only after
the employer has obtained an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter from the
Work Permit Department (WPD) and furnished a security deposit of S$5,000 in
cash, banker's or insurance guarantee together with a Personal Accident
Insurance of minimum sum S$10,000.
4. Within 14 days of the worker's arrival, the FDW must undergo a medical
examination and be certified fit by a Singapore registered doctor. During
the validity of the worker's Work Permit, the worker is required to undergo
compulsory six-monthly medical examinations. Any foreign domestic worker who
fails the medical examination will be immediately repatriated.
5. A Work Permit is usually valid for two years subject to the validity of
the foreign domestic worker's passport.
6. The Work Permit can be renewed on a 2-year basis and the renewal letter
will be sent to the employer approximately six weeks before the expiry
of the worker's permit.
7. The employer is required to pay a foreign domestic worker levy of S$345
per month. The levy is adjusted from time to time as a means of moderating
the demand for such workers. The charges for the levy begin one day after
the foreign domestic worker's arrival in Singapore. It is compulsory to pay
the foreign domestic worker levy via GIRO deduction. We will cancel the work
permit of the worker if the employer fails to maintain a valid GIRO facility
with a bank. The employer is not required to contribute Central Provident
Fund (CPF) for the worker.
More detailed information can be found at this website, particularly under the heading- Procedures for Employing a Foreign Domestic Worker Who is Currently Not In Singapore
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Ministry of Manpower
18 Havelock Road
Singapore
059764
Tel: + 65 6438 5122/+ 65 6534 1511
website: www.mom.gov.sg