Maid Agency in Singapore — Complete Guide (2026)

In This Guide

1. What to Look For When Hiring
2. Typical Price Ranges
3. HDB vs Condo vs Landed
4. Red Flags to Watch Out For
5. All 461 Verified Providers
6. Maid Agency by Location
7. FAQ

Hiring a maid in Singapore through a licensed agency is the safer, legal, and usually cheaper long-term path compared to private arrangements — but with 900+ registered agencies, quality varies dramatically. The MOM-licensed agency you pick handles Work Permit applications, Settling-In Programme coordination, replacement guarantees if the helper turns out unsuitable, and insurance bundling. Get it wrong, and you're the one left managing a repatriation at your own cost. This guide covers what MOM licensing requires, how to read through marketing puffery, and what you should pay across agency fees, levy, insurance, and first-six-month total cost. All maid agencies on KakiList hold valid MOM Employment Agency (EA) Licences.

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The non-negotiable check: MOM Employment Agency Licence (EA Licence). Verify any agency's licence on MOM's online directory. Unlicensed agents are illegal in Singapore — if anything goes wrong (helper runs away, dispute over fees, injury), you have no recourse.

Look at the agency's EA Grading (A+ to C). MOM publishes grades based on placement volume, dispute rates, and training compliance. Grade A+ agencies handle higher volumes and have stricter internal standards; Grade C agencies are smaller or have recent infringements.

Ask about source country experience. Agencies typically specialise in Filipino, Indonesian, or Myanmar helpers — each with different recruitment channels, language profiles, and cost structures. Filipino helpers generally have stronger English; Indonesian helpers are typically more affordable; Myanmar helpers have grown in availability recently. A strong agency explains the trade-offs clearly rather than pushing one source.

Check replacement guarantee terms. Standard is 1-3 replacements within 6 months if the helper turns out unsuitable. Agencies with vague or short guarantees ('1 month only') are either low-confidence in their vetting or pushing cheaper placements.

Finally, ask for a transparent cost breakdown: agency fee, MOM monthly levy (S$60-300 depending on household composition), insurance, medical exam, Settling-In Programme (SIP), and work permit fee. Hidden fees that surface after contract signing are a recurring complaint pattern in the industry.

Prices are estimates as of 2026 and may vary based on scope, urgency, and property type. Get exact quotes for free.

HDB flats: MOM's housing standards assume an HDB context — minimum 3 sqm sleeping space for the helper, adequate ventilation, and a lockable door. Small studio or 2-room HDBs without proper helper quarters can trigger an inspection rejection, delaying Work Permit approval. First-6-months total cost (agency fee + levy + insurance + salary): S$9,000-14,000.

Condominiums: higher expectations around helper quarters and compliance. Many MCSTs require registering helpers at the guardhouse, and some condos restrict helper gatherings in common areas on rest days. Helper sleeping arrangements in very small condo maid's rooms (under 3 sqm) may need MOM clarification before approval. First-6-months total cost: S$10,000-16,000.

Landed properties: most landed homes have dedicated helper quarters with proper ventilation. Multi-helper households (2-3 helpers across a 3-storey home) are common, and agencies with multi-helper experience coordinate rest-day scheduling and task delineation. First-6-months total cost: S$11,000-18,000+ per helper.

No MOM EA Licence number visible: Non-negotiable. Walk away — unlicensed placement is illegal and unrecoverable.

Large upfront cash demand: Standard structure is an agency fee deposit (S$300-800), with the balance paid over the helper's first few months. Demands for S$3,000-5,000+ upfront in cash are a deposit-theft pattern.

Pressuring immediate contract signing: Reputable agencies let you interview 2-3 helpers before deciding. Agencies that say 'this one very good, must decide today' are running auction pressure or clearing an unplaceable helper off their books.

No biodata or reference check results: MOM mandates basic background checks, and reputable agencies additionally verify prior employer references. Agencies that can't produce a biodata document and prior reference notes aren't vetting, just placing.

Promises that conflict with MOM rules: 'We can arrange helper to work as part-time cleaner for your friend's house too' is illegal — helpers work only for their declared employer. Agencies normalising this are showing you how they'll handle every other rule.