What Is the Security Bond, Really?
The security bond is a $5,000 binding pledge you make to the Singapore government as a condition of hiring a domestic helper. It’s required for every non-Malaysian helper — Malaysian helpers are specifically exempt. The bond exists to give MOM financial recourse if either you or your helper breaches the conditions of her Work Permit; it isn’t a punishment, and in the ordinary course of a placement that goes smoothly, you’ll never actually pay it.
Insurance Bond vs. Cash: How Most Employers Actually Fulfil It
You do not hand over $5,000 in cash to MOM. In practice, the bond is fulfilled one of two ways:
- A banker’s guarantee from a bank
- An insurance bond from a licensed insurance company
Most employers go the insurance route, since it’s typically bundled together with the mandatory medical and personal accident insurance into a single maid insurance package, rather than arranged as three separate products. You are never allowed to ask your helper to pay for the bond — this is entirely the employer’s financial responsibility.
When Does It Need to Be in Place?
The bond must be active before your helper arrives in Singapore. If it isn’t processed and confirmed in time, she can be refused entry, and you would then be responsible for the cost of sending her back. This is why the security bond is one of the steps that genuinely cannot be left until the last minute.
What Can Cause Forfeiture?
Forfeiture happens if Work Permit or security bond conditions are breached. Some specific, well-documented triggers include:
- Failing to repatriate your helper upon cancellation, revocation, or expiry of her Work Permit
- Late or unpaid salary
- Your helper going missing, without you taking reasonable steps to locate her and report it
A note on accuracy here: some older sources list specific personal conduct violations (such as pregnancy) as automatic forfeiture triggers. More recent guidance suggests this area has been relaxed over the years, with protections in place for employers who can show they informed their helper of her conditions and reported issues promptly — but given how much this specific point has shifted over time and how inconsistently it’s described across sources, we’d recommend confirming the current position directly with MOM rather than relying on any single source, including this one.
When Is the Bond Released?
MOM will only discharge the security bond once all of the following are true:
- You’ve cancelled the Work Permit
- Your helper has left Singapore
- Neither of you breached the security bond conditions
If everything is in order, discharge typically happens within about a week or two of her departure, with notification sent by post. If you don’t receive confirmation within roughly 2 weeks, MOM has a request process available for following up, which usually requires proof of her departure — a passport page with the immigration entry stamp in her home country, or her boarding pass/air ticket.
What Happens If the Bond Is Forfeited?
If forfeiture occurs, you’ll need to arrange a new bond before you’re able to hire another helper. This is a meaningful practical consequence worth keeping in mind — it isn’t just a financial penalty, it can also affect your ability to hire again until a new bond is properly in place.
Why the Security Bond Exists
The security bond exists to keep both sides accountable — it isn’t designed to trap employers, but it does mean the underlying Work Permit conditions (timely salary, proper accommodation, medical care, eventual repatriation) need to be taken seriously rather than treated as fine print. Most employers who simply follow the standard conditions never have a forfeiture issue at all.
We Handle This Setup for You
We arrange your security bond as part of every placement, bundled with your required insurance, and confirmed active before your helper’s arrival — so this is one compliance step you don’t need to track yourself.
Get in touch to learn more about our compliance support →
