Does a maid agency in Singapore need to be licensed by MOM?
Yes. A business that places domestic helpers is doing employment agency work and needs an employment agency licence from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). You can check any agency on MOM's EA Directory before you pay a deposit.
Under the Employment Agencies Act, a business must hold a licence from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to carry out employment agency work, which includes matching and placing migrant domestic workers with households. MOM also requires the staff who do this work to be registered, so the consultant handling your case should have their own registration number, separate from the agency's licence number. MOM caps the fees an agency may collect from the helper at one month of the helper's salary for each year of the contract, up to two months' salary. Our ranking of 10 maid agencies puts licence status first and advises every household to search the agency on MOM's EA Directory before paying anything, confirming that the name, licence details and public records match the business you are dealing with.
| What to check | Where | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Agency licence | MOM's EA Directory | The business is authorised to do employment agency work |
| Consultant registration | MOM's EA Directory | The person handling your case is registered |
| Fees and replacement terms | Itemised written quotation | What you will actually pay and what happens if the placement fails |
| Service quality | Recent reviews by branch or consultant | Repeated patterns in matching and after-placement support |
What a licence does and does not tell you
- A licence confirms the agency may operate; it does not guarantee helper fit, fair replacement terms or good after-placement support.
- Service can vary between branches and consultants of the same licensed agency.
- Digital-first agencies that let you browse profiles online still need a licence and written terms.
- Even when an agency assists with the Work Permit, some steps remain your responsibility as the employer.
What to check before you decide
- Match the agency name on MOM's EA Directory with the name on the quotation, contract and invoice.
- Ask for your consultant's registration number.
- Request a quotation that separates the agency service fee from insurance, medical, Work Permit and other third-party charges.
- Get the replacement period, number of replacements, administrative charges and refund conditions in writing.