How to cancel a Work Permit for a Foreign Domestic Worker in Singapore

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

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

At a glance

When to cancel the Work Permit Depending on which comes first, you must cancel the Work Permit: 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 the 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.

Before cancelling

You must:
1. Agree on the last day of work with your helper.
2. Settle all outstanding employment issues that your helper may raise, including salary payment.
3. Ensure your helper has a valid passport.
4. Buy an air ticket to your helper’s home country and pay for the transport to her hometown:
You must pay for the air ticket and it must include check-in luggage.
The departure date must be within 2 weeks from the cancellation.
To avoid disputes, please get her to acknowledge the transport payment from you in writing.

You and your helper should also discuss and agree on the following in writing before buying an air ticket:
Transit arrangements, such as connecting flights and layover hours
Allowance needed to sustain her during the transit

When to cancel the Work Permit

Depending on which comes first, you must cancel the Work Permit:
Within 1 week after her last day of work / 1 day after her Work Permit expires.

How to cancel

Helper is still in Singapore

Log in to FDW eService to cancel the Work Permit.
Print the Special Pass and give it to the helper. The Special Pass allows the helper to stay in Singapore before leaving.
The helper needs to show the Special Pass and a valid passport to the immigration officer when leaving Singapore.

You must ensure your helper leaves Singapore as scheduled. The security bond will usually be discharged 1 week after your helper’s departure, and other conditions are met.

Helper has left Singapore

Log in to FDW eService to cancel the Work Permit.
Choose the cancellation reason “My helper or I wish to end this employment or she has gone home and will not be returning”.
The security bond will be discharged within 2 weeks after we have verified that the helper has left Singapore.

After cancelling

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

Note

Follow these steps to send your helper home.

If you need more time to send your helper home (e.g. waiting for an embassy-facilitated flight), you can request to extend her stay in Singapore.

Please submit this request within 1 week before her Special Pass expires using the relevant link below (e.g. if her Special Pass expires on 10 February, please only submit the request from 3 February):
Employers
Employment agents

Source: Ministry of Manpower