12 Best Maid Agencies in Singapore (October 2026)
Most maid agencies in Singapore offer the same core service: they find a helper, apply for the Work Permit and arrange insurance. The differences are in the details. Some match carefully and some just send a stack of biodata. Some stand behind a placement that goes wrong and some do not. And some have a record with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that backs up their marketing, while others have little to show. We compared MOM-licensed agencies on those points and picked 12 that each do something well.
How we chose these agencies
We looked at five things, roughly in this order:
- MOM record. A valid licence first, then the figures MOM publishes for every agency: retention rate, transfer rate and demerit points. Where a number comes from the agency itself rather than MOM, we say so.
- Matching. Whether the agency takes time to understand your household and the helper, or simply forwards profiles.
- Safety net. Replacement and refund terms, and whether your deposit is protected. CaseTrust-accredited agencies, for example, must cap deposits and hold a deposit performance bond.
- Clear pricing. What the fee covers should be stated upfront, without add-ons appearing later.
- Support after placement. Help with settling in, disagreements, renewals and home leave.
The 12 agencies at a glance
| Agency | Why it made the list | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Nation Maid Agency | 70.67% retention and zero demerit points on MOM data (July 2026) | Placing helpers since 1993 |
| Sunrise Link Maid Agency | Full service in Mandarin, from first enquiry to after placement | MOM licence 25C3065 |
| Universal Employment Agency | Deep pool of transfer maids already in Singapore | Operating since 1986 |
| JForce Employment Service | Publishes helper salaries by nationality | Covers eldercare and disability care |
| Maidcity | In MOM's Advance Placement Scheme since 2016 | Three branches, operating since 1997 |
| Fairmaid Agency | Psychometric matching tool built with clinical psychologists | One of the oldest agencies, founded 1988 |
| Asset Agency | Runs its own training centres in Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar | MOM-appointed Advance Placement Scheme agency |
| Bliss Helper | Unlimited replacements in the first six months, plus a refund guarantee on the agency fee | In-house infant care training |
| SWIFT Maids | Free home consultation before you choose | Operating since 1992 |
| Status Employment (Status Maids) | Specialises in Myanmar and Indonesian helpers | Transfers typically placed in 7 to 10 days |
| Inter Great Employment | Specialises in caregiving, including eldercare and infant care | Handles MOM paperwork end to end |
| Contact Asia | New hires, transfers and direct hire under one roof | Founder-led since 1998 |
The 12 agencies in detail
1. Nation Maid Agency
Nation Maid Agency is run by Nation Human Resources Pte Ltd (EA licence 12C5507) and has placed helpers with Singapore families since 1993 from five service centres. MOM's Employment Agencies Directory, checked in July 2026, showed 2,517 work passes approved in the previous 12 months, a 70.67% retention rate against a 62.26% industry average, and zero demerit points. The company is backed by SGX-listed Advancer Global.
2. Sunrise Link Maid Agency
Sunrise Link is a MOM-licensed maid agency in Singapore specializing in domestic helper placement with a quality-over-quantity philosophy. Sunrise Link's retention rate and transfer rate perform far better than the industry average. They offer fresh and transfer placements with rigorous background checks, personalized matching, end-to-end Chinese language support.
3. Universal Employment Agency
Universal Employment Agency has operated since 1986 and says it has served more than 10,000 families across three branches. It is best known for transfer maids already working in Singapore, with candidates from Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar, and reports an MOM retention rate of 75.35%.
4. JForce Employment Service
JForce is a MOM-licensed agency placing domestic helpers for housekeeping, childcare, elderly and disabled care, sourcing from Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Cambodia. It states over a decade of operation, and cites a 2015 Top 25 Prestige Award and a 2016 Singapore Enterprise Award for its CEO.
5. Maidcity
Established in 1997, Maidcity has nearly three decades of experience matching helpers from Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar and India with local families across three branches. It has been an MOM-selected APS participant since 2016 and is accredited by AEAS and the Philippine/Indonesian embassies.
6. Fairmaid Agency
Established in 1988 by Mdm Margaret Toh, Fairmaid Agency is one of the longest-serving maid agencies in Singapore, specializing in Filipino, Indonesian and Myanmar domestic helpers and endorsed by both the Philippine and Indonesian embassies. It is an AEAS-accredited member using SymbioSync, a psychometric matchmaking tool developed by clinical psychologists, to match helpers with families.
7. Asset Agency
Founded in 2004, Asset Agency specializes in the placement and employment management of Migrant Domestic Workers from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, and is one of the select agencies appointed by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower to support the Advance Placement Scheme (APS). The agency runs its own helper training centres in these three countries and also diversified into executive recruitment in 2009.
8. Bliss Helper
Bliss Helper matches domestic helpers with employers for elderly care, infant/child care, and household chores, with helpers trained under an in-house "InfantAide" program using a certified PEM syllabus. It offers unlimited replacement for the first 6 months and a money-back guarantee on agency fees.
9. SWIFT Maids
SWIFT Maids has helped families find domestic helpers since 1992 (30+ years, 40,000+ families served), offering childcare, elderly care, full-time and transfer maid placements plus free home consultations.
10. Status Employment (Status Maids)
Status Maids started out supplying helpers to other agencies before serving families directly, and says it has placed helpers with more than 30,000 households over 20-plus years. It focuses on Myanmar and Indonesian helpers, runs its own screening and training, and reports a retention rate of around 75%. Transfer placements typically take 7 to 10 days.
11. Inter Great Employment
Inter Great Employment Pte. Ltd. is a trusted maid agency in Singapore offering professional domestic helper recruitment and placement services, including elderly care, infant care, and housekeeping support. The agency manages the entire hiring journey, from curated candidate matching to MOM paperwork and post-placement assistance—to provide families with a seamless, reliable experience.
12. Contact Asia
Contact Asia, led by founder Helen Tan, has operated since 1998 with more than 28 years of experience. It emphasizes transparent, upfront pricing with no hidden costs, offering transfer, direct hire, and new helper placement services with ongoing counselling support.
What hiring a helper costs in 2026
The agency fee gets the attention, but the monthly levy and salary make up most of the first-year cost. Here is what to budget for.
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Agency fee | Usually S$1,000 to S$3,000 | Depends on the agency, the helper's nationality and whether she is a transfer. Ask exactly what is included. |
| Helper's salary | Usually S$450 to S$800 a month | Varies by nationality and experience |
| Foreign worker levy | S$300 a month (S$450 for a second helper) | S$60 a month if you qualify for the concession |
| Security bond | S$5,000 guarantee | Usually bought from an insurer, often bundled with the helper's insurance |
| Medical insurance | At least S$60,000 of cover a year | Required by MOM. You cannot pass the cost to your helper. |
| Personal accident insurance | At least S$60,000 of cover | Required by MOM |
| Work Permit | S$35 to apply, S$35 when issued | |
| Settling-In Programme | S$76.40 to S$92.65 | One-day course, first-time helpers only |
The agency fee and salary ranges are typical market figures, not quotes. The levy, insurance minimums, bond and government fees come from MOM.
The S$60 levy concession is for households with a Singapore Citizen child under 16, a family member aged 67 or above, or a family member with a disability who needs help with daily activities. MOM sets citizenship and residency conditions for each group, so check its levy concession page. On a single helper, the concession saves S$2,880 a year.
How to choose between them
- Decide between a new hire and a transfer. A transfer is faster and you can meet her in person. A new hire from overseas gives you a wider choice but takes longer.
- Shortlist three agencies whose strengths match what you need: eldercare, a particular nationality, Mandarin-speaking staff, a strong replacement policy.
- Check each one in MOM's directory. Compare retention rates and look for demerit points.
- Ask every agency the same questions. What does the fee include? How many replacements, and within what period? Is any of the fee refundable? Who do you call if there is a problem after placement?
- Interview the helper, by video for an overseas candidate or in person for a transfer, and involve the family member she will care for.
- Read the contract before paying. Make sure the replacement and refund terms you were told are written into it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to hire a maid through an agency?
A transfer maid can often start within one to two weeks, because she is already in Singapore. A new hire from overseas usually takes several weeks, depending on paperwork in her home country. Agencies in MOM's Advance Placement Scheme can move faster for selected helpers.
What is the difference between a transfer maid and a new hire?
A transfer maid is already working in Singapore and is changing employers, so you can meet her in person and she knows how Singapore households work. A new hire comes from overseas, may be working abroad for the first time, and must attend the one-day Settling-In Programme within her first week.
How do I check that an agency is licensed?
Search the agency's name or licence number in MOM's Employment Agencies Directory. Every licensed agency has an EA licence number, such as 12C5507 for Nation Human Resources. The directory also shows the agency's retention rate, transfer rate and any demerit points.
Can I interview a helper before hiring her?
Yes. Agencies arrange video interviews with overseas candidates, and you can meet transfer maids in person. Agencies in MOM's Advance Placement Scheme can also set up face-to-face interviews with selected new helpers.
What happens if the helper does not work out?
It depends on your contract. Some agencies give one free replacement, some allow unlimited replacements within a set period, and a few refund part of the agency fee. Agree the terms in writing before you pay.
Sources
- MOM: Paying levy for a migrant domestic worker and levy concession
- MOM: Insurance requirements and security bond
- MOM: Settling-in Programme
- MOM: Employment Agencies Directory
Last reviewed: October 2026.