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Cancel a domestic helper Work Permit when leaving Singapore
Exit companion for MDW / helper employers — MOM Work Permit cancellation sequencing, levy stop, security bond release, rest-day / salary hygiene, and how helper exit sits beside IR21 and your own pass cancel.
Short answer: Lock transfer vs repatriate → settle pay → MOM cancel → confirm levy/bond before your own flight — levy does not die with your EP date.
r/askSingapore exit threads forget the helper until levy invoices keep arriving after the family’s flight. Hiring cost stacks live on hiring an MDW. This Next companion is the cancel-when-leaving layer beside your own leaving playbook.
You are still the employer until MOM cancellation completes — salary, levy, insurance, and bond hygiene do not auto-stop when your EP cancel date is set.
Sequence that usually hurts less
| Step | Why |
|---|---|
| 1. Decide transfer to a new employer vs home-country repatriation | Transfer timelines and agency paperwork differ from straight cancel |
| 2. Settle final salary, unused rest-day pay, and any MOM-required items in writing | Disputes delay bond release folklore and airport scenes |
| 3. Cancel the MDW Work Permit in MOM’s channel for the chosen path | Levy should stop only after a successful cancel — verify live |
| 4. Follow MOM’s instructions on security bond release / discharge | Do not assume the bond frees the day she flies |
| 5. Keep cancel acknowledgement with your IR21 / lease / shipping file | Exit audits love paper |
Parallel calendars peers mix up
| Calendar | Owner |
|---|---|
| Your EP / family pass cancel + STVP | HR / you — between jobs / STVP |
| Your IR21 tax clearance / final-pay freeze | Employer / IRAS — tax clearance |
| MDW Work Permit cancel + levy stop | You as MDW employer — this guide |
| Condo lift / shipping | You — shipping out |
Do not book the helper’s repatriation flight on the assumption that your IR21 cash will free the same week.
Decision rule
Lock transfer-vs-repatriate → settle pay → MOM cancel → confirm levy stop / bond path → then your own flight. Parent hiring costs stay on hiring an MDW; exit ops on leaving playbook; cash buffer on leaving costs.
Questions, answered
- Does MDW levy stop automatically when my EP cancel date is set?
- No. You remain the helper’s employer until MOM Work Permit cancellation completes. Levy, salary, insurance, and bond hygiene do not auto-stop with your own pass cancel date.
- What should I decide first — transfer or repatriation?
- Decide transfer to a new employer versus home-country repatriation first. Transfer timelines and agency paperwork differ from a straight cancel, and that choice drives the rest of the sequence.
- When should I cancel the MDW Work Permit relative to final salary?
- Settle final salary, unused rest-day pay, and any MOM-required items in writing first, then cancel through MOM’s channel for the chosen path. Disputes delay bond folklore and create airport scenes.
- Does the security bond release the day the helper flies?
- Do not assume that. Follow MOM’s published bond release/discharge instructions after a successful cancel — keep the acknowledgement with your exit file.
- Is helper cancel the same calendar as IR21 tax clearance?
- No. IR21 is your employer/IRAS tax-clearance track. MDW Work Permit cancel and levy stop are your responsibility as the helper’s employer. Do not book her flight on the assumption IR21 cash frees the same week.
Sources & citations
Admin and policy details change. Prefer the official page when making decisions; we cite primary sources for Singapore government and statutory guidance.
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