Helper Passport and Work Permit Card Rules in Singapore
Employers should not keep a helper’s passport or Work Permit card. Learn the custody rule, secure storage, digital pass option and end-of-job handling.
A passport and a Work Permit card may be needed for household administration, but that does not make them employer property. The simple operating rule is that a valid original stays under the helper’s control. Employers can support secure storage, explain when a document is needed and complete authorised transactions together without turning convenience into indefinite custody.
The helper keeps her passport
MOM’s passport-custody FAQ says employers should not keep migrant workers’ or MDWs’ passports and should not force workers to hand them over. The passport belongs to its bearer and the issuing authority of the bearer’s country or region of origin. This rule applies even if an employer thinks a central household file is safer.
Provide a lockable drawer, cupboard or locker for personal belongings and make sure the helper controls the key or access method. “Unrestricted access” means she should not need permission, wait for an employer to return home or explain why she needs her passport. Store employer records separately from the helper’s originals.
The helper also keeps her Work Permit card
MOM gives an equally direct answer in its Work Permit card FAQ: an employer must not keep a migrant worker’s or MDW’s card. The card is issued to the worker and must be held by her for proper identification. MOM says employers should advise workers to keep their cards safely rather than asking employers to hold them.
MOM also encourages workers to set up the SGWorkPass app so they can use a digital work pass for verification. A digital pass is useful, but it does not convert the physical card into employer property. Help with Singpass registration or reset where needed, then let the helper control her own account and credentials.
| Item | Who controls the original | Employer support |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Helper | Provide secure storage and time for valid travel or renewal steps |
| Valid Work Permit card | Helper | Explain safe carrying and help set up SGWorkPass if needed |
| SGWorkPass digital pass | Helper through her account | Help with setup without retaining passwords or access |
| Employment contract copy | Each party keeps a copy | Store the employer copy separately |
| Salary records | Both should retain useful records | Provide clear payment evidence |
| Cancelled Work Permit card | No longer valid | Cut it in half and discard after cancellation as MOM directs |
Handle temporary administrative use transparently
A Work Permit application, medical visit, bank process, insurance claim, flight booking or embassy appointment may require document details or the original to be presented. Explain the purpose, complete the step promptly and return the original to the helper’s control. Where a copy is sufficient, collect only what the transaction actually needs and store it securely.
Do not use access to documents as leverage in a salary, notice, placement-loan or transfer dispute. If a disagreement is making either party fearful, use MOM, the employment agency or an appropriate support channel rather than restricting identification or travel documents.
| Scenario | Good process | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| New helper arrives | Show her the personal storage and give her the key | Collecting every original into an employer file |
| A form needs passport details | Review the form together and return the passport immediately | Keeping the passport “until the contract ends” |
| Card may be lost | Help her secure it and use SGWorkPass | Taking it away so she cannot lose it |
| Embassy or travel appointment | Plan time, transport and current entry requirements | Withholding the passport to control movement |
| Helper asks employer to hold the card | Decline and improve her personal storage | Accepting permanent custody for convenience |
| Employment ends | Use the official transfer or cancellation process | Holding documents while bargaining over money |
Create a simple personal-storage system
- Choose a dry, discreet drawer, cupboard or locker in the helper’s living area.
- Let the helper control the key, code and day-to-day access.
- Keep her originals separate from employer insurance and household files.
- Suggest a waterproof sleeve for the passport and a card holder for the permit.
- Record emergency contacts without copying more personal data than necessary.
- Review the arrangement after a move so unrestricted access is preserved.
A change of address does not justify taking the physical card. The moving-house guide covers address updates. For temporary travel, see the overseas-trip guide. If employment is ending, follow the Work Permit cancellation guide rather than creating an informal document hold.
Dispose of a cancelled card, not a valid one
MOM’s cancellation instructions say to cut the Work Permit card in half and discard it after cancellation to prevent misuse. That narrow final step should not be confused with employer custody during active employment. Until the permit is cancelled, the valid card remains with the worker.
How this guide avoids overlap
This page owns original-document custody and personal storage. It does not reproduce the cancellation guide’s Special Pass and travel sequence, the renewal guide’s insurance and permit workflow, or the overseas-leave guide’s levy-waiver planning.
Sources and review note
Reviewed on 26 September 2026 against MOM’s current passport-custody, Work Permit card and cancellation guidance. Embassy, airline, bank and service-provider document requirements can change; distinguish a temporary presentation requirement from indefinite employer possession.
Frequently asked questions
Can an employer keep a domestic helper’s passport in Singapore?
MOM says employers should not keep migrant workers’ or migrant domestic workers’ passports and should not force them to hand over a passport. It belongs to the bearer and the issuing authority. Give the helper secure storage that she can access without restriction.
Can an employer hold a helper’s Work Permit card for safekeeping?
No. MOM says the card is issued to the worker, must be held by the worker for identification, and must not be kept by the employer. Advise the helper to keep it safely herself and provide secure personal storage with unrestricted access.
What should happen to the card after the Work Permit is cancelled?
Once the permit has been cancelled, MOM instructs the employer to cut the cancelled card in half and discard it to prevent misuse. That end-of-employment step is different from retaining a valid card during employment.
Official references
These primary references support the guide. A verification date is shown only after a dated editorial review.
- Whether an employer can keep a migrant worker’s passport — Ministry of Manpower Singapore (checked 26 Sept 2026)
- Whether an employer can hold a migrant worker’s Work Permit card — Ministry of Manpower Singapore (checked 26 Sept 2026)
- Cancel a Work Permit for a migrant domestic worker — Ministry of Manpower Singapore (checked 26 Sept 2026)
- Work Permit for migrant domestic workers — Ministry of Manpower Singapore (checked 26 Sept 2026)