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MOM Foreign Worker Compliance 2026

Singapore Foreign Worker Medical Insurance, Security Bond & Primary Care Plan Guide 2026

Singapore MOM guide to migrant-worker medical insurance, S$5,000 security bonds and Primary Care Plan rules in 2026, including Work Permit, S Pass and MDW differences, co-payment, exemptions and employer costs.

Worker Type Matrix

Worker Type: Work Permit holder — non-Malaysian

Medical Insurance: Mandatory; at least S$60,000 annual claim limit for inpatient care and day surgery, with current enhanced requirements.

Security Bond: Mandatory S$5,000 banker or insurer guarantee.

Primary Care Plan: Mandatory if the worker stays in a dormitory that can accommodate 7 or more workers or works in Construction, Marine shipyard or Process.

Personal Accident Insurance: Not the separate MDW-specific requirement unless the worker is also an MDW; other insurance obligations such as WIC may apply depending on the case.

Worker Type: Work Permit holder — Malaysian

Medical Insurance: Mandatory; at least S$60,000 annual claim limit for inpatient care and day surgery, with current enhanced requirements.

Security Bond: Not required because the S$5,000 security bond applies to non-Malaysian Work Permit holders.

Primary Care Plan: Mandatory if the worker stays in a dormitory that can accommodate 7 or more workers or works in Construction, Marine shipyard or Process.

Personal Accident Insurance: No separate MDW personal-accident rule unless the worker is an MDW.

Worker Type: Migrant domestic worker (MDW)

Medical Insurance: Mandatory; at least S$60,000 annual claim limit for inpatient care and day surgery, with the enhanced MDW insurance requirements.

Security Bond: A security bond is generally part of the Work Permit arrangements for non-Malaysian workers; the MDW-specific immigration process should be followed separately.

Primary Care Plan: Not covered by the PCP requirement. MOM has stated there are no plans to extend PCP to MDWs.

Personal Accident Insurance: Mandatory; at least S$60,000 sum assured per year for qualifying sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents resulting in permanent disability or death.

Worker Type: S Pass holder

Medical Insurance: Mandatory; employer must provide medical insurance meeting MOM's S Pass requirements, including the enhanced S$60,000 annual claim-limit framework.

Security Bond: No S$5,000 Work Permit security bond. The security-bond requirement described here is for non-Malaysian Work Permit holders.

Primary Care Plan: Mandatory if the worker stays in a dormitory that can accommodate 7 or more workers or works in Construction, Marine shipyard or Process, subject to current MOM rules and specified 2026 exceptions.

Personal Accident Insurance: No separate MDW-style S$60,000 personal-accident insurance requirement.

Worker Type: Employment Pass holder

Medical Insurance: MOM does not require employers to purchase medical insurance for EP holders under the current 2026 framework.

Security Bond: No S$5,000 Work Permit security bond.

Primary Care Plan: No mandatory PCP under the migrant-worker PCP framework.

Personal Accident Insurance: No separate MOM MDW personal-accident requirement.

Medical Insurance

Covered Workers

Work Permit holders, including migrant domestic workers
S Pass holders

Minimum Annual Claim Limit

60000

Coverage

Inpatient care
Day surgery
Hospital bills for conditions that may not be work-related

Sub Limits

If the policy contains sub-limits for inpatient care, day surgery or a disability/medical condition, each applicable sub-limit must meet MOM's minimum annual claim limit requirement.

Stage1 From1 July2023

Annual Claim Limit

At least S$60,000

Copayment Rule

For eligible claim amounts above the first S$15,000, insurer pays 75% and employer pays 25%.

Stage2 From1 July2025

Standardisation of allowable exclusion clauses
Age-differentiated premiums for workers aged 50 and below versus above 50
Direct payment by insurers to hospitals upon admissibility of the claim

Policy Timing

For Work Permit holders, the medical insurance must cover the full Work Permit validity period.

Dependent Pass Overlap

A Work Permit holder who also holds a Dependant's Pass does not need a separate Work Permit medical-insurance policy if the existing policy already meets the Work Permit minimum coverage and covers the full Work Permit validity period.

Cost Recovery

Employers cannot pass the cost of purchasing mandatory medical insurance to their workers.

Co Payment From Worker

Work Permit

MOM permits a co-pay arrangement with a Work Permit holder, excluding a migrant domestic worker, only when all stated conditions are met, including a reasonable amount and the contractual or collective-agreement requirements.

S Pass

MOM permits an S Pass medical-bill co-payment only where the co-pay is reasonable and does not exceed 10% of fixed monthly salary, does not exceed 6 months for every 2 years of employment, is stated in the employment contract or collective agreement and has the worker's full consent.

Important Distinction

The employer's mandatory 25% co-payment for eligible medical-insurance claims above S$15,000 is different from an optional contractual co-payment arrangement with the worker.

Security Bond

Amount

5000

Currency

SGD

Applies To

Each non-Malaysian Work Permit holder.

Form

Banker's Guarantee or Insurance Guarantee in favour of the Ministry of Manpower.

Provider

The bond can be purchased from a bank or insurance company.

Timing

The security bond must take effect before the worker arrives in Singapore. The effective date must cover the worker's arrival; otherwise the worker may not be allowed to enter.

Worker Cost

The employer cannot ask the worker to pay for the security bond.

Purpose

The bond is a binding pledge to pay the Government if the employer or worker breaches the Work Permit conditions or security-bond conditions.

Forfeiture Events

Breach of Work Permit conditions
Breach of security-bond conditions
Other circumstances specified by MOM's security-bond rules

Not Automatic Loss

A breach does not mean the S$5,000 is automatically forfeited in every case. The actual consequences depend on MOM's applicable bond and Work Permit conditions.

Malaysian Exemption

Malaysian Work Permit holders are not covered by the non-Malaysian S$5,000 security-bond requirement.

Templates

Bank

MOM_SB_MW

Insurer

MOM_SB

Important Clarification

A security bond is not the same as an employer's insurance premium, worker deposit or CPF payment. It is a guarantee instrument in favour of MOM.

Primary Care Plan

Current2026 Rule

PCP is mandatory for Work Permit and S Pass holders who either stay in dormitories that can accommodate 7 or more workers or work in the Construction, Marine shipyard or Process sectors.

Not Mandatory For

Migrant domestic workers
Work Permit holders outside the mandatory dormitory/CMP categories
S Pass holders outside the mandatory dormitory/CMP categories

Optional Coverage

Employers may voluntarily purchase PCP for other eligible Work Permit and S Pass holders who are not in the mandatory categories.

What It Covers

Outpatient primary healthcare
Acute conditions such as fever and flu
Chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes
Telemedicine and other services included in the PCP scope

What It Does Not Cover

Inpatient hospitalisation expenses
Hospital day-surgery expenses covered by mandatory medical insurance

Purchase Timing

The employer must buy PCP before the relevant Work Permit or S Pass can be issued or renewed and must declare the purchase through the relevant MOM eService.

Validity

PCP is valid for 12 months and automatically renews for another 12 months unless terminated by the employer.

Anchor Operators

PCP can only be purchased from MOM-appointed Anchor Operators for the applicable zone.

2027 Enhancement

Effective Date

1 April 2027

Changes

Four new Anchor Operators/zonal arrangements
More clinics located closer to migrant workers
Standardised S$5 co-payment for physical clinic consultations and telemedicine
Lower or maintained annual capitation rates for most employers
New enrolment and appointment-booking systems

Current Status

These are announced future enhancements and should not be presented as the current August 2026 PCP operating model.

Mdw Position

MOM stated in January 2026 that there were no plans to extend the PCP to migrant domestic workers.

Personal Accident Insurance

Applies To

Migrant domestic workers.

Minimum Sum Assured

60000

Annual Requirement

At least S$60,000 sum assured per year.

Covered Events

Sudden, unforeseen and unexpected incidents resulting in permanent disability or death.

Important Correction

The original page incorrectly presented S$60,000 personal-accident insurance as a universal requirement for all Work Permit and S Pass holders. MOM's current personal-accident requirement described on its insurance page is specifically for migrant domestic workers.

Employer Cost Rules

Medical Insurance

Employer must bear the cost of purchasing mandatory medical insurance and cannot pass the purchase cost to the worker.

Security Bond

Employer must purchase the security bond and cannot ask the worker to pay for it.

Pcp

Where PCP is mandatory, the employer purchases and pays for the plan. Current PCP arrangements also contain specific rules on worker co-payment, so employers should not assume every PCP cost can simply be deducted from salary.

Work Injury Compensation

Where Work Injury Compensation insurance is required, it is a separate employer obligation and should not be confused with medical insurance, personal accident insurance or the security bond.

Documents

Medical Insurance

Medical insurance policy or certificate showing coverage meeting MOM's current minimum requirements.
Evidence of policy period covering the Work Permit validity where applicable.
Insurance details submitted through the relevant MOM online system before the Work Permit can be issued.

Security Bond

Security bond guarantee using the MOM-approved bank or insurer template.
MOM beneficiary details in the guarantee.
Effective date covering the worker's arrival.
Signed security-bond form according to the employer entity's authorised-signatory rules.

Pcp

PCP purchase or enrolment confirmation from the appointed Anchor Operator.
Declaration through the relevant MOM eService before pass issuance or renewal.

Mdw

Medical insurance certificate meeting MDW requirements.
Personal accident insurance evidence showing at least S$60,000 sum assured where applicable.

Not Universal

An IPA letter is not itself the insurance policy or security bond; it is the approval document that tells the employer what must be completed.
There is no universal 'tax clearance certificate' or foreign-bank document required merely to purchase medical insurance or the security bond.
PCP enrolment confirmation applies only when PCP is mandatory or the employer chooses to purchase PCP.

Application And Arrival Timing

Stage: Before arrival

Requirements: ["For non-Malaysian Work Permit holders, ensure the S$5,000 security bond is effective before arrival.","Buy the required medical insurance.","Buy PCP before Work Permit or S Pass issuance if the worker falls within the mandatory PCP categories.","For MDWs, arrange both medical and personal accident insurance before arrival."]

Stage: At arrival

Requirements: ["Show the valid IPA and comply with prevailing immigration requirements.","For applicable Work Permit holders, complete required onboarding or settling-in obligations."]

Stage: After arrival

Requirements: ["Send the worker for the required medical examination within the applicable timeframe.","For Work Permit holders, complete security-bond formalities where instructed.","Declare PCP purchase through WP Online or EP eService when PCP is required."]

Stage: Before pass issuance or renewal

Requirements: ["Ensure mandatory medical insurance is active and properly submitted.","Ensure the security bond is active for non-Malaysian Work Permit holders.","Ensure PCP is purchased and declared where mandatory."]

Medical Bill Examples

Scenario: Eligible medical claim of S$10,000

Calculation: The claim is within the first S$15,000 tranche.

Result: The 75% insurer / 25% employer enhanced co-payment rule for amounts above S$15,000 has not yet been triggered.

Scenario: Eligible medical claim of S$20,000

Calculation: First S$15,000 + S$5,000 above the first-dollar tranche. Employer co-payment on the excess = S$5,000 × 25% = S$1,250. Insurer pays 75% of the excess = S$3,750, assuming the claim is admissible under the policy.

Result: The employer's enhanced-policy co-payment on the S$5,000 excess is S$1,250, with the insurer covering S$3,750 of that excess.

Scenario: Maximum annual claim limit of S$60,000

Calculation: The policy's minimum annual claim limit must be at least S$60,000. The S$60,000 figure is not a statement that every S$60,000 bill is automatically paid without exclusions or claim-admissibility conditions.

Result: The employer should read the policy's standardised exclusions, sub-limits and claim conditions.

Scenario: Three non-Malaysian Work Permit holders

Calculation: 3 × S$5,000 security-bond amount = S$15,000 of aggregate bond guarantee exposure.

Result: The employer needs a separate S$5,000 bond for each non-Malaysian Work Permit holder, subject to MOM's bond process.

Important Exceptions

⚖️ Malaysian Work Permit holder

⚖️ Migrant domestic worker

⚖️ S Pass outside mandatory PCP categories

⚖️ S Pass CMP worker without dormitory residence

⚖️ Work Permit worker outside CMP or specified dormitory

⚖️ Employment Pass holder

⚖️ Dependant's Pass overlap

⚖️ 2027 PCP changes

Decision Guide

❓ Is the worker an Employment Pass holder?

💡 Action / Assessment: The mandatory Work Permit/S Pass medical-insurance and PCP framework described here generally does not apply to EP holders.

❓ Is the worker an S Pass holder?

💡 Action / Assessment: Medical insurance is mandatory. Check whether PCP is mandatory based on dormitory residence or CMP-sector work and whether a current 2026 exemption applies.

❓ Is the worker a Work Permit holder?

💡 Action / Assessment: Buy the required medical insurance. If the worker is non-Malaysian, arrange the S$5,000 security bond as well.

❓ Is the Work Permit holder Malaysian?

💡 Action / Assessment: The S$5,000 non-Malaysian security bond does not apply, but the medical-insurance requirement still does.

❓ Is the worker an MDW?

💡 Action / Assessment: Use the separate MDW insurance framework: S$60,000 annual medical-insurance claim limit plus at least S$60,000 personal accident sum assured. PCP is not mandatory for MDWs.

❓ Does the worker live in a dormitory that can accommodate 7 or more workers?

💡 Action / Assessment: PCP is generally mandatory for Work Permit and S Pass holders in this category.

❓ Does the worker work in Construction, Marine shipyard or Process?

💡 Action / Assessment: PCP is generally mandatory for Work Permit and S Pass holders in these CMP sectors, subject to the current S Pass exception where applicable.

❓ Is the employer preparing for arrival?

💡 Action / Assessment: Ensure the required medical insurance and, for non-Malaysian Work Permit holders, an effective S$5,000 security bond are in place before arrival. Buy and declare PCP before pass issuance where PCP is mandatory.

❓ Is the employer renewing the pass?

💡 Action / Assessment: Extend or replace the required insurance, renew the security bond for non-Malaysian Work Permit holders and purchase/declare PCP where required before renewal.

Common Mistakes & Legal Misconceptions

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Employers must provide the required medical insurance for Work Permit and S Pass holders. The enhanced framework requires an annual claim limit of at least S$60,000 for inpatient care and day surgery. For eligible claims above the first S$15,000, the enhanced policy uses 75% insurer and 25% employer co-payment, subject to the policy and MOM's requirements.

No. The S$5,000 security bond is required for each non-Malaysian Work Permit holder. It is a banker or insurer guarantee in favour of MOM. Malaysian Work Permit holders are outside this specific non-Malaysian bond requirement, and S Pass and Employment Pass holders do not use this Work Permit security-bond framework.

No. In 2026, PCP is mandatory for Work Permit and S Pass holders who either stay in dormitories that can accommodate 7 or more workers or work in the Construction, Marine shipyard or Process sectors, subject to applicable exceptions. PCP is not mandatory for MDWs, and employers may voluntarily purchase it for other eligible Work Permit and S Pass workers.

No. The separate MOM requirement for personal accident insurance with at least S$60,000 sum assured applies to migrant domestic workers. It should not be presented as a universal personal-accident requirement for every Work Permit or S Pass holder.

No. MOM states that employers cannot pass the cost of purchasing mandatory medical insurance to workers, and employers cannot ask workers to pay for the security bond. These obligations remain the employer's responsibility, although separate lawful medical-bill co-payment arrangements can exist under the conditions specified by MOM.

No. PCP covers outpatient primary healthcare and does not replace the mandatory medical-insurance requirement for inpatient care and day surgery. Employers should treat medical insurance and PCP as separate compliance obligations. MOM has announced further PCP enhancements from 1 April 2027, but those future changes should not be treated as the August 2026 operating rules.