Employment-related Passes in Singapore

Share | Print

Employment-related Passes in Singapore

On arrival in Singapore a tourist visa is issued, usually valid for two to four weeks. Some form of official pass is required for a longer stay. It is a serious offence to remain in Singapore without an appropriate pass.

This page covers the types of pass available to anyone working in Singapore and their family. 

• Employment Pass (EP)
• Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
• Short-Term Employment Pass (STEP)
• Training Visit Pass (TVP)
• EntrePass (Employment Pass for Entrepreneurs)
• Dependant's Pass (DP) and Letter of Consent (LOC)
• Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)
• Work Permit (WP)
• Work Holiday Programme (WHP)

If taking up work in Singapore, either an Employment Pass or a Work Permit is required. An Employment Pass is needed for a foreigner with a degree, professional qualification or specialist skills, while a Work Permit is needed for any skilled or unskilled foreign worker.

The Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) handles the issuing of all types of Employment Pass.

• For full information from the MOM website on employment-related passes: Click here
• For information on applying for Permanent Resident status see the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Permanent Residency (PR)

Employment Passes (EP)

Eligibility

Foreigners planning to work in Singapore on an Employment Pass must have acceptable qualifications, relevant professional qualifications or specialist skills. Different types of Employment Pass may be issued, depending on the salary of the applicant, but the basic procedure remains the same.

• Comprehensive information on the MOM website: Click here

An Employment Pass is tied to the individual and the company they work for. If an Employment Pass holder wants to change jobs, the employer will have to cancel the existing EP and the new employer will have to apply for a new one. The EP must be cancelled if the holder ceases employment in Singapore, or attains Permanent Resident status.

How to Apply

Application is usually made by the employer or company. The process can started before the foreigner's arrival in Singapore, but can only be finalised when the passport is handed in to the authorities and the EP stamped in.

Normally the applicant's employer acts as a local sponsor. If there is no local sponsor, the applicant may provide a Banker's Guarantee on collection of the pass.

Any work-related application may be done via EP Online through the MOM website, or on an Application Form via SingPost (MOM-appointed collecting agent).

There is a small fee for each application, and processing time is two to three weeks.

The documents required for all employment (and training) related applications are:

• The appropriate completed Application Form (applicable to manual submission). The form must be signed by both the applicant and an authorised officer from the sponsoring company. It should be endorsed with the company's stamp/seal
• A copy of all the applicant's educational documents and past employment testimonials, translated into English. These are not necessary if the applicant has held or applied for an Employment Pass during the last two years and has already passed these documents to MOM
• A passport-sized photograph of the applicant taken within the last three months
• A copy of the Travel Document page showing the applicant's personal particulars

Further and more specialised documentation may also be required for members of certain professions.

On Approval

An In-Principle Approval letter, valid for six months, will be issued allowing the applicant to work for one month before they collect their Employment Pass.

The applicant or their company's authorised agent must collect the EP from the Ministry of Manpower,

• At: 18 Havelock Road Singapore 059764
  Tel: 6438 5122
  Fax: 6534 4840
  e-mail

The following documents will need to be produced:

• Applicant's travel document, with at least two blank visa pages
• Any relevant medical documents, together with Chest X-Ray and Blood Test Reports, if applicable
• The In-Principle Approval Letter
• Either the Immigration White Card (IMM27) for a new application or the Green Card for renewal

Validity

Employment Passes are usually issued initially for up to two years, and may be renewed for up to three years. The pass has to be renewed before it expires. The government will send a reminder. This is usually straightforward, unless the government considers  EP holder or their dependants' behaviour undesirable.

The spouse and children of an EP holder may enter and live in Singapore on Dependant's Passes (DP). Spouses are not allowed to work without a Letter of Consent (see below) but children can attend schools without needing a further student's pass. An Employment Pass holder may also bring in other members of their family on a Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP). 

If a person who is currently a Dependant's Pass holder (for example the spouse of an EP) wants an EP, the DP must be cancelled before the EP may be stamped in the passport.

Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

An Employment Pass (EP) is attached to a specific employer; if the employer changes, a new application must be made otherwise the worker must leave the country. However the PEP is not tied to any employer and will be granted on the strength of an EP holder's individual merits. A PEP holder is able to remain in Singapore for up to six months in between jobs to allow the opportunity to find another placement. 

The PEP is valid for five years and is non-renewable; it will only be issued once. 

A PEP holder retains the dependant privileges of the original EP type and the minimum annual fixed salary requirement of $30,000 will continue to apply throughout the five-year duration. 

Eligibility

Eligible people are:

• P1 and P2 pass holders with two years or more work experience
• Q1 pass holders with five years work experience
• Students as foreign graduates from higher learning in Singapore with at least two years work experience on a P or Q1 pass

How to Apply

Application to MOM can be made online or in person:

• PEP Online: Click here 
• Download and print the application form: Click here

Short-Term Employment Pass (STEP)

The Short-Term Employment Pass allows foreigners to work in Singapore on a specific project up to a maximum of one month. 

The Pass is a one-time-only, non-renewable permit.

How to Apply

Application to MOM can be made online or in person. The process is as for an EP application although an additional letter from the local firm justifying the need for the application must be provided. The letter must also confirm that no extension of the STEP will be sought.

Training Visit Pass (TVP)

A Training Visit Pass is for foreigners engaged in practical training for jobs of a professional, managerial, executive or specialist nature in Singapore.

Eligibility

As with Employment Passes applicants must fulfil certain criteria as to salary and qualifications. If the applicant is an undergraduate, the training must be part of their degree programme from an acceptable educational institution.

Companies can also bring employees from their foreign offices/subsidiaries to Singapore for training of a professional or executive nature.

• For further information: Click here

How to Apply

The process is as for an EP application. An additional document - a detailed training programme stating the objective, type, location and duration of training - must be provided.

EntrePass (Employment Pass for Entrepreneurs)

The EntrePass is an Employment Pass for foreign entrepreneurs who would like to start a business in Singapore.

• For further information: Click here

Eligibility

Foreign entrepreneurs who intend to set up and be actively engaged in a business in Singapore may apply for an EntrePass. The business must be truly entrepreneurial in nature (that means not a coffee shop, massage parlour, tuition service, among others), and must not have been registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) for more than six months.

How to Apply

Initial applications must be accompanied by a comprehensive business plan (not more than ten pages). Subsequent renewals must show evidence of track record and trading and financial status.

Apply to the MOM, using SingPost (a MOM-appointed Collecting Agent) with the following documents:

• Completed EntrePass application form, accompanied by a Banker's Guarantee of S$3,000 if there is no local sponsor. If the business has not been registered, the proposed business name and address must be given
• A copy of the applicant's past employment testimonials (translated into English)
• A copy of the company's most recent Business Profile/Instant Information, if registered with ACRA
• Recent passport-size photograph
• A copy of the applicant's travel document, showing personal details

There is a small fee for each application, and approval may take up to four weeks.

On Approval

An Approval-in Principle letter will be issued so that the entrepreneur may register the business with ACRA. Once ACRA registration is complete the applicant must send a copy of the Business Profile/Instant Information and Approval-in Principle letter to the Work Pass Division so that they may issue the EntrePass.

The initial Entrepass is valid for up to two years; subsequent renewals will be valid for up to three years.

If the nature of the business changes during the validity of the pass the entrepreneur must inform the Work Pass Division.

Dependant's Pass (DP) and Letter of Consent (LOC)

The Dependant's Pass allows the immediate family of an Employment Pass holder to live in Singapore with the worker. The application for a Dependant's Pass may be submitted at the same time as the Employment Pass application, but Employment Pass applicants who need an Approval-in Principle letter must wait until they have received that letter.

Until the Dependant's Pass is issued the applicant must make sure that they have a valid social visit pass to remain in Singapore.

• For further information from MOM: Click here

Eligibility

Most Employment Pass holders may apply for a Dependant's Pass for their spouse and unmarried or legally adopted children under 21 years of age.

How to Apply

Applications may be made online via EP Online or by submitting the completed Dependent's Pass Application Form via the Deposit Box located on Level 1, MOM Building or by letter to the Ministry of Manpower

• Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower
  At: 18 Havelock Road, Singapore 059764
  Tel: 6438 5122
  Fax: 6317 1344
  e-mail

The documents needed are:

• A completed Form 12 (Dependant's Pass Application Form) for each applicant (if submitted manually). A local sponsor (a well-established Singapore-registered company, normally the employer of the Employment Pass holder) must sign and endorse the form with the company's stamp/seal. A parent must sign for children under 12 years old
• A copy of the official Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
• A copy of the children's official Birth Certificates showing both the parents' names and the child's name (as necessary)
• A copy of the children's official Adoption Order or Document (if appropriate)
• A passport-sized photograph of the applicant taken within the last three months. No photograph is required for children below 12 years old
• A copy of the Travel Document page showing the applicant's personal particulars

Processing time may be up to three weeks.

On Approval

The following documents must be submitted at the Ministry's Customer Services Centre (at the MOM buiding) when collecting the Dependent's Pass:

• Applicant's current travel document (with at least two blank visa pages)
• Completed Medical Documents (where applicable)
• In-Principle Approval Letter
• Either the Disembarkation/Embarkation Card (Green Card) for renewal, or the Immigration White Card (IMM27) for new application.

The Employment Pass must be collected before the Dependant's Pass can be collected.

Validity

Dependant's Passes may be renewed online via EP Online.

The Dependant's Pass must be given up if:

• The Employment Pass holder no longer holds a valid Employment Pass
• The Employment Pass holder has become a Permanent Resident of Singapore
• The Dependant's Pass holder leaves Singapore

A two-week social visit pass will be issued on cancellation.

Letter of Consent – Employment of a Dependant's Pass Holder

If a person holding a Dependant's Pass wishes to work in Singapore, they must obtain a Letter of Consent (LOC). Applications should be made to MOM via EP Online with the usual documentation for a Employment Pass. The Dependant's Pass holder may not start work until they have received the LOC. If the Dependant's Pass is cancelled, then the LOC is also cancelled. The renewal procedure for the LOC is the same as for a Dependant's Pass.

The employer must inform the Work Pass Division in writing if they wish to cancel an LOC.

• For further information: Click here

Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)

Anyone who holds an Employment Pass may apply for a Long-Term Social Visit Passes for their family members, including:

• Parents
• Parents-in-law
• Step children
• Spouse (including common-law spouse)
• Handicapped children
• Unmarried daughters aged over 21
• For further information: Click here

How to Apply

Submit the following documents: 

• A completed Form 14 (Long-Term Social Visit Pass Application Form) for each applicant. A local sponsor (a well-established Singapore-registered company, normally the employer of the Employment Pass holder) must sign and endorse the form. For children below 12 years old, the Employment Pass holder is required to sign on their behalf
• A copy of the Employment Pass holder's official Birth Certificate showing the parents' and the Employment Pass holder's names (for parents)
• A copy of the official Birth Certificate of the Employment Pass holder's spouse, showing the parents' and the spouse's names (for parents-in-law)
• A copy of the Employment Pass holder's Statutory Declaration of their relationship with the applicant
• A letter from the Employment Pass holder's Embassy confirming the status of common-law marriage in their country (applicable for common-law spouse)
• A copy of the Court Order on the child custody, or Letter of No Objection from the other natural parent in bringing the child to Singapore (for a step child)
• A copy of the official Birth Certificate of the Employment Pass holder's daughter (applicable for unmarried daughter above the age of 21)
• A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant. No photograph is required for children below 12 years old
• A copy of the Travel Document page showing the applicant's personal particulars

Documents may be submitted either:

• online, via EP Online 
• by hand to the Deposit Box located on Level 1, MOM Building 
• or mail to: 
  Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower
  18 Havelock Road, Singapore 059764

On Approval

The following must be produced when the LTSVP is collected:

• Applicant's current travel document (with at least two blank visa pages)
• Completed Medical Documents (where applicable)
• In-Principle Approval Letter
• Either the Disembarkation/Embarkation Card (Green Card) for renewal, or the Immigration White Card (IMM27) for a new application.

The Employment Pass must be collected before the LTSVP Pass can be collected.

If a Long-term Social Visit Pass holder wishes to work in Singapore they must obtain an Employment Pass or Work Permit, in the usual manner (described above).

Validity

Long-term Social Visit Passes may be renewed online via EP Online.

The LTSVP must be given up if:

• The Employment Pass holder no longer holds a valid Employment Pass
• The Employment Pass holder has become a Permanent Resident of Singapore
• The LTSVP holder leaves Singapore

A two-week social visit pass will be issued on cancellation.

Work Permits (WP)

A Work Permit is needed for any skilled or unskilled foreigner with a basic monthly salary of not more than S$1,800.

The employer must apply to the Controller of Work Permits (MOM) for a Work Permit (WP) for every relevant foreign worker. A Work Permit is usually valid for two years, subject to the validity of the worker's passport, their Banker's Guarantee, or their period of employment, whichever is shortest. The worker may only work for that employer and in the occupation stated in the Work Permit.

• For further information from the MOM website: Click here

The types of job available to foreign unskilled workers are limited and strictly controlled, and a government levy is payable for each foreign worker. On top of that a S$5,000 Security Bond is required for each worker employed.

Applications and payments are the sole responsibility of the employer who must ensure that they have received an In-Principle Approval before bringing a foreign worker (non-Malaysian) into Singapore. Applications can be made online via the MOM's WPOL (Work Permit Online) service or at any SingPost post office (MOM-appointed Collecting Agent). Online application is a great deal quicker - the WP will be available next day, compared with seven working days for manual applications.

Procedure to apply for a Work Permit for a foreign worker

Apply for In-Principle Approval online via the MOM's WPOL service or manually. Once this is confirmed the employer can then arrange for the worker to enter the country.

The employer must request Issuance of a Work Permit – again online or manually – within 14 days of the worker's arrival in Singapore.

The worker must undergo a medical examination and must be certified fit to work by a registered medical practitioner.

The foreign worker must be registered at the Work Pass Services Centre (WPSC). The worker will be issued with a Notification Letter which they should take within seven days to:

• WPSC
  At: Tanjong Pagar Complex, 7 Keppel Road, #02-27/29, Singapore 089053

The worker will be photographed and fingerprinted for their Work Permit card.

Collect Work Permit card from WPSC – this can be done by the worker, the employer or an authorised representative.

Renewal and Cancellation of a Work Permit

Work Permits can be renewed electronically - applications for renewal should be made at least 30 days before expiry of the WP.

The employer must cancel the WP on termination of the worker's employment, or on expiry of the worker's WP if they do no wish to renew it. A WP can be cancelled electronically via WPOL.

Work Holiday Programme (WHP)

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has recently announced a new Work Holiday Programme (WHP) that will allow foreign students from certain countries to work in Singapore for a short period with a maximum of six months. Participants may secure employment after arriving in Singapore, and there are no restrictions on the type of work or any minimum salary requirements.

Applicants must be between the 17 and 30 years of age and must be full-time students or recent graduates. Students who have been accepted to a university but are yet to begin their studies will also be eligible.

To qualify, applicants must be students in a university in one of the following countries:

• Australia
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• New Zealand
• United States
• United Kingdom

The list of countries may be extended, see the MOM website for the latest information. Applications for the programme will be accepted from 1 December 2007.

• For further information from MOM: Click here 

Further Information

• Singapore Government Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Website
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on Permanent Residency (PR)