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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.
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.
Employment Passes (EP)EligibilityForeigners 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.
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 ApplyApplication 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:
Further and more specialised documentation may also be required for members of certain professions. On ApprovalAn 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,
The following documents will need to be produced:
ValidityEmployment 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. EligibilityEligible people are:
How to ApplyApplication to MOM can be made online or in person:
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 ApplyApplication 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. EligibilityAs 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.
How to ApplyThe 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.
EligibilityForeign 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 ApplyInitial 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:
There is a small fee for each application, and approval may take up to four weeks. On ApprovalAn 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.
EligibilityMost 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 ApplyApplications 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
The documents needed are:
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:
The Employment Pass must be collected before the Dependant's Pass can be collected. ValidityDependant's Passes may be renewed online via EP Online. The Dependant's Pass must be given up if:
A two-week social visit pass will be issued on cancellation. Letter of Consent – Employment of a Dependant's Pass HolderIf 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.
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:
How to ApplySubmit the following documents:
Documents may be submitted either:
On ApprovalThe following must be produced when the LTSVP is collected:
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). ValidityLong-term Social Visit Passes may be renewed online via EP Online. The LTSVP must be given up if:
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.
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 workerApply 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:
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 PermitWork 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:
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.
Further Information
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This is the "Employment-related Passes in Singapore" INFOrmation Page at AngloINFO Singapore. AngloINFO Singapore's INFOrmation Pages provide an online encyclopaedia covering all aspects of "Living in and moving to Singapore!". AngloINFO Singapore is your Singapore information source, for everyone living in Singapore or moving to Singapore, covering everything from the Singapore property and real estate contacts you need before and during your move to Singapore, to all aspects of everyday life in the Singapore international community for those living their lives in Singapore. | ||||||||||||||||||||
