Singapore Employment Pass Guide

Singapore Employment Pass- What is it?

An employment pass in Singapore is a work visa issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). This pass is issued to foreign skilled workers, directors, managers and key executives. This form of visa would allow you to work in Singapore. An employment pass will be issued initially for a period of two years which can be renewed.

Who can apply for an Employment Pass in Singapore?

If you are a foreign worker, then your employer or an appointed employment agent must apply on your behalf for an employment pass in Singapore.

What is the minimum criteria for applying for a Singapore Employment Pass?

In order to apply for a Singapore employment pass, the following criteria must be satisfied:

• The professional must have a valid job offer in Singapore.
• The professional must earn minimum fixed monthly salary of SG$ 4,500.
• Finance Professionals must earn minimum fixed monthly salary of SG$ 5,000.
• The professional must work in a managerial or executive position.
• The professional must be from a reputable university or have a professional qualification.

How to verify qualifications of candidates for an Employment Pass in Singapore?

To verify qualifications of foreign candidates, the following can be contacted:

• Any Global Verification Agency.
• International Accreditation Bodies.
• The Country Awarding Educational Institutions.

What are the documents required for an employment pass in Singapore?

The following documents are required for an employment pass in Singapore:

• Copy of the Particulars Page of the Passport of the Foreign Candidate- If the details of the candidate in the passport are different from the other documents, then a supporting letter and explanatory statement must be provided with the application.

• ACRA Business Profile of the Company.
• Business Activities carried out by the Company.
• Educational Details of the Candidate:
• If the candidate is from India, transcripts and mark sheets of all semesters must be provided.
• If the candidate is from China, verification proof of the university is required.
• If your university is not present in the drop-down list of universities, then you must provide verification from a Global Verification Agency.
• Form 8- Employment Pass (Application Form) https://www.mom.gov.sg/-/media/mom/documents/services-forms/passes/ep_sponsor_form8.pdf 
• Resume Copy which lists all previous employment.
• Any references from previous employers.
• Recent Passport Size Photograph (must be not more than three months old).

If the documents are provided in any language other than English, then you must provide official translations of the same. All translations must be provided in the English language.

Is a foreign professional eligible to bring family members to Singapore on an Employment Pass Visa?

A foreign professional is eligible to bring family members to Singapore on an employment pass, if the following requirements are met:

• The professional must earn minimum fixed monthly salary of SG$ 6,000.
• The professional must hold a valid employment pass in Singapore.
• If the professional wants to bring his/her parents into Singapore, then they must earn minimum fixed monthly salary of SG$ 12,000.

A foreign professional who qualifies the above criteria can bring family members into Singapore. Family members require to have the following passes before entering Singapore:

• Legally Married Spouse- Dependent Pass in Singapore.
• Unmarried Children or Adopted Children- Dependent Pass in Singapore.
• Common Law Partner- Long Term Visitor Pass.
• Parents- Long Term Visitor Pass

Can I renew an employment pass in Singapore?

An employment Pass can be renewed. The applicant must make an application for renewal six months before the expiry of the pass. If you are employed (sponsored) by a foreign company, you can make an application for renewal three months before the expiry of your current pass. An application for renewal will be made by the employer or the appointed employment agent. A renewed employment pass would be valid for a period of three years from the date of renewal. If you make an application for renewal online, then it will take three weeks. If you renew by post (employment sponsorship cases) then it would take eight weeks.

What is the cost of renewing an employment pass?

The following costs are associated with renewing an employment pass in Singapore:

• SG$ 225 for each pass renewed.
• SG$ 30 for any multiple journeys.

Do employers need to take insurance for employment pass holders?

It is not necessary for employment pass holders to take insurance. Usually, employment pass holders would have their own medical insurance. An employer can either choose to provide insurance coverage under the employment contract to the pass holder.

How to apply for an employment pass in Singapore?

An employer or appointed employment agent must first make a job posting on the following website ‘MyCareersFuture.Sg.’ The job posting must be for a period of twenty-eight days. After twenty-eight days, the employer or the appointed employment agent must make an application online on the ‘MyMOM Portal’. You have to pay SG$ 105 for each employment pass in Singapore.

How long does it take for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to issue an employment pass in Singapore?

When an application is made online it takes approximately three weeks for the MOM to issue the pass in Singapore. If you are an overseas company with no physical office in Singapore, it would take about eight weeks for processing the application.

What is the process of securing the pass after an initial application is made?

When an employer makes an application for an employment pass, the Ministry of Manpower would provide a consent letter known as the ‘In-principle approval’ (IPA) letter. The IPA is valid for a period of six months from the date of issue. After securing the IPA you must get the candidate into Singapore by issuing an Entry Approval Letter. When the candidate is in Singapore, the employer must get the employment pass issued by providing a Notification Letter. The candidate must register his/her finger prints and photo at the respective Employment Pass Service Centre (EPSC). After getting biometrics checked, the candidate would receive the employment pass.

What to do if an Employment Pass application is rejected?

If your employment pass is rejected, you can file an appeal online. The following website is used for filing an appeal https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices/services/ep-online. An employer or the appointed employment agent can file an appeal. All appeals have to be filed within three months of rejection. Make sure that you only file an appeal if you have probable grounds to support the appeal. The outcome made by the authority would be the same unless and until you have some new information. The process of appeals for rejection usually take three weeks.

How can I cancel my employment pass?

You must cancel the employment pass, if the holder does not work for you anymore. You can make an application for cancellation within one week of the last date of notice. When an application for cancellation is made, it is carried out immediately. You can also make an application to cancel the employment pass application in advance. 

What are the mandatory requirements to be carried out by the employer before cancelling an employment pass in Singapore?

The following are the requirements to be carried out by an employer before cancelling an employment pass:

• The employer must give reasonable notice of the pass holders repatriation.
• Secure clearance from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).
• Settle any dues with the Pass Holder.
• Make arrangements for the passholder to go back to the home country.

Can a Shareholder apply for an employment pass in Singapore?

A shareholder will be the beneficial owner of the company with majority of control. If the company is less than six months old and the shareholder has more than 30% of stake, then the MOM may request the shareholder to apply for an Entrepass (Entrepreneurs Pass). If the shareholder has less than 30% stake in the company, then an application for employment pass can be made.

Can I make an application for an employment pass before incorporating my company?

A company needs to be incorporated before you can apply for an employment pass in Singapore.

Do I require to appoint a resident director in Singapore for my company before securing an employment pass?

Under the Singapore Companies Act (Cap 50), it is mandatory to appoint a resident director when you incorporate a company. Until your employment pass is issued, you can appoint a resident director. Once the employment pass is issued, you can make the employment pass holder a resident director.