Singapore - Work Permit

INTRODUCTION

All foreign visitors must ensure that they meet or possess entry requirements as stated by the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Visit the ICA entry requirements page for detailed information.

US Passport Holders (regular, official and diplomatic) do not require a visa to enter Singapore for business or for social visit purposes. They must, however, meet the entry requirements as mentioned above.

To immigrate to Singapore, you’ll generally need to secure a valid visa or pass based on your reason for moving (e.g., work, study, investment, or family ties). Common pathways include the Employment Pass, Personalized Employment Pass, and Entre Pass for those seeking employment or starting a business. You can also explore pathways through the Global Investor Program for investment or through family ties


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Canada Immigration Highlights

  • Permanent Residency
  • Temporary Visa
  • Student Visa
  • Visa for Working
  • Visa for Business
  • Working Holiday Visa
  • Best ways for a Permanent Residency
  • Express Entry Program
  • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Types of Visa

Employment Pass Scheme (E-Pass)- The Employment Pass (EP) is the main type of work permit meant for company owners or skilled employees who will be working in Singapore. Your fixed monthly salary must be more than S$3,600. There is no official quota system limiting the number of EPs that can be issued.

  • Validity: An EP is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the company.
  • Eligibility: Company owners and professional staff with tertiary education and relevant experience.
  • Quota System: There is no quota official system for EPs.

S Pass Scheme- The S Pass is for mid-skilled employees who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,200. S Pass applicants are assessed based on employer’s quota eligibility and applicant’s qualifications. Either a degree or diploma is required. Applicants with technical certificates may also be considered. The certification should include at least 1 year of full-time study.

 

  • Validity: S Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and is renewable after that as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the employer.
  • Eligibility: Mid-level technical staff.
  • Quota System: Yes. For more details on quota, see Computation of Company’s Quota Balance.

Personalized Employment Pass- For high-earning existing Employment Pass holders or overseas foreign professionals.

 

Work Permit (WP): This is the most common type of work permit for foreign manual workers and unskilled laborers. It is issued to individuals working in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and domestic work.

 

Entrepreneur Pass (Entre Pass): This pass is for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start and run their businesses in Singapore.

 

Dependent’s Pass (DP): This pass is for the spouse and children of the Employment Pass or S Pass holder.

Eligibility

  •  Applicants must have a valid passport
  •  Applicants must be at least 18 years of age
  • The applicant may work within the scope of work specified by the authorities in the work permits given

The processing time for the work permit is usually three to eight weeks for manual applications. Singapore offers options on the work permit and those who want to work here can choose the most appropriate one.

Point to remember

Job Search:

If you’re looking for work, research the job market, network, and consider internal transfers from your current company.

Visa Application:

Apply for the appropriate visa or pass through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) or Ministry of Manpower (MOM) (depending on the type).

Permanent Residency:

If you intend to stay long-term, explore options for permanent residency after securing a work pass or through other eligible routes.

Professional Advice:

Consult with an immigration lawyer or consultant for personalized guidance.

SGAC-

The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) is an electronic declaration form that foreign visitors must submit before entering Singapore, replacing the traditional paper disembarkation/embarkation card. It is not a visa, but a mandatory entry requirement for all travellers, including tourists, business travellers, and returning residents. The SGAC provides the Singaporean authorities with important information about travellers, including personal details, travel information, and health declarations.

Purpose: The SGAC streamlines the immigration process and enhances security measures by providing pre-arrival information to Singaporean authorities.

Mandatory Requirement: All foreign travellers, regardless of purpose of travel (tourist, business, etc.), must submit the SGAC.

Not a Visa: The SGAC is not a substitute for a visa. Travellers must still possess a valid visa if required for their nationality and purpose of travel.

How to Submit: The SGAC can be submitted online through the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website or the My ICA mobile app.

Timing: The SGAC can be submitted up to three days before arrival in Singapore.

Important Notice

  • Incomplete forms and/or documents submitted may result in the application being rejected or the processing delayed.
  • Every application for a visa, including the duration of the visa granted, will be considered on its own merits and subject to approval.
  • Possession of a visa does not guarantee entry into Singapore. The granting of entry into Singapore is determined by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the point of entry. Visitors must also meet entry requirements such as holding a valid passport, sufficient funds for the period of stay in Singapore and confirmed onward/return air ticket (if applicable).
  • The validity of the visa refers to the period where the holder may seek entry into Singapore. The duration of stay is determined by ICA officers on duty at the respective checkpoints.
  • A Singapore visa is not an immigration pass. It is a pre-entry permission for the holder of a valid Singapore visa to travel to, and seek entry, into Singapore. The grant of an immigration pass will be determined by the ICA officers at the point of entry. Possession of a valid visa alone does not guarantee entry into Singapore.
  • All foreign visitors arriving in Singapore, with effect from 11 March 2022, will be notified digitally of their Visit Pass (e-Pass) via email. There will not be any endorsement on the passport. The e-Pass notification will indicate the period of stay granted and the last day of stay allowed. Please ensure that you enter a valid email when submitting the SG Arrival Card.

Job Trends in Singapore

  • Top Industries: Information Technology, Engineering & Manufacturing, Finance & Accounting, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources and Logistics.

    Jobs in Demand: Developers, Software Engineers, Data Scientists, Financial Controllers, Senior Accountants, Auditors, Sales/business Development Managers, Logistics Managers, Sales Managers, Digital Marketing Managers.

S PASS

The S Pass is a Singapore work visa for mid-level skilled foreign workers, requiring candidates to meet a minimum salary threshold, and employers to adhere to a quota and monthly levy for hiring. Companies use the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to check eligibility, and applications are submitted online by employers.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Salary: You must receive a fixed monthly salary that meets or exceeds the current benchmark. For new applications submitted from September 1, 2025, this will be at least $3,300 for most sectors and $3,800 for the financial services sector. The salary increases progressively with age.
  • Qualifications and experience: While declaring qualifications is optional, candidates typically need a degree, diploma, or a technical certificate that requires at least one year of full-time study. Relevant work experience is also expected.
  • Job offer: You must have a job offer from a Singapore-registered company.

How to apply?

The entire S Pass application process is managed by the employer or an employment agent using MOM’s online portal, EP eService.

Preparation: The employer gathers the necessary documents, including the candidate’s passport details and a copy of the company’s business profile from ACRA. For certain roles, additional documents from relevant professional bodies may be required.

Application submission: The employer submits the application online and pays the non-refundable $105 application fee.

In-Principle Approval (IPA): If approved, MOM issues an IPA letter within approximately 10 business days. This letter allows the candidate to enter Singapore and is valid for 60 days.

Medical exam (if needed): The IPA will specify if the candidate needs to complete a medical examination after arriving in Singapore.

Pass issuance: While the candidate is in Singapore, the employer uses EP eService to issue the pass and pay the $100 issuance fee.

Biometric registration: First-time S Pass holders or those who registered more than five years ago must register their fingerprints and have their photo taken at the MOM Services Centre within one week of the pass being issued.

Receive pass card: After registration and verification, the S Pass card is delivered to the designated address within five working days.

S Pass holders can apply for passes for their family members, but only if they earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $6,000.

Dependant’s Pass: For legally married spouses and unmarried children under 21.

Long-Term Visit Pass: For other family members, including common-law spouses and parents.

Factors to keep in mind

Who it is for skilled workers who meet the eligibility criteria.

Who can apply, an employer or appointed employment agent must apply on behalf of the applicant. If the pass holder changes jobs, the new employer has to apply for a new pass.

1 Qualifying salary

Fixed monthly salary comparable to top one-third of local APT salaries. This is a minimum of $3,150 (and increases progressively with age, up to $4,650 for those in mid-40s).

Candidates in the financial service sector need higher salaries to qualify.

2 What is the duration?

First-time candidate: Up to 2 years.

Renewals: Up to 3 years

Note: The duration granted is limited by your passport validity. The pass can only be valid up to 1 month before your passport expiry date.

Is it renewable- Yes? Find out how to renew.

Quota or levy- Yes. Employers are subject to a quota and levy for S Pass employees.

Medical insurance  Employers must provide medical insurance for S Pass holders.

Primary Care Plan (PCP)  

Employers must complete all the following:

After getting the in-principle approval or renewal letter, buy a PCP for workers

Who either:

 

Stay in dormitories that can accommodate 7 or more workers

Work in CMP sectors

Before the S Pass can be issued or renewed, declare the PCP purchase on my MOM Portal.

Relevant legislation- Conditions of Work Pass

Employment of Foreign Manpower Act

Related eServices and forms- Access online services and forms for S Pass.

E PASS-

The Employment Pass is a work pass for foreign professionals, managers, and executives who have a job offer in Singapore. The application process is managed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

An ePass (electronic Visit Pass) is the digital record of your granted immigration status for short-term visits to Singapore, received via email after submitting an SG Arrival Card. For long-term stay, an Employment Pass (EP) is a work pass for skilled foreign professionals, requiring a qualifying salary and a Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) score, with applications handled by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

 

What it is: A work pass for highly skilled foreign professionals working in Singapore.

 

Who issues it: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Eligibility Requirements:

A Singapore-registered company sponsor.

A recognised education qualification and relevant work experience.

A qualifying salary.

A minimum COMPASS score of 40 points.

Eligibility Criteria

Earn at least the EP qualifying salary, which is benchmarked to the top 1/3 of local PMET salaries by age.

Stage 2          

Unless exempted, pass the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).

Note: Candidates who do not meet stage 1 will not be eligible for an EP, regardless of the points they would have scored under COMPASS.

Documents Submission

Personal particulars page of candidate’s passport.

If the candidate’s name on the passport differs from that on their other documents, please also upload an explanation letter and supporting documents (e.g. deed poll).

Company’s latest business profile or instant information registered with ACRA.

Verification proof for candidate’s qualifications (if applicable)

 

How to apply

Apply for an Employment Pass

You can apply for an Employment Pass online as an employer or appointed employment agent.

  • At a glance
  • Step    Who does this-         How long it takes
  • Submit an application-      Employer or employment agent (EA)   
  • If you apply online: Processed or given an update within 10 business days.
  • For overseas company without a Singapore-registered company: within 8 weeks for most cases.
  • Prepare for arrival in Singapore Candidate –   Not applicable
  • Get the pass issued Employer or EA-     Immediate processing
  • (If required) Register fingerprints and photo  Candidate-    Not applicable
  • Receive the card    
  • Authorised recipients or candidate-      Receive within 5 working days after fingerprint and photo registration, or document verification
  • See pass map for an overview of what you need to do before, during and after you apply for an Employment Pass.
  • Use the Self-Assessment Tool to check if your candidate qualifies. You should not apply if the Self-Assessment Tool shows that your candidate does not qualify.
  • Apply for family passes after the main pass is approved. Although you can apply for family passes at the same time as the EP, you will lose the application fees for each family pass if the EP application gets rejected.
  • You are required to advertise your job opening on MyCareersFuture to consider all applicants fairly, before you can apply for an Employment Pass.
  • You can submit an application using EP eService.
  • Processing time: Processed or given an update within 10 business days.
  • Get a written consent to apply for Employment Pass from the candidate.
  • Complete the candidate’s form. It contains information you’ll need for the application and can be sent to the candidate to fill in.
  • Submit the EP application and upload the required documents.
  • Ensure that your organisation’s turnover information for the past 3 years has been updated before submitting the application.
  • Pay the $105 fee by GIRO, Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
  • Learn what to do if the educational institution is not listed on the application form.

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