Work Permit For Singapore: Requirements and How To Apply

Singapore is one of my favorite places to visit; the culture and the food are amazing. With the Singapore Work Visa, you can now travel to and work in Singapore. How great is that? I'll guide you through everything you need to know about the Singapore Work Visa.

A Singapore Work Visa, otherwise known as a work pass or work permit for Singapore, enables foreigners to take up temporary or permanent work in Singapore.

As per the work permit for Singapore rules, the employers who engage foreign workers in Singapore need to provide them with a monthly salary for their service, maintain a security bond, and provide health insurance. You can apply for the Singapore work permit online.

You must have a valid Work Visa before you start working in Singapore. The different types of Work Visas issued by the officials at the Singapore Ministry of Manpower are the following:

• Singapore Employment Pass
• Singapore EntrePass
• Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
• Singapore S Pass
• Singapore Work Permit For Migrant Workers
• Singapore Work Permit For Migrant Domestic Worker
• Singapore Long Term Visit Pass
• Work Passes (Holders of Long-Term Visit Passes Issued By ICA)
• Singapore Letter Of Consent For Dependant's Pass Holders Who Are Business Owners
• Singapore Dependent's Pass
• Singapore Miscellaneous Work Pass

Singapore Employment Pass

The Employment Pass allows foreign professionals, managers, and executives to work in Singapore. You need to earn at least $4,500 a month and have acceptable qualifications to apply. You must also demonstrate that you have fairly considered all job seekers.

The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals who:

• Have a job offer in Singapore.
• Work in a managerial, executive, or specialized job.
• Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $4,500.
• Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $5,000 for candidates in the financial services sector.
• Have acceptable qualifications, usually a good university degree, professional qualifications, or specialized skills.

Application for a Singapore Employment Pass is open to all nationalities. To apply for an Employment Pass, you need certain travel documents and all the other travel documents, which I'll discuss later in this post. In addition, you need the following required documents:

• The company's latest business profile.
• Your educational certificates (like a degree certificate).

For further information on the Singapore Employment Pass, you can visit the Ministry of Manpower website.

Singapore EntrePass

The EntrePass allows eligible foreign entrepreneurs to start and operate a venture-backed business in Singapore or possesses innovative technologies.

The eligibility requirements for a Singapore EntrePass are:

• Have started, or intend to start, a private limited company registered with ACRA that is venture-backed or owns innovative technologies.
• Meet any of the following innovative criteria as an entrepreneur, innovator, or investor, like funding from the Singapore government, have an entrepreneurial track record, and hold intellectual property. You do not need to meet all of the criteria for each profile, but having more qualifications would help your application.

Along with all the required documents I'll mention later in this post, you also need the following documents:

• The company's latest business profile.
• A business plan in English.

For further information on the required documents, visit the Ministry of Manpower website.

If you hold a Singapore EntrePass, you can start applying to renew the pass 3 months before it expires.

Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

The Personalised Employment Pass is for high-earning Employment Pass holders and overseas foreign professionals. It is not tied to an employer and offers greater flexibility than an Employment Pass. You can apply for the Singapore Personalised Employment Pass if you're:

• An overseas foreign professional and your last drawn fixed monthly salary overseas was at least $18,000. Your last drawn salary should have been within 6 months before you apply.
• An Employment Pass holder earning a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000.

You cannot apply for a Personalised Employment Pass if you're an Employment Pass holder under the sponsorship scheme, a freelancer, a foreigner who intends to work freelance, or a journalist, editor, sub-editor, or producer.

Singapore S Pass

The Singapore S Pass allows mid-level skilled staff to work in Singapore. To apply for an S Pass for Singapore, you need to earn at least $2,500 a month and have the relevant qualifications and work experience. The requirements for an S Pass for Singapore are for mid-skilled foreign employees who meet these eligibility criteria:

• Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,500. The salary should reflect work experience.
• Have a degree or diploma.
• Have relevant work experience.

Before you can issue or renew an S Pass, you must buy medical insurance. In addition, as part of an employer's S Pass medical obligations, you must purchase and maintain medical insurance for your S Pass holders as long they are under your employment.

The insurance coverage must be at least $ 15,000 per year and cover inpatient care and day surgery.

Singapore Work Permit For Migrant Workers

The Work Permit for Migrant Workers allows semi-skilled workers from approved countries to work in specific sectors. You can renew a Work Permit online 6 to 8 weeks before it expires. Before renewing, you must complete certain steps, such as checking your quota and extending the worker's security bond and medical insurance. Work Permit requirements vary by sector. You can go to the Ministry of Manpower website to check the requirements for each sector. The different sectors include construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, and services.

Singapore Work Permit For Migrant Domestic Worker

You need to apply for a Work Permit if you hire a migrant domestic worker (MDW) in Singapore. There are different categories for the eligibility requirements, including MDW eligibility, employer requirements, and insurance requirements. You can read about all the eligibility requirements on the Ministry of Manpower website. You must renew your MDW's Work Permit before it expires. Before renewing, you must complete certain steps, such as buying an insurance package.

Singapore Long Term Visit Pass

The Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is for family members like common-law spouses, stepchildren, or disabled children of an Employment Pass or S Pass holder. Pass holders earning a minimum salary of $12,000 can also get a pass for parents.

You can apply for a Long Term Visit Pass for your family if you meet all these requirements:

• Hold an Employment Pass or S Pass.
• Earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000. This is based on your salary and not your combined household income.
• Are sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company (usually your employer).

You can start applying to renew Long Term Visit Passes up to 6 months before they expire.

Work Passes (Holders of Long-Term Visit Passes Issued By ICA)

If you are holding a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) issued by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), you can work in Singapore only if you get a Singapore work pass. You are not allowed to work in objectionable occupations such as a dance hostess or a masseur. Your Long Term Visit Pass should be valid for at least 4 months if you wish to apply for a Work Permit.

If you're a Long Term Visit Pass holder accompanying a child studying in Singapore, you are not allowed to work during your first year.

This encourages you to spend more time with your child and help them adjust to Singapore's education system. After you are in Singapore for a year, you can find a job, and your employer can apply for a Work Permit for you. Under the Work Permit, you can work in any sector, and you're not subject to source country restrictions, and you're not allowed to work in objectionable occupations (bar or dance hostess, masseur, etc.).

Along with the other required documents (mentioned late in this post), you will need these documents to apply for a Work Permit in Singapore:

• A copy of your child’s student pass.
• A copy of your child’s birth certificate.
• A letter from your child's school indicating your child's current education level.
• A copy of your current LTVP.

Singapore Dependent's Pass

The Dependant's Pass allows spouses and children of Employment Pass or S Pass holders to join them in Singapore. You can apply for a Dependant’s Pass on behalf of your family if you:

• Hold an Employment Pass or S Pass.
• Earn a minimum monthly salary of $6,000.
• Are sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company (usually your employer).

You can get a pass for your following family members:

• Legally married spouse.
• Unmarried children under 21 years old, including legally adopted children.

To apply, you need the documents I'll mention later in this post, and you may also need additional documents depending on the family member you are applying for:

• Spouse (legally married): Copy of your marriage certificate.
• Children under 21 years (unmarried): A copy of their birth certificate and a verification of vaccination requirements.
• Legally adopted children under 21 (unmarried): A copy of the adoption papers and verification of [vaccination requirements]https://www.nir.hpb.gov.sg/fcine/#/navpage/faq).

For further information about the Dependent's Pass for Singapore, visit the Ministry of Manpower website.

Singapore Letter Of Consent For Dependant's Pass Holders Who Are Business Owners

You can apply for a Letter of Consent to work in Singapore if you're an eligible Dependant’s Pass holder who wants to operate a business.

To be eligible to apply for a Letter Of Consent, you need to be one of the following types of business owner:

• The sole proprietor of an ACRA-registered business.
• A partner of an ACRA-registered business.
• A company director with at least 30% shareholding in an ACRA-registered business.

To be eligible for a renewal of the Letter Of Consent, you'll also need to hire at least one Singaporean or a Singapore Permanent Resident who earns at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary and receives CPF contributions for at least 3 months. You can renew your Letter Of Consent (LOC) when you renew your Dependant’s Pass. You can renew up to 6 months before your Letter Of Consent expires.

Singapore Miscellaneous Work Pass

The Miscellaneous Work Pass is for eligible foreigners on short-term work assignments, like speakers at a seminar, religious workers, or journalists.

You are eligible to apply if you are:

• A foreigner directly involved in, but not limited to, organizing or conducting any seminar, conference, workshop, or gathering.
• A foreign religious worker giving talks directly or indirectly related to religion.
• A foreign journalist, reporter, or accompanying crew member not sponsored by any Singapore Government agency to cover an event or write a story in Singapore.

The Miscellaneous Work Pass lets you take on assignments of up to 60 days in Singapore.

For further information, visit the Ministry of Manpower website.

Although each type of Work Visa for Singapore has its own additional documents, you require the following travel documents for all Work Visas:

• Appointment letter.
• A valid passport.
• A completed Singapore Work Visa application form.
• Copy of your work experience certificate.
• Two passport-size color photographs.
• Description of the nature of work you will do in Singapore.

Again, you'll need additional documents depending on the type of Work Visa you're applying for.

Applying for a Singapore Work Visa (work permit or work pass) can cause stress. But don't worry, I'll go through the work permit application process with you.

First, you must know that your company must apply for employment passes on your behalf. You should know that your employer might engage an employment agency to help with the process. Overseas employers need to ask a Singapore-based company to act as a local sponsor. The local sponsor will apply on your behalf. The employment pass or Spass application processes are similar.

Your company must supply its latest business profile or information as registered with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).

Once they apply, the processing time is usually three weeks for Singapore work permit online applications and eight weeks for manual applications (at a Singapore Embassy or Consulate). Your employer should receive an In Principal Approval (IPA) letter. You will receive a copy of this, and the employer has six months to bring you to Singapore to issue an employment pass, or only sixty days if you are applying for an S pass. You must be in Singapore to get your pass.

Once you arrive in Singapore to get your pass, there are a few things you need to provide:

• Details of your current immigration pass and disembarkation/embarkation card. - A completed medical examination or health declaration form.
• A residential address in Singapore that meets housing requirements.

Once your employer completes the necessary issuance steps and they accept your pass, you will receive a notification letter. This is valid for one month, although you can extend the validity. Having this letter means you can start work and travel in and out of Singapore while waiting for your pass card.

The notification letter also lets employees know if they must register their photos and fingerprints within two weeks of the pass issuance. This will be at a Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Services Center. If you need to register, you should bring the following documents to your appointment:

• Original passport.
• An appointment letter.
• Notification letter.
• Any documents listed in the IPA letter and notification letter.

If you do not need to register, the passcard should arrive within four days of submitting all the documents.

If you do need to register, your card should arrive within four days of your registration. For further information about the Singapore Work Visa application, you can visit the InterNations website.

The Singapore work permit processing time for professionals is quicker when applications are submitted online; they process 80 percent of all online applications within seven working days. However, manual applications may take up to 6 weeks to process.

When applying online, the Singapore work permit processing time for a Singapore S Pass is 7 working days; when applying in person, the processing time is 5 weeks. Work Permits in Singapore take 1-7 working days to process. Work visa for Singapore processing times for trainees and students range from 7 to 5 weeks. When you apply online, they process a Training Work Permit in Singapore in 1 working day for interim approval.

Lets' take a look at the Singapore work permit costs. The different types of Singapore Work Visas have different kinds of fees:

• The Personalised Employment Pass is 70 US dollars for Application and 150 US dollars for Issuance/Renewal (current fees).
• The S Pass costs 60 US dollars for Application and 80 US dollars for Issuance/Renewal.
• The Employment Pass costs USD 70 for the application and USD 150 for issuance or renewal.
• The Entre Pass costs USD 70 for the application and USD 150 for renewal or issuance.

The list of the visa costs goes on. If you want to check the cost of your specific visa, you can go to the website where you can check the costs.

The Singapore work permit costs are subject to change. Therefore, I recommend you check the Singapore work permit costs before applying.

There you go!

Now you can go to Singapore and enjoy all the nature-based and human-made tourist attractions. A Singapore Work Visa is the way to go!