Employment Pass in Singapore allows foreign professionals, managers, specialists and executives to work and live in Singapore. People with a job offer in Singapore are eligible for an Employment Pass. An employer or an appointed employment agent can apply on behalf of the applicant.
The application for an Employment Pass needs a careful review to decide on the right kind of pass, Employment Pass requirements and the Ministry of Manpower’s latest regulations.
According to the Singapore Companies Act 2007, if a foreigner is to become a director of a company, the foreigner shall need to be a valid Singapore Employment Pass holder.
Only eligible foreign nationals are considered for issuing Singapore Employment Pass and open to all nationalities. The eligibility criteria are
The minimum monthly salary requirement as one of the foremost eligibility criteria for application of Employment Pass may primarily be intended to ensure that the foreign Pass holders have salaries similar to those of local Singaporeans and the employers are discouraged to hire foreigners at a lower cost.
You need to upload the following documents while applying for an Employment Pass online
You need not be physically present in Singapore while applying for an Employment Pass. The EP applications can be submitted online to the Ministry of Manpower by your employer or an appointed employment agent in Singapore.
Before you apply for an Employment Pass, you need to be well aware of all the requirements and eligibility criteria stipulated by the Singapore Ministry of Manpower.
Before applying for an Employment Pass (EP), all employers need to advertise the job on MyCareersFuture. The minimum monthly salary requirement for being eligible for EP is SGD 4500 and may be higher for senior experienced persons.
The process of application and issuance consists of the following steps
Before Applying for the EP
Before the Applicant arrives in Singapore, the employer or the appointed employment agent (EA) must carry out the following steps that take 3 weeks for most cases if you have a Singapore registered office, otherwise 8 weeks from the date of submission of online application
Once the IPA is received, the applicant arrives in Singapore and the following steps are to be followed within 6 months of issuance of IPA
Once the Notification Letter is used, the following steps are to be carried out for immediate issuance of EP Card
The EP Card has a validity of two years and the frequency of renewal is three years.
EP holders enjoy several advantages over other work Pass holders and the most common amongst the foreigners.
EP holders can become owner or director of a company when S Pass holders can’t
Can enter any line of work which doesn’t apply to other Pass holder categories and even personalized EP holders
No additional specific criteria as applicable to personalized EP or EntrePass holders
EP holders can apply for Dependant’s Pass (DP) and Long term visit Pass subject to fulfilment of certain criteria and can make it easier for their family members to come to Singapore.
The Ministry of Manpower needs to be notified in the event of
In the event of an EP holder continuing working beyond two years of EP validity, the employer can apply for renewal of Pass.
EP renewal application can be done up to 6 months before the pass expires. The renewal application needs to reach MOM at least 2 months before expiry.
The employer or EA can make the application and the renewed pass remains valid for 3 years if supported by passport validity.
Renewal of EP attracts SGD 225 fees for each Pass and missing the deadline requires an application for a new pass. The renewal is not guaranteed and subject to current regulatory regulations of MOM.
The renewal process steps are
In case the EP Card is lost, the employer of the cardholder must apply for a replacement within 1 week.
Difficulty in comprehending Singapore’s strict eligibility criteria along with the complexities involved in the Employment Pass application process can often be a daunting task for employers and applicants alike. The Ministry of Manpower’s understanding may also greatly differ from those of the applicants. Outsourcing an external PRO service provider with a local presence offering work visa services in Singapore should always be a wise and preferred choice.
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