An All-in-One Guide to Employment Pass in Singapore

Singapore, placed among the most progressive countries in the Asia-Pacific region, attracts a large number of foreign nationals who come here in search of a rewarding job opportunity and a better life. Most people, however, aren’t completely aware of the rule and regulations prescribed by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower to admit foreign nationals in the country. Although people know that they need to obtain a work pass in order to work or stay in the country, in most cases, however, that is the totality of the awareness. The result: confusion, confusion, and more confusion. But let’s just call that history.

Here you will discover the intricacies of The Employment Pass granted by MOM, including in-depth information on various key factors, such as eligibility, documentations required, fees, application process, and processing time, among others.

Employment Pass in Singapore: An Introduction

Every foreign national, who wishes to work in Singapore, needs to obtain a relevant employment pass. The type of employment pass you need depends on various factors ranging from your average salary to your occupation.

The Employment Pass is required by foreign professionals who wish to work in a managerial, executive or specialised role. In order to apply for an Employment Pass, the applicant needs to qualify on various parameters. Let’s us take a look.


Eligibility

  • A job offer in Singapore from a recognized organization.
  • Minimum proposed salary of $3,300.
  • A degree or specialization from a recognized institute.

Please note that every application is evaluated by the MOM at its merit, with body thoroughly focused on evaluating every parameter. Education, for instance, is one of the pivotal factors that decide the outcome of an application.


Considerations

In addition to salary, the MOM takes into consideration an array of factors to evaluate applications. The list includes, but is not limited to:

    • The national ranking and placement record of the institute of education
    • The level of skills possessed by the applicants and their track record
    • The credibility of the prospective employer

Please note that some applicants may be required to command a higher salary in order to qualify. Ideally, the proposed salary of an applicant should be proportional to their experience and work quality.


Documents Checklist

      • Application form, endorsed with the employer’s stamp or seal, and signed by the applicant.
      • Document to validate the applicant’s educational qualifications, work experience, and skills.
      • Verification proof of education certificates from any one of the following verification channels:
      • Employer’s latest business profile or instant information registered with the ACRA
      • Passport-sized photograph of the applicant, taken within three months.
      • Personal particulars page of the applicant’s passport or travel document.

Application Process

Applications to obtain an Employment Pass can be filed both online and in-person.

Online

Those who wish to take the virtual road can simply visit MOM’s EP Online Portal to file their application and pay the administrative fee using GIRO, Visa/MasterCard or eNets Debit.

The portal allows users to perform a number of transactions, including:

      • File new application for all types of passes granted to foreign nationals
      • Apply for pass renewal and cancellation
      • Upload relevant documents required to file requests
      • Appeal for rejected pass applications
      • View the reasons for the rejection of applications
      • Check the status of their applications
      • Printing application outcome letter
      • Check the Pass quota and tier information of organizations

Manual

If a person wishes to apply in person, they need to download the application form (link provided at the end of the page), fill it out, attach all relevant documents, and submit their application at one of the SingPost post offices (MOM-appointed application collecting agents).

The payment of the administrative fee can be made using cash, NETS or CashCard. Once an applicant submits their application, a SingPost payment advice slip is issued at the post office. In the end, all applications are sent to the Ministry of Manpower for consideration.

Sponsored

Employers and recruitment agencies are also qualified to file an Employment Pass application on the behalf of the applicant. The applicants can check the Foreign Identification Number (FIN) assigned and the status of their application using the EP Online Portal about three weeks after submitting the application. If the Employment Pass application is approved, an In-Principle Approval letter is sent to the sponsoring company.

Processing Time

The processing times for online, manual and overseas applications have a notable margin of difference, with the digital medium promising the fastest way to obtain an Employment Pass.

According to MOM’s website, 80 percent of online submissions are processed within a week’s time. On the other hand, the processing time for manual and sponsored applications is about five weeks.

Rejection and Appeal

If your application is rejected by the MOM, the notification letter will clearly specify the reason(s) for the rejection and advise you on the remedial actions to follow. Before reapplying, make sure that the concerns pointed out by the letter have been addressed.

Who Can Appeal?

In cases of rejection, only the employer is authorised to appeal reconsideration. The MOM does not entertain any direct queries from candidates. Employers can use EP Online Portal to file an appeal, it, however, must be done within three months of rejection.

Scope

Please note that you can appeal only for the passes you applied for on the first application. For instance, if your Employment Pass application is rejected, you cannot appeal for an S Pass. In that, you will be required to prepare and submit a new application.

Processing

Typical processing time of an appeal is about three weeks, but in some cases, it may take longer, depending on the rush and the intricacies involved. It is, however, advisable for applicants to log in and check their supplication status on a regular basis, after the completion of three weeks.

Application Fee

The MOM charges an administrative fee of $70 per Employment Pass application submission. The fee for issuance request is $150 per issues. In cases of ‘Multiple Journey Visa’, the fee is $30 per issue.


The various types of employment passes & eligibility criteria based on monthly salary are given below:

Pass Type Eligibility Requirements Validity Period Processing Time MOM
Fee
P1 Pass
  • Fixed monthly salary of S$ 8,000
  • Acceptable tertiary qualifications or trade certification
  • Relevant working experience
1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable
Online Submission:
7 days
Manual Submission:
5 weeks
Application:
S$ 70
Issuance/
Renewal:
S$ 150
P2 Pass
  • Fixed monthly salary of S$ 4,500
  • Acceptable qualifications
  • Relevant working experience
1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable
Online Submission:
7 days
Manual Submission:
5 weeks
Application:
S$ 70
Issuance/
Renewal:
S$ 150
Q1 Pass
  • Fixed monthly salary of S$ 3,300
  • Graduated from good universities/institutions
  • Preferably with 1-2 years working experience
1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable
Online Submission:
7 days
Manual Submission:
5 weeks
Application:
S$ 70
Issuance/
Renewal:
S$ 150
* Older applicants without tertiary qualifications need to have higher fixed monthly salaries commensurating with relevant work experience and skills.
S-Pass
  • Fixed monthly salary of S$ 2,200 (w.e.f. 1st of July 2013)
  • Posess a degree/diploma. Technical certificates of at least 1 year of full-time study can be considered
  • Preferably with 1-2 years working experience
1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable
Online Submission:
7 days
Manual Submission:
5 weeks
Application:
S$ 60
Issuance/
Renewal:
S$ 80
* The number of S Pass holders a company can employ is capped at a sub-quota, or Dependency Ceiling (DC), of 10% – 15% of the company’s total workforce in the Services sector and 10% – 20% in the remaining sectors.
* Employment Pass & S Pass holders need to earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$4,000 to sponsor the stay of their spouse and children here.
Work Permit Approved country/territory 1-2 years (subject to worker’s passport validity, Banker’s/Insurance Guarantee and worker’s employment period) and renewable
Online Submission:
Next working day
Manual Submission:
7 working days
Application:
S$ 30
Issuance:
S$ 30
* Services sector employers can employ Work Permit holders up to 40% of the company’s/firm’s total workforce. PRC Work Permit holders can make up to 8% within the 40% Dependency Ceiling.(w.e.f. 1st of July 2013)

 

Some Useful Links

Employment Pass Self-Assessment Tool
EP Online Portal
The Website of Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority
Request Form for Services Related to Employment Pass/S Pass Issuance Request Form for Services Related to Employment Pass/S Pass Issuance
Request Form for Short Term Visit Pass (STVP) Request Form for Short Term Visit Pass (STVP)
Request Form for Updates of Company Particulars Request Form for Updates of Company Particulars
Request Form for Amendment of Personal Particulars Request Form for Amendment of Personal Particulars
Authorisation Form Authorisation Form
EP/S Pass Application Form EP/S Pass Application Form
Guidelines on the Calculation of Quota and Levy Bill Guidelines on the Calculation of Quota and Levy Bill
Quota Calculator for Work Permits and S Passes Quota Calculator for Work Permits and S Passes

5 Comments

  1. Manoj

    Hi Team,

    This is Manoj from India, I am professional HR recruiter working as Sr. Executive in Talent Acquisition team for a MNC in India, I would like to explore more opportunities in Malaysia and Singapore in my field. Kindly help me with relevant information. Thanks!

  2. muhammad sagheer

    Dear Sir, I am Muhammad sagheer send ur application form.I am typically hard worker and always perform my duty with honesty.I assure you that if you give me a chance. I will never disappoint you.I am confident that.I will impress you by my performance.I request you please give me a chance to show my talent.I hope you will not disappoint me.I am waiting for positive response from you.I hope that you will consider this my application thanks for your attention God bless you. Thanks& Best Regard muhammad sagheer. I have experienced 7 to 9 year assistant store manager & assistant purchase manager and other jobs 

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