Employment Pass

All foreigners intending to start work in Singapore must obtain a valid work visa to do so. There are many types of work visas, each with specific rules and regulations governed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

EP IPA Letter by Feb 2021 ->

Application / Renewal Rates for Foreign Workers

Application / Renewal of Employment Pass	Malaysian	Others (with existing SG FIN)	Others (without SG FIN)
New Online Application Exclude MOM Application & Issuance Fee @ $335 Includes Job Advertising under Govt Job Portal Include 1 Time Appeal Application (if not successful)	$1500	$1500	$3000
Renewal of Work Pass	$600	$600
Optional Items
Medical Check-up Cost	$60

Assume Applicant meets the minimum eligiblity criteria for the workpass by MOM
Additional Fees of $200 apply if Appeals is required against initial rejection by MOM
Exclude Out of Pocket Exp. (e.g. MOM Fees, etc)

Common Types of Singapore Work Visas

Visa	Minimum Salary	Requirements
Entrepreneur Pass	N/A	Entrepreneurs looking to relocate and start a business in Singapore
Work Permit	N/A	Semi-skilled foreign workers from approved source countries working in the construction, manufacturing, service, process, or marine shipyard sector
S Pass	$2,300	Holds a degree, diploma or technical certificate with basic requirement of at least 1 year of full-time study and relevant work experience
Employment Pass	$4,500	Professional, manager or executive roles
Dependent’s Pass	N/A	Parent or spouse with an employment pass and a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000, or is sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company

What is an Employment Pass (EP)?

An Employment Pass (EP) is a Singapore working visa issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to foreign professional employees, managers, executives and owners or directors of Singapore companies.

The work pass is open to all nationalities and is usually valid for 2 years with the possibility to renew. No foreign work levy or quota is required for the pass.

Employment Pass holders may apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in due course.

General Requirements to Qualify for an Employment Pass (EP)

To qualify for an Employment Pass (EP), the foreign professional must:

Be offered a job in Singapore
The job position is managerial, executive or a specialised role
Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $4,500 (more experienced and older candidates may require higher salaries)
Holds related qualification, such as a good university degree, professional qualifications or specialised skills

Note: Even if the candidate fulfil all requirements listed above, he or she is not automatically eligible. Each candidate is evaluated based on the track record and the skill set he or she brings to the Singapore economy. Evaluation may also include examining the company’s contributions to the Singapore economy and workforce.

Documents Required for the EP Application

The following documents are required for the application of Employment Pass:

Copy of the candidate’s passport personal particulars page
Company’s latest ACRA business profile
Candidate’s educational certificates

If the qualification is from India, the following additional verification proofs are required:

Transcripts
Marksheets

If the qualification is from China, the following additional verification proofs are required:

Verification proof directly in English from recognised sources such as:
- China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center
- China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Information
- Dataflow
Note: Education certificates certified by a notary public are not accepted as verification proof

Additional documents may be required for certain professions or industries.

Note: all documents must be in English or with an English translation done by a certified translation body.

Applying for an Employment Pass

An Employment Pass (EP) application will be processed within 3 weeks (if applied online) to 8 weeks (if applied manually), unless additional information is required.

The application procedure is as follows:

The vacant job position must be advertised on the Jobs Bank for at least 14 days before an EP application is made for a foreign candidate (unless company fulfils the conditions to be exempt from this requirement).
The application is submitted, along with its supporting documents. The employer will need a written consent from the candidate.
Upon approval, an in-principle approval (IPA) letter will be issued. It serves as a pre-approved single entry visa for the worker to enter Singapore.
When the worker arrives in Singapore, he or she must complete a medical examination with any Singapore-registered doctor.
A request for the issuing of pass must then be made within 60 days when the candidate is in Singapore.
Upon receiving the notification letter confirming the issuance of work pass, the candidate must register his or her fingerprints and complete photo-taking at the MOM Services Centre within 2 weeks.
Upon registration, the Employment Pass card will be delivered within 4 working days.

How can Timcole Increase Your Chance with an EP Application?

Timcole’s EP application service include:

Advise and assist in the preparation of Employment Pass application and ensuring that all necessary supporting documents are included to minimise delays and maximise approval
Applying and tracking of the application
Liaising with MOM officer in charge on your behalf, if required
Arranging for the issuance of Employment Pass upon in-principle approval
In the case of a rejection, Timcole will review the application and file an appeal on your behalf

Jobs Bank Requirement

According to the MOM, companies that wish to hire foreign professionals are required to first advertise the said position in the Singapore Workforce Development Agency’s Jobs Bank for a minimum of 14 days.

However, companies that fufill the below conditions are exempt from this requirement:

Company has less than 10 employees.
The job position will earn a fixed monthly salary of S$15,000 or more.
The job will be filled by an intra-corporate transferee (ICTs). ICTs refer to candidates holding senior positions in the organisation or professionals with advanced level of expertise.
The job position is only required for less than one month.

What Happens If the Employment Pass Application is Rejected?

In the event that the Employment Pass application is unsuccessful, the applicant can file an appeal within 90 days of the rejection notice. The appeal will take at least 3 weeks to process.

Note: Please do not hesitate to bring your situation to us in the case of a rejection. Timcole, a professional firm with vast experience in work-pass services, can assist in investigating why your Employment Pass application is unsuccessful. Based on the reasons provided by the MOM, we will refine your application and submit an appeal on your behalf.

Renewing of Employment Work Pass

An Employment Work Pass can be renewed six months before it expires. The processing will take 3 weeks (if applied online) to 8 weeks (if applied manually for EP sponsorship cases) or longer.

Note: The MOM must receive the renewal application at least 2 weeks before the pass’s expiry date. Otherwise, the pass holder will be required to apply for a new Employment Pass.

Upon approval, the renewed pass is valid for up to 3 years. Factors such as the pass holder’s passport validity will not affect the duration of the renewed pass.

Renewals are not guaranteed and highly recommended to apply early.

To renew an Employment Work Pass:

Submit the application renewal along with its supporting documents.
Upon approval, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will be received.
Follow the instructions in the IPA to apply for the issuing of the pass.
Receive a notification letter which determines whether a new pass will be issued.

Notifying Changes with the MOM

The Employment Pass holder or the employer must notify MOM of the following changes:

Change in pass holder’s salary
Change in company’s name or financial information
Change in company address
Change in business entity
If a pass holder is transferred to a related company
Change in pass holder’s occupation
If a pass holder goes missing
Change in pass holder’s residential address
Change in pass holder’s personal particulars

EP Card Replacement

The EP holder or employer must apply for a new card within one week if the work pass is lost, damaged or stolen. If the Employment Pass card was stolen, a police report must also be included in the application.

If the Employment Pass holder is overseas during the event, the employer must notify MOM immediately and a letter will be issued for the pass holder to enter Singapore.

A charge will be made for the card replacement. For a damaged card, the cost will be S$60 and for a lost card, the cost is S$100 for the first loss and S$300 for any subsequent loss.

Upon approval, the new S Pass card can be collected within 4 working days.

Cancellation of Employment Pass

The employer of an EP holder must cancel the Employment Pass if the pass holder is no longer working for the company or if the work pass expires. The cancellation must be done either within one week after the last day of notice or one day after the pass expires.

If the pass holder has already left Singapore permanently before the cancellation, the employer must cancel the Employment Work Pass within one week from the pass holder’s date of departure.

The cancellation is immediate and all related Dependant’s Passes, Long Term Visit Passes and Letter of Consent will also be cancelled.

Before the cancellation of the Employment Pass, the employer must:

Seek tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
Settle any outstanding salary payment, or other employment issues
Buy an air ticket for the worker to return home (unless the pass holder is willing to bear the cost)

Upon cancellation, the employer has one week to mail the card to the following address:

Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower, 18 Havelock Road, Singapore 059764

Applying for Singapore Permanent Residency (PR)

EP holders are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in Singapore. It is advisable to wait for at least six months to meet one of the assessing criteria requiring a submission of a minimum six months payslip and preferably an IRAS tax assessment.

The PR application will be made through the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Worker (PTS) scheme at the Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA). ICA will evaluate according to the applicant’s personal particular, background, length of stay, and other relevant factors.

Applying Passes for Family Members

Employment Pass holders with a fixed monthly salary of S$6,000 or more, are eligible to apply for a Dependant’s Pass or Long Term Visit Pass for their spouse and children.

The type of passes to apply for the family members are as follows:

Family Member	Pass Type
Legally married spouse	Dependant’s Pass
Common-law spouse	Long Term Visit Pass
Unmarried children under the age of 21, including those legally adopted	Dependant’s Pass
Unmarried handicapped children above the age of 21	Long Term Visit Pass
Unmarried step-children under the age of 21	Long Term Visit Pass
Parents (eligible only for EP holders earning a monthly fixed salary of S$12,000 or more)	Long Term Visit Pass

Applying for a Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

EP holders are eligible to apply for a Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). It is a special kind of Employment Pass that is issued to top-tier individuals. Unlike the usual Employment Pass, it is independent of any employer. Thus, a PEP holder enjoys greater flexibility in switching employers without affecting the status of the PEP.

Taking Up Directorship

Employment Pass holders can be appointed as a director of another related company. However, application to the MOM for approval is required.

The employer intending to appoint an EP holder to the Board of Directors must ensure the following:

The EP holder’s employer must be aware and gives no objection to the appointment action.
Application for a Letter of Consent (LOC) must be made and approved by the MOM.
Upon approval from the MOM, registration of the holder’s directorship position must be made with the ACRA.

In most cases, MOM will only grant an LOC if:

The company offering the directorship position is related (by shareholding) to the EP holder’s primary company.
The secondary directorship is offered to the Employment Pass holder for purposes relating to their current employment.

How Timcole can Help You

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

We also offer assistance to employers with Employment Pass application or other types of working visas. Our extensive experience in providing work pass services can assure you a streamline process and lessen the extra work burden on your side. Contact us for a consultation today.