S 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).

Application / Renewal of S Pass	Malaysian	Others (with existing SG FIN)	Others (without SG FIN)
New Online Application Exclude MOM Application & Issuance Fee @ $205 Includes Job Advertising under Govt Job Portal Assume client has the MOM Quota to hire Foreign Worker	$500	$600	$800
Renewal of Work Pass	$300	$400
Optional Items
Medical Check-up Cost	From $100
Foreign Worker Medical Insurance	From $150
Purchase Security Deposit Bond	From $100 per annum
Workmen Injury Insurance	From $200 per annum

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

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	$3,600	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

S Pass is a type of working visa designed for mid-skilled foreigners of all nationalities.

Each company can employ a limited number of S Pass holders according to its industry’s Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC).

An S Pass application is assessed by the MOM on a point-based system.

To be eligible for an S Pass, workers must meet the following basic criteria:

• Holds a degree, diploma, or technical certificate with at least 1 year of full-time study
• Relevant work experience
• Fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,300

The number of S Pass holders a company can hire is limited by a quota.

Under the quota, the number of S Pass holders a company can hire is capped at:

• 15% of the company’s total workforce in the services sector
• 20% in all other sectors

The foreign worker levy is a pricing mechanism to regulate the number of foreign workers in Singapore.

A monthly levy must be paid by the employer for each S Pass holder employed. The levy liability will start from the day the S Pass is issued and ends when the pass is cancelled or expires.

The levy rate for services sector is as follows:

Tier	Quota (%)	Monthly Levy Rate
Basic / Tier 1	Up to 10% of the total workforce	S$330
Tier 2	Above 10 % of the total workforce	S$650

 

The levy rate for all other sectors (excluding services) is as follows:

Tier	Quota (%)	Monthly Levy Rate
Basic / Tier 1	Up to 10% of the total workforce	S$330
Tier 2	Above 10% to 18% of the total workforce	S$650

An S Pass application will be processed within 3 weeks, unless additional information is required.

The procedure is as follows:

1. The application is submitted, along with its supporting documents. The employer will also need to get a written consent from the foreign worker.
2. 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.
3. When the worker arrives in Singapore, he or she must complete a medical examination with any Singapore-registered doctor. The employer must also purchase medical insurance for the worker.
4. A request for the issuing of S Pass must then be made within 60 days.
5. Upon receiving the notification letter confirming the issuance of S Pass, the worker must register his or her fingerprints and complete photo-taking at the MOM Services Centre within a week.
6. Upon registration, the S Pass card will be delivered within 4 working days.

An approved S Pass is usually valid for 2 years.

As the MOM has tightened the criteria for S Pass, not every application will be successful.

In the event of an unsuccessful S Pass application, the applicant can file an appeal within 90 days of the rejection notice. The appeal will take at least 3 months 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 S Pass application is rejected. Based on the reasons provided by the MOM, we will refine your application and submit an appeal on your behalf.

Timcole’s S Pass application service include:

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

An S Pass can be renewed six months before the pass expires.

To be eligible for an S Pass renewal, the following criteria must be met:

• The S Pass holder must meet the existing eligibility requirements
• The S Pass holder must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,300
• The S Pass holder’s passport must be valid for at least seven months
• The company must have sufficient S Pass quota

To renew an S Pass:

1. Submit the S Pass application for renewal along with its supporting documents.
2. Upon approval, a notification letter will be issued.
3. The S Pass holder may be required to get a new S Pass card.

Upon approval, the renewal of S Pass is usually valid for 3 years. However, it may be shorter if the S Pass holder’s passport is valid for less than 3 years (then the duration grated will only be up to one month before the passport expiry date).

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

The employer of S Pass holder(s) must notify MOM of the following changes:

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

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

If the S Pass holder is overseas during the event, the employer must notify MOM immediately and a letter will be issued for the worker 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.

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

Note: S Pass holders who are converted into a Singapore permanent resident do not need to cancel their S Pass. It will be done automatically.

The cancellation is immediate and the levy of the cancelled Work Permit will stop on the day before the cancellation.

Note: When an S Pass is cancelled, all related Dependant’s Passes, Long Term Visit Passes and Work Permits will also be cancelled.

Before the cancellation of the S 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 S Pass holder is willing to bear the cost)

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

Upon cancellation, the employer has one week to mail the S Pass card to the following address:
Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower, 18 Havelock Road, Singapore 059764

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 S 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.