Singapore Employment Pass

Key Features of the Singapore Employment Pass:

Types of Roles

This is the most commonly approved work pass catering to junior to senior level roles. This pass are also extended to business owners, artists, sportspeople, and other specialised professions, reflecting Singapore’s diverse professional and business landscape.

Validity Period

Typically 1 to 3 years but renewable.

Option for Permanent Residency

Holders of Singapore Employment Pass can apply for Permanent Residency in Singapore after working for several years if they intend to build a long term career in Singapore.

FAQ

A Work Visa for foreign professional employees or business owners to work in Singapore is called a Singapore Employment Pass.

All application for Employment Pass requires an Employer to sponsor the application. This is a crucial point for all foreign job seekers to take note of before approaching employment pass application agency to process any application.

All foreigners with a job offer from a registered Singapore company can apply provided the salary offered meets the minimum requirements at the point of application adjusted for age.

Since 1 September 2023, employers must also consider whether they are eligible to hire foreigners on Employment Pass based on a new COMPASS framework where diversity of foreign nationals currently employed and proportion of local employees in the company are taken into account in the assessment process.

In general, the applicant’s passport copy, verified educational certificate, and employment contract are required to begin the process.

The employer must also provide an authorization letter, ACRA business profile, and data regarding the job posting results.

The application and assessment process can take between 3 to 4 weeks from the point of submission. However, prior to each application, certain employers may be required to put up a job advertisement at MyCareersFuture for 14 days to provide an opportunity for local job seekers to apply for the job.

Since 1 September 2023, if the education qualification of the applicant is to be submitted for consideration, education verification via an external accredited agency is required. If this has not been done, it may take 2 to 3 weeks for this process to take place first.

Our professional service includes the appeal process too. We will analyse the reasons the application is rejected and work with you to frame up an appeal letter justifying why your application should be reconsidered.

In addressing the reasons for rejection, we may require you to elaborate and provide more information and documentation relating to your business and hiring plan including candidate background, etc.

Yes. A foreign director can apply for a Singapore Employment Pass if the business owner/director is required to work or manage his company in Singapore.

However, not all foreigners or businesses are eligible or can be approved. It is advisable that prior to the incorporation of the company, the prospective business owner/ foreign director discuss the likelihood of obtaining approval with a work pass specialist.

In general, EP holder cannot work or become director of more than one local company in Singapore. However, if there is a valid reason, the EP holder can apply for an exemption or a Letter of Consent ( LOC ) from the Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to be a director of another local company if the EP holder is eligible and meets the criteria.

MOM recognises that secondary directorship positions in related companies, e.g. subsidiary, may be critical to the EP holders job role. As such, EP holders may be allowed to take up such secondary director roles through a LOC.

If the secondary directorship position is in an unrelated company, e.g. fund entities, MOM may still grant the LOC if it is relevant to the EP holder’s primary occupation.

It is important to pick the right consultant to support your application to have the highest chance of success. Our firm is licensed by Singapore Ministry of Manpower and we have been established since 2003. Our team of expert consultants possess expert in-depth knowledge and insights on the latest rules and criteria for approval.

Yes, we provide support in renewing the Employment Pass of your existing employees.

The renewal application process can start 6 months prior to expiry and employers are encouraged to start the renewal process as early as possible.

You can contact us for a free no obligation discussion and assessment before you decide whether to engage our professional service. Once you have decided to engage our service, we will provide you with a list of documents required and our fee quotation for your acceptance and confirmation.

Documents Required

The following are preliminary list of forms/documents commonly required to start an EP application: However, depending on each case and circumstances, additional supporting documents such as tenancy agreement and financial standing may be requested during the application process.

Employee
Employer
Dependent Passes for Family Members

Passport: A copy of the applicant’s passport details page.
Highest Education Qualification: Copies of academic certificates and transcripts. These should be officially translated into English if they are in another language. Under the new COMPASS System, all education certification must be verified by an accredited vetting agency.
Employment Contract: A copy of the signed employment contract between the employer and the foreign employee.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV): A detailed CV of the prospective foreign employee, including educational and employment history.
Professional Certifications: If applicable, copies of any professional certifications or licenses required for the job.
Employee Data Form (Completed By Applicant)

ACRA Business Profile
Data Form on Results of Mycareerfuture job advertisement.
Authorisation Form (Completed by Employer)

Employment Pass holders earning a certain qualifying salary do have the privileges of bringing in family members to live with them.

Types of Family Passes

Dependant’s Pass
- Eligible Family Members:
  - Legally married spouse.
  - Unmarried children under 21 years old, including legally adopted ones.
Long-Term Visit Pass
- Eligible Family Members:
  - Common-law spouse.
  - Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above.
  - Unmarried step-children under 21 years old.
  - Parents (exclusive to EP holders earning a minimum monthly salary of $12,000).

Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS)

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy the following prerequisites in order to be eligible to apply:

Company Sponsorship: All Singapore Employment Pass applications require a support or sponsor which is a legitimate and financial stable Singaporean company. This sponsor acts as your local guarantor, affirming the credentials and relevance of the applicants.
Qualifying Salary: Salary offered is a major consideration and a key qualifying criterion. Under the new COMPASS guidelines, the salary of EP holders is being benchmark against the salaries of local employees of similar background and are age adjusted.
COMPASS Assessment: Other than salary, the COMPASS assessment evaluates various criteria, including qualifications, diversity, and local employment support
- Foundational Criteria: COMPASS assesses candidates based on 4 foundational criteria:
- C1: Salary: Qualifying salaries are benchmark to local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) salary norms for each sector.
- C2: Qualifications: renown tertiary education given additional points.
- C3: Diversity: Points given if candidate nationality enhances employee diversity profile of the employing company.
- C4: Support for Local Employment: Evaluate the firm’s share of local PMETs within its subsector.
- Bonus Criteria: COMPASS also offers bonus points for following criteria:
  - C5: Skills Shortage: For candidates in roles with skills shortages.
  - C6: Strategic Economic Priorities: Companies with SG government agencies support on innovation or internationalization activities.
- Scoring System: Points are awarded for each criterion based on whether expectations are met or exceeded.
- Minimum Score: A minimum of 40 points is required to pass COMPASS.
- Exemptions: Applicants currently earning in excess of SGD22,500 per month, overseas intra-corporate transferees (ICTs), or short-term employment pass applications (1 month or less), are exempted from COMPASS Assessment.
- Ongoing Changes: The COMPASS framework may evolve over time, so staying informed about changes and guidelines is crucial.

Remember, these eligibility criteria may change, so it’s essential to consult the most up-to-date information and seek expert guidance for your specific situation.

Why Us?

Securing Singapore Employment Pass for your foreign employees to work in Singapore has become increasingly more complex and time consuming as the SG government regularly update and introduce more criteria and requirements in the application and approval process. One way to navigate these challenges would be to work with a professional human resource firm with extensive experience and expertise to support your application.

Our professional team of Ministry of Manpower’s licensed personnel can add value and support your application with the following scope of services:

Consultation on Eligibility & Strategy: We assess both the employer and prospective applicant profiles holistically and advise you on whether you can meet the minimum points required and when an application can be made.
Documentation Support: We collate and check all the applicable supporting documents and ensure all the needed documents are complete and application data are submitted accurately.
Monitoring of Application: We monitor the progress of each application, update you regularly and will take the necessary follow up actions when the application is delayed or requires appropriate action.
Additional Documents & Appeal Support: Increasingly, more cases would require deeper and further evaluation due the COMPASS assessment. This will necessitate the provision of additional supporting documents or letters. If such situation arises, our team are well trained and equipped to support you in liaising with the relevant authority to attend to all matters and issues including preparing and submitting unlimited appeal letters, if warranted.

Our firm has been established since 2003 as a Licensed Ministry of Manpower human resource agency. We have an almost perfect track record in supporting our clients with seamless EP processing. Each client is managed and treated with a personalised approach by our experienced team of dedicated professional members.

Don’t take any chances, work with a professional human resource firm for a stress-free Singapore Employment Pass application process!

Photos of Team Members

Alex Chong
Founder

Ryan Seah

Dave Maran

Kelvin Lee

Raji Nambiar