Employment Pass & S Pass Applications

Applying for Work Visas for Foreign Employees to work in Singapore

Local and Singapore-based foreign companies (i.e. branch offices and representative offices) who wish to employ skilled foreigners can do so by applying an Employment Pass, S Pass, or Work Permit for their foreign employees. (Foreigners who wish to come to Singapore without first securing a local employer/sponsor may also consider applying for a Personalised Employment Pass, if they are eligible). Factors such as the candidate’s salary, experience, nationality, and academic qualifications determine which work pass is most suitable, together with the employing company’s financial/growth position and manpower situation i.e. quota to hire foreigners.

Furthermore, hiring companies must be able to prove to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that the foreigner’s skills, qualifications and experience are unique/superior and critical for their businesses’ success. Companies must also show that they have made genuine efforts to recruit a Singaporean candidate first, before looking outside the local talent pool. This is in line with the Singapore Government’s enhancement of the work pass eligibility criteria for both candidates and local employers to improve employment opportunities and conditions for locals.

Where a company is offering an employee more than S$30,000 per month, they can also consider the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) for the employee. This Pass is discussed separately and may prove useful for companies looking for a longer term pass with greater flexibility, stability and exclusive privileges for their top-level employees.

High-growth Tech companies, or Tech startups with high valuation may consider applying for a Tech.Pass, if they are offering an employee more than S$20,000 per month. This special pass is offered to tech related companies to provide a boost to the Singapore Tech sector by attracting candidates with higher expertise and experience.

Overview of Employment Pass & S Pass Work Passes

For this article, we shall focus on the more common and most applicable types of work passes available for skilled and mid-skilled foreign employees – the Employment Pass (“EP”) & the S Pass.

New applicants for EP & S Pass work passes are assessed on multiple criteria, including those criteria mentioned above, such as but not limited to: the proposed fixed monthly salary (basic monthly salary plus any fixed allowances or bonus payments), the issuing university/academic body/country of the candidate’s educational qualifications, specialist skills, type of job, relevant work experience, existing relationship or employment with the company, the company’s background/history and its potential to create new jobs for locals.

New EP Applications for non-Intra-corporate transferee candidates being offered fixed monthly salaries of S$5,000 – S$22,500 submitted after 01 September 2023, will also need to obtain at least 40 points on the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) to be eligible for an EP. The points will be allocated based on salary offered (relative to the industry), qualifications, employee diversity in the firm, percentage of local employees in the firm, Singapore government shortage occupation list and its strategic economic priorities. Positions paying a fixed monthly salary of more than S$22,500 are exempt from the government portal job position advertising requirement, as well as COMPASS for EP eligibility.

As a simple guideline, skilled foreign employees holding acceptable (verified) academic qualifications (Bachelor Degree and above) and professional qualifications with managerial/executive/specialist experience and who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$5,000 (older and more experienced candidates need higher salaries of up to S$ 10,500 at age 45 and up) are eligible for an Employment Pass to work in Singapore. In the financial services sector, the minimum qualifying salary for EP candidates has been raised to S$5,500 (upto S$ 11,500 at age 45 and up) for new applications, effective from 01 September 2022. For candidates of this calibre on EP, the MOM does not impose a foreign manpower quota or foreign worker levy.

Mid-skilled foreign employees who have a Degree or Diploma qualification, but with just a few years of relevant experience and a lower salary, and who do not come from an “approved source country” (to be eligible for a work permit)…or a skilled foreign employee holding a lesser academic qualification, may not be deemed eligible for an EP. Instead, these employees can work in Singapore on an S Pass. Candidates for an S Pass must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000 and S$3,500 for the financial sector, commensurate with their experience and job role . A foreign worker levy is imposed on the company for S Pass holders, and the company must also meet the foreign manpower quota applicable for its industry sector. Varied across industry sectors, the quota is lowest for the Services Sector – 10% of a company’s workforce. For example, services companies must have at least 9 locals to 1 S Pass, or 18 locals to 2 S Pass holders (assuming the company does not have any other dependency on foreign workers (work permits), in which case the quota may be higher).

Sector

From 1 Jan
2022

From 1 Jan
2023

Services

10%

Manufacturing, Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process

18%

15%

Please note: EP & S Pass applicants are advised not to make any relocation plans until they have received an In-Principle Approval Letter from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

Highlights of Employment Pass

Employment Pass (EP) holder is permitted to act as a local Director of a Singapore Company provided that he/she is holding an EP under the same Singapore Company.
Employment Pass (EP) holder is permitted to be Partner of an LLP or LP and to act as the local resident Manager of the same LLP or LP that sponsors his EP.

Note: An EP holder is not allowed to act as a Local Director for another company that is not his/her sponsoring company/employer.
EP Applicants with a minimum salary of S$6,000 will be able to apply the following passes for their family members:
- Dependant Pass
  - Legally married spouse;
  - Unmarried children under 21 (incl. legally adopted children)
- Long-Term Visa Pass
  - Common-law spouse;
  - Unmarried handicapped children above 21; and
  - Unmarried stepchild under 21
  - Parents (only applicable to those earning a minimum salary of S$ 12,000)

Highlights of S Pass

S Pass applicants with a minimum salary of S$ 6,000 will be able to bring in Singapore their spouse and children.

Comparative Work Pass Eligibility, Criteria and Processing Time

Pass Type	Eligibility Requirements	Validity Period	Processing Time	MOM Fee
Employment Pass (EP)	Fixed monthly salary of S$5,000¹ minimum ( S$5,500² for financial services) Tertiary degree from accredited university Typically 5 years' relevant experience	1-3 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable	Online Submission: within 3 weeks (for most cases)	Application: S$ 105 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 225 Multiple Journey Visa (if required): S$30
Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass	Any of these Fixed monthly salary of S$30,000 (flexible in certain cases) Outstanding achievements in the arts and culture sector, sports, or academia and research	5 years and renewable	Online Submission: within 4 weeks	Application: S$ 105 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 225 Multiple Journey Visa (if required): S$30
Tech Pass	Any two of these Fixed monthly salary of S$20,000 (flexible in certain cases) 5 years’ experience in a tech company with a valuation of US$500 million or funding of US$ 30million 5 years’ experience in leading or developing a tech product that has at least 10,000 users or US$100 million in revenue	2 years and renewable	Manual Submission: within 8 weeks	Application: S$ 105 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 225 Multiple Journey Visa (if required): S$30
1. Increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $10,500 at age 45 and above 2. Increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $11,500 at age 45 and above
S Pass (SP)	Fixed monthly salary of S$3,000 ( S$3,500 for financial services sector) Possess a degree/diploma. Preferred technical certificates of at least 1 year of full-time study may be considered Preferably with 1-2 years working experience	1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable	Online Submission: within 3 weeks (for most cases)	Application: S$ 75 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 100
* The number of S Pass holders a company can employ is capped at a sub-quota, or Dependency Ceiling (DC), of 10% of the company's total workforce in the Services sector and 18% in the other sectors.
Work Permit (WP)	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: within 1 week	Application: S$ 35 Issuance: S$ 35
* Services sector employers can employ Work Permit holders up to 35% of the company's/firm's total workforce. PRC Work Permit holders can make up to 8% within the 35% Dependency Ceiling.

S Pass and Work Permit Quota

For more information on the number of local workforce required, you may download MOM’s Guidelines on the Calculation of Quota and Levy Bill or use Quota Calculator for Work Permits and S Passes:

Guidelines on the Calculation of Quota and Levy Bill

Quota Calculator for Work Permits and S Passes

Foreign Worker Levy

The levy rate for foreign workers varies across different sectors and changes from time to time. Find out more about the levy rates for foreign workers in the services sector.

Documents Required

Employment Pass applications must be sponsored by an established Singapore Company (which is also usually the employing company). The form must be endorsed with the company’s stamp/seal and signed by both the applicant and an authorized representative from the sponsoring company.
For S Pass applications, the Declaration Forms must also be endorsed with the company’s stamp/seal and signed by both the applicant and an authorized representative from the sponsoring company, together with the employer (if different from the sponsor).
A copy of the Travel Document (Passport) page showing the applicant’s personal particulars
A copy of all the applicant’s educational documents and past employment testimonials (Translated into English if they are in other languages)
A copy of the applicant’s personal resume/CV with details of his employment history, last drawn salaries and job duties.
Business Profile / Instant Information from ACRA/ registration papers from their respective professional bodies for sponsoring company of applicant.
Proof of residential address (if the applicant currently stays in Singapore)
If the applicant is a regional representative, the following documents must also be submitted:
- A copy of letter from Enterprise Singapore giving approval for the setting up of the Representative Office; and
- A letter from the Representative's Office Headquarters stating the purpose of the application, the duration of the applicant's assignment and an undertaking for the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant.
Any other additional documents, if required by MOM on a case-to-case basis.

All work pass/visa services will be provided by immigration specialists from our EA Licenced entity,
Aspri HR Services LLP [EA Licence No.: 15C7792]

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Complementary Assessment Framework (COMPASS)

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