Eligibility
The EP is for foreigners who:
Earn a fixed monthly salary of more than $2,500; and have recognized qualifications.
P Pass / Q Pass
There are three categories of Employment Pass: P1, P2 and Q Pass. The P Pass is for foreigners seeking professional, managerial or executive and specialist jobs.
P1 Pass – for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $7,000.
P2 Pass – for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $3,500 and up to $7,000 and he/she possesses recognized qualifications.
Q Pass – for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $2,500 and he/she possesses recognized qualifications.
Compensatory factors such as skills and years of experience may be taken into consideration for Q1 applications.
You can view our newly introduced Strategic Skills List to see what types of jobs positions are expected to be in high demand in Singapore over the next few years.
There is no dependency ceiling or levy for Employment Pass.
To check if you qualify for an Employment Pass, please take the Employment/S Pass Self-
Assessment Tool
Illustration: Employment Pass Eligibility Summary Table
Pass Type
Factor One
Factor Two
Factor Three
P1 Fixed monthly salary > $7,000 and Professional, Managerial, Executive, Specialist jobs
P2 Fixed monthly salary > $3,500 and Professional, Managerial, Executive, Specialist jobs and recognized
qualifications
Q1 Fixed monthly salary > $2,500 and recognized qualifications
In lieu of recognized qualifications, we may also consider compensatory factors such as skills and years of experience (we recommend a minimum of five years relevant work experience)
For information on income tax-related matters, please visit IRA’s website.
Passes for Family Members
Employment Pass holders can apply for the Dependant’s Pass and/or Long-Term Social Visit Pass for their family members.
Dependant’s Pass
Both P and Q Pass holders can apply for a Dependant’s Pass for their:
Spouse
Unmarried or legally adopted children under 21 years of age, including newborns
Long-Term Social Visit Pass
P Pass holders can also apply for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass for their:
Common law spouse
Unmarried daughters above 21 years of age
Handicapped children
Step-children
Parents/parents-in-law
In summary,
Pass Type Granted to Employment Pass Holders
Dependant’s Passes
Long-Term Social Visit Passes
P
Yes
Yes
Q
Yes
No
Application: How to Apply
Employment Pass (EP) applications can be made:
Via EP Online
Manually
MOM has upgraded the current EP Online to a new enhanced platform. Employers and their agents enjoy faster processing times for applications and renewals of EP and S Passes. As much as 80% of all applications are processed within seven days. Users may also check the status of their applications online. Do register for a new EP Online account now, if you have not!
For EP Online applications
Companies are no longer required to fax relevant supporting documents to the Work Pass Division for new Employment Pass (EP) applications submitted via EP Online. In some cases, we may require the applicant to furnish documents when the application is still under review.
Upon approval, the online In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will specify the supporting document(s) to be submitted at the Work Pass Division counters during collection of the pass(es).
For manual applications
Employers submitting manual applications should continue to submit the supporting documents for manual applications.
* Please note that if you do not indicate in your EP application (both EP Online and Manual) that you also wish to be considered for an S Pass, you cannot appeal for an S Pass if your EP application is rejected. Any subsequent requests to be considered for an S Pass should be submitted as a new application and a $10 administrative fee will apply.
EP Online
An administrative fee of $10 will be charged for each EP application submitted. For submission of applications via EP Online, payment can be made using Visa/MasterCard or eNETS Debit.
Mode of submission
Acknowledgement
Processing time
EP Online
Instant
80% of applications are processed within seven days
The applicant may check the application status via EP Online (No login password required)
Manual Application
For manual applications:
Complete the EP application form; and
- Refer to the List of Standard Occupation before you fill in the ‘Occupation’ field.
Submit the completed form and make administrative fee payment at any SingPost office.
For overseas employers (If your company is the local sponsor and not the direct employer of the EP applicant):
This would be applicable if the EP applicant’s direct employer is an overseas company and does not have any registered office in Singapore.
Complete the EP application form; (For sponsorship cases only) and
- Refer to the List of Standard Occupation before you fill in the ‘Occupation’ field.
Submit the completed form and make administrative fee payment at any Singpost Post Office. Submission of application via EP Online is not allowed.
An administrative fee of $10 will be charged for every EP application submitted. Payment can be made at any SingPost post offices using cash, NETS or Cashcards.
Mode of submission
Acknowledgement
Processing time
Manual application
All manual applications submitted at any SingPost post office in Singapore will be routed to MOM. A SingPost payment advice slip will be issued at the post office.
The Ministry will no longer send acknowledgement letters to employers to inform on the foreigner’s Foreign Identification Number (FIN).
· Due to the surge in applications, processing time is about 5 weeks. You can check the assigned FIN and application status online.
The application outcome will be mailed to the employer about 5 weeks from the date of application.
Application: Documents Required
Employment Pass applicants are required to submit supporting documents together with their applications. Additional documents and information must be furnished when requested.
For EP Online applications
For new Employment Pass applications submitted via EP Online, companies are not required to send any supporting documents to Work Pass Division. However, for some cases, we may require the applicant to furnish documents when the application is still under review.
For applications made under specific occupations, applicant will need to indicate in the EP Online application whether supporting document(s) from the relevant vetting agencies/professional bodies/accreditation agencies have been obtained under Step 6: Section D of the application form. Refer to “Documents required for selected Employment Pass (EP) applications” below for more information.
For approved applications, the online In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will specify the supporting document(s) to be submitted at the Work Pass Division counters during the collection of the pass(es).
For manual applications
Employers must submit all supporting documents together with the application. Additional documents and information must be furnished when requested subsequently.
Documents required for:
All Employment Pass Applications
Selected Employment Pass (EP) Applications
For All Employment Pass Applications
The following documents are required for all Employment Pass applications:
Employment Pass application form;
- The applicant must be sponsored by a well-established Singapore-registered company, normally the applicant’s employer.
- The form must be endorsed with the company’s stamp/seal and signed by both the applicant and an authorized officer from the sponsoring company.
A copy of the applicant’s educational documents and past employment testimonials;
- Applicants who have ever held or applied for an Employment/S Pass in the last two years are not required to re-submit the supporting documents if they have done so previously.
A passport-size photograph of the applicant (taken within the last three months);
A copy of the personal particulars page of the applicant’s travel document/passport; and
Business Profile/Instant Information/Registration papers
- Companies/businesses registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) within the past three months must produce the Business Profile/Instant Information from ACRA.
- Companies/businesses or professional practices not registered with ACRA must produce registration papers from their respective professional bodies.
For non-English certificates or documents, a copy of the original certificates/documents and the official English translation certified by the respective embassy, must be submitted.
For Selected Employment Pass Applications
In addition to the above documents, the following documents are required for the following Employment Pass applicants:
Applicants who are regional representatives:
- A copy of the approval letter from International Enterprise Singapore for setting up of the Representative Office; and
- A letter from the Representative’s Office Headquarters stating:
1. The purpose of the application
2. The duration of the applicant’s assignment
3. An undertaking for the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant.
Applicants from the nursing, medical, teaching, sporting or legal professions:
- A copy of the relevant supporting document(s) with the respective vetting agency/professional body/accreditation agency as follows:
Doctor - Singapore Medical Council
Dentist - Singapore Dental Council
Pharmacist - Singapore Pharmacy Board
Nurse - Singapore Nursing Board
TCM Practitioner - TCM Practitioners Board
Lawyer - Attorney-General’s Chambers, Singapore
Football Player/Coach - Singapore Sports Council
Child Care Teacher - Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS)
School Teacher - Ministry of Education
Foreigner working for Representative Office - International Enterprise Singapore
See the list of occupations that require supporting document(s) from the respective vetting agency/professional body/accreditation agency.
Applicants from food establishments:
- A copy of the establishment’s National Environment Agency (NEA) license*
* Food-stall Licensees are not allowed to employ foreign workers on Employment Passes (EP). Unlike restaurant operators, food-stall licensees normally operate small stalls in hawker centers, coffee shops or food courts. These are small, and can be operated by the licensees themselves or with family assistance.
Other food and beverage establishments who wish to employ foreigners have to produce NEA licenses issued in the name of the body-corporate, sole proprietor or partner for the purpose of the EP application. NEA licenses issued in the name of an individual (eg. Director) will not be acceptable.
Application: Approval
Approval of Employment Pass
An In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will be sent to the employer once the Employment Pass (EP) application has been approved.
In-Principle Approval Letter
The IPA letter must be produced upon collection of the EP from the Work Pass Division. This letter is valid for three months from the date of the letter.
Employment Pass Validity Period
The validity period of an EP varies for:
First-time applicants – up to two years;
Employment Pass renewals – up to three years.
Submitting an Employment Pass Appeal
When assessing EP applications, we take into consideration a wide range of factors including the applicant’s qualifications, working experience, job nature, economic contribution and the employer’s track record. Applications are approved or rejected based on the collective merits of such factors. No specific reason for rejection can/will be singled out or identified for the applicant’s benefit.
If you have new or additional information to include after your application has been rejected, an appeal can be made to the Work Pass Division, 18 Havelock Road, Singapore 059764 (within 1 month of receiving the rejection letter) with the following documents:
An appeal form;
- For rejected applications submitted via the old EP Online before 1 March 2008.
- For all rejected manual applications.
An appeal form (For rejected applications submitted via new EP Online on/after 1 March 2008); and
Any supporting information/documents that supports the appeal.
It will take at least three weeks or more to process an appeal, depending on the complexity of the case. The outcome of the appeal will be sent to the employer.
If you had not indicated in your EP application that you also wish to be considered for S Pass, you cannot appeal for an S Pass if your EP application is rejected. Any subsequent requests to be considered for an S Pass should be submitted as a new application and a $10 administrative fee will apply.
Application: Collection
The successful Employment Pass (EP) applicant must be in Singapore at the time the EP is collected. The applicant or a company representative can collect the EP at:
Work Pass Division
Ministry of Manpower
18 Havelock Road
Singapore 059764.
Documents Required
The following documents are required for the collection of the EP:
In-Principle Approval Letter;
Applicant’s travel document (with at least two blank visa pages);
Completed medical examination form (if applicable);
Immigration White Card (IMM27); and - For first-time applicants only
Disembarkation/Embarkation Card (Green Card) - For existing EP holders.
Submission Times
The above documents can be submitted at the following times:
8am – 4pm (Monday to Friday)
8am – 12pm (Saturday)
The processing time is about three hours. The EP can be collected on the same day if the above documents are submitted before:
3pm (Monday to Friday)
11am (Saturday)
Fees
The following fees will be charged upon collection of the EP:
Employment Pass – $30 per year or part thereof
Single Journey Visa (if applicable) – $30 per issue.
Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable) – $30 per issue.
Payment of the fees can be made using NETS, CashCard or cash
