Employment Pass Singapore: How to Apply

The term “work pass” is a general term that’s used for a variety of visas that allow a person to work in a country, whereas an “Employment Pass” is a specific kind of work pass. All foreigners who plan to work in Singapore must have a valid work pass (sometimes also known as a work visa) before they start working in the country.

Singapore offers a wide range of work pass options, including Employment Pass, ONE Pass, EntrePass, Personalised Employment Pass, S Pass, and Work Permit. The Employment Pass is suitable for managers, executives, specialists, and other skilled professionals who wish to work in Singapore.

All nationalities can apply for an Employment Pass. Each application is evaluated based on the candidate’s salary, work experience, skill set, and educational institution rankings.

The Employment Pass is suitable for foreign professionals who have:

• A job offer in Singapore
• A managerial, executive, or specialized position
• A fixed monthly salary of at least S$5,000 if they are a young graduate
  • More experienced candidates must meet higher salary requirements
• Acceptable qualifications (usually including a university degree, professional qualifications, or specialized skills)

The processing time for an Employment Pass in Singapore depends on whether the application is filed online or manually. Normally, it takes approximately three weeks for the online option.

The duration for the manually submitted application is at least eight weeks from the date of the receipt of the application. Processing time may increase during peak periods or when the case requires additional information.

If you meet Singapore requirements, it's not difficult to obtain an Employment Pass. The Ministry of Manpower evaluates each applicant based on various criteria. Both the individual’s and hiring company’s credentials are assessed.

Influential factors include:

• Candidate’s age, salary, education, and professional background
• Position and responsibilities of the applicant
• Ranking of the company and its paid-up capital
• Economic viability of the company
• Foreign-to-local employee ratio in the company

​​Your Employment Pass should be canceled by the employer within seven days upon the termination of employment or one day after the Employment Pass expires.

Note that when the Employment Pass is canceled, all related Dependent Passes, Long-Term Visit Passes, and Letters of Consent will also be canceled.

A fixed monthly salary is the sum of basic monthly salary and fixed monthly allowances.

Please note that fixed monthly salary does not include:

• Variable allowances
• Overtime payment, bonus, commission, or annual wage supplements
• In-kind payments
• Any form of reimbursements, including expenses incurred by an employee during his or her employment
• Productivity incentive payments
• Contributions paid to any pension or provident fund, including any contributions made on the employee's behalf
• Gratuity payable on discharge, retrenchment, or retirement of the foreign employee

For more details, visit MOM.gov.

Generally, the process of obtaining an Employment Pass does not involve a medical examination. However, in certain cases, authorities may require you to receive a medical test. Your Employment Pass approval letter will indicate if you need to go through the medical examination.

Typically, the medical test includes a physical examination, blood tests (to rule out serious diseases), and an HIV Test. You may receive a medical checkup either in Singapore or in your home country. In the latter case, you must choose a reputable hospital and bring the report with you. Please note that the medical report must be in English.

All Employment Pass holders may bring their family members to stay in Singapore if the monthly salary of the holder is at least S$6000. To apply, your employer will need to submit a separate application for each family member.

Legally married spouses and unmarried children under 21 may enter Singapore with a Dependent Pass.

You can find more information about the Dependent Pass immigration process.

According to IRAS, if you’re issued a work pass that’s valid for at least one year, you will be treated as a tax resident. For more information about tax residency and tax rates, read our article on personal tax in Singapore.

Please note that your tax residency status will be reviewed for tax clearance when you cease employment, go on an overseas posting, or plan to leave Singapore for more than three months.

Generally, income that you generate outside Singapore is not taxable. However, there are some circumstances under which overseas income may be taxable:

• You work in Singapore for a foreign employer
• Your overseas employment is incidental to your employment in Singapore
• Your overseas employment income is for services rendered in Singapore
• You are employed outside Singapore on behalf of the Singapore government
• You have received income in Singapore through a partnership

An overseas Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) is an individual who meets the following criteria:

• Prior International Experience: The candidate must have a minimum of one year of employment with a company located outside of Singapore before their assignment to a branch, affiliate, or subsidiary within Singapore.
• Designated Roles: The candidate must hold a position falling within one of the following categories: Manager, Executive, or Specialist.

For additional details and comprehensive information regarding ICTs, we recommend referring to the Ministry of Manpower website.