The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of the various work permits and immigration passes available in Singapore. Singapore has become the ideal business and commercial hub in Southeast Asia. More and more global entrepreneurs and working professionals are attratced to the lure of Singapore's business and career opportunities.
One of the most striking features of Singapore, is its efficiency in all sectors. This efficiency is also apparent in Singapore's immigration policy. Since the country has a history of hiring foreign talent and attracting business entrepreneurs, the needs of this segment have been anticipated and provisions have been made to cater to them.
Work and Business Related Visas
The starting point for anyone wishing to move to Singapore, either for employment or starting a business, is to secure a Singapore work permit. A work permit must be sponsored by a Singapore company i.e. the employer of the applicant.
There are two main categories of work permits in Singapore:
- Work Passes. These are work permits meant for skilled foreign work force often called 'foreign talent' in Singapore.
- Work Permits. These are work permits meant for clerical and blue collar work force. This category of work permits is not discussed in the rest of this guide.
Work passes (except S Pass) do not come under a quota system in Singapore. A summary of various Singapore work passes and business related visas is presented below:
Employment Pass
The Employment Pass (EP) is the main type of work pass meant for company owners or skilled employees that will be working in Singapore. Your fixed monthly salary must be more than S$2,500 and you should be a degree holder from a reputable university. There is no official quota system limiting the number of Employment Passes that can be issued.
Validity: Employment Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable after that as long as you continued to be employed by your employer.
Quota System: No. Each EP application is considered based in its own merit
PR Eligibility: Employment Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
For more detailed information on the Employment Pass, please visit Singapore Employment Pass Details page.
Entrepreneur Pass
Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) is a variation of Employment Pass and is meant for entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in Singapore who might not qualify under Employment Pass category due to the lack of education qualifications.
Validity: Entrepreneur Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable after that as long as your business remains viable.
Quota System: No. Each EntrePass application is considered based in its own merit.
PR Eligibility: Entrepreneur Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
For further information on the EntrePass, please visit Singapore Entrepreneur Pass Details page.
S Pass
The S Pass is for mid-skilled employees who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $1,800. S Pass applicants are assessed on salary, educational qualifications, skills, job type and work experience. Instead of a degree, a technical diploma is acceptable for this kind of work pass.
Validity: S Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable after that as long as you continued to be employed by your employer.
Quota System: Yes. In general, the number of S Pass holders a company may hire is capped at 25% of the company's total workforce. For more details on quota details, see Computation of Company's Quota Balance.
PR Eligibility: Employment Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a special type of Employment Pass that is not tied to a specific employer. The biggest benefit of having a PEP is that you can switch jobs without re-applying for a new employment pass provided that you are not unemployed for more than six months. Candidates must meet specific requirements before a PEP is approved.
Validity: PEP is issued for 5 years and non-renewable.
Quota System: No. Each PEP application is considered based in its own merit.
PR Eligibility: PEP holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
For details on PEP pass, refer to Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Details page.
Dependent Pass
A Dependant Pass (DP) is a visa issued to the immediate family members of a work permit (Employment Pass, Entrepreneur Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, or S-Pass) holder.
Validity: Same as the validity of the work permit holder
Quota System: No.
PR Eligibility: Eligible under the sponsorship of work permit holder
For more information on Dependant Pass, refer to Dependent Pass Details page.
Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC)
The Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) is not a work pass but a special type of social visit pass that allows the applicant to come and stay in Singapore for 6-12 months and look for a job. Once you have secured a job, you still need to file an employment pass application subject to approval.
Validity: EPEC is issued for 6-12 months and non-renewable.
Quota System: No. Each EPEC application is considered based in its own merit.
PR Eligibility: EPEC holders are not eligible to apply for PR status. Once EPEC holders have obtained an Employment Pass, they are eligible for PR under the Employment Pass category.
For more information on EPEC, refer to Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate Details page.
Miscellaneous Work Pass
The Miscellaneous Work Pass is issued to foreigners working in Singapore on short-term assignments. More specifically, you will be issued a Miscellaneous Work Pass if you are:
- involved in activities directly related to the organisation or conduct of any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk concerning any religion, race or community, or political end;
- a foreign religious worker giving talks relating directly or indirectly to any religion; or
- a foreign journalist, reporter or an accompanying crew member not sponsored by any Singapore Government agency.
Validity: Depends
Quota System: No. Each Misc Work Pass application is considered based in its own merit.
PR Eligibility: Misc Work Pass holders are not eligible to apply for PR status.
Multiple Journey Business Visa
The Singapore Multiple Journey Business Visa is not a work pass and is meant for foreign business executives from visa-requiring countries who travel to Singapore frequently to attend to their business matters. The key benefit of this visa is that you don't need to apply for an entry-visa each time you plan to visit Singapore. Multiple visits are allowed each up to 30 days of stay, without a need for a separate visa application each time.
Validity: 1, 2 or 5 years as approved by authorities
Quota System: No. Each application is considered based on its own merit.
PR Eligibility: Not eligible
Training Employment Pass
The Training Employment Pass is issued to foreigners undergoing practical training attachments for professional, managerial, executive or specialist jobs in Singapore. You may apply for the pass if you are:
To qualify for the Training Employment Pass, you should:
If you do not meet any of the above criteria, you may need to apply for a Training Work Permit instead. A Training Work Permit is especially for for unskilled/semi-skilled foreign trainee undergoing training in Singapore for up to six months.
Validity: Valid during the training period
Quota System: No. Each application is considered based in its own merit.
PR Eligibility: Not eligible
Non-Work Related Visas
Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)
The following individuals wishing to stay in Singapore on a long-term social visit visa in Singapore are eligible to apply for LTSVP:
- a visitor who wants to explore business opportunities, conduct feasibility studies or business negotiations for starting an enterprise in Singapore;
- a female visitor whose child/grandchild is studying in Singapore on a Student's Pass;
- A female visitor who plans to deliver a child in Singapore;
- a visitor whose spouse is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR;
- a visitor (below 21 years old) whose parent is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR;
- a visitor whose child (above the age of 21 years old) is a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR;
- a visitor who is 45 years or older and owns a property in Singapore
Validity: Depends, can vary from 6 months to 5 years
Quota System: Not applicable
PR Eligibility: Not eligible
For more information on LTSVP, refer to Long-Term Social Visit Pass page.
Student Visa
Foreign students planning to study in Singapore require a student visa unless they hold a dependent pass. For more information on student visa and studying in Singapore, refer to Singapore Education section of this website.
Singapore has relatively liberal immigration policies that are designed to facilitate the relocation of foreign entrepreneurs and working professionals to Singapore. The increasing share of the non-citizen population is a direct consequence of Singapore's policies to attract and rely on "foreign manpower" — at both the high and low ends of the spectrum — to overcome the limits of local resources.
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