Singapore Work Visa FAQs

What are the different types of work visas issued in Singapore?

All work visas in Singapore must be sponsored by a Singapore employer. Work permits in Singapore are grouped into work passes for skilled workforce (Employment Pass, Entrepreneur Pass, or S Pass) and work permits for minimally-skilled work force such as clerical and blue collar workforce.  The employees in the first category are often referred to as 'foreign talent' whereas the ones in the later category often as 'foreign workers'.

For detailed information on work passes for skilled workforce, refer to Singapore Work Passes Overview.

Is there a quota system for Singapore companies for hiring foreign employees?

Yes and no. It depends on the category of foreign employee you are hiring. For hiring foreign employees that come under skilled professional category (ie Employment Pass category), there is no quota system. On the other hand, for hiring semi-skilled and minimally-skilled foreign workers (S pass and Work Permit category), there is a quota system in place. Singapore quota system sets a percentage of foreign workers who can be hired in relation to the local staff employed by a company. 

Where can I go for medical test in Singapore as required by immigration authorities?

When your Singapore work visa or permanent residence application is approved, authorities may require you to undergo a medical test. The approval letter that you received will indicate whether or not you are required to go through a medical examination. If you are required to go through a medical test, it will be indicated in your approval letter along with the list of specific tests. In general, it includes a physical examination and some blood tests (to rule out serious diseases such as HIV, TB, etc.). Here is a typical medical exam requirement from MOM:

"Prior to the collection of pass(es), any person whose name in the In-Principle Approval letter is indicated with '(H)(T)' is required to undergo a medical examination. A 'H' refers to a HIV blood test examination. A 'T' prefix refers to a chest x-ray examination. Depending on the clinic, the medical report should generally be ready within a week of the examination. A copy of the medical report form may be downloaded ...."

As you can see, authorities want to make sure you don't have any serious illnesses like HIV, TB, etc. Unless you are suffering from such serious diseases, you won't have much to worry about.

Do you really need to wait for a week to get your medical examination report? The answer is that it depends where you go for your medical test in Singapore. You have the following options:

1. Get you medical examination done in your home country through a reputable clinic/hospital and bring the report with you when you arrive in Singapore. 
2. Go to one of the clinics/hospitals in Singapore where they can give you the report on the same day. Raffles Hospital is one such place. Here are the details:
   Location: Level 1, Health Check Centre, Raffles Hospital, 585 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188770
   Health Check Hours: 8:30am - 5pm
   Approximate Price: S$50 for 3 day delivery, S$75 for same day delivery
   Note: For same day delivery of medical report, you need to get your exam done before 10am and the report will be ready by 5pm.
3. Visit one of the GP (general practitioners) and wait for about a week for your medical report. Why so long? Because a GP will have to send your blood to an outside lab and by the time he/she gets it back, it will be about a week. Most people try to avoid this inefficient method.

Wherever you go for your medical examination, if time is of essence to you, make sure you confirm when the report will be ready before you proceed with the exam.

Do Singapore work visa holders need to contribute to CPF (retirement fund)?

No. Neither employment pass holders nor their employers (on behalf of EP holders) are required to make CPF or any other statutory fund contributions. CPF contributions are required only for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. CPF was established in 1955 and is basically a savings scheme to provide protection for employees (Singapore citizens and permanent residents) in their old age.

Can a Dependant Pass holder work in Singapore?

If your spouse holds an employment/entrepass pass of P1, P2, or Q type, you are eligible to work in Singapore as a dependant pass holder. However, your prospective employer is required to apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) with Ministry of Manpower (MOM). There are no minimum salary requirements articulated by MOM for working as dependant pass holder however the approval is not automatic. 

You can only start work after the employer has received the LOC from MOM. The processing of the application can take 3-4 weeks. The outcome of the application will be mailed to the employer. There is no fees payable to MOM for filing the Letter of Consent application.

The LOC must be renewed when the DP is being renewed. The LOC renewal form will be sent to the employing company about two months before the pass expires. The completed form should be submitted to the Work Pass Division at least four weeks before the LOC expires.

You will be liable to pay personal taxes as per the applicable personal tax rates in Singapore.

LOC is cancelled when your DP is cancelled or you are longer employed by the company. Upon termination, your employer is required to notify MOM that you are no longer working for the company. There is no effect on your dependent pass when your employment as a dependent pass holder is terminated.

Alternatively, you can file for an appropriate work pass and if approved, convert your dependant pass into work pass. When applying for work pass, your application will be evaluated as per the requirements of the work pass. If your work pass is not approved, you will continue to hold your dependent pass.

Can a child on a Dependant Pass attend a local school in Singapore

Yes, a child on a DP pass can enroll into a local Singapore school. However, admission is subject to availability of vacancy in the local school. Foreigners have the least priority when it comes to getting admitted into local Singapore schools. The first priority is Singapore citizens, second permanent residents, and lastly the dependent pass and student pass holders. As a result, it's usually not easy for DP holders to get enrolled into good local schools.

If you are interested, you should contact the local school of your choice and enquire about the possibility of your child's admission into the school. Some schools are willing to listen to you if a proper donation is given to the school.

Other Related Topics

Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass