S Pass - Work visa for skilled technicians

Singapore employment visas accommodate a range of candidates, including those who may be below middle-management level yet still possess the experience, qualifications and skills to contribute to Singapore's society and economy. The S Pass is such a visa and is aimed at foreign mid-level skilled workers, including professionals, technicians and specialists. The S Pass replaced the former Q2 in order to meet Singapore's need for middle-level manpower. S Passes, however, are restricted by quotas for companies that wish to make use of them. The following are general quota ratios, or dependency ceilings, have been established since the beginning of 2008.

• Construction and process – 1 local work to seven foreign workers.
• Marine – one local worker to five foreign workers.
• Manufacturing – up to 65 per cent of foreigners.
• Service – up to 50 per cent foreigners.

S Pass holders are required to obtain medical coverage for at least S$5,000 a year for inpatient care and day surgery. This is normally the responsibility of the company that is hiring you. If you are an S Pass holder with a fixed monthly salary of more than S$2,500, you are allowed to bring your spouse and children under 21 to Singapore on dependant passes. Your dependant pass documents can be submitted at the same time as your S Pass application.

Related topic: Overview of Singapore Immigration Passes

Eligibility

To qualify for an S Pass you should be a foreigner or a foreign work permit holder who has secured a job that pays at least S$1,800 a month. Your application will also be determined on a points system with salary, work experience, education qualifications, and skills contributing to the points total. Work experience refers to the number of years you have been working while education qualifications means degree or diploma level. Technical certificates are also accepted and should be accompanied with at least one year full-time study. Minimum salary, as mentioned, is S$1,800 a month while job type usually means professional, specialist or technician level jobs.

Application procedure

The application process is the responsibility of the company that is hiring you. Your main task is to complete Employment Pass/S Pass Application Form and provide the relevant documents. Companies that are first-time business employers and who have not previously applied for work permits or S Passes must first apply for Industrial Classification. During this phase, they must choose one business activity for which the foreign workers are to be employed.

Majority of the companies prefer to use an efficient agency to handle work visa application for them. Collecting documents from the candidates, checking for completeness, doing accurate data entry online or filing the application manually, tracking he status of the application, liaising with authorities in case they seek any further documents/clarifications - all of this takes time and is best left to an agency that specializes in these matters. Furthermore, a good agency can help you maximize the chances of application success by applying their vast experience and knowledge in this matter.

Documents needed

You are required to provide the following documents:

• Completed Application Form 8, with your employer completing part of the form (the declaration section). The employer will need to endorse the application with its seal or stamp.
• Your education certificates and past employment testimonials. If you were an employment pass or S Pass holder during the previous two years, you do not need to re-submit these documents.
• A passport-sized photograph taken within the past three months.
• A copy of the personal particulars page of your travel document.

Supporting documents that are in other languages must be translated into English by a certified translator. A copy of the original and the translated documents must be submitted. Your employer will be asked to submit business registration certificates and certificates from relevant professional bodies. They should also have an account with the Central Provident Fund Board so they can process the S Pass levies. Companies applying manually must submit all documents at the same time. An In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will indicate which documents are to be furnished during collection.

After S Pass Approval

Once your application has been approved by MOM, the IPA will be sent to your employer. The letter is valid for three months from its date and must be showed to the officer when collecting the pass from the Work Pass Division at Havelock Road. S Passes issued for the first time are valid for up to two years while renewals can last up to three years.

S Pass Rejection

Should your S Pass be rejected for whatever reason, your employer can lodge an appeal. This should be done within one month of receiving the rejection letter. Your employer should complete an appeal form and include any other documents that may help your case.You should note that applications can be rejected simply for failing to provide the required documents the first time. The company should ensure all documents are included. The result of your appeal will be sent to your employer after about three weeks.

S Pass Renewals

Two months before your S Pass expires, a renewal form will be sent to your employer. This should be completed and sent to the Work Pass Division at least four weeks before the expiration date. Online renewal applications take one week to process while manual ones may take up to three weeks. The result will be sent to the employer.

Permanent Residence

Being an S Pass holder entitles you to apply for Singapore permanent residence. Having permanent residency in Singapore allows you to enjoy most of the benefits of a full citizen. You can also switch jobs without having to apply for visas. You S Pass is cancelled once you obtain Singapore permanent residence. S Pass holders should wait at least two years, before filing a Singapore PR application.

Final thoughts

The S Pass is a convenient way to work in Singapore if you are unable to secure middle-management or higher paying jobs. The quotes for foreigners are quite generous and you will be able to contribute to the Singapore economy and benefit from the country's strict laws that protect foreign workers.

Other Related Topics

Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass