Work Passes in Singapore

This is for foreign talent who are - professionals, managers, executives and specialists - or any skilled talent with a confirmed job lined up. Only the employer or an authorized employment agent can put in the application for the Employment Pass through the Singapore work pass application process. And guess what - candidates can't apply for themselves - that's just the way it is.

Salary Requirements

S$5,600 minimum a month for most sectors

S$6,200 minimum a month for financial services

Goes up with age and seniority

The COMPASS assessment

Most EP applications have to clear COMPASS - a points-based framework. Candidates need to score at least 40 points across the board in order to qualify for the Employment Pass:

How does your salary compare to local benchmarks?

What kind of qualifications do you have from a recognized institution?

How's the workforce diversity at the company you're applying with?

What's the company's track record on supporting local employment?

Some Key Facts to Keep in Mind:

No quota is needed to issue an EP.

Validity is up to 2 years first-time, renewable for up to 3 years.

Renewal

Employers can apply for renewal up to 6 months before the pass is due to expire. Renewals are essentially reassessed against the salary benchmarks and COMPASS criteria that are current at the time of renewal - not what they were when the pass was first issued. So just because you qualified a couple of years ago doesn't mean you'll automatically get the green light on renewal without checking the current requirements.

This is for mid-skilled foreign workers, technicians, associate and similar roles that don't quite meet the EP qualifying bar. Again, only the employer or an authorized agent can apply, same as before.

Salary Requirements

S$3,300 minimum a month for most sectors

S$3,800 minimum a month for financial services

Rises with age and seniority - just like the EP

Now - any bonuses and commissions won't count unless they're contractually guaranteed. You'll typically need a relevant diploma, degree or technical qualification - and experience to back it up.

What makes the S Pass different from the EP

S Pass is subject to a Dependency Ratio - meaning there's a cap on how many work pass holders Singapore companies can employ under the S Pass relative to the local workforce.

S Pass comes with a monthly levy per S Pass holder - paid for by the employer.

Some Key Facts:

Validity is up to 2 years initially.

Renewable for up to 3 years - same as the EP.

Renewal

Same as the EP - renewal isn't automatic. Each renewal is checked against the salary and age benchmarks - as well as the employer's quota position at the time. So if your pay hasn't kept pace with the rising benchmarks, you might run into trouble even with a clean record.

This is for foreign entrepreneurs starting or running a business in Singapore.

MOM describes eligible applicants as falling into three broad profiles:

• I. Entrepreneurs
• II. High-calibre Innovators
• III. Experienced Investors

To qualify in any one of these categories:

the applicant needs to have started a private limited company registered with ACRA

The applicant should be owning at least 30% of its shares.

And the company needs to be venture-backed or owning genuinely innovative technology.

Or - if the company's already registered - it can't be more than 6 months old at the time of application.

Some Key Facts: No stipulated minimum salary - and open to anyone from anywhere in the world.

Renewal

EntrePass renewal isn't based on what you applied for originally - instead MOM looks at what the business has actually achieved since the pass was issued - business spending, jobs created for locals, and overall progress against the original business plan. So it's more about ongoing progress and growth than what you had planned in the first place.

This is the one everyone asks about after the E Pass & S Pass are sorted. If you're raking it in to the tune of at least S$6,000 a month on an EP or S Pass, you can sponsor your legally married spouse and any unmarried kiddos under 21 - including those you've adopted - on a Dependent's Pass.

But other family members - like your kids over 21 with a disability, step-kids or even your parents - don't qualify for a Dependent's Pass, but you might be in luck if you get MOM's approval for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) instead. Just a word of warning though - your parents specifically need their sponsor to be pulling in at least S$12,000 a month for them to be eligible for the LTVP.

• If you're looking for a qualified specialist - a clearly defined, salaried role: Employment Pass.
• If you're after mid-skilled foreign talent below the EP salary bar, technicians, or associate: S Pass.
• If you're a foreign founder trying to start or relocate an innovative, venture-backed business: EntrePass.

All three need MOM's approval, and all three require the underlying business or job offer to be the real deal and properly documented, because MOM's gonna be sniffing around to verify qualifications, funding and business activity.

So, once you've submitted your Singapore work pass application, you can just chill - employers can keep an eye on the Singapore work pass status through the relevant MOM channels.

If you're still scratching your head over which work pass Singapore option is right for you, or want to avoid any hiccups along the way, we're happy to go over the details with you at Flyingcolour Singapore Corporate Services.