Work Passes and Resident Visas

Factors such as a candidate’s working or business ownership experience, nationality, job role, monthly salary, and academic and vocational qualifications (including the university/school attended) determine which work pass is the best fit.

The eligibility of the employing company also plays a key role in a securing a successful work pass e.g. the employer’s financial position, years of being in business, growth prospects (especially local job creation), and its local manpower numbers.

Getting things done can be quite a headache in an unfamiliar country, we know that! So, let us handle the form-filling and approach for you!

Our Ministry of Manpower (MOM) licensed Employment Agency assists customers in applying for the following work and family visas:

 

Entre-Pass – a special work pass offered by government agencies, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Spring Singapore that allows entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to start an innovative business in Singapore, under the formal structure of a Company. On approval, the EntrePass holder can become a local director, and a founder/shareholder. This pass is aimed at foreign entrepreneurs who own intellectual property or novel concepts, and also those invested in tech and innovation start-ups. Read more here!

 

Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) – a work pass for high-level professionals, typically specialist consultants and top-level project managers. Allowing for greater job flexibility, the PEP holder can change employers without needing to apply for a new pass. They are also permitted to take on concurrent roles and to remain in Singapore for periods of up to 6 months between jobs, provided their overall income for the year reaches at least SGD$144,000. The PEP is valid for 3 years , and is non-renewable. Upon the PEP’s expiry, the foreign worker will need to secure permanent employment with a local employer, and apply for an Employment Pass or Singapore Permanent Residency.  Foreigners wishing to apply for a PEP and work in Singapore must earn a monthly salary equivalent to SGD$18,000 to qualify.

 

Employment Pass (EP) – a work pass that allows skilled, qualified foreign professionals to work in Singapore in managerial, executive or specialised jobs. Eligible candidates must have relevant work experience, good academic qualifications (at least a Bachelor Degree), a ‘decent’ salary (these days, SGD$7,500 and above), and a senior/specialist job title.

 

Spass – a work pass typically issued to junior and mid-level skilled foreigners (including those nationalities not eligible to apply for a ‘work permit’) who have relevant work experience and acceptable degree/diploma qualifications. To promote local hiring for such semi-skilled positions, employers must pay a substantial levy to the government for each Spass hire, and have sufficient local employees on board first, to be eligible to do so (according to the quota determined by their industry sector). An Spass holder may invest in a Singapore venture (i.e. as a shareholder), but is not permitted to be a Company Director, Partner, or Business Owner. To do so, they must meet the eligibility criteria and apply for an Employment Pass.

 

Dependant Pass – a visa available to spouses and unmarried children (under 21 years), including legally adopted children, accompanying eligible work pass holders (PEP holders, and EP/ SPass holders earning at least $6,000 per month; EntrePass holders who meet the Dependant Pass privilege criteria for their pass type). Dependant Pass holders may stay in Singapore for as long as work pass holder’s visa is valid. Dependants of PEP/Employment Pass/EntrePass holders may take on paid work under a local employer, via a “Letter of Consent” to work, without needing a separate work pass. However, Dependants of SPass holders are not permitted work in Singapore, unless sponsored by a local employer on a work pass of their own. In this case, the normal foreign worker quota does not apply, but the Employer will still be obliged to pay a levy to the government if applicable (i.e. if the DP holder is issued a work permit or an SPass).

 

MOM-issued Long Term Social Visit Pass (LTVP) – a visa for common-law spouses, step-children and handicapped adult children (21 years+) of eligible work pass holders i.e. PEP holders, and EP/SPass holders who earn at least $6,000 per month. LTVPs can also be obtained for parents of PEP holders, and EP/SPass holders who earn at least $12,000 per month. EntrePass holders can apply for LTVPs for their dependants if they meet the applicable criteria for their pass type. A LTVP holder may stay in Singapore for as long as work pass holder’s visa is valid. However, the LTVP holder is not permitted work in Singapore, unless sponsored by a local employer on a work pass of their own.