Employment Pass & S Pass Applications

Foreigners holding acceptable degrees and professional qualifications (and whose monthly basic salary is at least S$3,000) are eligible to apply for employment pass to work in Singapore. However, Singapore Government has now tightened her criteria for work pass applications as part of her overall direction to moderate the growth of Singapore's non-citizen population. New applicants for work passes (including Employment Passes, S Passes and Work Permits) are now assessed on a multiple of criteria, not only on fixed monthly salary but also on educational qualifications, skill, type of job and relevant work experience.

All EP applicants are advised not to make any relocation plans until you have received an in-Principle Approval letter from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

The various types of employment passes and eligibility criteria based on fixed monthly salary and qualifications are set out below:

Pass Type	Eligibility Requirements	Validity Period	Processing Time	MOM Fee
P1 Pass	Fixed monthly salary of S$ 8,000 Acceptable tertiary qualifications or trade certification Relevant working experience	1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable	Online Submission: 7 days Manual Submission: 5 weeks	Application: S$ 70 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 150
P2 Pass	Fixed monthly salary of S$ 4,500 Acceptable qualifications Relevant working experience	1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable	Online Submission: 7 days Manual Submission: 5 weeks	Application: S$ 70 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 150
Q1 Pass	Fixed monthly salary of S$ 3,000 Graduated from good universities/institutions Preferably with 1-2 years working experience	1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable	Online Submission: 7 days Manual Submission: 5 weeks	Application: S$ 70 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 150
* Older applicants without tertiary qualifications need to have higher fixed monthly salaries commensurating with relevant work experience and skills.
S-Pass	Fixed monthly salary of S$ 2,000 Posess a degree/diploma. Technical certificates of at least 1 year of full-time study can be considered Preferably with 1-2 years working experience	1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable	Online Submission: 7 days Manual Submission: 5 weeks	Application: S$ 60 Issuance/ Renewal: S$ 80
* The number of S Pass holders a company can employ is capped at a sub-quota, or Dependency Ceiling (DC), of 20% of the company's total workforce.
Work Permit	Approved country/territory	1-2 years (subject to worker’s passport validity, Banker’s/Insurance Guarantee and worker’s employment period) and renewable	Online Submission: 7 days Manual Submission: 5 weeks	Application: S$ 30 Issuance: S$ 30
* Services sector employers can employ Work Permit holders up to 45% of the company's/firm's total workforce. PRC Work Permit holders can make up to 9% within the 45% Dependency Ceiling.

S Pass and Work Permit Quota

For more information on the number of Local workforce required, please refer to the Guidelines on the Calculation of Quota and Levy Bill or use Quota Calculator for Work Permits and S Passes.

Guidelines on the Calculation of Quota and Levy Bill

Quota Calculator for Work Permits and S Passes

Foreign Worker Levy

The levy rate for foreign workers varies across different sectors. Find out more about the levy rates for foreign workers in the services sector.

Documents Required

Employment Pass applications must be sponsored by an established Singapore Company (which is also usually the employing company). The form must be endorsed with the company’s stamp/seal and signed by both the applicant and an authorized officer from the sponsoring company.
For S Pass applications, an Employer Declaration Form is to be completed and attached. The application form must also be endorsed with the company’s stamp/seal and signed by both the applicant and an authorized officer from the sponsoring company, and the employer (if different from the sponsor).
A copy of all the applicant's educational documents and past employment testimonials (Translated into English if they are in other languages)
A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant taken within the last three months
A copy of the Travel Document page showing the applicant's personal particulars
Additional documents if requested on a case-to-case basis.
Business Profile / Instant Information from ACRA/ registration papers from their respective professional bodies for sponsoring company of applicant.
If the applicant is a regional representative, the following documents must also be submitted:
- A copy of letter from the International Enterprise Singapore giving approval for the setting up of the Representative Office; and
- A letter from the Representative's Office Headquarters stating the purpose of the application, the duration of the applicant's assignment and an undertaking for the maintenance and repatriation of the applicant.

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