As an expat, you must have a job to pay for your rent, bills, and leisure activities, but you can't just move to Singapore and get a job right away. Instead, all foreigners must have a valid work pass (work visa or work permit) before they start their jobs.
There are four types of work passes available: professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers, trainees and students, and family members of work pass holders.
Professional Work Passes
Many foreigners seek work opportunities in Singapore. However, as you might've already guessed, there's a wide range of industries and positions, which means there are different professional work passes you can apply for.
Employment Pass
The Employment Pass is intended for foreign professionals, as well as managers and executives. It can only be applied through the company from which you received your job offer or the employment agent authorized by this company. Singapore Ministry of Manpower has announced a new point-based assessment system called Compass for the evaluation of employment pass applications, which went into effect in September 2023. According to Compass, your application will be evaluated under four criteria: salary, qualifications, diversity, and local employment support. The first two criteria are directly related to you. You must at least offer S$5,000 (5,500 for the financial sector), and this amount increases with age (if you are 45 years old, this amount is S$10,500 for you). As of 1 January 2025, the minimum salary requirement will be at least S$5,600 (6,200 for the financial sector), plus you have considerable qualifications such as a degree from a reputable university and specialized skills. The next two criteria, diversity and supporting local employment, are related to the company you will work for. You will get more points if there are fewer employees working in the company of the same nationality as you and if your company employs the desired number of local employees compared to its industry peers.
In addition, before they're able to hire a foreigner, employers must show that they've exhausted all their local options through MyCareerFuture; only then can they sponsor a foreigner for an Employment Pass.
If you're a first-time candidate, this work pass is valid for up to 2 years. You can renew it for up to 3 years. There's also no foreign work levy or quota like in S Passes.
EntrePass
The EntrePass is for foreign entrepreneurs who are eligible. They must be willing to start a venture-backed Singaporean business, or you can have innovative technologies that'll benefit the country. Either way, your business must be registered with ACRA. If you've already registered, the company must be less than 6 months old.
There are some entrepreneur, innovator, and innovative investor criteria you should meet. While they're not all required to get an EntrePass, the more you have, the better for your application.
You can apply directly for the EntrePass, and there's no minimum salary required, seeing as you're an entrepreneur.
The EntrePass is good for 1 year, and you can renew it for 2 years at a time. Like with the Employment Pass, there's no foreign work levy or quota.
Personalized Employment Pass
This work pass is similar to the Employment Pass but is for those who already have that pass and are high-earners or high-earning foreign professionals. You must earn at least S$22,500 fixed monthly salary a month as a current EP holder or overseas foreign professional (last drawn fixed monthly salary must be within 6 months before your application).
This type of employment pass is not tied to a company, so you can apply for the Personalized Employment Pass yourself. It's good for up to 3 years and isn't renewable. No foreign worker levy or quota is required here, either.
Do note that you can't have been unemployed in Singapore for more than 6 months at a time while holding the work pass. You'll also need to earn a fixed salary of at least S$270,000 per year.
Skilled and Semi-Skilled Worker Passes in Singapore
Not every foreigner will be a C-level executive or manager, so most expats will be interested in skilled and semi-skilled workers' passes.
Below are the options available to you.
S Pass
The S Pass is like the EP but for mid-level skilled staff. The minimum qualifying salary is S$3,000 (gradually increasing with age) and will be S$3,300 from 1 January 2025, according to the updated requirements of the Ministry of Manpower.
Your employer or an appointed employment agent has to apply for the S Pass on your behalf, and if you change jobs, you'll need your new employer to apply for a new S Pass. Otherwise, this work pass is good for up to 2 years. Your employer can renew it for up to 3 years.
Here, employers are subject to a quota and levy for S Pass holders.
Work Permit for migrant workers
This work pass is for migrant workers in the manufacturing, construction, marine shipyard, process, or services industries. Your employer or appointed employment agent must apply for the permit for you.
There's no minimum salary required to get this work permit. Once approved, it's good for up to 2 years, depending on your passport, employment period, and security bond. It can also usually be renewed for 2 years.
There's a quota dependent on the employer's industry. They also have to pay a monthly levy for each worker.
Work Permit for Migrant Domestic Worker
If you wish to work as a domestic helper, then this is the work pass you should get. You'll need either an employer, sponsor or authorized employment agent to apply on your behalf.
To qualify, you must be female and be between the ages of 23 and 50 during the application. If you're over the age of 50, you can only keep renewing your work pass until you're 60. You'll also need at least eight years of formal education with a Singapore-recognized certificate. You can't work for someone you're related to, and you must work at an NRIC-registered address.
In addition, you must be from the following approved countries/regions: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand.
There's no qualifying salary associated with the Work Permit for migrant domestic workers. It's valid for up to 2 years, and you can renew for up to 2 years.
Work Permit for confinement nannies
This work permit is only for Malaysians. It's a short-term permit that only allows you to stay up to 16 weeks (starting from the birth of the child). Your employer or appointed employment agent needs to apply for this permit for you.
To be eligible, you must be a Malaysian between the ages of 23 and 70. The employer must be at least 21 years old, have a baby under 4 months old, and pay a monthly levy.
There's no minimum salary for you to receive a confinement nanny work permit.
Considering that this is a short-term work pass, it's not renewable.
Work Permit for performing artists
If you're seeking employment at an eligible public entertainment outlet, then your employer or appointed employment agent can apply for a performing artiste work permit. There's no minimum qualifying salary for this work pass. However, the employer must have a CAT 1 Public Entertainment Licence and be open for at least 6 hours a day. The business must be a bar, lounge, nightclub, discotheque, pub, private club, hotel, or restaurant. You must be at least 18 years old.
The work permit is good for up to 6 months. It's not renewable, and in addition, you can't get any other work pass until 1 year has passed after this one's expired. Also, employers are subject to a quota and levy.
Trainees and students' work passes
Perhaps you're going to Singapore to study or train in an industry. Earning some money on the side can be a great way to support yourself while building life skills and enjoying what Singapore has to offer.
Explore your options below.
Training Employment Pass
This work pass is intended for professionals who are going through practical training. You need to earn at least S$3,000 a month if you're a trainee and be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company. Otherwise, if you're a student, you need to be studying at an accepted institution or earn the same minimum income as a trainee. You also need to be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company.
The Training Employment Pass is good for up to 3 months and isn't renewable. There's no foreign worker levy or quota.
Work Holiday Pass
The Work Holiday Pass is available under the Work Holiday Program for all foreign students and graduates aged 18 to 25, as well as the Work and Holiday Visa Program for Australian and New Zealand students and graduates aged 18 to 30.
For the former group, they're allowed to work and vacation in Singapore for 6 months. You can apply for it yourself, and it's not renewable. There's a quota of 2,000 places at any given time, so you might have to get lucky to get a Work Holiday Pass.
The latter group is allowed to work and vacation in Singapore for one year. You can also apply for the work pass yourself, and there's no renewal available. There's a quota of 500 places at any given time.
Training work permit
The Training Work Permit is for unskilled or semi-skilled foreign workers who need to go through practical training in Singapore. An employer needs to apply on your behalf, but no minimum salary is required.
This work pass is good for up to 6 months and is not renewable. In addition, you can't get another Training Work Permit until your last one has expired or been canceled for at least 6 months. If you're a foreign student, you can only get a TWP once.
Employers are subject to quota and levy for this work pass.
Family member work passes
While many expats choose to move abroad on their own, many others bring their family members. If you're in this category, then you might be wondering about what it'll take to have your family members work legally. Here are some of the options.
Dependant's Pass
If you have an Employment Pass or S Pass, you can bring over your legally married spouse or unmarried children under 21 years old, and they can legally work in Singapore. They can then get the Dependant's Pass, which your employer or appointed employment agent must apply for.
Not only do you need to be an Employment Pass or S Pass holder, but you must earn a minimum salary of S$6,000 per month on your own. You must also be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company. In some cases, you can bring dependents over on an EntrePass. Your total annual business spending must be at least S$100,000, and you must employ at least three full-time employees or one local professional, manager, or executive.
This pass is good for up to 2 years; its validity is tied to your work pass. If you have an EP, your dependent can renew it for up to 3 months. If you have an S Pass, then your dependant can renew for up to 2 months.
Long-Term Visit Pass
If you have an EP or S Pass, you can use this work pass to bring over your common-law spouse, step-child, or handicapped child to Singapore, and they can work legally. You can also bring your parents if you are earning over S$12,000 monthly. Your employer or appointed employment agent must apply on your behalf.
The Long-Term Visit Pass is valid for up to 2 years and is tied to the validity of your work pass. EP dependants can renew for up to three months, and S Pass dependants can renew for up to two months.
Pre-Approved Letter of Consent
The pre-approved letter of consent (PLOC) is for Singaporeans and permanent residents' spouses and unmarried children (under 21). They must be eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and desire to work in Singapore.
The PLOC's validity is as long as the LTVP/LTVP validity. This pass is renewable; you just have to ask for another when renewing for an LTVP/LTVP.
Letter of Consent for ICA-Issued LTVP/LTVP Holders
This pass is for LTVP/LTVP holders who want to work in the country. They must be the spouse or unmarried children (under 21) of a Singaporean or permanent resident. Also, the LTVP/LTVP must be valid for at least 3 months, and you must have a job offer from a Singaporean employer.
The validity of your LOC will depend on when your LTVP/LTVP expires. It's renewable if you find a new employer.
Letter of Consent for Dependant's Pass Holders Who Are Business Owners
If you're on a Dependant's Pass (DP) and you want to operate a business, you can apply for this LOC. You need to either be a sole proprietor, partner, or company director of at least 30% shareholding of an ACRA-registered business.
This LOC is valid for 1 year or upon the expiration of your Dependant's Pass. If you want to renew a LOC, you need to hire at least one Singaporean or permanent resident. Once renewed, it's good until your DP expires.
Exemptions for Working on a Visit Pass
While we previously said that all foreigners must hold a work pass to be able to work, that's not completely true. Here are some exemptions:
- miscellaneous work pass;
- work pass exempt activities;
- work pass exemption for foreign students;
- work passes for holders of LTVP issued by ICA.
Check with the Ministry of Manpower for more information on these exemptions.
We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.
