Dependent Pass Holders opportunities to work in singapore

Jayasty wrote:

Hi,

Hope you all are doing well and safe. I have been in Singapore since 1+ year and unable to find the right job opportunities for myself. Meanwhile I want to understand the opportunities that I have as a dependent pass holder.

a. Knowing the fact that DP holders cannot work without work permit from May'21 onwards, what are the other options that we can take up such as Freelancing etc.,
b. As a freelancer, do I need to get a license since I read that only Singaporeans and PR can work as Freelancers.
c. Do freelance creative jobs like writing, website designing need a license or not since I read that is excluded.
d. As a DP holder in Singapore, can I take up projects from overseas or that is also not allowed? should we not take projects or work with Singapore companies or it is applicable for other country projects as well.

It would be great if someone can guide me here. Thanks

Hi there, hope these help-

A. Freelancing with Singapore firms for dependents of work pass holders isn’t allowed, only Singaporeans and PR’s can do so. You have the option of setting up a firm, as this is ‘almost’ entrepreneurial in nature, get an Entre Pass or apply for an EP as a Director of the firm

B. Think A covers this

C. You need to look at it this way, if you are working/ freelancing for any firm in SG, you are indeed getting paid. Locals can do that job too, but as a foreigner if you take these away from locals without relevant work permits, it ain’t fair. If you are getting paid by a Singaporean company, you are liable to pay taxes, then there is contribution to Medisave and what not, which locals do, you won’t as a freelancer. Some freelance jobs need prior license too, it ain’t that straightforward (Google can come in handy if you keen to dig into this more)

D. If you are not violating the local laws around employment/ work permits- you are fine. Suggestion- Do some part time/ freelancing work for a company overseas that isn’t paying you from their SG office in SGD in a local account. You can get paid in your offshore account or just an international transfer to your SG account. (Last bit is a suggestion as a lot of website designers, content writers etc consult overseas firms- which is based on your merit and is not a local opportunity that you are taking away from a deserving local, also not getting paid by a SG based firm).

Cheers.

I must contradict Shekhz anser for D:
A foreigner on DP is not allowed ANY paid work, regardless of whether it is employed, freelance, or for a local or overseas company/client.
There might be a lower chance of being found if you do what Shekhz suggested above, but that does not make it legal!
If you want to do anything in that direction, you need to convert your DP into a work pass or EntrePass. Since that is difficult, I recommend you wait until you become PR - then all of this is allowed!

I stand corrected, thanks @beppi.

No freelancing, alas! @jayasty

Entrepass seems to be tough since it needs us to generate certain revenue per year. I don’t think that it would be suitable to take it forward. I read that creative work like writing, website designing doesn’t need license. Any idea about it?

No freelancing for overseas clients as well is what you suggesting?

Like website design for US based companies.

If, can be done. Can I get that amount transferred to my local SG bank account?

I am still not getting the point clear.

Are you saying DP cannot work at all? Or they need work permit for everything?

Correct: DP holders cannot do ANY paid work. (Volunteering is allowed, though.)
You need one of the other passes I mentioned if you want to do that.
There is no legal possibility for foreigners (non-PR) living in Singapore to do any freelance work.

Ok, what pass other than entre pass is suitable if we want to do freelancing?

Can I freelance with my Indian bank account since there is no work permit required in India for freelancing? Let me know if I am wrong?

I will say it one more time:
There is no, absolutely NO, legal way to do any paid freelance work while living in Singapore on a DP. Which bank account you use has no influence on this - and neither where the client/customer is and where/how they pay you. It only matters where you do the work - if in Singapore, you fall under Singapore law (of course).
The reasoning is: DP holders are, by definition, dependents of the main EP holder. If you have your own income, you are no longer dependent and thus cannot have a DP.
If you can legally freelance in India, please move there before you start.
To do it in Singapore, register a business and get an Entrepass. There is also the (now very rare) possibility to get an EP to work as director of one's own company - approach a business incorporation service provider for help with this!

Ok, seems very clear to me now. Thanks for clarifying it so well.

beppi wrote:

I must contradict Shekhz anser for D:
A foreigner on DP is not allowed ANY paid work, regardless of whether it is employed, freelance, or for a local or overseas company/client.
There might be a lower chance of being found if you do what Shekhz suggested above, but that does not make it legal!
If you want to do anything in that direction, you need to convert your DP into a work pass or EntrePass. Since that is difficult, I recommend you wait until you become PR - then all of this is allowed!

What if the company has no presence in sg and u oay tax in that country? https://www.iras.gov.sg/irashome/Busine … ts--DTAs-/

Whitesneakers: My understanding (but please confirm this with IRAS) is that your income for work performed in Singapore (i.e. while you are tax resident in Singapore) is taxable here - no matter how and where it is paid.
The Double Taxation Agreements (DTA) mentioned in your link are meant to minimize double taxation - by clarifying that you are only tax resident in one country (i.e. the one where you live and work) and not the other.
Since Singapore income taxes are lower than almost anywhere else, this is good news for those living here. But there is certainly no (legal) way of avoiding taxes altogether - and no way for you to choose where you want to pay tax.

It's very challenging to find a job for DP these days