Work Visa in Singapore

Employment Pass (EP) – a work pass designed for foreign professionals, managers and executives with a salary at least 5 000 SGD (~3 700 USD) per month in all industries and at least 5 500 SGD (~4 000 USD) per month in the financial services sector.

-EP gives the right to live and work in Singapore during the validity period of the pass
-Availability of passes for eligible family members (Dependant Pass/LTVP).
-Possibility to apply for Permanent Residency in Singapore for pass holder and family members 
-Qualifies the holder as a tax resident of Singapore (The personal tax rate in Singapore is progressive and ranges from 0 to 22%) 
-Can send your children to study in local and international schools in Singapore.
-No foreign worker levy or quota required.
-Allows you to open a personal bank account with one of the top banks in Singapore with minimum deposit*.
*- For comparison, if you do not have an Employment Pass or other long-term visa in Singapore, the minimum amount to open a personal bank account in Singapore begins with a deposit of $ 200 thousand to $ 10 million dollars.

• Employment Pass (EP) candidates need to pass the points-based COMPASS in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary.
• High salary requirements*
• Hard to obtain for new companies
• Tough to renew for companies without local employees/low turnover
• Requires large share capital or active financial activities

* - Salary increases progressively with age. For example, for EP candidates 40 years old and above the salary requirements are doubled compared to those for younger employees.

• Candidates need to pass the points-based COMPASS in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary.
• Completed higher education supported by certificates*
• Relevant work experience in your industry
• EP qualifying salary at least $5,000 for all sectors except financial services **

*in case there is no completed higher education, it is necessary to significantly increase the salary, prove high professional qualification and expertise

**At least $5,500 for the financial services sector. Salary increases progressively with age.

The requirements for a company may vary depending on the stage of development of the company - it is a newly registered company or a company with active operations.

Regardless of whether your company is newly incorporated or has been in operation for a long time, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower may request the following documents:

Information about the company's employer

• Description of company activities on 1-2 pages
• Job description of the candidate
• Bank statements of the company
• Contract for office lease in Singapore
• Signed contracts/invoices to clients
• Employment contract between the candidate and the company with a breakdown of the applicant's salary
• Company website
• Company business plan
• Information on hiring plans
• Other documents requested by the Ministry of Manpower Singapore

The final list of possible documents is individual and depends on the specifics of the employer's company.

Employers must comply with the Fair Consideration System - post vacancies on MyCareersFuture and retain all applicants fairly*
*for companies with 10 employees and more

Yes, you can apply for a work pass for a newly opened company as long as the following conditions are met:

• The authorized capital of the company must be at least SGD 100,000 (~77,000 USD).
• Your salary must be at least SGD 7,000-8,000 per month (~5,000-5,800 USD).
• Higher education/experience in managerial, highly professional positions, proven by certificates and diplomas, is mandatory.

Each application is reviewed individually by the Ministry of Manpower Singapore based on a wide range of factors, such as the financial condition of the employer's company, the candidate's salary, work experience, business reputation, recognized industry expertise and the ratings of the educational institutions the candidate has graduated from.

The issuance of an Employment Pass in Singapore can take anywhere from three weeks to several months.

You have 3 months to appeal an unsuccessful Employment Pass application, but you should do so only if you can address the rejection reasons

The employer or hired Employment Agency (EA) can apply for a work pass.

Yes. Employment Pass holders may apply for passes to allow the following family members to join them in Singapore. 

Below you will find a detailed description of what type of visa is suitable for each category of relatives:

Spouse (legally married)
Visa type: Dependant's Pass (DP)

Children unmarried and under 21 years old, including those legally adopted
Visa Type: Dependant's Pass (DP)

Common-law spouse (A common-law relationship between 2 people that is recognised under the laws of their country or region)
Visa type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above
Visa type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)


Stepchildren unmarried and under 21 years old
Visa type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

Parents 
(Only for EP holders earning at least $12,000)
Visa Type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

To apply for Dependant’s Pass/Long Term Visit Pass for family members, the pass holder must meet the following criteria:

• Have a valid Employment Pass
• Salary of at least SGD 6,000 (USD 4,400) to sponsor a spouse and children
• Salary of at least SGD 12,000 (8,800 USD) to sponsor pass holder’s parents

No foreign workers levy or quota required

Under Singapore tax law, where a non-Singaporean employee of the Company terminates employment with the Company in Singapore, goes overseas or plans to leave Singapore for more than three months, the Employer must notify the Singapore Revenue Authority (IRAS) at least one month prior to the event, and withhold all monies due to the employee from the date the Employer became aware of the impending termination of employment or departure from Singapore. In Singapore, this process is called Tax Clearance.

For the purpose of IRAS notification, the Employer is required to file the IR21 form at least one month before the non-Singaporean employee leaves for an overseas assignment or leaves Singapore for a period of more than three months.

Find out more about Tax Clearance on the IRAS website