Employment Pass (EP) – a work visa designed for highly skilled foreign experts and executives working in Singapore who have the necessary qualifications and a monthly income of at least 4 500 SGD (3 355 USD) for all enterprises and at least 5000 SGD for the financial industry.
With all the choices of work visas and work permits, the primary option for a work visa for foreigners is the Employment Pass, which gives the right to live and work in Singapore and the issuance of long-term dependent visas (Dependant's Pass) for your family members.
RSBU launched in Singapore in 2013 and over the years has helped thousands of companies with their legal and business needs.
Company registration in the Singapore Ministry of Labor database
What is included in the service:
1200 $
Employment Pass
EP Online Account Company Registration with the Ministry of Labor of Singapore
Preparing and submitting a work visa application to the Singapore Ministry of Labor
Interaction with the Singapore Ministry of Labor on the application
Up to two appeals on the application (if denied)
Obtaining prior authorization to issue your visa (IPA)
Issuance of a work visa confirmation (In Principal Approval)
Issuance of a multiple entry tourist visa to Singapore*
Entry Approval from Singapore Ministry of Labour*
Release of work visa at the Ministry of Labor of Singapore upon arrival in Singapore*
What a work visa to Singapore (EP) gives
* - for comparison, if you do not have a Work Pass or other long-term visa in Singapore, the minimum amount for opening a personal bank account in Singapore starts with a deposit of $ 200 thousand to $ 10 million.
(The personal tax rate in Singapore is progressive and ranges from 0 to 22%)
If you hold an EP in Singapore
(1-3 years, renewable)
EP gives the right to live and work in Singapore during the validity period of the visa
(wife/husband, children and parents)
It is possible to obtain long-term type tickets visas for residence in Singapore (Dependant Pass/LTVP) for family members
It is possible to file application for a permanent residence permit in Singapore for yourself and your family members
EP holders have the option of sending their children to both local and international schools in Singapore.
Opportunity opening a personal bank account in one of the top banks in Singapore with a minimum deposit*
Keep in mind that these are basic requirements - the older and more qualified the candidate, the higher the salary requirements)
in the absence of a completed higher education, it is necessary to prove high professional qualifications and expertise
Recognized expertise in an applicant's field of specialization - awards, interviews, and publications in relevant media - are not required, but greatly increase the chances of obtaining a work visa.
No criminal cases and adjudications, bankruptcy records and black marks in international information databases
Good business reputation
Monthly salary of at least SGD 4,500 **
Relevant work experience in your specialty
Completed higher education, confirmed by diplomas and certificates *
Data on the spouse (name, date of birth, education) and on the presence of children (name, date of birth)
Details of spouse and children
A copy of the marriage certificate. A copy of the original and a notarized translation into English.
Marriage certificate
Copies of letters of recommendation from work, if any
Letters of Recommendation
Summary of the last 10 years of employment in English (indicating company, position and salary), as well as special skills relevant to the intended position.
Summary
Copies of the applicant's diplomas and certificates of educational attainment. All copies of diplomas must be in their original language and translated into English with a notarized translation
Education documents
3*4, passport format, white background, made not more than 3 months before the day of filing.
Photo
Passport must be valid for at least one year at the time of application for a work visa
A copy of your passport
The questionnaire can be filled out by following this link
During the visa review process, the MOM may request additional documents as well as ask questions about the application. It is the applicant's job to answer the questions promptly and provide the required documents.
Each application is reviewed individually by the Department of Labor 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 rankings of the educational institutions the candidate graduated from.
It can take anywhere from three weeks to several months to issue a work visa in Singapore.
Reasons for refusal of a work visa
The Singapore Ministry of Labor does not always explain the reason for visa refusal. This information is based on our experience when applying for Employment Pass in Singapore.
Important!
Do you need help?
If you have any additional questions, we will be happy to answer them!
We have been cooperating with RSBS since the creation of our company, namely since 2017. This is a team of professionals who can be trusted with tasks of various complexity, from company registration to assistance in some aspects of business. I am grateful and glad for our partnership!
Dmitry Malakhovsky
Director & Co-Founder, Ecoway Technologies Pte.Ltd.
Anastasia Oleinik
Prima Music Pte Ltd
RASA expresses its sincere gratitude to RSBU. Our cooperation began in 2019 with the registration of the company and continues to the present day.
During the period of our cooperation, RSBU representatives have shown high professionalism and efficiency in performing the designated tasks. We receive constant support in the ongoing financial and organizational processes of the company. We are very satisfied with our cooperation with RSBU and we certainly recommend this company as your reliable and trusted partner.
Tatiana Meshkova
I used the services of RSBU in order to open my own company in Singapore. Good service. The consultants actively answer questions and respond quickly if problems arise. Especially valuable is the fact that even after successfully opening a company, the consultants give advice on documentation and doing business in Asia.
I recommend it!
RASA Pte Ltd
Director & Co-Founder, Ecoway Technologies Pte.Ltd.
Dmitry Malakhovsky
We have been cooperating with RSBS since the creation of our company, namely since 2017. This is a team of professionals who can be trusted with tasks of various complexity, from company registration to assistance in some aspects of business. I am grateful and glad for our partnership!
Anastasia Oleinik
Prima Music Pte Ltd
Сотрудничаем с РСБС с момента создания нашей компании, а именно с 2017 года. Это команда профессионалов, которым можно доверить задачи разной сложности, начиная от регистрации компании и заканчивая помощью в некоторых аспектах деятельности. Благодарен и рад нашему партнерству!
Малаховский Дмитрий
Директор & Соучредитель Ecoway Technologies Pte.Ltd.
I used the services of RSBU in order to open my own company in Singapore. Good service. The consultants actively answer questions and respond quickly if problems arise. Especially valuable is the fact that even after successfully opening a company, the consultants give advice on documentation and doing business in Asia.
I recommend it!
RASA Pte Ltd
Tatiana Meshkova
RASA expresses its sincere gratitude to RSBU. Our cooperation began in 2019 with the registration of the company and continues to the present day.
During the period of our cooperation, RSBU representatives have shown high professionalism and efficiency in performing the designated tasks. We receive constant support in the ongoing financial and organizational processes of the company. We are very satisfied with our cooperation with RSBU and we certainly recommend this company as your reliable and trusted partner.
Seafood International Trade Pte. Ltd.
Olga
Seafood International Trade Pte Ltd would like to thank RSBU for their long-term and fruitful cooperation. We have been customers of RSBU since its incorporation and RSBU has established itself as a task-oriented and result-oriented company.
Maxim R.
Wowlink Pte. Ltd.
Сотрудничаем с РСБС с момента создания нашей компании, а именно с 2017 года. Это команда профессионалов, которым можно доверить задачи разной сложности, начиная от регистрации компании и заканчивая помощью в некоторых аспектах деятельности. Благодарен и рад нашему партнерству!
Малаховский Дмитрий
Директор & Соучредитель Ecoway Technologies Pte.Ltd.
We registered a Private Limited Company in 2020 with RSBU. The RSBU team worked perfectly, the documents were prepared professionally, the registration of the company and the opening of the bank account went smoothly.
RSBU also provided our company with a nominee director, an official address, and helped us keep the books. We are very pleased with the quality of service, responsiveness and professionalism of the RSBU staff. You can see that the company and team are constantly improving and enhancing the quality of services provided. Thank you very much for your work!
Spacefox Pte Ltd.
Vitaly Isayev
Working with RSBU leaves only positive impressions in the memory. The team stays in touch even during holidays and off hours.
Our business is quite specific, requiring licensing, legal expertise and we get help from RSBU on all these matters. What to say about the basic needs of opening a company and accounts, everything is at the highest level here.
Seafood International Trade Pte. Ltd.
Olga
Seafood International Trade Pte Ltd would like to thank RSBU for their long-term and fruitful cooperation. We have been customers of RSBU since its incorporation and RSBU has established itself as a task-oriented and result-oriented company.
Maxim R.
Wowlink Pte. Ltd.
Сотрудничаем с РСБС с момента создания нашей компании, а именно с 2017 года. Это команда профессионалов, которым можно доверить задачи разной сложности, начиная от регистрации компании и заканчивая помощью в некоторых аспектах деятельности. Благодарен и рад нашему партнерству!
Малаховский Дмитрий
Директор & Соучредитель Ecoway Technologies Pte.Ltd.
We registered a Private Limited Company in 2020 with RSBU. The RSBU team worked perfectly, the documents were prepared professionally, the registration of the company and the opening of the bank account went smoothly.
RSBU also provided our company with a nominee director, an official address, and helped us keep the books. We are very pleased with the quality of service, responsiveness and professionalism of the RSBU staff. You can see that the company and team are constantly improving and enhancing the quality of services provided. Thank you very much for your work!
Spacefox Pte Ltd.
Vitaly Isayev
Working with RSBU leaves only positive impressions in the memory. The team stays in touch even during holidays and off hours.
Our business is quite specific, requiring licensing, legal expertise and we get help from RSBU on all these matters. What to say about the basic needs of opening a company and accounts, everything is at the highest level here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Employment Pass (EP) is a work visa intended for highly qualified foreign professionals and executives working in Singapore with appropriate qualifications and a salary of at least SGD 4,500 (USD 3,350) per month for all sectors and SGD 5,000 (USD 3,700) for the financial sector.
Employment Pass benefits:
Gives the right to live and work in Singapore for the duration of the visa (1-3 years, renewable)
Can apply for long term visas for family members (wife/husband, children and parents) to live in Singapore
Can apply for Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) in Singapore for yourself and your family members.
Can send your children to study in local and international schools in Singapore.
You are considered to be a tax resident of Singapore (the personal tax rate in Singapore is progressive and ranges from 0% to 22%)
No quotas or requirements for number of local employees
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 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.
High salary requirements*
Difficult to obtain for young companies
Difficult to renew for companies without local employees/low turnover
Requires large share capital or active financial activities
* - The above mentioned minimum salary requirements apply to young employees. In Singapore, the rule is that the older and more qualified a candidate is, the higher the salary requirements of the Singapore Ministry of Labor. For example, for EP candidates 35 years of age and above, the salary requirements are doubled compared to those for younger employees.
The applicant must also meet the following requirements in order to qualify for Employment Pass:
Completed higher education, confirmed by diplomas and certificates
Relevant work experience in your specialty
Monthly salary of at least SGD 4,500 for all industries and at least SGD 5,000 for the financial sector. The older and more experienced the applicant, the higher his/her salary should be.
Good business reputation (no criminal cases and court decisions, bankruptcy records and "black marks" in international information databases)
Recognized expertise in an applicant's field of specialization - awards, interviews, and publications in relevant media - are not required, but greatly increase the chances of obtaining a work visa.
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 Singapore Department of Labor
The final list of possible documents is individual and depends on the specifics of the employer's company.
Yes, you can apply for a work visa 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 Labor 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 a work visa in Singapore can take anywhere from three weeks to several months.
In the case of refusal by the Singapore Department of Labor, you can appeal against the application.
Once you are denied a visa, you have 3 months to appeal the denial, but you should only do so if you can challenge the reasons for the denial.
You can review the denial information in the company's EP Online Office to learn the reasons for the denial and to find out what to do next. If you applied manually, check the denial letter.
The employer or hired Recruiting Agency can apply for a work visa.
Yes. The Employment Pass holder may also sponsor dependent visas for his/her family members: spouses, unmarried natural and stepchildren under 21, disabled children over 21, unmarried children, and parents of the Employment Pass holder. Dependent visas are linked to the Employment Pass holder and entitle the dependent to reside in Singapore.
To apply for dependency visas for family members you must meet the following criteria:
Have a valid Employment Pass
Your salary must be at least SGD 6,000 to sponsor your wife and children at least SGD 12,000 if you plan to bring your parents to Singapore
Below you will find a detailed description of what type of visa is suitable for each category of relatives:
Spouse Visa type: Dependant's Pass (DP)
Children under 21 years of age, including legally adopted unmarried children Visa Type: Dependant's Pass (DP)
Common-law spouse Visa type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
Unmarried disabled children over 21 years of age Visa Type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
Foster children under 21 years of age who are unmarried Visa type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
Parents (only for those who have a salary above SGD 12,000) Visa Type: Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
To apply for Dependant Visas (Dependant Pass/Long Term Visit Pass) for family members, the applicant 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 applicant's parents
There is no quota or foreign labor tax for the Employment Pass (unlike the S Pass or Work Permit).
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.
Letter of Consent (LOC) is an official work permit from the Singapore Ministry of Labor for Dependant Pass holders who are owners of a business registered in Singapore, and LTVP/LTVP+ who are spouses or unmarried children of Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
Employment Pass (EP) - is a Singapore work visa intended for highly qualified foreign professionals and executives working in Singapore with appropriate qualifications and a salary of at least SGD 4,500 (~3,355 USD) per month for all companies and at least SGD 5,000 (~3,650 USD) for the financial sector.
Singapore is one of the largest financial centers in the world. There are more than 200 banks, including 111 commercial banks providing a wide range of banking services.