Singapore Employment Pass (EP)

Written by Mike Arnold Moderated by Oleksandra Dosii

Mike Arnold

Mike is a freelance writer with eight years of experience and a love for travel, all things business, tabletop games and green tea.

Oleksandra Dosii

Oleksandra is a dedicated marketer with a passion for growing HR-tech products. She believes content marketing is about delivering high-quality content that provides value—not just generating leads. Since 2016, Oleksandra has been involved in tech talent relocation.

Last update: September 13, 2024

Next update: Scheduled for February 1, 2025

Singapore is known for having a high-income economy, almost as if it was designed for businesses. It offers great business-friendly regulations and work environments and has a heavy focus on strong investments in things like infrastructure, public services, and healthcare.

If you've received a job offer or are seeking work in this business capital, your access depends on acquiring an Employment Pass - essentially your visa to live and work in the city-state.

Tailored for professionals, executives, and managers, those earning at least S$5,000 per month, this could be your ticket to starting a new chapter in Singapore.

 

What are the eligibility requirements for Employment Pass?

Securing an Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore requires meeting a two-stage eligibility framework that assesses both your salary and your overall profile's complementarity to Singapore's workforce.

Stage 1: EP qualifying salary

• Minimum salary thresholds: Your fixed monthly salary must meet or exceed the minimum EP qualifying salary, benchmarked against the top one-third of local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) salaries. These thresholds vary based on your age and the sector you'll be working in.
• General sectors: For most sectors, the minimum qualifying salary starts at S$5,000 (approximately €3,500) and increases progressively with age, reaching S$10,500 (approximately €7,300) for those aged 45 and above.
• Financial services sector: Candidates in the financial services sector face higher salary requirements, starting at S$5,500 (roughly €3,800) and increasing with age, up to S$11,500 (approximately €8,000) for those aged 45 and above.

You can use this enhanced self-assessment tool to see whether you can apply.

Stage 2: Complementarity assessment framework (COMPASS)

• Points-based system: Unless exempted, you must also pass the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). This system evaluates your profile based on four criteria: Salary, Qualifications, Diversity, and Support for Local Employment.
• Minimum 40 points: Your application needs to accumulate at least 40 points to pass COMPASS.
• Exemptions: Certain candidates may be exempted from COMPASS, such as those earning a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 (around €15,700) or above.

Important considerations

• Two-stage framework applicability: The two-stage eligibility framework applies to new EP applications submitted from September 1, 2023, and renewals of EPs expiring from September 1, 2024.
• Self-Assessment Tool (SAT): Employers and employment agents can utilise the enhanced Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) on the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website to check a candidate's eligibility before applying.
• Fair Consideration Framework (FCF): Employers must still adhere to the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement before submitting new EP applications.
• Future changes:
  • From January 1, 2025, the EP qualifying salary for new applications will be revised to at least S$5,600 (approximately €3,900) for most sectors and S$6,200 for the financial services sector.
  • This revised salary requirement will also apply to EP renewals expiring from January 1, 2026.

What is the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF)?

Singapore believes in fair hiring. The Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) makes sure employers consider all candidates equally, regardless of where they're from. This means your skills and experience matter most.

Key principles

• Non-discrimination: Employers must not discriminate against candidates based on age, sex, race, religion, marital status, family responsibilities, or disability. The focus should be on skills, qualifications, and experience relevant to the job.
• Transparency: Employers should provide clear and accurate information about job requirements, salary, and other relevant details in their job advertisements.
• Fair assessment: Candidates should be assessed based on their merits and suitability for the role, not on any personal biases or preferences.

Advertising requirements

Before submitting an Employment Pass (EP) application, employers must advertise the job vacancy on MyCareersFuture, a national job portal, for at least 14 consecutive days. This allows local job seekers to view and apply for the position, ensuring fair consideration for Singaporean citizens and permanent residents.

• Accurate advertisement: The job advertisement must accurately reflect the actual job requirements and salary offered. It should not contain any discriminatory language or misleading information.
• Salary transparency: The advertised salary range must be clear, specific, and reasonable, with the maximum salary not exceeding twice the minimum salary.
• Multiple EP applications: If an employer is using the same advertisement for multiple EP applications, the total number of applications cannot exceed the number of vacancies stated in the advertisement.

Exemptions from advertising

In certain situations, employers may be exempted from the advertising requirement on MyCareersFuture. These include:

• Small companies: Companies with fewer than 10 employees.
• High-salary positions: Vacancies with a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or above.
• Short-term roles: Roles that are for a duration of one month or less.
• Local transferees: Positions filled by existing employees transferring within the company.
• Overseas intra-corporate transferees: Candidates applying under the overseas intra-corporate transferee scheme.

Even if exempted from advertising, employers are still expected to practise fair hiring and consider all candidates based on their merits.

Passes for families of Employment Pass holders

Singapore understands the importance of family and allows Employment Pass (EP) holders to bring their eligible family members to join them in the country. This fosters a supportive environment for foreign professionals and helps them settle into their new lives in Singapore.

Eligibility

To be eligible to sponsor your family members for dependant passes, you must meet the following criteria:

• Minimum Salary: You must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 (approximately €4,200).
• Valid EP: You must hold a valid Employment Pass.

Family members and pass types

The following family members can be sponsored under the EP:

• Spouse (legally married): Your legally married spouse can apply for a Dependant's Pass (DP).
• Unmarried children under 21 years old, including legally adopted children: Your unmarried children under 21, including those legally adopted, can also apply for a Dependant's Pass.
• Common-law spouse: Your common-law spouse (a relationship recognised under the laws of your country or region) can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
• Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above: Your unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass.
• Unmarried step-children under 21 years old: Your unmarried step-children under 21 can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass.
• Parents: If you earn at least S$12,000 (approximately €8,400) a month, you can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass for your parents.

Note: Children who are married or over 21 years old are not eligible for dependent passes. They may need to obtain their own work passes if they wish to work in Singapore.

For detailed information on the specific requirements and application procedures for each pass type and how to apply, refer to the official MOM website here or consult with a visa consultant.

What are the documents required for the Employment Pass?

Your Employment Pass application needs to showcase your qualifications and experience. You'll need to submit both mandatory and additional documents depending on your specific situation.

Mandatory documents

These documents are essential for every Employment Pass application:

1. Personal Particulars Page of Candidate's Passport: A clear copy of the candidate's passport page containing their personal information and photographs.
2. Company's Latest Business Profile or Instant Information: Provide the latest business profile or instant information of the company registered with ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority). This demonstrates the legitimacy and operational status of your employer in Singapore.

Additional documents

Depending on your specific profession or industry, you may need to submit additional documents:

• Healthcare professionals, lawyers, football players or coaches: These professions may have specific regulatory requirements, and you might need to provide additional documentation to demonstrate your qualifications and compliance with those regulations.
• Employees in a food establishment: If you are working in a food establishment, you may need to provide additional documents related to food hygiene and safety certifications.
• Proof of salary: The authorities may request documents to verify that the salary declared in your application will be paid. This could include bank statements, employment contracts, or other evidence of financial capability.

Verification proof for qualifications

With the implementation of the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), new verification proof requirements apply for new EP applications and renewals.

You may need to submit verification proof for your educational qualifications, depending on whether the awarding institution is listed in the application form's drop-down list and whether you need points from the criterion to pass COMPASS.

Acceptable sources of verification proof include:

• Background screening companies: Several background screening companies are listed on the MOM website and can verify qualifications from most or select countries/regions.
• Government/awarding institution's verification portal: You can submit verification proof from online verification portals if the information is available in English, public, and accessible to third parties.
• OpenCerts portal: Use this portal to verify digital certificates issued by affiliated educational institutions.

Important notes on verification

• You only need to verify qualifications once.
• Notary public-certified documents and school letters are not accepted as verification proof.
• Most verification checks take around 14 working days.
• You may be able to submit your EP application first, even if the verification is pending, under certain conditions.
• If a qualification is later found to be false, the work pass will be revoked.

For any documents not in English, you must upload the original document together with an English translation as one file.

How to apply for an Employment Pass

Your employer or an employment agent will usually handle your Employment Pass application. However, it's important that you understand the process and meet all the eligibility criteria.

At a glance

• Who can apply: Your employer or an appointed employment agent applies on your behalf. If your company doesn't have a Singapore-registered office, you'll need a local sponsor.
• Processing time:
  • For most cases: Within 8 weeks
  • For overseas companies without a Singapore-registered office: Within 10 business days
• Cost:
  • When submitting the application: S$105 (approximately €73) for each pass
  • When the pass is issued: S$225 (approximately €157) for each pass
  • Additional S$30 (approximately €21) for each Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable)

Step-by-step guide

1. Advertise on MyCareersFuture: Your employer must first advertise the job vacancy on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days to ensure fair consideration for all candidates.
2. Consider all candidates fairly: Your employer must assess all applicants based on their merits and qualifications, without any discrimination based on non-job-related factors.
3. Check eligibility and requirements: Your employer or agent should use the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) on the MOM website to check if you meet the eligibility criteria for an EP.
4. Gather required documents: Compile all the necessary documents, including your passport details, the company's business profile, and any additional documents based on your profession or industry.
5. Submit the application: Your employer or agent will submit the EP application online through the EP eService.
6. Pay the application fee: The application fee of S$105 is payable online using GIRO or a credit card.
7. Check application status: The employer or agent can check the application status online after ten business days.
8. Receive application results: If the pass is approved, the employer or agent will receive an in-principle approval (IPA) letter. This letter is a pre-approved single-entry visa for you to enter Singapore within six months and get your pass issued. It also indicates if you need a medical examination upon arrival.

Important notes

• Bring in candidates only after approval: Employers should only arrange for candidates to come to Singapore after the EP is approved, as their visit pass cannot be extended if it expires before the EP is issued.
• Family passes: You can apply for Dependant's Passes or Long-Term Visit Passes for your family members after your EP is approved.
• Processing time: The processing time for most EP applications is within eight weeks. However, for overseas companies without a Singapore-registered office, the processing time is typically within ten business days.
• Additional information or documents: If MOM requires additional information or documents, they will notify the employer or agent via email. The processing time may be longer in such cases.

This may feel like a lot, but understanding the application process and fulfilling all requirements are key steps towards securing your Employment Pass. If you're finding any stage complicated or have a unique case, it may benefit you to speak with a visa consultant.

What is the valid duration of the Employment Pass?

The validity period of your Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore depends on factors such as your experience and the specific needs of your employer.

Initial pass

• First-time candidates: If you're applying for an EP for the first time, it will typically be granted for a duration of up to two years. This allows you to establish yourself in your new role and contribute to the Singaporean workforce.
• Experienced tech professionals: If you're an experienced tech professional with skills in high demand, you may be eligible for a longer EP duration of up to five years under the Tech.Pass scheme.

Renewals

• Renewal period: After your initial EP expires, you can apply for renewals, which are typically granted for up to three years at a time.
• Eligibility for renewal: To be eligible for renewal, you must continue to meet the EP qualifying salary requirements and pass the COMPASS assessment (if applicable). Your employer will also need to demonstrate that you're still contributing to the company and the Singaporean economy.

Planning for the future

• While the EP offers temporary work authorisation in Singapore, it can also serve as a pathway to permanent residence.
• After working in Singapore for a certain period and meeting specific criteria, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency, granting you the right to live and work in Singapore indefinitely.

Talk to a visa consultant

Singapore's Employment Pass is clearly an opportunity that opens doors to a world of professional opportunities for high-performing earners, but only if the application is handled correctly.

As with all visas, the application process demands careful preparation, but fortunately, a visa consultant can streamline your journey, ensuring your application showcases your qualifications and potential, maximising your chances of success.

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