Singapore / Employment Pass / Visa Requirements - Immigration Matters

If I am an Employment Pass holder, can my spouse work in Singapore?


 If you hold an Employment Pass, your spouse is eligible to apply for a Dependant Pass and thereafter to obtain a consent from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to work in Singapore.

Who is eligible to apply for an Employment Pass?


 Any foreigner may apply for an Employment Pass to be employed or to do business in Singapore if he has acceptable tertiary/professional qualifications or his basic salary per month is above $2500.00.

What are the various different types of Employment Passes?


There are various categories of employment passes in Singapore. 

Employment Pass P1 and P2


  • For a P1 Pass, you need to have acceptable professional qualifications or specialist skills in a professional, administrative, executive or managerial capacity.
  • You must have a basic monthly salary of more than S$7,000.
  • For a P2 Pass, you need to be earning more than S$3,500 and up to S$7,000.
  • With a P Pass, your spouse, adopted children and dependent children below 21 years of age may accompany you on Dependant's Passes. Aged parents and parents-in-law can also visit a P Pass holder on long term social visit passes.

Employment Pass Q1


  • For a Q1 Pass, you need to possess acceptable degrees, professional qualifications or specialist skills and earn a basic monthly salary of more than S$2,500.
  • You may also obtain Dependant's Passes for your spouse and children.

S Pass


  • Applicants for S Pass will be assessed on a points system. The points system comprises four categories, namely, salary, educational qualifications, number of years of work experience and job type to enable a broader assessment of the applicant.
  • Applicants chalk up points based on how far they meet the criteria. The points allocated for each category of criteria will vary over time depending on market conditions.
  • To qualify for the S Pass, applicants must be paid a minimum monthly basic salary of S$1,800.
  • S Pass holders with S$2,500 basic monthly salary may also obtain Dependant's Passes for your spouse and children.

Singapore Visitors Entry Requirements


Singapore welcomes bona fide visitors. The visas are generally easy to obtain.

All travelers are required to go through immigration clearance on arrival into Singapore.

The granting of social visit passes to visitors is determined by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers at the point of entry. Visitors must satisfy the following basic entry requirements before they are allowed to enter Singapore:

  • A passport with at least 6 months validity;
  • Valid Singapore visa, if applicable;
  • Sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Singapore;
  • Confirmed onward/return tickets (where applicable); and
  • Entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas.

The period of stay granted is shown on the social visit pass endorsement given on the visitor's passport. Visitors are advised to check their passports for the arrival endorsement and take note of the number of days stay given before leaving the checkpoint.

All visitors on social visit passes are not permitted to engage in any form of business, profession, occupation or paid employment while in Singapore.