Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) FAQs

The following groups of foreigners will be eligible for PEP before the end of Nov 2012:

• Overseas Applicant earning a minimum salary of S$8,000 per month (last drawn salary should not be older than 6 months at the time of application).
• A former P1 category Employment Pass holder who resides overseas (likewise, please note that you should not be unemployed for more than a continuous period of six months at the point of application).
• A current P1 category Employment Pass holder.
• A current P2 category Employment Pass holder with at least two years of working experience under the P2 category and has earned a fixed salary of at least S$ 34,000 in the preceding year.
• A current Q1 category Employment Pass holder with at least five years of working experience under the Q1 category and has earned a fixed salary of at least S$ 34,000 in the preceding year.
• A foreign graduate from institutions of higher learning in Singapore with at least two years of working experience on a P or Q1 category Employment Pass (please take note that your annual income should be a minimum of S$34,000).

With effect from 1 December 2012, and in a bid to maintain the quality of foreign talent as well as to ensure that the PEP remains as the employment visa for high-calibre talent, the eligibility requirements of the PEP has been refined.

The following candidates are eligible to apply for the PEP w.e.f. 1 December 2012:

• P1 Pass holders who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000;
• Overseas applicants who are not unemployed for longer than 6 consecutive months and whose last drawn fixed monthly salary was at least S$18,000;
• Applicants who earn a minimum annual fixed salary worth S$144,000.

The Personalised Employment Pass does not allow you to register a business in Singapore. The pass is intended for professionals who wish to be employed by a third-party employer.

WEF 1 December 2012, the PEP is issued for a 3-year period and is non-renewable. During the validity period of 3 years, the PEP holder may apply for a Permanent Residency Status or the Singapore Employment Pass if he wishes to continue his stay in Singapore.

The PEP allows the holder to be employed by any Singapore employer. The PEP holder need not seek any approval for switching jobs, but must notify the Ministry of Manpower on every job change by submitting an Employer Notification Form within seven days of starting work at the new place.

Yes. As long as a PEP holder is employed in Singapore, he is eligible to apply for the Singapore Permanent Resident status. The application can be made any time during the 3 year validity period of the PEP.

Before 1 December 2012, all PEP holders are required to earn a minimum annual fixed salary of S$34,000.

After which, the new salary thresholds apply. With effect from 1 December 2012, and in a bid to maintain the quality of foreign talent as well as to ensure that the PEP remains as the employment visa for high-calibre talent, the eligibility requirements of the PEP has been refined.

The following candidates are eligible to apply for the PEP w.e.f. 1 December 2012:

• P1 Pass holders who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000;
• Overseas applicants who are not unemployed for longer than 6 consecutive months and whose last drawn fixed monthly salary was at least S$18,000;
• Applicants who earn a minimum annual fixed salary worth S$144,000.

Yes. A Multi Journey Visa can be given upon request at the time of the PEP application. It enables the PEP holder to travel in and out of Singapore while the person is holding a valid PEP.

Personalised Employment Pass holders cannot be unemployed in Singapore for a more than six months period while you are holding a PEP Pass. If you are unable to find suitable employment within this 6 month period, your PEP will be cancelled.

From 1 Dec 2012 onwards allP1 Pass holders who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000 and overseas-based foreign professionals whose last drawn fixed monthly salary was at least $18,000 will be eligible for the PEP. For overseas-based foreign professionals, they should not have been unemployed for longer than a continuous period of 6 months at the point of application.

Correspondingly, the minimum annual fixed salary requirement will be increased to $144,000.

The period of validity of the PEP will be reduced to 3 years.

New PEP holders can bring in their parents, spouses and children, similar to the dependant privileges that are accorded to P1 Pass holders.

The changes will apply to all new PEP applicants, including existing P1 Pass holders who wish to apply for the PEP.

There is no immediate impact on existing PEP holders. MOM will give all existing PEP holders until 31 Dec 2014 to meet the revised minimum annual fixed salary requirement of $144,000.
PEPs due to expire within 6 months after 31 Dec 2014 (i.e. expiry taking place between 1 Jan 2015 – 30 Jun 2015) will be allowed to remain until expiry.

Dependents of existing PEP holders who are in Singapore by 1 Dec 2012 will be allowed to stay so long as their sponsors have valid PEPs.

MOM has raised the fixed annual salary requirement for existing PEP holders to position the PEP as a premium pass for top-tier talent. Existing PEP holders who are unable to remain on the PEP can continue to work and live in Singapore on an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass, subject to the prevailing EP and S Pass assessment criteria.

Existing PEP holders who are unable to remain on the PEP can continue to work and live in Singapore on an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass, subject to the prevailing EP and S Pass assessment criteria.

Dependants of PEP holders who converted to Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass will be allowed to stay so long as they are in Singapore by 1 Dec 2012, and their sponsors have a valid EP or S Pass and do not change employers.

Former P1 Pass holders whose last drawn fixed monthly salary was at least $18,000 are eligible to apply for the PEP. They should not have been unemployed for longer than a continuous period of 6 months at the point of application.

PEP holders who have completed the 3 years of their PEP has an option of applying for Singapore permanent residence after one year of employment or applying for employment pass at the end of the PEP expiry.