Overview of Singapore Work Visas

When coming to Singapore for work, there are a couple of visa options you can choose from in form of working permits. Non-residents aiming to work in a Singapore will require a work visa before they begin employment. While the fact is quite evident, the exact procedures in obtaining respective visas may not be so.

Rikvin is a licensed employment agency with Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and offers a full spectrum of work visa processing services which include performing a coordination and liaison role, covering application submissions, renewals, tracking and troubleshooting.

Singapore Work Pass

There are various types of Singapore work visas ranging from work permits for the lower-skilled labourers, to P1 and P2 category Employment Passes to attract niche, high-calibre professionals with good credentials in both education and work experience.

To help you get a better understanding of the various work visa schemes available in Singapore and which work visa is most suitable for your needs, here’s a quick summary.

Singapore Employment Pass – (EP)

Also known as Singapore E pass or EP, this is the main type of Singapore work visa issued to foreign professionals, managerial personnel (managing directors, general managers, CEOs), executives or specialists who wish to work in Singapore. To be eligible, salary must be above S$3,000.

Singapore Entrepreneur Pass – (Entrepass)

Also known as the EntrePass, this is designed for foreign entrepreneurs who may lack the appropriate educational or specialist skills, but have either a proven track record of successful business ventures or possess innovative business ideas that have good economic prospects. With effect from September 2013, additional entry and renewal conditions apply.

Singapore Personalised Employment Pass – (PEP)

This is a special type of Employment Pass issued to top tier individuals based on their merits. The PEP is independent of any employer; hence the PEP pass holder can switch employers without affecting the status of the pass, and is also entitled to stay in Singapore for up to 6 months in between jobs and evaluate opportunities. With effect of 1 December 2012, the PEP is issued for a period of 3 years (down from 5 years), and is non renewable thereafter. The qualifying salary threshold has also been bumped up, from S34,000 per annum to a whopping S$144,000 per annum.

Work Permit Scheme

The Work Permit (WP) is for foreigners who want to work in Singapore; and are from an approved source country/territory (depending on the sector which the worker is going to be employed in). A Work Permit (WP) is generally issued to foreign skilled & semi-skilled workers. The duration of a Work Permit is generally two years, subject to the validity of the worker’s passport, the Banker’s/Insurance Guarantee, and the worker’s employment period, whichever is shorter. The worker is only allowed to work for the employer and in the specified occupation. To be eligible, salary must be S$2,000 or less.

S Pass

This is a work pass designed for mid-level skilled foreign workers employed by companies operating in Singapore. The application is assessed based on a point system with consideration for each of the following factors: salary, education qualifications, skills, job type and work experience. The number of S Pass holders a Singapore company can employ is capped acoording to its industry sector’s DRC. To be eligible, salary must above S$2,200 w.e.f. July 2013.

Miscellaneous Work Pass

Foreigners working in Singapore on short-term assignments of up to 60 days are required to obtain a Miscellaneous Work Pass (MWS). The MWS has replaced the Professional Visit Pass.

Training Employment Pass

Foreign undergraduates or workers seeking to undertake practical training in relation to professional, specialist, managerial, or executive jobs. Where the applicant is an undergraduate (from an approved university), the attachment should be an essential part of their degree course. To qualify for the Training Employment Pass, the applicant should earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,800 and possess acceptable qualifications.

Multiple-Journey Business Visa

Facilitates the frequent entry of business executives from visa-requiring countries into Singapore. This will benefit foreign investors or business people who visit Singapore frequently to attend to their business or investment needs.

Work Holiday programme

The Work Holiday Programme permit is likely to be of most interest to undergraduates and post-graduate aged between 17-30, and from an approved university in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The permit is valid for a six-month period, and because of the short duration, there are no restrictions on the areas in which the applicant can work.

Singapore Employment Agency - Work Visa Processing Services

With Rikvin dedicated work visa processing unit, clients need only deal with one party for all expatriate work pass administrative needs. Rikvin handles the paperwork and processes involved in obtaining the relevant visas for expatriate employees. We also monitor employee visa status from pre-application to post-application including renewals, so clients do not have to worry about tracking individual employees.

For detailed information on Singapore work visas, eligibility requirements, procedures and timeline, approval and rejection, you may consult Rikvin, an expert in professional immigration services since 1998.