Did you know that Singapore has become one of the world’s most common expatriate destinations? The presence of employees from different countries has given rise to more career opportunities. For this reason, more people are warming up to the idea of applying to be Singapore Employment Pass visa holders.
Once you have fulfilled all the application requirements, the terms of the contract between you and the prospective company will determine your length of stay. A typical Singapore employment pass is valid for 1 or 2 years, giving you the chance to renew your work pass in case you want to lengthen your stay.
Find out what it takes to be a Singapore Employment Pass visa holder.
Use Free Tool: Singapore Personalised Employment Pass Online Assessment
What is a Singapore Employment Pass?
The Singapore Employment Pass is a work pass that allows you (a foreigner) to hold specialist, managerial or executive positions in Singapore’s business sector. Your application must be first approved by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before you can officially move to Singapore to start working for your Singapore company.
Related Read: Tips and Tricks to Secure an Employment Pass in Singapore
What Are the Benefits of a Singapore EP holder?
As a Singapore employment pass holder, you are allowed to open a savings or current account, rent property, and purchase local medical insurance. You will not need to cancel your current Pass to apply for a new application. The initial pass is valid for 1 or 2 years and renewed for an additional 3 years.
With this visa, you can travel outside Singapore without reapplying for an entry visa. You are also eligible to apply for Singapore Permanent Residence (SPR) after working in Singapore for one year.
How Do I Qualify for a Valid Singapore Employment Pass?
Before you apply for the EP, you will need to consider eligibility and requirements. Verify whether the documents required for applying match eligibility standards.
Recently, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has become stringent on the requirements for Employment Pass visa applicants due to public outcry indicating bias in the recruitment process.
To solve this crisis, it came up with new policies under the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) to ensure only qualified candidates get to work and live in Singapore. They are summarized below;
- People from all ethnic groups can apply for an EP. There are no restrictions on the nationality of the candidates for the visa because it readily admits new and competent talents anywhere across the globe
- The foreign candidate must receive a job offer before you can apply for ep application
- The candidate must prove that they are qualified to fill managerial, executive, or specialist positions
- International professionals with undergraduate testimonials must present proof of a fixed monthly salary of not less than S$5,500 per month or S$5,500 per month in the financial sector. The minimum salary threshold depends on the candidate’s credentials. More experienced candidates should prove that they earned higher salaries than their counterparts
- Candidates must prove their competence through satisfactory results from a reputable diploma or undergraduate institution
- You may also be required to present professional qualifications, specialist skills, and niche-related experience
- Parents of qualified candidates can also apply for the Long Term Visit Pass as long as the EP holder draws not less than S$12,000 from their salaries
Meeting all the qualifications above does not guarantee the work pass. MOM reserves the right to review and either approve or reject your application based on your skills, work experience, job market, company’s contribution towards the Singapore economy, and reputation.
Related Read: Why Singapore raises employment pass salary criteria in 2020
When Did the New Rules Come into Play?
Back on July 1, 2018, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) instructed all companies with more than ten employees to create job vacancies for the locals in the official government portal www.jobsbank.gov.sg. Should they fail to get qualified local applicants after two weeks, they can allow foreign candidates to apply for their work pass.
Today, employers trying to obtain EP and S Pass applications must ensure to advertise on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly first.
Related Post: Read more about the finetuned Employment Pass (EP) framework.
What Other Details is the Ministry of Manpower Looking for in My EP?
MOM plays an instrumental role in ensuring all employment pass applicants are evaluated based on their merit. They may also consider the salary and age of the applicant. Your tasks and responsibilities in the company will also be reviewed. The company will also be evaluated based on its financial standing and credibility.
How Do I Apply for an EP Visa?
Before applying for the EP visa, you must verify if you met the application requirements. After that, you can submit your application to MOM online or manually. Ensure you have uploaded all your testimonials along with the application letter. Online platforms may take more than three weeks to respond.
Manual applications are suitable for candidates whose prospective companies request extra testimonials. Once they have been submitted, it will take at least five weeks to review them. You may be expected to wait longer during peak seasons or when contributions from third parties are required.
Related: How long does it take to process an Employment Pass (EP)?
Which Documents Will I Need to Secure My Pass?
Like any other country, gaining entry into the Singapore corporate industry requires you to have these particular documents:
- An international passport with a summary of all your particulars on one page
- The candidate’s educational testimonials, diploma, undergraduate or postgraduate certificates
- *MOM may request additional documents such as corporate bank statements, contracts, etc
Remember, all documents must be in English. If not, they should be translated into English through a government-approved translation service.
Are There Any Shortcomings to the EP Pass?
Yes. The Pass not only ties you to a single employer, but it also requires the employer to submit to a 14-day MyCareersFuture posting before they can consider you as the applicant. In other instances, the government may judge the application based on your nationality. If you are planning to switch companies, you must reapply.
Other Than the EP, Which Other Work Passes Can I Apply for?
If you are not eligible for the Singapore Employment Pass work visa, there is no need to worry. You can still explore other forms of work pass. One of them includes the quota-based Pass, which allows foreign talent to join the workforce after a specific number of locals have been absorbed into the system.
One of the most popular alternative work permits is the S Pass. To qualify for it, you will need to work for a lower salary. Your academic qualifications and years of experience won’t be stricter either. It is designed for foreigners who want to broaden their skills in related fields.
If you are involved in practical training, then you can go for Training Employment Pass (TEP). In this category, you must earn not less than S$3,000 per month. The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) requirements are not strict on the minimum salary one must make. This explains why it was designed for employment pass holders or foreign professionals.
What is the Connection Between EP and Long Term Pass and Dependant’s Pass?
For a long time, EP has been used together with the Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) and Dependant’s Pass. Once you have qualified for the EP visa, you can apply for these two passes to allow your loved ones to visit you in Singapore.
How Do I Qualify for LTVP?
You can qualify for an LTVP, if you are either an EP or S Pass holder. You must also earn a monthly earning of not less than S$6,000, and work under a company that is licensed by the Singapore government.
You can only apply for the Pass on behalf of the following members of the family; common-in-law spouses, unmarried disabled children aged 21 years and above, or unmarried stepchildren aged 21 years and below. If your earnings are S$12,000 and above, you can still use it to invite one or both of your parents to the country.
If you have kids 12 years or below you will need Verification of Vaccination.
How Do I Qualify for a DP?
To qualify for Singapore Dependant’s Pass, you must be a valid EP, S Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, or an EntrePass holder. It also demands that you should be earning not less than S$6,000 per month. The dependants may include; your spouse, and unmarried children (biological or step) who are below 21 years.
Verification of Vaccination requirements is needed for kids below 12 years and below.
If your work permit expires, then the DP automatically gets revoked.
Conclusion
Being a Singapore Employment Pass beneficiary allows you to live, work, and play in Singapore. No matter your country of origin, you can be one of the most qualified candidates to occupy specialist, managerial, and executive positions in the country’s corporate sector.
Before applying for any of the listed positions, you must ensure all your documents are authentic. If the company wants you to present additional testimonials, then you will need to present them manually. The Ministry of Manpower will evaluate all your credentials to ascertain whether you qualify for the job.
If you plan to extend your stay, you can always apply for a new one. Besides allowing you to access Singapore government services, you can also open bank accounts and own property.
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Mel specializes in Employment Pass and Work Pass applications through the Ministry of Manpower. She also handles Long-Term Visit Pass applications through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
