The employment rules are aimed at streamlining the work visas processes for foreigners married to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
Foreign partners of Singapore Citizens (SCs) or Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs) can benefit from the Long Term Visit Pass-Plus (LTVP+). If foreign partners of SCs apply for the Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP), they are automatically considered for LTVP+ if they meet the eligibility criteria.
The LTVP+ offers an extended residency period to foreign partners of SCs, enhancing their prospects of staying in Singapore.
Such LTVP holders needed to obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore in order to be legally employed in the country.
Types of Passes/Visas for Foreigners married to Singapore Citizens or Singapore Permanent Residents
Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
A foreigner whose spouse is either a Singapore citizen or a permanent resident can either apply for citizenship or permanent residency, or if he or she doesn’t satisfy the criteria for these as yet, can go for the Long Term Visit Pass.
Notably, LTVP is also issued to certain qualifying family members of Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders who earn at least S$6,000 per month. For this, the employer needs to submit a separate application for each family member, which, can be submitted together with the EP or S Pass application.
The family members eligible for LTVP include common-law spouses, unmarried handicapped children above 21 years, step-children under 21, and parents (only if the EP or S Pass holder earns more than S$12,000 per month).
Long Term Visit Plus Pass (LTVP+)
This scheme was introduced to provide greater certainty of stay in the country for foreigners married to Singapore residents and citizens, as well as make them eligible for healthcare (i.e. nearly similar to the benefits enjoyed by Singaporean PRs) and employment benefits (i.e. able to work with no need for a work permit, just LOC).
Notably, there is no separate application for LTVP+, as those eligible are automatically considered when they apply for LTVP. In general, couples with at least one Singaporean child are considered favourably for the LTVP+. For couples with no children, the duration of marriage (for example, being married for at least three years helps) plus other factors are taken into account.
The LTVP+ is granted for a duration of three years initially and can be renewed for up to five years for each subsequent renewal.
Interestingly, LTVP+ holders issued with LOCs are not counted under the foreign workers quota of their employers, who subsequently are not required to pay any foreign workers’ levy for employing the LTVP+ holders.
Spouses of Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents (PR) holding Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) can also apply for a Pre-Approved Letter of Consent (PLOC) to work in Singapore. To be eligible for a PLOC, the non-resident spouse should specify in their LTVP application whether they plan to seek employment in Singapore.
The scheme came at a time when there’s an increasing number of Singaporeans marrying foreigners, with the decade between 2000 and 2010 seeing a 23 percent increase in marriages involving a Singapore citizen and a foreigner. In fact, in 2010, of the 20,273 marriages involving at least one Singapore citizen, 30 per cent were of this nature.
Procedure for a LOC Application
If LTVP+ holders wish to work in Singapore, the prospective employer will need to apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) at MOM’s Employment Pass Online (EP Online) portal. The employment can begin only after the LOC is issued and ceases once the LTVP/LTVP+ is canceled or expires.
Do note that all supporting documents are to be either in English or an official English translation must be provided while making the application. MOM processes 80% percent of all LOC applications within seven working days. Moreover, like an EP or a S Pass, a LOC can also be renewed at least three months before it expires. However, they will need to ensure that their LTVP is valid.
For foreign spouses (married to Singapore citizens/ permanent resident only) already holding a work permit they can continue their employment on the existing work permit until its expiry. Subsequently, a LOC will be issued to them instead of a work permit if they want to work in Singapore.
MOM has also clarified that the new rules are applicable for LTVP holders only. “Employers of foreign spouses on Short Term Visit Pass who wish to work would need to apply for a regular work permit for them. This is subject to the prevailing quota, levy and source country restrictions,” noted the Ministry in a statement.
The Benefit to Singapore Companies
Apart from the obvious benefits to the married couple who will have greater certainty regarding the eligibility of foreign spouse’s continuous stay in Singapore, the new rules come as a boost from Singapore companies already struggling with manpower shortage and increased operating costs.
Since LOC holders are not counted as foreign workers, and with the increasing number of LTVP and LTVP+ in the country, the labor pool in Singapore will increase. Prospective employers will also save on government levies when they choose to employ LTVP/LTVP+ holders, thereby reducing their costs overhead.
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