Singapore Work Visa Schemes

Singapore has emerged as the premier business and commercial hub in Southeast Asia, owing in part to its innovative immigration policies crafted to draw experienced entrepreneurs and working professionals from across the globe. 

A valid Singapore work visa is required for non-residents before engaging in employment or business endeavors in Singapore. Employers who fail to secure a valid work visa for their foreign workers will be prosecuted under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

This article will provide an overview of the various work visa schemes available in Singapore. In turn, it will enable you to review which work visa is most suitable to your needs.

What are the Singapore Work Visa Schemes:

• Employment Pass – also known as EP, 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.
• Entrepreneur Pass – also known as the EntrePass, 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.
• S Pass – 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.
• Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) – is a special type of Employment Pass issued to an individual based on his/her own merits and independent of any employer. 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. It is issued for a period of 5 years and non-renewable thereafter.
• ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) – is a customized five-year work permit that grants the holder the flexibility to establish, manage, and work for multiple companies simultaneously in Singapore. Unlike the EP, Singapore’s ONE Pass is linked to the individual rather than the employing company. This feature means that the holder is not required to reapply in case of an employer change and does not need to demonstrate prior employment in Singapore when applying for the visa, provided the overseas income requirement is satisfied.
• Tech.Pass – Tech.Pass essentially expands upon the Tech@SG program introduced by EDB and is managed by the EDB with the backing of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The objective of the Tech.Pass program is to foster the expansion of Singapore’s technology ecosystem and maintain its global competitiveness. By enticing skilled foreign tech professionals, Singapore is building a robust foundation in technology and providing opportunities for the local workforce to collaborate with elite foreign tech specialists. This collaboration allows for the transfer of knowledge and experience, enriching Singapore’s IT industry.
• LOC(Letter of Consent)- The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) declared on March 3, 2021, that Dependant’s Pass (DP) holders seeking employment in Singapore must obtain a work pass instead of a letter of consent. Henceforth, DP holders are required to apply for a suitable work pass, such as an Employment Pass, S Pass, or work permit, rather than the letter of consent previously utilized. Eligible Dependant’s Pass holders desiring to engage in business in Singapore can apply for a Letter of Consent. To qualify for a Letter of Consent, you must fall into one of the following categories:

1. Hold an LTVP/LTVP+ and be married to a Singaporean or PR.
2. Be an unmarried child (under 21 years old) of a Singaporean or PR, holding an LTVP.

For detailed information on Singapore work visas, eligibility requirements, procedures and timeline, approval and rejection, you may consult Rikvin Singapore, an expert in professional immigration services since 1998. Rikvin is committed to putting your best case forward in every application or appeal.