Singapore Personalised Employment Pass
What is a Personalised Employment Pass?

The Singapore Personalised Employment Pass or PEP is not exclusive to one employer, rendering its owner the flexibility and freedom to pursue opportunities without having to renew the pass with every company.
The PEP holder is also entitled to stay in Singapore for up to 6 months in between jobs to evaluate career opportunities. The issuance of the PEP is managed by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Who can apply for a Personalised Employment Pass?

If you meet the following criteria, you can apply for a Singapore Personalised Employment Pass(PEP):
- You are an Employment Pass holder who earns a fixed income of at least $22,500 per month.
- You are a foreign professional working in another country, and your latest drawn fixed pay was at least $18,000 per month. Your most recent income should have been drawn within the last six months before your application.
However, if you are one of the following people, you are not eligible for the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP):
- An Employment Pass holder under the sponsorship scheme
- A director who is also a shareholder in a company
- In an ACRA-registered company, you are a sole proprietor, a partner, or a director-cum-shareholder.
- A freelancer or a foreigner who wishes to work independently
- A journalist, an editor, a sub-editor, or a producer.
Procedure and Timeline for PEP Application
We can help you submit your Singapore Personalised Employment Pass(PEP) application to the Ministry of Manpower. The approval process for first time applicants takes approximately 8 weeks.
Documents Required to Apply for a PEP
We will need the following documents to apply for your PEP:
- Resume detailing your educational and employment history; (Download Singapore Employment Pass Application form)
- Copies of educational certificates and past employment testimonials;
- A copy of the personal particulars page of your passport;
- Appointment letter from the current employer and
- Copies of your pay slips over the last three months.
* Any documents that are not in English must be translated into English by an official translation service.
Approval and Collection of the PEP

Once your Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) application is approved, the MOM will issue an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter via email. The IPA letter must be produced in order to collect the PEP at the Work Pass Division at MOM.
An IPA letter is valid for six months from the date of the letter.
To collect your PEP you will be required to present:
- A copy of the IPA letter
- A recent passport sized photograph
- Original passport with the entry embarkation cards
- Medical exam report* (if the In-Principle Approval states that you require one)
- Any other documents that are requested in the IPA letter
* You can get a medical examination done in your own country through an established clinic/hospital or in Singapore. Most clinics in Singapore can provide medical examinations and reports within a day.
Entry Visa into Singapore
If you are overseas and require an entry visa to Singapore, your IPA letter for the Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) will include a single journey entry visa. Upon your arrival in Singapore, we will make an appointment with MOM on your behalf for fingerprinting. Once the procedures are completed, your pass will be ready in 4 working days.
You may collect the pass at MOM personally or authorise us to collect it on your behalf.
Relocation with Family Members

New Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holders enjoy dependent privileges similar to those accorded to Employment Pass holders.
Dependant’s Pass for PEP Holders
A PEP holder may apply for Dependant’s Pass (DP) for his/her:
- Spouse
- Unmarried children under 21 years of age
Your spouse may work in Singapore as a Dependant’s Pass holder. However, his/her prospective employer must apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) with MOM before commencing work.
Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP)
A PEP holder may also apply for Long-Term Visit Pass for his/her:
- Common-law spouse
- Unmarried handicapped children above 21 years of age
- Unmarried step-children below 21 years of age
- Parents
What happens if your PEP application is rejected?
In the event that your Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) application is rejected by MOM, Rikvin will investigate why your application has been rejected. Based on the reasons provided by MOM, we will submit an appeal that will address the issues outlined and include additional documents, if any, per their request.
MOM will take a minimum of three weeks or more to review your appeal.
Validity of Personalised Employment Pass
Please note the following conditions which affect the validity of your PEP:
- Once issued, the PEP is valid for three years and it is non-renewable, after which you must apply for an Employment Pass or for a Permanent Resident (PR) status in order to legally work in Singapore.
- While on a PEP, you are not permitted to start a business or engage in any type of entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurial activities include being a director of a company. If you would like to start a business, engage in entrepreneurial activities, or freelance, you should apply for an Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) instead.
- You cannot be unemployed for more than 6 consecutive months. The failure to secure employment within six months results in the cancellation of the PEP.
- Any changes in your employment, address, travel documents, etc, must be promptly updated with the MOM.
- You must declare to MOM your annual earnings within 30 days at the end of each calendar year.
Cancellation of Personalised Employment Pass
If you are unemployed for more than six months, your Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) will be cancelled, and you will not be able to reinstate the Pass.
Consequently, you will be issued a 30-day Short Term Visit Pass upon cancellation of the PEP. In order to legally work in Singapore, you should apply for an Employment Pass or Permanent Residency.
Eligibility for Permanent Residence
PEP holders are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence through the Professional, Technical Personnel & Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme. It is advisable to wait for at least six months before making the application so that you can furnish the required proof of 6 months’ salary.
People also ask
- No. A Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holder cannot start their own company in Singapore, nor can they undertake freelance or entrepreneurial endeavours. The PEP visa is only for high-level professionals that are employed by a Singapore registered company. While the Singapore Personalised Employment Pass is perhaps the most desirable of all Singapore work visas, its intention is to add value to the greater good of the Singapore economy, rather than to increase the wealth of foreign individuals. If you want to start your own business in Singapore, you should apply for an Entrepreneur Pass.
- The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is valid for up to 3 years and cannot be renewed.To continue working in Singapore once your PEP expires, you will need to obtain an Employment Pass or S Pass.
- The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a 3 year visa for outstanding, top-tier executives.
As long as you are being employed by a Singapore registered company, the PEP allows you to switch jobs as many times as you please. You can generally hold a job in any sector, but if you work in areas like dentistry, medicine, law, etc., you’ll need to be registered to practice in Singapore for your chosen field.You’ll need to show that your last fixed monthly salary is at least $18,000. If you already hold an Employment Pass, you only need to show that you earn $22,500 per month. - In general, when compared to other work passes, the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) allows you more job flexibility.
Some of the added benefits of the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) include:
- The PEP generally does not prevent you from working in particular industries.
- Unlike other work passes, you are not required to reapply for a new pass when changing professions; instead you simply have to notify MOM.
- The PEP allows you to stay in Singapore for up to 6 months without working in order to look for new work.
- You only need to cancel your Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) if you have been unemployed for more than 6 months. Cancellation will be immediately effective.Once you’ve cancelled your Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), you will not be able to reinstate nor renew it.
Secure your Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
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