Who Is It For?
Employment Pass (EP) is the highest level of work pass category which a foreigner can be issued to work in Singapore. This type of work pass is targeted at highly skilled and well educated professionals, business people of any nationality to do business or work in Singapore.
Key Features of Singapore Employment Pass Work Pass
All EP application must be sponsored by a local employer. Foreigners are not allowed to apply for EP until the foreigner has found an employer willing to hire him/her. Only the hiring party (employer) or licensed agency is authorised to lodge the applications.
- The current qualifying salary benchmark (SGD4,500 per month- typically for fresh graduates) has been raised over the years. For more experienced, senior executives and mature foreign applicants, the salary requirements would be higher according to age and experience.
The initial approval period is typically 2 years but renewable prior to expiry subject to qualifying conditions.
The salary threshold to be able to sponsor dependents is SGD6,000 per month for immediate family members and SGD10,000 per month for parents.
- EP holders are eligible to apply for Permanent Resident status after having worked for several years in Singapore.
- There is no restrictions in terms of quota for EP applications. There is also no levy payable. However, employers with more than 10 employees must advertise the job vacancy in jobsbank (a job portal maintained by the Ministry of Manpower) first for 2 weeks before any EP application can commence.
- EP Holders can be shareholders, partners and directors of local companies employing them.
- If EP holders wish to change an employer during the term of his or her EP, a fresh application is required and this will be subject to rules and criteria at the point of application.
Foreigners without any Job Offers Cannot Apply.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions, the employer may need to apply for first before bringing in Singapore. The employer is also responsible to comply with all the latest government advisory and guidelines. For example, upon arrivals, successful applicants may need to undergo quarantine first, go for a swab test to obtain a health clearance before proceeding with pass activation and work.
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More information can be found at Ministry of Manpower