Overview of Singapore Work Permit Schemes

The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of various work permit schemes available in Singapore. Singapore has become the ideal business and commercial hub in Southeast Asia partly due to its creative immigration policies designed to attract seasoned entrepreneurs and working professionals from around the world.

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The following are the main types of Singapore work permit schemes for foreigners in the professional employment visa category:

• Employment Pass (EP)
• Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass)
• S Pass
• Personalized Employment Pass (PEP)

None of the above Singapore work permits except the S Pass come under a quota system. This means that the work permit will be approved mainly based on the merits of the applicant and not external factors. More details about the above work passes are provided below:

Work Permit Scheme: Employment Pass

The Employment Pass (EP) is the main type of work permit meant for company owners or skilled employees that will be working in Singapore. Your fixed monthly salary must be more than S$2,500 and you should be a degree holder from a reputable university. There is no official quota system limiting the number of Employment Passes that can be issued.
Validity: Employment Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and  renewable as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the company.
Eligibility: Company owners and professional staff with good education.
Quota System: No. Each EP application is considered based in its own merit
Permanent Residence Eligibility: Employment Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
For more detailed information on the Employment Pass work permit type, refer to Singapore Employment Pass guide.

Work Permit Scheme: Entrepreneur Pass

Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) type of work permit is a variation of Employment Pass and is meant for entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in Singapore who might not qualify under Employment Pass category due to the lack of education qualifications.
Validity: Entrepreneur Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and  renewable after that as long as the business remains viable.
Eligibility: Company owners that lack good education.
Quota System: No. Each EntrePass application is considered based in its own merit.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: Entrepreneur Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
For further information on the EntrePass work permit type, refer to Singapore Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) guide.

Work Permit Scheme: S Pass

The S Pass is for mid-skilled employees who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $1,800. S Pass applicants are assessed based on employer's quota eligibility and applicant's qualifications. Instead of a degree, a technical diploma is acceptable for this kind of work pass.
Validity: S Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and  renewable after that as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the employer.
Eligibility: Mid-level staff.
Quota System: Yes. In general, the number of S Pass holders a company may hire is capped at 25% of the company's total workforce. For more details on quota details, see Computation of Company's Quota Balance
Permanent Residence Eligibility: S pass holders are eligible to apply for PR status, however they may to wait for 4-5 years.

For more detailed information on the S Pass work permit scheme, refer to Singapore S-Pass guide.

Work Permit Scheme: Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a special type of Employment Pass that is not tied to a specific employer. The biggest benefit of having a PEP work permit is that you can switch jobs without re-applying for a new employment pass provided that you are not unemployed for more than six months. Candidates must meet specific requirements before a PEP is approved.
Validity: PEP is issued for 5 years and  non-renewable.
Eligibility: Well paid professionals who want to work in Singapore for an employer. PEP holders cannot start their own business in Singapore.
Quota System: No. Each PEP application is considered based in its own merit.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: PEP holders are eligible to apply for PR status in due course.
For details on PEP work permit, refer to Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) guide.

Work Permit Scheme: Miscellaneous Work Pass

The Miscellaneous Work Pass is issued to foreigners working in Singapore on short-term assignments. More specifically, you will be issued a Miscellaneous Work Pass if you are:

• involved in activities directly related to the organisation or conduct of any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk concerning any religion, race or community, or political end;
• a foreign religious worker giving talks relating directly or indirectly to any religion; or
• a foreign journalist, reporter or an accompanying crew member not sponsored by any Singapore Government agency.

Validity: Depends
Quota System: No. Each Misc Work Pass application is considered based in its own merit.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: Misc Work Pass holders are not eligible to apply for PR status.

Work Permit Scheme: Training Employment Pass

The Training Employment Pass is issued to foreigners undergoing practical training attachments for professional, managerial, executive or specialist jobs in Singapore. You may apply for the pass if you are:

• An undergraduate -The training attachment in Singapore must be part of the trainee's degree programme from an acceptable educational institution.
• An intra-company trainee - Companies can bring employees from their foreign offices/subsidiaries to Singapore for professional or executive training. Intra-company trainees should have a degree or diploma.

To qualify for the Training Employment Pass, you should:

• Earn a fixed monthly salary of more than $2,500; and/or
• Hold acceptable tertiary or professional qualifications.

Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC)

The Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) is not exactly a work permit but a special type of social visit pass that allows the applicant to come and stay in Singapore for 6-12 months and look for a job. Once you have secured a job, you will still need to file an employment pass application.
Validity: EPEC is issued for 6-12 months and  non-renewable.
Eligibility: Professionals with tertiary education working overseas.
Quota System: No. Each EPEC application is considered based in its own merit.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: EPEC holders are not eligible to apply for PR status. Once EPEC holders have obtained an Employment Pass, they are eligible for PR under the Employment Pass category.
For more information on EPEC, refer to Employment Pass Eligibility Certificate guide.

Multiple Journey Business Visa

The Singapore Multiple Journey Business Visa is not a work permit and is meant for foreign business executives from visa-requiring countries who travel to Singapore frequently to attend to their business matters. The key benefit of this visa is that you don't need to apply for an entry-visa each time you plan to visit Singapore. Multiple visits are allowed each up to 30 days of stay, without a need for a separate visa application each time.

Validity: 1, 2 or 5 years as approved by authorities

Quota System: No. Each application is considered based on its own merit.

Permanent Residence Eligibility: Not eligible

Singapore has relatively liberal immigration policies that are designed to facilitate the relocation of foreign entrepreneurs and working professionals to Singapore through various work permit schemes. The increasing share of non-citizen population is a direct consequence of Singapore's policies to attract and rely on "foreign manpower" — at both the high and low ends of the spectrum — to overcome the limits of local resources.