Welcome to our Employment Pass Guide for employers in Singapore! In this post, we will provide you with information on everything you need to know about the employment pass application process, including eligibility requirements and documentation needed. We hope this information will be helpful as you navigate the process of securing a pass for your employee!
An employment pass (EP) is a kind of work pass which allows foreign professionals, managers and executives to work in Singapore. Candidates need to have an employment offer in Singapore before they can apply for an Employment Pass.
Employment Pass candidates need to earn at least:
Employment Pass candidates need to have acceptable qualifications, such as a good university degree, professional qualifications, or specialised skills. While MOM does not have a list of approved institutions/qualifications, it is stated that each application will be judged based on many factors, including the “candidate’s salary, track records, work experience, skill sets and global and countries’ rankings of institutions.”
In addition, acceptable qualifications need to come from an accredited institution. As an employer, you can check if their institution is accredited, by contacting global verification agencies, the international accreditation bodies, or the awarding country’s educational authorities. Here are some examples of global verification agencies.
There is currently no quota for Employment Pass.
Applications can be made from myMOM Portal. According to MOM, 85% of applications are processed within 3 weeks. We’ve prepared a checklist below to highlight some of the key items that you should prepare to make your application process more seamless!
For more details, you can refer to MOM’s guide on “Document required for Employment Pass”.
For more information on the application process, please refer to MOM’s guide on “Apply for an Employment Pass”.
You may check the Employment Pass application status on myMOM Portal.
For first-time candidates, the employment pass duration is up to 2 years. For renewals, it can be up to 3 years.
Yes, you can submit an application to renew an employment pass for your employee, if you’d like them to continue working for you.
Do take note of the following when you renew the Employment Pass:
For more details, you can refer to MOM’s guide on “Renew an Employment Pass”.
No levy is required for Employment Pass holders.
Employment Pass | S Pass | Work Permit | |
---|---|---|---|
Target group | Foreign professionals, managers and executives | Mid-level skilled/ technical staff | Semi-skilled migrant workers in the following sectors:
In addition, there are also Work Permits for:
You may refer to the MOM website on “Work passes” for more information. |
Minimum monthly salary required for pass holders | Currently:
For new applications from Sep 2022 + Renewal applications from Sep 2023:
|
Currently:
For new applications from Sep 2022 + Renewal applications from Sep 2023:
|
No minimum salary required |
Are family members provided passes? | May apply for a Dependent’s Pass for family members, if they meet this eligibility criteria | No | |
Is levy required? | No | Yes | Yes |
Is there any quota? | No | Yes | Yes |
Does the employer need to provide insurance? | Employers can choose whether or not to provide medical insurance for EP holders | Employers must buy and maintain medical insurance for S Pass holders. The insurance coverage must be at least $15,000 per year and cover inpatient care and day surgery. |
Employers must buy and maintain medical insurance for Work Permit holders. The insurance coverage must be at least $15,000 per year. This insurance should cover inpatient care and day surgery, including hospital bills for conditions that may not be work related. |
Thanks for reading! We hope this article has helped you understand the process of applying for an Employment Pass in Singapore. With our Payboy payroll & HR software, you can actually set work pass expiry reminders so that you will never miss the pass renewal dates, giving you a peace of mind! If you have any questions or would like more information, you can sign up for a demo and we’ll be happy to help!