Work Visa in Singapore

As mandated by Singapore laws, all foreign citizens are required to obtain a work visa to work legally in the country. So after incorporating a Singapore company, do remember to apply for work visa in Singapore for all your foreign employees. Failure to do so will lead to punitive penalties and prosecution for the company and the employee.
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Work Visas in Singapore

In general, there are three work visa options for all your foreign employees:

  • Work Permit for laborers and domestic workers
  • S Pass for mid-level skilled workers
  • Employment Passes (EP) for experienced PMEs, i.e., professional, managerial, and executive personnel with good credentials.

An additional category is Singapore Personalised Employment Pass, which is not tied to any employer and is discussed below.

What is a Singapore Work Permit

In Singapore, work permits are for basic-skilled workers from an approved source territory. This approval is given depending on the sector the worker has a job offer from. Importantly, the minimum age restriction for this work visa is 18 years for all non-domestic foreign workers. The upper limit, meanwhile, is 58 years for Malaysians and 50 years for non-Malaysians.

How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore

If you’re considering working in Singapore, you must get a work visa. Here’s how to do it in a few simplified steps:

  • Securing a job
  • Employer’s assistance
  • Health Check
  • Waiting for Approval
  • In-Principle Approval
  • Collect Your Pass:

Follow the IPA instructions for entering Singapore and collecting your work pass. Ensure you meet any additional requirements, like providing fingerprints or more documents.

Requirement for Work Visas in Singapore

Employers must consider these vital requirements before sponsoring employees to obtain work visas in Singapore. Both these mechanisms for work visas in Singapore have been devised considering the need to regulate foreign manpower in Singapore.

  • Foreign Worker Levy (FWL)
    Employers are required to pay FWL to the Singapore Government. The costs are varied regarding the business sectors as well as the educational qualifications of the workers.
  • Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC)
    DRC must be adhered by all employers in Singapore. DRC is the permitted ratio of foreign workers and the total workforce in a Singapore company.

What is a Singapore S Pass

S Pass is a type of work permit issued to mid-level skilled foreigners in Singapore. S Pass holders are subject to the same regulations as Work Permit, FWL, and DRC holders. 

The monthly salary for S Pass holders ranges from S$315 to S$550. There is also a sub-Dependency Ceiling (sub-DC) of 15% for S Pass holders in service sector companies and 20% for those in other sectors.

What is a Singapore Employment Pass (EP)

Employees holding an EP and earning a salary of at least S$4,000 per month can bring their families to Singapore by applying for a Dependant Pass or a Long-Term Visit Pass. EPs are usually valid for three years and have certain eligibility requirements.

  • Nature of PME roles.
  • A monthly salary of at least S$3,300 for young, inexperienced applicants, but experienced applicants have a higher salary threshold.
  • Acceptable qualifications.

Importantly, Foreign workers may also apply for permanent residency after residing in Singapore for six months.

Singapore’s Personalised Employment Pass

The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a Singapore work pass for high-level professionals that is not tied to any employer. PEP holders can pursue any job opportunity in Singapore without needing to reapply when changing employers. The pass is issued based on the applicant’s last drawn salary.

  • Overseas last drawn fixed monthly salary must be at least S$18,000 within the last six months.
  • EP holders in Singapore earning at least a monthly salary of S$12,000 can also apply for PEP.

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