What is an Employment Pass (EP)?

An Employment Pass or EP is a Singapore work visa issued by the Singapore Ministry of Man Manpower to foreign professional employees, managers and owners or directors of Singapore companies. This work visa allows you to live and work in Singapore as well as travel in and out of the country without having to apply for an entry visa.

Employment Pass Eligibility

To achieve this work pass, you must have a job offer in Singapore and salary should be at least $5,000 per month, have related qualifications to your skills. Candidates who are from finical sector must earn $5500 salary per month. Employers must also demonstrate that they have fairly considered all job applicants.

The applicant must have a valid passport.

Must be at least 18 years old. For Malays, the maximum age limit is 58 years and for non-Malays it is 50 years.

You can use official Employment Pass self assessment tool to check whether you are qualify to apply Employment Pass.

Singapore Employment Pass procedure

Applicants cannot submit their Employment Pass application online directly. You have to secure your employment first. This can be done two ways:
1. You can get a job directly without agents. Refer our guide how to get a job in Singapore.
2. Getting a job though agents.

If you get a job directly you can easily save your money. Because, most of the employer in Singapore they won’t charge anything such as visa, work permit or agency fees. On the other hand, agents charge a lot money to get a work permit of Singapore.

Step 2: Apply for Singapore Employment Pass
After securing a job only your employer or registered agencies can submit your application online. There is an online govt. portal called EP online for Employment Pass where the applications are submitted.

Step 3: Track your Employment Pass application online
Once your application submitted an application number is generated. You can check your application status online on work pass enquiry link.

Step 4: Fly to Singapore on a single side ticket
After approving your application an In Principle Approval (IPA) letter is issued by the MOM. With this letter you can travel to Singapore on a single side ticket.

Step 5: Visit employment pass services centre
Once you arrive in Singapore your employer take an appointment for your finger prints at employment pass services centre. Where MOM will take your photo and your finger prints. In some cases before the finger prints you have to go through the medical also.

Step 6: Get your EP card
After successfully registered your finger print photo. You will get your EP card by post at your registered address.

Documents required for Employment Pass

Following documents need to be uploaded for Employment Pass.

• Personal Particular page of applicant’s Passport.
• Candidate’s educational certificates (e.g. degree certificate) (Marks sheets or Transcript).
• Company’s latest business profile or instant information registered with ACRA.

All documents should be in English, if not you can get it done by a translation service provider and a translated copy should be attached.

Where to submit employment pass application

You are not authorized to submit employment pass application directly. Only Singapore registered employer and agencies in Singapore can submit employment pass application on behalf of you.

Singapore Employment Pass visa cost

Singapore Employment Pass cost fees is SGD 105 for each pass including your in-principle approval ( IPA ) letter. After arriving in Singapore when your pass is issued the cost of the each pass is SGD 225 for each pass and SGD 30 for each Multiple Journey visa.

If you get an employment in Singapore directly without any agent then usually there is no cost for the visa. You only have to bear flight ticket and in some special cases employer even arrange flight ticket for you.

Employment Pass (EP) online status check online

You can check your employment pass online status for your application on work pass enquiry link. After successfully submitted your application.

Can I work to another company with same Employment Pass ?

You can’t, if you want to change job, you must apply for a new Employment Pass application with the new employer. As your sponsor Employment Pass is tied to a specific employer.

Singapore Employment Pass validity

An Employment Pass is usually valid for 1-2 years and can then be renewed by the employer. However, it can be canceled by your employer before the time of EP expiry date under many circumstances. Whenever your employer canceled you EP you will be given 30 days to find another job, if you are unable to find you must leave the Singapore before your 30 days stay period.

Singapore Employment Pass (EP) processing time

Normally 85% applications are processed within 3 weeks.
Yes, it’s relatively fast as compared to many countries. But, in some cases it can be delayed because they need they need additional documents or information according to your application.

How to get Employment Pass without any cost

If you have skill then getting a Singapore Employment Pass without cost is not a major task. You just need to apply some of the jobs online which should be match to your skills. On the other hand, if you are fresher it can be hard but not impossible. Once you get a job in Singapore most of the employers bear the cost of the pass and visa. On our article we have written how to get a job in Singapore without agents.