Work Permits

When coming to Singapore for work, there are a couple of visa options you can choose from in form of working permits. Besides the Permanent Residence status, there are generaly three different types of working passes available. They have their pros and cons and below I will explain all of them.
Picture by HJL


The Basics

In general Singapore is always "interested" in foreign talent, helping to build up their own economy. Therefor, if you are a "foreign talent", with qualifications matching or exceeding the Singapore defined standart of "knowledge" there should be no problem for you to get your working permission granted. However, Singapore pays critical attention to the correctnes of paperwork, forms etc. And spelling mistakes or wrong dates have very often let to rejection of working permits. Be careful.


1. Working Permit

The lowest form of working permission, usually granted to "Foreign Workers", and widely used for immigrants working here on low salary basis (construction sides etc.) supporting their families in their home countries. Work PErmits usually dont apply to the standart expat circumstances, which fall under the work permits for "Foreign Talents".


2. EP - Employment Pass

The EP is the standart Work Permit for anyone having a job inside Singapore. Its categorized in two types - P and Q, depending on your income and qualifications. This is just a formal thing and there are actually no differences in your permit.
The P classification is for foreigners holding acceptable tertiary/professional qualifications seeking professional, administrative, executive or managerial jobs or who are entrepreneurs or investors earning 3500SD or above. If your income exceeds 7000SD you get the P1 version, if you are between 3500SD and 7000SD you will get the P2 version.

If your income is above 2500SD and you hold the basic qualification level (at least 5 GCE 'O' levels OR a full NTC-2 certificate) you are applicable for the Q1 EP. Furthermore if you cant match any of the requested qualification or income related requirements, under special circumstances you might be applicable for a Q2 pass.

• VALD:
  If you first apply for EP it will be valid for 2 years
  Upon renewal it can be valid up to 3 years
  Everytime you pick up a new job you will have to apply for a new EP again
• CANCELATION:
  You have to cancel the EP within 1 month of being sacked from your job
  That means, from the day you loose your job, you have 1 month left to leave Singapore (which honestly is not much)
• APPLICATION:
  In most cases (if you have already signed a contract within Singapore) your company will provide you the forms to fill out and take care of the procedures. In any case you can also apply online (In both cases a fee of 10SD applies). The notification time should be between 1 and 2 weeks
  EP Online Application
• MORE USEFUL INFORMATION:
  EP Self Assessment (Are you eligable for the EP?)

3. Personalized Emplyment Pass (PEP)

The PEP is a new work permit concept recently introduced by the Singapore Government. The normal EP is tied to a specific employer and any change of employer requires a fresh application or respectivelly if you leave the company the EP gets cancelled and you have to leave Singapore. The PEP is not tied to any employer and allows the holder to stay in Singapore up to 6 month after leaving the company which will give you enough time to either organize a move to another country or much more find a new job within Singapore.

However due to the obvious benefits, the application is bound to some more factors as well. Applicable are oversea workers with a fixed monthly income of 7000SD or more. Former P1 holders that are living overseas and are not unemployed for more then 6 month. P2 Holders who are working in Singapore for at least 2 years and have a minimum anual income of 30.000SD or Q1 holders, working in Singapore for at least 5 years with a minimum income of 30.000SD. (The Singapore government also states that they "will be flexible in considering individual cases that do not meet the minimum criteria but merit the issuance of a PEP")

• VALD:
  The PEP is issued only once and valid for 5 years, not renewable
• CANCELATION:
  There is no need to cancell the PEP upon change of employer or loosing your job
• APPLICATION:
  If you already hold an EP you can apply online, which is a quick and easy process. However you can also apply "manually" and submit your forms either directly via post or through any SIngPost office (Fee 10SD)
  PEP Online Application
• MORE USEFUL INFORMATION:
  PEP Official Page