Work Visa in Singapore

Types of Work Permits and Visas

All foreigners who intend to work in Singapore must have a valid pass (commonly known as a working visa) before they start employment in Singapore. There are different passes for different types of workers who stand at different skill-levels:

• Professional
  • Employment Pass – This is for foreign professionals, managers, and executives who must earn at least S$5,000 a month.

  Sector	Current minimum qualifying salary for new applications, and for renewals from 1 September 2023	Minimum qualifying salary for renewals before 1 September 2023
  All (except financial services)	At least S$5,000 (increases progressively with age from 23, up to S$10,500 at age 45 and above)	S$4,500 (increases progressively with age from 23, up to S$8,400 at age 45 and above)
  Financial services	At least S$5,500 (increases progressively with age from 23, up to S$11,500 at age 45 and above)	At least S$5,000 (increases progressively with age from 23, up to S$9,300 at age 45 and above)

Source: Ministry of Manpower

• Skilled and semi-skilled workers
  • • S Pass – This is for skilled workers who must earn at least S$3,000 a month.

  Sector	Current minimum qualifying salary for new applications, and for renewals from 1 September 2023	Minimum qualifying salary for new applications from 1 September 2023, and for renewals from 1 September 2024	Minimum qualifying salary for new applications from 1 September 2025, and for renewals from 1 September 2025
  All (except financial services)	S$3,000 (increases progressively with age from 23, up to S$4,500 at age 45 and above)	S$3,150 (increases progressively with age from 23, up to S$4,650 at age 45 and above)	At least S$3,300 (to be finalised)
  Financial services	S$3,500 (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to S$5,500 at age 45 and above)	S$3,650 (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to S$5,650 at age 45 and above)	At least S$3,800 (to be finalised)

Source: Ministry of Manpower

• • Work Permit for Migrant Worker – This is for semi-skilled migrant workers in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, or services sector.
  • Dependant’s Pass – This is for spouses and children of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.

• Trainees and students
• Family members

• As of 1 September 2022, Singapore carried out some important changes to the country’s work passes:
  • Increase in Salary:
    • Updates to Employment Pass (EP) Qualifying Salary:
      • The EP qualifying salary will be benchmarked to salaries of the top 1/3 of the local PMET workforce to ensure the quality of EP holders.
      • EP Holders must meet a higher qualifying salary from 1 September 2022.
      • The Financial Services Sector will continue to have a higher qualifying salary due to higher wage norms. The revised qualifying salary will apply to:
        • New applications from 1 September 2022
        • Renewals from 1 September 2023

• From 1 September 2023, Employment Pass (EP) candidates must pass a two-stage eligibility framework, Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) which lets employers select high-quality foreign professionals. This will apply to:
  • New applications from 1 September 2023
  • Renewals from 1 September 2024

Source: Ministry of Manpower

Please note that all the information listed below are to be used as a general guideline. For more detailed accounts of Singapore employment laws and regulations, please visit the official governmental websites.

Updated on: 8^th August 2024