Singapore Work Permits and Passes for Your Workforce
Singapore continues to attract global talent and businesses looking to grow. For employers hiring overseas professionals and skilled workers, securing the right work permits and passes is an important part of building a compliant workforce. Singapore offers a range of work permits and passes for foreign employees, depending on the role, sector and eligibility requirements. From Employment Passes and S Passes to Work Permits, each application must be handled carefully to meet current Ministry of Manpower requirements.
With extensive experience supporting employers across Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Links provides expert immigration guidance and efficient processing support. Our dedicated team of 2,900+ helps ensure applications are managed accurately, compliantly and without unnecessary delays.
Our Areas of Work Permits & Passes Expertise
Employment Pass (EP)
Who is Eligible: Foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians with a job offer in Singapore who meet the relevant salary and assessment criteria.
Process Time: Within 10 business days for most online applications.*
Eligibility Requirement: Applicants must have a genuine job offer in Singapore, meet the Employment Pass qualifying salary, and pass the points-based COMPASS framework unless exempted. Employers are also expected to fairly consider local candidates before applying.
More details on COMPASS below.
Work Permit
Who is Eligible: Semi-skilled foreign workers employed in approved sectors in Singapore, subject to sector-specific rules.
Process Time: Within 1 week for most cases.*
Eligibility Requirement: Applicants must have a job offer from an eligible employer in an approved sector. Employers must comply with sector-specific requirements, including source country restrictions, quota, levy and other work permit conditions where applicable.
S Pass
Who is Eligible: Mid-level skilled foreign workers with a job offer in Singapore who meet the applicable salary and assessment requirements.
Process Time: Within 10 business days for most online applications.*
Eligibility Requirement: Applicants must have a genuine job offer in Singapore, meet the qualifying salary threshold, and satisfy MOM’s eligibility criteria. Employers must also meet the applicable quota and levy requirements for S Pass holders.
Dependant’s Pass
Who is Eligible: Legally married spouses and unmarried children under 21 of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.
Process Time: Within 3 weeks for most cases.*
Eligibility Requirement: The main pass holder must hold an Employment Pass or S Pass, earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$6,000, and be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company. The pass is for eligible family members and is generally tied to the validity of the main work pass.
Long-Term Visit Pass
Who is Eligible: Certain eligible family members of Employment Pass or S Pass holders, including common-law spouses, step-children, handicapped children, and in some cases parents.
Process Time: Applications may take longer than 8 weeks in some cases.*
Eligibility Requirement: The main pass holder must hold an Employment Pass or S Pass, earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$6,000, and be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company. Parents are generally available only where the main pass holder earns over S$12,000 per month.
ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)
Who is Eligible: Top global talent, business leaders and high earners who meet MOM’s criteria, including individuals with strong overseas or prospective Singapore employment profiles, or outstanding achievements in eligible sectors.
Process Time: Within 4 weeks for most cases.*
Eligibility Requirement: Applicants must generally have earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the 12 consecutive months before the application, or be set to earn at least S$30,000 with a prospective employer in Singapore. Applicants may also qualify through outstanding achievements in areas such as sports, arts and culture, or academia and research.
*Subject to MOM or case officer review, and additional processing time may be required depending on the application type, supporting documents submitted, and whether further information is requested.
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Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS)
Singapore has implemented and improved various visa programs, and one of the most recent additions to the list is the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), a point-based system used to evaluate eligibility for the Employment Pass (EP). As of 1 September 2023, the COMPASS system will be implemented, requiring EP applicants to attain a minimum of 40 points to obtain the pass. The introduction of this framework aims to assist Singaporean companies in hiring highly qualified talent, thereby reinforcing the city’s workforce.
Who is eligible?
To be eligible to apply for an EP, candidates must pass a two-stage eligibility framework:
- Stage 1 – Meet the EP qualifying salary, which is aligned with the top one-third of local PMET salaries based on age. The following EP qualifying salary requirements apply to new applications and renewals:
- At least SG$5,600 for all sectors except financial services (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to SG$10,700 at age 45 and above)
- At least SG$6,200 for the financial services sector (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to SG$11,800 at age 45 and above).
- Stage 2 – Unless exempt, pass the point-based COMPASS assessment.
- Note 1: Candidates who fail to meet the Stage 1 salary requirement will not qualify for an EP, regardless of their COMPASS score.
Check out our complete guide on navigating COMPASS here!
Frequently Asked Questions on Singapore Work Permits & Passes
Singapore’s main work pass categories include the Employment Pass (EP) for professionals, the S Pass for skilled workers, the Work Permit for semi-skilled workers in approved sectors, the Dependant’s Pass (DP) and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for eligible family members, and the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) for top talent.
The Employment Pass is generally for foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians. The S Pass is for skilled workers who meet salary and eligibility criteria. The Work Permit is for semi-skilled migrant workers in approved sectors and is subject to sector-specific rules, quotas and levies.
MOM states that Employment Pass candidates generally need to earn at least S$5,600 per month, although the qualifying salary rises with age and is higher for some sectors such as financial services. Employers must also meet fair consideration requirements, and many EP applications are assessed under COMPASS unless exempt.
The current S Pass qualifying salary starts from S$3,300 per month, and the benchmark increases with age. MOM assesses whether the candidate meets the eligibility criteria before approval. Employers should also check quota and levy requirements before applying.
For online applications, MOM states that Employment Pass and S Pass applications are generally processed or given an update within 10 business days, Work Permit applications within 1 week, and Dependant’s Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass applications within 3 weeks for most cases. Some cases may take longer if more information is needed.
In most cases, no. A Singapore employer usually needs to sponsor the application for an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit. MOM’s application processes for EP and Work Permit both state that the employer applies on the candidate’s behalf and must obtain the candidate’s written consent.
Yes, many employers must first advertise the role on MyCareersFuture and fairly consider local candidates before submitting an Employment Pass application. MOM sets out this fair consideration requirement, although some applications may be exempt.
COMPASS is Singapore’s points-based framework for many Employment Pass applications. It assesses factors such as salary, qualifications, workforce diversity and support for local employment. Some candidates are exempt, including those with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 and certain intra-corporate transferees.
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) is aimed at top talent in business, arts and culture, sports, and academia or research. One key route is earning a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the required period, or having outstanding achievements in relevant fields.
A Dependant’s Pass is for the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children, of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders. To qualify, the main pass holder generally must earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$6,000 and be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company.
A Long-Term Visit Pass is available for certain family members of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders, including a common-law spouse, step-child or handicapped child. Pass holders earning more than S$12,000 may also be able to apply for an LTVP for their parents.
A Dependant’s Pass holder who wants to work in Singapore generally needs to obtain an appropriate work pass. MOM states that DP holders can work if they qualify for a relevant pass, depending on the role and eligibility criteria.
If the Long-Term Visit Pass is issued by MOM, the holder generally needs to secure a job offer and have the prospective employer apply for an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit on their behalf. They must meet the eligibility requirements of the relevant work pass.
Yes. Work Permit holders are subject to quota and foreign worker levy rules. MOM states that employers can hire only up to the permitted quota for their sector and must pay a monthly levy for each Work Permit holder.
Yes. MOM states that S Pass holders are also subject to a quota and levy. The number of S Pass holders an employer can hire depends on the sector and the company’s workforce profile.
Work Permit rules depend on the sector. MOM has sector-specific requirements for industries such as construction and services, including quota, levy and worker-source restrictions in some cases. Employers should check the specific rules that apply to their industry before applying.
MOM states that an Employment Pass is generally issued for up to 2 years for first-time candidates and up to 3 years for renewals. Validity may vary depending on the circumstances of the application.
Yes. MOM states that employers can submit separate Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass applications for each eligible family member either together with the main Employment Pass application or separately.
For a Dependant’s Pass, MOM says employers typically need documents such as the family member’s passport details and supporting civil documents, including marriage certificates or birth certificates, depending on the relationship claimed.
For the ONE Pass, MOM states that only one work pass application per candidate can be submitted at a time. If there is an existing work pass application, the candidate cannot apply for an Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass simultaneously.
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