Singapore Employment Pass Application Services Include:
- Assistance in completing the self-assessment tools with MOM
- EP Online filing of (Employment Pass Application)
- Pre-application advising on Singapore Employment Pass (EP) and gathering of the necessary information
- Tracking EP application status while under processing
- Liaise with Direct MOM officer in charge when necessary
- Responding to MOM’s request for additional information as necessary
- Arranging for issuance of Employment Pass upon in-principle approval
- Filing of unlimited appeal in case of rejection of EP application
Apply Employment Pass
Who it is for
Foreign professionals with a job offer in Singapore who meet the eligibility criteria
Who can apply
An employer or appointed employment agent needs to apply on behalf of the candidate
Minimum salary
Fixed monthly salary of at least $4500-General wef 1st Sept 2020, $5000-Financial services wef 1st Dec 2020 (more experienced candidates need higher salaries)
What is the duration
The duration of the pass is as follows:
- First-time candidates: up to 2 years
- Renewals: up to 3 years
Is it renewable
Yes. Find out how to Renew Employment Pass
Passes for family
Available for eligible pass holders
Foreign worker levy or quota
No foreign worker levy or quota required
Medical insurance
Employers can choose whether to provide medical insurance for EP holders
Employment Pass Application Process Singapore
before, during, and after you apply for an Employment Pass.
Before applying
- Consider all candidates fairly
- Know the eligibility and requirements
- Check the documents required for applying
Before the candidate arrives in Singapore
- Apply for an Employment pass
After the candidate arrives in Singapore
- Get the EP pass issued
- Register fingerprints and photo
- Receive the pass card
As and when required
- Notify MOM of changes
- Renew Employment Pass
- Replace a lost or damaged pass card
- Cancel Employment Pass
Only eligible candidates will be considered for an Employment Pass. Criteria include a minimum salary of $4,500 and acceptable qualifications. Use the Self-Assessment Tool to check a candidate’s eligibility before you apply.
Who is eligible
The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals who:
- Have a job offer in Singapore.
- Work in a managerial, executive or specialised job.
- Earn a Fixed monthly salary of at least $4500-General wef 1st Sept 2020, $5000-Financial services wef 1st Dec 2020
- Have acceptable qualifications, usually a good university degree, professional qualifications or specialised skills.
Application for an Employment Pass is open to all nationalities.
Use the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to check if the candidate qualifies for the pass.
Salaries for younger or older candidates
Young graduates from good institutions can qualify if they earn at least $4500.
Older, more experienced candidates need higher salaries to qualify.
Acceptable qualifications for Employment Pass
We do not accept qualifications from unaccredited institutions.
To check if an institution is accredited, you can use:
- Global verification agencies such as Dataflow or Risk Management Intelligence (RMI)
- International accreditation bodies
- Awarding country’s educational authorities
MOM don’t have a list of approved institutions. Instead, we evaluate each application on its own merit, based on a wide range of factors such as the candidate’s salary, track records, work experience, skill sets and global and countries’ rankings of institutions.
Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)
We encourage you to use the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to get an indication of whether a candidate meets the Employment Pass requirements. Candidates can also use the tool to assess their eligibility.
If the SAT shows that the candidate is not eligible, you shouldn’t apply for the Employment Pass because it will be rejected.
If the SAT shows that the candidate is eligible, there is around a 90% chance that the candidate will get a pass.
Who can apply Employment Pass
To promote fair employment practices and improve labour market transparency, employers making Employment Pass applications must first advertise on MyCareersFuture and fairly consider all candidates. Find out more about the advertising requirements.
An employer or authorised third party has to apply for a candidate’s Employment Pass.
If you are an overseas employer that does not have a registered office in Singapore:
- You need to get a Singapore-registered company to act as a local sponsor and apply on your behalf.
- The local sponsor must submit the application.
The candidate will still need to meet the Employment Pass criteria.
As an Employment Pass holder, you can get certain family members to join you in Singapore if you meet the eligibility requirements.
Who is eligible
To be eligible, you need to:
- Earn at least $6,000 a month.
- Hold an Employment Pass.
These are the family members you can bring in and the type of pass they need:
| Family member | Pass type |
| Legally married spouse | Dependant’s Pass |
| Unmarried children under 21, including those legally adopted | Dependant’s Pass |
| Common-law spouse | Long Term Visit Pass |
| Unmarried handicapped children above 21 | Long Term Visit Pass |
| Unmarried step-children under 21 | Long Term Visit Pass |
| Parents (Only for EP holders earning at least $12,000) | Long Term Visit Pass |
How to apply
To apply, your employer will need to submit a separate application for each family member. The application can be submitted together with the Employment Pass application or separately.
Find out more about the requirements and application process for Dependant’s Pass and Long Term Visit Pass.
You need to upload documents, e.g. educational certificates and passport page showing personal particulars, when submitting the EP application.
You need to upload these documents to apply for an Employment Pass:
- Personal particulars page of the candidate’s passport.
If the candidate’s name on the passport is different from the other documents, you need to include one of the following:- Explanation letter and supporting documents, e.g. deed poll. OR
- An affidavit.
- Company’s latest business profile or instant information registered with ACRA.
- Candidate’s educational certificates, e.g. degree certificate. You need additional documents for:
Qualifications And Additional documents needed
India:
- Transcripts or mark sheets for all semesters, indicating the college attended.
China:
Verification proof for diploma and above qualifications from one of these sources. For:
- Diploma: Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate from China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHSI)
- Degree and above: China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Information (CDGDC)
- Diploma and above: Global verification agency, e.g. Dataflow or Risk Management Intelligence (RMI).
Institutions not listed in the application form:
- Verification proof for diploma and above qualifications from a global verification agency, e.g. Dataflow or RMI.
MOM may ask for other documents when we review the application.
Requirements for verification proof
Employers are responsible for ensuring that their candidates’ qualifications are genuine and were awarded by accredited institutions.
If you’re asked for verification proof, please note the following:
- You can get the verification proof from a global verification agency, e.g. Dataflow or RMI.
- The verification proof must confirm that the qualifications are genuine and were awarded by accredited institutions.
- Educational certificates certified by a notary public are not accepted as a form of verification proof.
You need to submit additional documents for the following:
For regional representatives of overseas companies
For healthcare professionals, lawyers, football players or coaches
For employees in a food establishment
A copy of the food shop licence issued by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
If you have a new establishment and don’t have the licence yet, you can submit a copy of the “Application for Foodshop Licence” letter issued to you by SFA.
You can apply Employment Pass using EP Online service.
Employers are urged to defer bringing foreigners into Singapore during this period until further notice.
Approvals for any new applications will be limited. You may continue to apply for passes for foreigners who are already in Singapore.
Who can apply
- Employer or appointed employment agency (EA)
Note: You may be required to advertise your job opening on MyCareersFuture to consider all applicants fairly before you can apply for an Employment Pass.
How much it costs:
When you submit the application:
- MOM Cost $105 for each pass
When you get the pass issued:
- MOM Cost $225 for each pass
- MOM Cost $30 for each Multiple Journey visa (if applicable)
How long it takes:
- If you apply online: within 3 weeks for most cases.
- For an overseas company without a Singapore-registered office: within 8 weeks for most cases.
Documents required:
- Find out what you’ll need on this page.
Our eServices:
- Apply for an EP
- Check application status
- EP Online – get the pass issued
- Make an appointment
- Check card delivery status
More MOM forms
Use the Self-Assessment Tool to check if your candidate qualifies. You should not apply if the Self-Assessment Tool shows that your candidate does not qualify.
These are the steps you’ll take to apply:
| Step | Who does this | Result |
| Submit an application | Employer or EA | In-principle approval letter or rejection letter |
| Get the pass issued | Employer or EA | Notification letter |
| Register fingerprint and photo (if required) | Candidate | Acknowledgment of card delivery |
| Receive the card | Authorised recipients or candidate | Employment Pass card |
Note:
- If a candidate is in Singapore with a visit pass that will expire before the Employment Pass is issued, we won’t be able to extend the visit pass.
- You should only bring in candidates when the pass is approved. They don’t need to be in Singapore when you apply and we won’t be able to extend their visit pass.
You can submit an Employment Pass Application online
EP Online service
Processing time: within 3 weeks. Some cases will take more time.
To submit an application:
- Get a written consent to apply for Employment Pass from the candidate.
- Log in to our online service to fill up the application and upload the required documents.
- Pay MOM Cost $105 fee for each application. You can pay by GIRO, VISA, MasterCard or eNets Debit.
- Check your application status after 3 weeks. It may take longer if additional information is required.
- If the pass is approved, log in to EP Online and print the in-principle approval (IPA) letter.
Send the pass holder’s copy of the IPA to the candidate. It has a pre-approved single-entry visa for the candidate to enter Singapore.
The IPA gives you 6 months to bring the candidate to Singapore and get the pass issued. It also states whether the candidate needs to go for a medical examination, which can be done after arrival in Singapore.
Only for companies not registered in Singapore: you need to get a local sponsor to submit the application.
Processing time: within 8 weeks. Some cases will take more time.
To submit:
- Get a written consent to apply for Employment Pass from the candidate.
- Download the Employment Pass (Sponsorship) application form (for online submission).
- Complete the application form as a softcopy to get the bill reference number.
- Print the application form and get it signed.
- Pay MOM Cost $105 fee for each application by PayNow or FAST (Fast And Secure Transfers).
- Submit your application online. You need CorpPass, apply for CorpPass if you don’t have one. Include the following:
- Completed and signed application form
- Screenshot of banking page confirming your payment
- Supporting documents listed in the application form
It takes around 8 weeks to process the application. It may take longer if additional information is required. You can check the application status online.
If approved, we will email the in-principle approval (IPA) letter to the contact person indicated in the application.
Send the pass holder’s copy of the IPA to the candidate. It has a pre-approved single-entry visa for the candidate to enter Singapore.
The IPA gives you 6 months to bring the candidate to Singapore and get the pass issued.
When: Within 6 months of in-principle approval
Processing time: Immediate
The candidate must be in Singapore when you request for the E pass to be issued.
To get the pass issued:
- Log in to EP Online to make the request and submit the supporting documents (see what you will need).
- Provide a home or office address where you can receive the card.
- Nominate up to 3 authorised recipients to receive the card, and provide their NRIC, FIN, or passport number, mobile numbers, and email address.
- Pay the fees using GIRO, or eNETS credit or debit:
- MOM Cost $225 for each pass
- (If applicable) MOM $30 for each Multiple Journey Visa
- When the pass is issued, print the notification letter.
The notification letter:
- Should be given to the candidate. It allows them to start work and travel in and out of Singapore while waiting for the pass card.
- States if the candidate needs to register to have fingerprints and photo taken.
- Is valid for 1 month from the date of issue. Request to extend the validity if you have a change of travel plans.
What you’ll need
You will need the following information for issuing the pass:
- Candidate’s passport details.
- Details of the candidate’s current Short Term Visit Pass or immigration pass.
- Candidate’s residential address in Singapore. From 14 September 2018, the candidate’s residential address must meet the housing requirements before you can get the pass issued.
- A local address where we can deliver the card.
- Contact details of at least one authorised recipient to receive an SMS or email on the delivery details.
You may also need to submit PDF copies of these documents:
- Disembarkation / Embarkation card (immigration white card).
- Completed medical examination form or a health declaration form.
- Completed declaration form attached with the candidate’s in-principle approval letter. The form should be signed by an authorised human resource personnel, or any person holding at least a managerial position in the company.
When: Within 2 weeks after the pass is issued (if required)
Check the notification letter for whether the candidate needs to register fingerprints and photos.
For registration, you must make an appointment for the candidate to visit the Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC). The candidate has to register within 2 weeks after the pass is issued.
The candidate should bring along these documents for the appointment:
- Original passport
- Appointment letter
- Notification letter
- Documents listed in the IPA letter and notification letter
When: 4 working days after registration or document verification
We will deliver the card to the given address 4 working days after the candidate registers and gets documents verified at EPSC.
If the candidate does not need to register, we will deliver the card 4 working days after checking the documents.
The authorised recipients will get an SMS or email with the delivery details at least 1 working day before the delivery.
You can also check the card delivery details in EP Online.
If card delivery fails
After 2 unsuccessful deliveries, you’ll have to collect the card at EPSC.
The candidate or an authorised person can collect it 3 working days after the second attempted delivery. They don’t need an appointment.
Bring along these documents for card collection:
- Candidate’s original passport
- Notification letter
If you authorise someone to collect it on your behalf, make sure they bring these along:
- An authorisation letter from the employer
- NRIC or passport for verification