Singapore Work Visa Requirements
A work visa is a necessary form of authorisation required by foreign nationals intending to undertake employment in a country where he/she is not naturally eligible to work in. A work visa can be in the form of a document or more commonly, a stamp in your passport and will state the validity period of your employment permit. Each jurisdiction will have a designated department to administer and issue work permits and it is important that the work visa is issued from the relevant authority. With regards to applying for a work visa, there are country specific requirements to satisfy in order to qualify for application. It should be noted that dependant on you nationality you may not be required to obtain a work permit for certain countries. Generally all jurisdictions with reciprocal treaty agreements (for example the European Union) do not stipulate that an EU citizen must obtain a work visa to enable them to live and work in EU countries. All jurisdictions have specific conditions which have to be satisfied in order for the applicant to qualify under the relevant work permit program and the nature of the applicant employment contract plays a large part in it.
Who Requires a Singapore Work Visa?
Foreign nationals who are non Singapore citizens and who intend to live and work in Singapore are required to obtain a Singapore work permit. Some nationalities are eligible to reside in Singapore for a period of up to 3 months before they are legally required to acquire a valid work and residence permit.
For employees who have received a formal offer of employment form a Singapore employer, they must obtain a work permit prior to commencing their job. This work permit is typically applied for by the Singapore sponsor company on behalf of the candidate. The work permit application is submitted to the Ministry of Man Power in Singapore.
Type of Singapore Work Visas
There are 4 mains types of Singapore work visas applicable to foreign nationals. There are as follows; the Employment Pass (EP), the Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass), the S Pass and the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP).
Employment Pass – this is the most popular form of Singapore work visa. It is applicable to both business owners and skilled migrants (employees) who intend to take up employment in Singapore. The main condition to satisfy to qualify for an EP is that the applicant must have a degree and must receive a minimum of S$2,000 on a monthly basis. The validity period of an EP visa is typically 1-2 years; this visa can be renewed where the applicant is still employed by the original sponsor company in Singapore. Holders of an EP visa are subsequently eligible to apply for a permanent residency permit.
Entrepreneur Pass – this type of work visa is most popular with business owners of new start up enterprises which wish to relocate their operational activity to Singapore. The validity period is dependant on how successful the business is, however the initial validity period will be issued for 1-2 years and this is extendable where the business remains viable. If you are a holder of an Entre Pass you can eventually apply for a permanent residence permit.
S Pass – This particular visa is suited to average skilled employees, this means that they do not necessarily have to obtain a degree from a credible university institution; alternatively they can posses a technical diploma. One of the main conditions which must be met for an applicant to be eligible for an S Pass is that his/her monthly salary must be at least S$1,800. The validity period of an S Pass is typically for 1-2 years, however if the applicant is still employed by the sponsor company on expiry of the visa, it can be renewed. A holder of a S Pass permits the individual to seek a permanent residence permit however they must be a resident in Singapore for a minimum period of 4 years and have a stable job history in Singapore.
Personalised Employment Pass – the main benefit of this work visa is that the applicant is not restricted in terms of type of employment he/she can seek. Generally all other Singapore work permits stipulate that the holder must be employed by the original sponsor company, with a PEP the applicant can move freely between jobs. Another benefit is that the applicant is not required to apply for a new work permit each time he/she moves to another job provided that the applicant had not been employed for a period of 6 months. The validity period for a PEP is a maximum of 5 years and is non renewable. The criteria to satisfy in order to qualify under this program are stringent and are typically only available for well paid business professionals.
Alternative Singapore Work Permits
Where a foreign national intends to take up employment in Singapore for a short period of time they will be required to obtain a miscellaneous work pass. Individuals eligible for the work pass are; people conducting business activities in Singapore such as conferences/workshops etc. people who are members of the Clergy and giving religious talks in Singapore, and people who are employed within the media industry, such as journalists and news reporters.
Required Documents for application of a Singapore Work Visa are;
- Valid passport
- Recent passport photos
- Completed visa application form, signed accordingly
- Submission of visa application fee
- Documentation proving you educational background and professional qualifications
- Employment contract
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