Singapore Employment Pass

Singapore Employment Pass, also known as EP, is a type of work visa issued to non-resident individuals who wish to work in Singapore or start a business here. It is issued to professional employees, managers, and owners/directors of Singapore companies.

Highlights

Foreigners who wish to apply for EP should have the following:

  • Acceptable degrees, Professional qualifications or special skills.
  • Earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,300 per month.
  • There is no quota system limiting the number of Employment Passes that can be issued to a company.

Who is eligible

Foreigners who are interested to work and has a job offer in Singapore may apply for an Employment Pass (EP). To qualify for one of these EP, the applicants must meet these basic requirements:

Pass type Examples of eligibility criteria
P1 Employment Pass Fixed monthly salary = $8,000
Possesses acceptable qualifications
P2 Employment Pass Fixed monthly salary = $4,500
Possesses acceptable qualifications
Q1 Employment Pass Young graduates from good institutions could qualify if they earn at least $3,000
Older applicants would have to command higher salaries to qualify, commensurate with the work experience and quality they are expected to bring

Passes for Family Members

Successful EP applicants can bring in their families under one of these passes:

Long Term Visit PassCommon-law spouse; Handicapped children above 21 years old
Step-children under 21 years old
Parents (for P1 Pass holders only)

If you are a Which pass? For who?
P Pass holder Dependant’s Pass Spouse Unmarried or legally adopted children under 21 years old
Q1 Pass holder
(earning a fixed monthly salary of at least $4,000)
Dependant’s Pass Spouse Unmarried or legally adopted children under 21 years old
A separate application for each family member should be submitted. The application can be submitted together with the Employment Pass application or separately.

Recent Changes

Changes to Dependant Privileges for Work Pass Holders

The Government is tightening the criteria for work pass holders to sponsor dependants as part of the overall direction to moderate the growth of Singapore’s non-resident population. This will help ease the pressure on our social infrastructure. Nonetheless, Singapore remains a global talent capital. We continue to welcome highly skilled foreign professionals who wish to bring their dependants to stay with them.

The changes, from 1 September 2012 are as follows:

  • S Pass and Employment Pass (EP) holders need to earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $4,000 to sponsor the stay of their spouses and children here.
  • P1 Pass holders will no longer be able to bring in their parents-in-law. They may still bring in their parents, spouses and children.
  • P2 Pass holders will no longer be able to bring in their parents or parents-in-law. They may still bring in their spouses and children.

Dependants of EP and S Pass holders who are in Singapore by 1 September 2012 will be allowed to stay in Singapore if these work pass holders have valid passes with their existing employers.