Employment Pass (EP) In Singapore

The Employment Pass (EP) allows foreign professionals, managers and executives to work in Singapore. With effect from 01-Sep-2022 candidates need to earn at least $5,000 a month for all Sectors excluding Financial Sector and $5,500 for Financial Sector and have acceptable qualifications for new applications.

W.e.f. 01-Sep-2022 the salary criteria increases progressively with age for those in mid 40-s, up to $10,500 for all Sectors excluding Financial Sector and $11,500 for Financial Sector.

EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement with effect from 01-Sep-2023 for all Sectors to moderate the impact on businesses.

Employment Pass and S Pass – advertising requirements under the Fair Consideration Framework

Employer must advertise on MyCareersFuture at: www.mycareersfuture.gov.sg for at least 14 calendar days unless MOM has explicitly exempted the company or job from this requirement.

Consider all candidates fairly before you apply for an Employment Pass and S Pass.
Before applying for an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass, you should advertise the job on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly.
This is expected of all employers.

Fair Consideration Framework (FCF)

The Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) sets out the requirements for all employers in Singapore to consider candidates fairly for job opportunities. Employers should not discriminate candidates based on non-job related characteristics such as age, gender, nationality or race.

All employers in Singapore are expected to adhere to the Tripartite Guidelines on Fair Employment Practices.

Consider all candidates fairly

To promote fair employment practices and improve labour market transparency, employers submitting EP applications must first advertise on MyCareersFuture, and consider all candidates fairly.

Advertising requirements

The advertisement should clearly explain the job requirements and salary offered to attract the right candidates.

MOM will reject any EP applications linked to advertisements that are discriminatory or do not represent the job accurately:

The advertisement must not contain discriminatory words or phrases – see examples.
The job advertised must match the occupation in the EP application.
The employer submitting the EP application must be the same as the one in the job advertisement.
The salary offered must be clear, specific, and consistent. Therefore the salary range advertised:
- Must be visible to all candidates and cannot be hidden.
- Cannot be too broad, i.e. the maximum salary cannot exceed two times of the minimum salary.
- Must contain the salary offered to the EP candidate.
The advertisement must be open for at least 14 days to allow job seekers to view and apply for the vacancy.
If you change any advertisement details (e.g. job title, salary or number of vacancies), you must keep it open for at least another 14 days before you can submit the EP application. This is to ensure that job seekers are aware of the updated job details and have a chance to apply for it.
Job advertisements that have expired or have closed for more than 3 months cannot be used for EP applications. You must advertise the vacancy again to reach out to other job seekers.

If you are using an advertisement for multiple EP applications, the total number of EP applications cannot exceed the number of vacancies in the advertisement.

Exemption from advertising requirement

All employers must practise fair hiring even if their job vacancies can be exempted from advertising.

For practical reasons, you are not required to advertise on MyCareersFuture if any of the following applies:

Your company has fewer than 10 employees.
The fixed monthly salary for the vacancy is $20,000 and above.
The vacancy is to be filled by an intra-corporate transferee as defined by the World Trade Organisation’s General Agreement on Trade in Services.
The vacancy is short-term, i.e. not more than 1 month.

Click here to learn about FCF requirements

New Criteria (Upcoming changes) to Employment Pass eligibility

MOM will be progressively implementing changes to the Employment Pass (EP) eligibility framework over the next few years. These changes will strengthen the quality of EP holders and their complementarity to the local workforce. Find out how these changes affect your EP applications and renewals.

Overview of changes to Employment Pass eligibility

MOM will be raising the qualifying salary and introducing a points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) for Employment Pass (EP) applications. These changes will apply progressively from 1 September 2022.

At a glance

Candidates must pass a two-stage eligibility framework:

Stage 1	Earn at least the EP qualifying salary, which will be benchmarked to the top 1/3 of local PMET salaries by age.
Stage 2	Pass COMPASS, a new points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework.
Note: Employers must continue to meet the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising requirement before submitting a new EP or S Pass application.

Click here to learn about new criteria (upcoming changes) to Employment Pass (EP)

	Comparison of all Professional Passes (EntrePass, EP. PEP, Tech.Pass & ONE Pass

Key Facts on Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore

Get a quick overview of the Employment Pass to decide if it is the right pass for you.

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	For All Sectors effective from 01-Sep-2022: Fixed monthly salary of at least $5,000 which increases progressively with age for mid 40-s, up to $10,500 Renewals: EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement with effect from 01-Sep-2023 to moderate the impact on businesses. For Financial Sector effective from 01-Sep-2022: Fixed monthly salary of at least $5,500 which increases progressively with age for mid 40-s, up to $11,500 Renewals: EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement with effect from 01-Sep-2023 to moderate the impact on businesses.
What is the duration	The duration of the pass is as follows: First-time candidates: up to 2 years Renewals: up to 3 years W.E.F. 01-Sep-2023, MOM will offer the option of a 5-year EP to those with specific tech occupations on the Compass Shortage Occupation List.
Is it renewable	Yes.
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.
Relevant legislation	Conditions of Work Pass Employment of Foreign Manpower Act

Eligibility for Employment Pass

Only eligible candidates will be considered for an Employment Pass. Current 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.

Sector wise Qualifying Salary

For All Sectors w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022:

The qualifying fixed monthly salary is at least $5,000.
The salary criteria progressively increases up to $10,500 for applicants in their mid 40-s.
EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement only with effect from 01-Sep-2023 to moderate the impact on businesses.

For Financial Sector w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022:

The qualifying fixed monthly salary is at least $5,500.
The salary criteria progressively increases up to $11,500 for applicants in their mid 40-s.
EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement only with effect from 01-Sep-2023 to moderate the impact on businesses.

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.
With effect from 01-Sep-2022 earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $5,000 for all Sectors excluding Financial Sector and $5,500 for Financial Sector for new applications.
With effect from 01-Sep-2022, the salary criteria increases progressively with age for those in mid 40-s, up to $10,500 for all Sectors excluding Financial Sector and $11,500 for Financial Sector.
Have acceptable qualifications, usually a good university degree, professional qualifications or specialist skills.
EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement only with effect from 01-Sep-2023 for all Sectors to moderate the impact on businesses.

Application for an Employment Pass is open to all nationalities.

Note on salaries:

Young graduates from good institutions can qualify if they earn at least either $5,000 for all Sectors w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022 or $5,500 for Financial Sector w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022.
Older and more experienced candidates need higher salaries correspondingly to qualify.
EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement only with effect from 01-Sep-2023 for all Sectors to moderate the impact on businesses.

Note on acceptable qualifications:

There is no list of approved institutions. Instead, MOM evaluates each application on its own merit, based on a wide range of criteria such as global and country rankings, and enrollment standards.
Candidates without acceptable qualifications may not necessarily be rejected. Similarly, having acceptable qualifications does not guarantee approval.
MOM looks at other factors such as proven track records and exceptional skill sets on a case-by-case basis.

Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)

Ministry Of Manpower (MOM) strongly encourages 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.

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 apply manually.

The candidate will still need to meet the Employment Pass criteria.

Passes for family of Employment Pass holders

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.

From 1 January 2018, work pass holders will need to meet a minimum salary criteria of $6,000 to enjoy dependant privileges.

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.

Apply for a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

You can apply for a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for family members of your eligible Employment Pass or S Pass employees.

At a glance

Who can apply	Employer or appointed employment agent (EA).
How to apply	Online: for dependants of Employment Pass and S Pass holders Manual: for dependants of EntrePass, Personalised Employment Pass and Employment Pass (sponsorship) holders
How long it takes	If you apply online: within 3 weeks for most cases. If you apply manually: within 8 weeks for most cases.

These are the steps for applying:

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 fingerprints and photo (if required)	The foreigner	Acknowledgement of card delivery
Receive the card	Authorised recipients or the foreigner	Long Term Visit Pass card

Note:

You can submit the application along with the main pass holder’s work pass application or at a later date. Submit a separate application for each family member.
If the foreigner is in Singapore with a visit pass that will expire before the Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is issued, MOM won’t be able to extend the visit pass.
You should only bring in the foreigner when the pass is approved. They don’t need to be in Singapore when you apply and MOM won’t be able to extend their visit pass.

Documents required for Employment Pass

You need to submit documents such as copies of passport details and educational certificates along with the Employment Pass application.

You will need these documents to apply for an Employment Pass:

Personal particulars page of the candidate’s passport.
Company’s latest business profile or instant information registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
Candidate’s educational certificates, e.g. degree certificate. You will need additional documents for:

Qualifications from	Additional documents needed
India	Transcripts Marksheets
China	Verification proof for diploma and above qualifications. You can get the verification proof directly in English from sources such as Dataflow, China Higher Education Student Information and Career Centeror China Academic Degrees & Graduate Education Information. Education certificates certified by a notary public are not accepted as a form of verification proof.

MOM may ask for other documents during review of your application.

If you are asked for the verification proof of your candidate’s qualifications, you can get it from Dataflow or other global verification agencies. Alternatively, if the verification agency or educational institute has an online instant verification portal, you can submit the screenshot and web page address showing the verification result.

For non-English documents, you must submit the original document and an English translation. The translation can be done by a translation service provider.

You will need to submit additional documents for the following:

For regional representatives of overseas companies

You will need:

A copy of the approval letter from Enterprise Singapore for setting up the representative office in Singapore.

A letter from the representative’s office headquarters stating:

- The purpose of the application.
- The duration of the candidate’s assignment.
- A guarantee for the maintenance and repatriation of the candidate.

For healthcare professionals, lawyers, football players or coaches

You will need supporting documents from the respective professional bodies:

Occupation	Professional body
Dentist	Singapore Dental Council
Diagnostic radiographer	Allied Health Professions Council
Doctor	Singapore Medical Council
Football player or coach	Sport Singapore
Lawyer	Legal Services Regulatory Authority
Nurse	Singapore Nursing Board
Occupational therapist	Allied Health Professions Council
Pharmacist	Singapore Pharmacy Council
Physiotherapist	Allied Health Professions Council
Radiation therapist	Allied Health Professions Council
Speech therapist	Allied Health Professions Council
TCM practitioner	Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board

For employees in a food establishment

A copy of the foodshop licence issued by NEA.

If you have a new establishment and don’t have the licence from NEA yet, you can submit a copy of the “Application for Foodshop Licence” letter issued to you by NEA.

Pass Stages:

Before Applying:

Know the eligibility and requirements
Check the documents required

Before candidate arrives in Singapore:

Apply for pass

After candidate arrives in Singapore:

Get the pass issued
Register for fingerprints and photo
Receive the pass card

As and when required:

Notify with any changes
Renewal of pass
Replace a lost or damaged pass card
Cancel a pass

What is the new qualifying salary requirement for Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore?

What are the upcoming changes to EP in Singapore?

Currently young graduates from good institutions can qualify if they earn at least $5,000 for all Sectors and $5,500 for Financial Sector w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022.

Older and more experienced candidates need higher salaries correspondingly to qualify which remains around double the minimum qualifying salary for the youngest applicants.

W.E.F. 01-Sep-2023, MOM will offer the option of a 5-year EP to those with specific tech occupations on the Compass Shortage Occupation List.
In line their experience, these individuals will need to meet a higher salary criterion of at least $10,500 monthly. They should also pass Compass and score at least 10 points on the Diversity criterion.

With effect from 01-Sep-2022, the salary criteria increases progressively with age for those in mid 40-s, up to $10,500 for all Sectors excluding Financial Sector and $11,500 for Financial Sector.

EP renewals will be subject to the new salary requirement only with effect from 01-Sep-2023 to moderate the impact on businesses.

ACHI BIZ is one of the licensed Employment Agencies in Singapore. We will assist your work pass related applications and appeals at our level best with the regulatory authority Ministry Of Manpower (MOM) for successful outcome.

Employment Pass (EP)

Fair Consideration Framework (FCF)

Consider all candidates fairly

Advertising requirements

Exemption from advertising requirement

New Criteria (Upcoming changes) to Employment Pass eligibility

Overview of changes to Employment Pass eligibility

Eligibility for Employment Pass

Sector wise Qualifying Salary

For All Sectors w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022:

For Financial Sector w.e.f. 01-Sep-2022:

Who is eligible

Note on salaries:

Note on acceptable qualifications:

Self­-Assessment Tool (SAT)

Passes for family of Employment Pass holders

Who is eligible

How to apply

Apply for a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

At a glance

Documents required for Employment Pass

For regional representatives of overseas companies

For healthcare professionals, lawyers, football players or coaches

For employees in a food establishment

Pass Stages:

Before Applying:

Before candidate arrives in Singapore:

After candidate arrives in Singapore:

As and when required:

Click the below links to learn more about:

What is the new qualifying salary requirement for Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore?

ACHI BIZ is one of the licensed Employment Agencies in Singapore. We will assist your work pass related applications and appeals at our level best with the regulatory authority Ministry Of Manpower (MOM) for successful outcome.

Please refer to our GUIDES for more information, SERVICES to meet your requirements or CONTACT us if you wish to avail these or many other services.

Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)