Cancellation of Work Permit (Foreign Worker)

When to cancel

Depending on which comes first, you must cancel the Work Permit:

• Within 1 week after last day of notice; OR
• 1 day after the Work Permit expires.

Who can cancel

• Employer or appointed employment agent (EA)

How much it costs

• Free Of Cost (FOC)

How long it takes

• Within 3 working days

When levy stops

• 1 day before cancellation

Note:

• If your worker has left Singapore and will not return to work for you, you must cancel the Work Permit within 1 week from the departure date.

You need to

• 1) Seek tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

• 2) Settle all outstanding employment issues, such as paying of salary.

• 3) Ensure that your worker has a valid passport.

• 4) Buy a direct air ticket to the international airport in the worker’s home country, nearest to the hometown:
• You must pay for the air ticket and it must include check-in luggage.
• The departure date must be within 2 weeks from the cancellation.

Note: If there are no direct flights, you and your worker should discuss and agree on the following, before buying the air ticket:

• The transit arrangement, such as connecting flights and layover hours.
• The amount of allowance to sustain your worker during the transit.

To cancel the Work Permit while the Worker is still in Singapore

• Log in to WP Online and cancel the Work Permit.

• Print the acknowledgement letter and Special Pass. The Special Pass allows the worker to legally stay in Singapore before leaving.

• Give the acknowledgement letter and Special Pass to the worker.
• The worker must show the Special Pass to the immigration officer when leaving Singapore.

Tip

• If you need the worker to work only for a short period beyond the Work Permit expiry date, you can request for a short extension of the permit.

When levy stops

• 1 day before cancellation

Discharge of Security Bond

• For non-Malaysians, the security bond will usually be discharged 1 week after the worker’s departure, and other conditions are met.

You must ensure the worker leaves as scheduled.

To cancel the Work Permit while the Worker has left Singapore

• Log in to WP Online and cancel the Work Permit.

• Choose the cancellation reason “Worker has already left Singapore”.

Discharge of Security Bond

• The security bond will be discharged within 2 weeks after MOM has verified that the worker has left Singapore.

After cancelling WP

• Once the Work Permit is cancelled, the worker cannot work, even while waiting to leave Singapore.

• Levy will be charged until 1 day before the cancellation.

The card is to be cut

• You must cut the old work pass card in half upon successful cancellation.

Purpose of cutting the card 

• The purpose of cutting the old work pass card in half is to prevent any misuse.