Guide to Singapore Employment Pass Application

Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore is issued to foreign company directors, professionals, managers, executives, specialist or middle-level skilled workers who will be working in Singapore. The minimum salary requirement for employment pass is S$2500/month.

Note: Company owners have the option of applying for Employment Pass or Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass).

Employment pass types comprise P passes and Q passes. The type of pass issued will depend on the proposed salary and educational qualifications. There is no significant difference between the two types of passes. P employment pass is intended for the highly skilled and generally issued to foreign nationals who hold university degrees and seek professional, administrative, executive or managerial jobs, or who are entrepreneurs or investors. Q employment pass is issued to those with a lower salary and who have evidence of "acceptable" degrees, professional qualification or specialist skills.

Holders of P and Q employment passes may work in any sector of the economy, are not subject to levies, and may bring family members with them on dependent pass.

Depending upon the salary, professional, and academic qualifications, you will be issued one of the types of employment passes.

A local sponsor, your employer in most cases, is required to apply for the Employment Pass.

Employment Pass holders can apply for Singapore Permanent Residence status in due course.

An Employment Pass (EP) is tied to a specific employer. Any change of employer requires a fresh application.

Processing Time and Documentation

The processing time for Singapore Employment Pass application or renewal is about 3-4 weeks from the date of receipt of the application. The approval letter for an Employment Pass is valid for six months from the date of the letter. A first-time applicant may be issued Employment Pass of up to two years. The Employment Pass may be renewed each time for a period of 2-5 years.

The following documents are required to apply for Employment Pass in Singapore:

• Form 8 (Application Form), duly completed and signed.
• A copy each of all the applicant’s educational documents and past employment testimonials
• A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant taken within the last three months
• A copy of the Travel Document page showing the applicant’s personal particulars
• A copy of the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae / Resume
• Past employment reference letters (if available)
• For non-English certificates / documents, a copy each of the certificates / documents and the official English translation (certified by the respective Embassy) must be submitted together

Change of Employment

Where there is a change of employer in Singapore, the Employment Pass holder is required to submit a new application. Each application made will be considered based on the merits of the case. Submission of new Singapore Employment Pass application under a different employer can be made without the cancellation of existing Employment Pass. However, once the new EP application is approved, the existing application has to be cancelled.

Termination of Employment

The Employment Pass must be cancelled upon cessation or termination of employment or attaining Singapore Permanent Residence. An Employment Pass holder must surrender the Pass for cancellation within seven days from the date of cessation or termination of his / her employment. A two-week social visit pass is normally issued upon cancellation.

EntrePass for Entrepreneurs

Singapore EntrePass is a special employment pass designed specifically to facilitate the entry and stay of entrepreneurs who are ready to start a new business in Singapore. This pass is issued with an initial validity period of 1-2 years, and upon the submission of a comprehensive business proposal.

First-time Singapore EntrePass applicants will be assessed based on the credibility of their proposed business plans, which should include the objective or nature of business, products or services offered, marketing strategies, development plans and milestones, projected sales turnover, intended amount of investment and staffing plan.

Business authenticity and viability will be used to assess subsequent EntrePass renewals. The Singapore EntrePass is renewable for as long as the business remains viable.

Read more about our Singapore Company Incorporation and Employment Pass Application package.

For further information or assistance, please call us at

Hong Kong Office: +852 2341 1444
Singapore Office: +65 6295 2884
Shenzhen Office: +86 755 8268 4480
Shanghai Office: +86 21 6439 4114
Beijing Office: +86 10 6874 8420

or send email to enquiries@bycpa.com.