The processing of work passes, whether these applications, renewals, or cancellations can be a tedious and administrative drain on your staff’s productivity. By engaging the services of Aspri, you can free your people to focus on the more important aspects of your business operations. Our team of immigration specialists is up to date with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regulations so you can rely on our expertise to advise you on the regulatory changes for work pass matters. For businesses that are recruiting foreign talent, failure to work passes could impact your human capital management and business operations.
Employment Pass (EP)
Application
Foreign professionals, managers, and executives earning a monthly salary of at least S$5,000 (S$5,500 for the financial services sector) and having acceptable qualifications may be able to obtain an Employment Pass to work in Singapore. However, under the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), the employer may be required to advertise the job position on the Jobs Bank for 28 consecutive days before you can submit the application for an Employment Pass (EP).
The EP holder will need to meet a minimum salary of S$6,000 a month in order to be eligible for the application of Dependant Passes (DPs) for their spouse and children (under 21 years of age). The EP holder can also apply for Long Term Visit Passes for parents if the applicant's monthly is S$12,000 and above.
S Pass
Application
The S Pass allows the foreign mid-level skilled employee to work in Singapore. The applicant/candidate will need to earn at least S$3,000 a month (S$3,500 for the financial services sector) and have relevant qualifications and experience. Employers are subjected to a quota and levy for S Pass employees and must provide medical insurance for their S Pass holders.
However, under the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), the employer may be required to advertise the job position on the Jobs Bank for 28 consecutive days before submitting the S Pass application. Like EP holders, the S Pass holders need to earn a minimum monthly salary of S$6,000 to be eligible for obtaining Dependant Passes (DPs) for their spouse and children (under 21 years of age).
Letter of Consent
& Long Term Visit Pass Application
The Letter of Consent (LOC) allows the DP holder and eligible Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holder to work in Singapore. The Foreign Director who is on EP will need to apply for LOC before he can be appointed as a local director of the subsidiary (of the Singapore parent company that sponsors his application) or to act as the local director in the related company whereby his current employer is also the shareholder.
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Application
If the foreign professional’s overseas monthly salary in the last 6 months is at least S$18,000 or the EP holder has a fixed minimum monthly salary of S$12,000, he /she can qualify to apply for PEP. However, the PEP holder is not allowed to conduct any form of entrepreneurial activities and cannot be acting as the local director for his employer’s company.
The PEP holder can be in employment with more than one employer and if out of job, the PEP holder can stay in Singapore for a continuous period of up to 6 months to search for new employment. PEP holders are eligible for dependant passes for their spouse and children (up to 21 years of age) and also eligible for applying for LTVP for their parents.
Tax Clearance for
Foreign Employees (on work passes)
When the foreign employee ceases employment in your Company in Singapore or plans to leave Singapore for an overseas posting (for more than 3 months), the company is required to seek tax clearance for the employee. The onus is on the employer to file the Form IR21 and withhold all monies due to the employee for tax clearance before releasing the final salary payments. This applies to all work pass holders, including PEP holders.