Work Pass & EP Application – Alfahr Solutions

Singapore’s Trusted Employment Pass & Immigration Specialists

The application or renewal of a Singapore Employment Pass or Work Pass for foreign employees can be complex and time-consuming without a clear understanding of the Ministry of Manpower’s regulations and processes.

Employment Pass (EP) & Work Pass Services in Singapore

Types of Employment Passes & Work Passes in Singapore

Singapore Employment Pass
The Singapore Employment Pass is issued to professionals, managerial personnel (such as managing directors, general managers, and CEOs), executives, and specialists who wish to work in Singapore. An employer sponsor is required for this pass, and an authorised employment agent may apply on behalf of the employer. Young and junior candidates must earn a minimum monthly salary of S$4,500 to qualify, while more experienced candidates are required to meet higher salary thresholds. For high-income and highly skilled professionals earning at least S$22,500 per month — whether currently working in or outside of Singapore — there is a special category known as the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). The PEP does not require an employer sponsor. Upon approval, successful applicants have up to six months to secure suitable employment and are allowed to change employers freely during the three-year validity period of the pass.

Singapore S Pass
This pass category is designed for semi-skilled or junior to mid-level skilled foreign professionals who do not meet the criteria for an Employment Pass in Singapore. The minimum qualifying salary for S Pass holders starts at SGD 3,000 for junior and entry-level candidates. For more experienced candidates, the required salary is higher and depends on their age, experience, and qualifications. Additionally, a quota is imposed on each company, limiting the number of S Pass holders they can employ.

Singapore Work Permit
The Work Permit (WP) is issued to lower-skilled workers who wish to work in Singapore’s in-demand sectors and who come from approved source countries. Employers hiring workers from non-traditional source countries (such as India, China, and Bangladesh) are required to provide a Banker’s Guarantee against disappearance. In contrast, workers from traditional source countries (such as Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, and Macau) are exempt from this requirement. Work Permit holders are allowed to work only for their specified direct employer and in the approved occupation. There is no minimum qualifying salary for this category of work pass.

Employment Pass (EP) applications are not subject to any quota and are evaluated based on the merits of each individual case. In contrast, other work pass categories, such as the Work Permit and S Pass, are subject to quota restrictions that vary by industry. Additionally, there are nationality-specific controls for Work Permit holders in different sectors. For instance, companies in the services sector may generally employ one foreign Work Permit holder (Malaysian) or up to 40% of their total workforce. To hire an S Pass holder, a company must maintain a minimum local workforce of seven employees, and the combined number of Work Permit and S Pass holders must not exceed 40% of the total workforce.

Employers may verify their quota eligibility using the following link:

To learn more about our Employment Pass application services, kindly refer to the links below:

Effective 1 September 2023, the Singapore government implemented a new assessment system — the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) — for all new Employment Pass applications.

Under the new framework, all Singapore Employment Pass applications are evaluated based on four foundational criteria: salary, qualifications, diversity, and support for local employment. In addition to these, two bonus criteria are considered, which recognise applications that introduce skills not readily available in Singapore and contribute to strategic economic priorities, thereby creating greater employment opportunities for Singaporeans.

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Work Pass Application Support

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