All foreigners who intend to work in Singapore must have a valid work pass (work visa) before they start work. The 3 most common types of work passes are the Work Permit (WP), S Pass (SP) and Employment Pass (EP).
3 Common Types of Work Pass in Singapore
WORK PERMIT (WP)
| Who is it for? | Workers from Malaysia, China or NAS countries working in all sectors. Some sectors allow workers from NTS countries to take WP too. |
| Who can apply? | An employer or appointed employment agent needs to apply for the permit. |
| Qualifying Salary | No minimum required. |
| Duration of pass | Up to 2 years, depending on the validity of the worker’s passport, security bond and employment period. |
| Is it renewable? | Yes. |
| Passes for family | Not available. |
| Quota & Levy | Employers are limited by a quota for their sector and have to pay a monthly levy for each worker. Different sectors have different quota and different companies have different levy amount. |
| Medical Insurance | Employers must provide medical insurance for their employees. |
| Primary Care Plan | Employers must buy the Primary Care Plan (PCP) for their WP employees if they: – Stay in dormitories OR – Working in the construction, marine shipyard or process (CMP) sectors. |
S Pass (SP)
| Who is it for? | Mid-level skilled workers |
| Who can apply? | An employer or appointed employment agent needs to apply for the pass. |
| Qualifying salary | Minimum of $3,000 (and increases progressively with age, up to $4,500 for those in mid-40s). |
| Duration of pass | Up to 2 years. |
| Is it renewable? | Yes. |
| Passes for family | LTVP and DP is available. |
| Quota & Levy | Employers are limited by a quota for their sector and have to pay a monthly levy for each worker. Different sectors have different quota and different companies have different levy amount. |
| Medical Insurance | Employers must provide medical insurance for their employees. |
| Primary Care Plan | Employers must buy the Primary Care Plan (PCP) for their WP employees if they: – Stay in dormitories OR – Working in the construction, marine shipyard or process (CMP) sectors. |
EMPLOYMENT PASS (EP)
| Who is it for? | Foreign professionals, managers and executives with a job offer in Singapore. |
| Who can apply? | An employer or appointed employment agent needs to apply for the pass. |
| Qualifying salary | Minimum of $5,000 (and increases progressively with age, up to $10,500 for those in the mid-40s.) |
| Duration of pass | The duration of the pass is as follows: First-time candidates: up to 2 years Renewals: up to 3 years Experienced tech professionals with skills in shortage may be eligible for a longer 5-year duration pass. |
| Is it renewable? | Yes. |
| Passes for family | LTVP and DP is available. |
| Quota & Levy | No foreign worker levy or quota required. |
| Medical Insurance | Employers can choose whether to provide medical insurance for EP holders. |
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