Employment Pass - Pass To Singapore

In order to supplement the local work force and to create a wider talent pool for the employers, the government welcomes foreign talent by providing employment pass for foreign professionals. Employment Pass (EP) is type of work pass granted to foreign professionals with suitable qualifications and experience. In order to qualify for an Employment Pass the applicant must have a job offer from a Singapore company. The EP is based on the applicant's own merit and does not fall under the quota system.

As per the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Guidelines the applicant must have a minimum monthly salary above S$2500 and must have graduated from an institution of repute. Singapore welcomes foreign professionals with unique talents, in order to enrich the talent pool without jeopardizing the employment opportunities of the locals. Therefore applicants whose skills and experience add vibrancy to the talent pool and who can fill up those positions that are not contested for by the locals stand a better probability of being granted an EP.

There are three categories of Employment Pass: P1, P2 and Q1 Pass. The P Pass is for foreigners seeking professional, managerial or executive and specialist jobs.

* P1 Pass - for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $7,000.
* P2 Pass - for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $3,500 and up to $7,000 and he/she possesses recognized qualifications.
* Q1 Pass - for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $2,500 and he/she possesses recognized qualifications

For Q1, MOM considers skills and experience in case of absence of paper qualification. While considering applications for EP, MOM matches the qualifications and skill of the applicants against a list of strategic skill set which is arrived based on consultation with various agencies and employers. The list reflects the demand forecast for specific skills in the current and future scenario. Applicants possessing such highly demanded skills will be given more credence during review. Apart from qualifications and skills the institution form which the applicant has graduated also plays a decisive role in determining the outcome of the application.

There is another pass called S Pass which was introduced to replace the previous Q2 Pass. It is designed for foreign nationals whose monthly basic salary is at least S$1800 or more. S Pass applications will be assessed based on a point system where some of the assessment criteria include the salary, education qualifications, skills, job type and also work experiences. For S Pass holder the employing company is liable to pay a levy.

Prospective applicants who are apprehensive about the outcome of the application may check the chances of approval using the online facility in the MOM website, Employment/S Pass Self-Assessment Tool. Employment Pass holders may also apply for dependent pass for spouse and children under 21 years of age.

Foreign talents with aspirations to work in Singapore may also apply for Employment pass Eligibility Certificate (EPEC) before commencing their job hunt in Singapore. This EPEC provides a prospective employer an assurance that if hired the candidate's EP application will be reviewed favorably. The EPEC grants the holder up to a 1-year Social Visit Pass (SVP). Potential foreign talent holding acceptable tertiary/professional qualifications may apply for EPEC. The EPEC is issued on a one-time basis and is non-renewable therefore it is advisable to apply for an EPEC only when the potential talent is ready to come to Singapore for a job hunt.