How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore

March 5, 2023 Claudia Jeff Immigration Guide 0

If you’re looking to work in Singapore, one of the first things you must do is obtain a valid work visa. How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore Several types of work visas are available in Singapore, each with its own set of requirements and benefits. In this guide, we’ll provide you with everything you need to know about Singapore work visas so you can make an informed decision. A large part of Singapore’s success as a business and commercial center in Southeast Asia can be attributed to its innovative immigration laws, which were created to draw seasoned businesspeople and working professionals from around the globe. Learn more about Singapore’s different work permit programs for international workers and business owners.

Types of Work Visas in Singapore

Employment Pass (EP)

The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore’s most common type of work visa. It is designed for foreign professionals, managers, and executives who wish to work in Singapore. To be eligible for an EP, you must have a job offer from a Singapore-based employer, earn a minimum salary of SGD 4,500 per month (SGD 6,000 for older and more experienced candidates), and possess relevant qualifications and work experience.

S Pass

The S Pass is another type of work visa in Singapore aimed at mid-level skilled workers. To be eligible for an S Pass, you must have a job offer from a Singapore-based employer, earn a minimum salary of SGD 2,500 per month, and possess relevant qualifications and work experience.

Work Permit

The Work Permit is designed for semi-skilled foreign construction, manufacturing, and marine workers. To be eligible for a Work Permit, you must have a job offer from a Singapore-based employer and meet the specific requirements of the sector you will be working in.

How to Apply for a Work Visa in Singapore

To apply for a work visa in Singapore, you must first have a job offer from a Singapore-based employer. Once you have a job offer, your employer must apply for a work visa on your behalf. The application process can vary depending on the type of work visa you are applying for but generally involves submitting an application form and supporting documents such as your passport, educational certificates, and employment contracts.

Benefits of Working in Singapore

Singapore is known for its strong economy, high standard of living, and excellent career opportunities. In addition to these benefits, working in Singapore also comes with several other advantages, including:

  • Competitive salaries
  • Low-income tax rates
  • A multicultural and diverse work environment
  • Access to world-class healthcare and education
  • A safe and clean living environment

Work permits and visas based on employment

Instead of a business visa, foreigners moving to Singapore need an employment visa (or work pass) to take up employment in the Lion City lawfully. Fortunately, there are many different work visas and permits to consider. Possessing one of these permits, typically with a two-year expiration date, does not grant you permanent residency.

Qualifications for Singapore Employment Visas

A Singapore work visa is typically only available to those who meet the following requirements have a current visa; • be at least 18 years old  meet the requirements for the position (with accompanying documentation from recognized organizations); • only work related to their position. All workers must make sure they have the appropriate work visa. This should be something that your moving company if you are moving with one, can assist with. If not, skilled immigrants will typically require one of the following visas:  Employment Pass: For international managers, executives, and pros who will make at least 3,600 SGD (2,600 USD) per month and possess the necessary credentials. Good for two years at most.  S Pass: For mid-level skilled employees who satisfy the evaluation requirements and will make at least 2,400 SGD (1,700 USD) monthly. Good for two years at most.

  • Employees in the amusement, building, industrial, maritime shipbuilding, process, or service industries can also obtain specific work permits.
  • Singapore Job Permit 230 165 S Pass 175 125 Singapore Work Visa Expense Visa Cost SGD Cost USD
  • Application for a Work Visa in Singapore
  • Employers must submit applications for staff work passes. You need to be conscious that your boss might enlist the aid of an employment agent to facilitate the procedure.
  • Employers from abroad must approach a Singapore-based business to serve as a local supporter. The individual will apply to the area sponsor.
  • The procedures for obtaining an S pass or a work permit are comparable.
  • You must collect the following paperwork before applying for a job pass or S pass:
  •  a copy of your passport’s information page (along with an explanation letter and any necessary supporting documentation, such as a deed poll if the name on your passport differs from other documents); your educational credentials verified by a global verification agency; (if they are from an institution that is not listed on the application form).
  • The most recent version of your company’s business biography or immediate information filed with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority will be required (ACRA).
  • Application handling typically takes three weeks for online applications and eight weeks for manual applications after the application has been filed.
  • After You’ve Applied

A document of In Principal Approval (IPA) should be sent to your workplace. You will receive a duplicate of this, and the company has sixty days if they are filing for an S pass or six months if they are bringing you to Singapore for a work pass. Your permit can only be given while you are in Singapore There are a few items you must bring once you are in Singapore to obtain your pass a medical examination or health declaration document that has been finished information about your most recent immigration permit and disembarkation/embarkation card; • a residential location in Singapore that satisfies housing standards.

Letters of Notice

  • You will receive a letter once your company has finished the required issuance procedures and issued your permit. Although the duration can be prolonged, this lasts only one month. While you wait for your pass card, you can start working and traveling in and out of Singapore if you have this document.
  • Employees are informed in the notice letter that they must submit their picture and fingerprints within two weeks of receiving the pass. A Ministry of Employment (MOM) Services Complex will host this. The following papers should be brought to your meeting if you need to register:
  • IPA letter, notice letter, assignment letter, original passport, and any other papers mentioned in those letters.
  • If you don’t need to register, the access badge should appear four days after you submit all the required paperwork. If registration is required, your identity should be delivered four days after registering.

Passport for Enterprise – Ent repass

You may be eligible for an Ent repass if you want to launch a new company in Singapore. Employees with this permit are not required to find stable employment before applying, nor are they required to make a minimum wage. It was designed to encourage creativity.

Prerequisites for Ent repass

This permit must meet strict requirements. Candidates must be an investor, a business, or an inventor. You can determine your status here, but we’ve also summarized the requirements below. Entrepreneurs must have funded more than 100,000 SGD (72,000 USD) from a venture investor approved by a Singapore Government Agency and have a demonstrated history of success and domain knowledge. Innovators must work with a Singaporean research center and have recognized intellectual property. You might also possess exceptional knowledge in your line of work. • Buyers need to have a track record of successful investments.   The capital of the company you wish to establish must be at least 50,000 SGD (36,000 USD). Proposals must be submitted before or within six months of ACRA registration for your company.

Unqualified Companies

  • foot reflexology, massage clinics, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, or herbal dispensing businesses; coffee stores, hawker centers, or food halls; bars, nightclubs, or karaoke rooms job agencies; and geomancy businesses.
  • Dependents and Entraps
  • Dependents can travel on this ticket once your company spends at least 100,000 SGD (72,000 USD) annually and has at least three workers.
  • Registration Procedure for Ent repass
  • On the website of the Ministry of Manpower, you can obtain the Ent repass registration form.
  • You must obtain and complete the registration form in person to request an Ent repass. Before submitting the online image, it needs to be copied out and signed. A charge of 105 SGD (75 USD) is required to register.
  • You must send the registration form, any required supporting papers, and a picture of the financial page verifying your payment.
  • The registration processing time is expected to be eight weeks. An In Principal Approval (IPA) document confirming your approval will allow you six months to travel to Singapore and issue the pass. For the permit to be given, you must be in Singapore. You can do this in person or online.
  • You must spend an additional 225 SGD (160 USD) charge to get the pass at this stage. It would be best if you also offered the following:
  •  a finished medical evaluation form and information about your health insurance; • a residential location in Singapore that satisfies housing standards; • specifics of your current immigration pass and disembarkation/embarkation card.

Message in a Postcard

Once the pass has been authorized, you’ll get a notice that’s good for one month. It implies that you can begin working and journeying to and from Singapore. If you need to submit your picture and fingerprints at a MOM Services Center within two weeks of the pass being given, it will be specified in this notice letter. The following papers should be brought to your appointment.

Visas for Self-Employment

There are no special self-employment visas because working for yourself in Singapore is illegal unless you are a permanent citizen. This means you must have an S or work permit and have been a national resident for at least two years to qualify for a self-employed visa. Therefore, the paperwork, procedure, and fees for applying for a self-employment visa are the same as those for job and S passes. How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore A Step-by-Step Guide

Read  Also  : Ireland Work Visas: A Comprehensive Guide for 2023

Is It Worth It to Work for Yourself in Singapore

Many people also discover that it makes more reason to have full-time employment with freelance side work due to the expensive cost of living in the nation. However, lengthy workdays are required by Singaporean corporate culture. It is important to ensure your basic pay is sufficient to cover all your expenses because depending on independent work to supplement your income may significantly reduce your spare time. A few choices are available for permanent residents who want to start a side company, including a special program for small companies operated from home. More information on this is available under “Home-Based Small Size Companies.”

Freelancing

There are currently no work licenses that can be used to seek to relocate to Singapore as a freelancer. This implies you cannot enter the nation on a “self-employed” passport. Additionally, it is doubtful that most independent contractors will meet the criteria needed to operate lawfully under the Ent repass system However, permanent inhabitants can readily transition to being independent contractors. To work as a contractor, you ought to Check if you require a business license to function; choose whether you want to form a company (not required, but offers security over billing and other aspects of doing business); network to forge connections and establish yourself. In general, you can operate without registering your services with the government. You must submit a tax report and pay any necessary Central Provident Fund payments. You might not require a work visa if all of your freelance work is conducted outside of Singapore and none of the businesses you work for have any presence there. Even though you still have to submit a personal income tax return, Singapore does not tax any income made abroad. People who enter the country on a Dependent Pass and cannot labor without authorization from the Ministry of Manpower may find this helpful.

Start-Up a Company

  • You must first establish your company at Bazile and with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority to start a business in Singapore (ACRA). Intonations GO! can assist you in finding the right specialists to meet your requirements if you’re looking for experts to help you navigate the process, such as attorneys and auditors.
  • The next step is to establish your business following ACRA rules. Your business must possess the following after filing an ACRA-approved corporate name:
  • a company must have a minimum of one stockholder, one director who must live in Singapore, one company clerk who must also reside in Singapore;
  • at least 0.72 USD in paid-up cash; a listed location for a real office place.
  • You must adhere to specific rules after registration, depending on your company type. To do this, apply for licenses, list your business hours, file for Singapore’s products and services tax, or join the Central Provident Fund.
  • Additionally, you must establish a Singapore bank account. For comprehensive instructions on how to do this, see our Banking and Taxation part.
  • Small-Scale Home-Based Companies
  • For permanent residents who dwell in homes supplied by the Singapore Housing and Development Board, the government offers a unique program (HDB). Small companies like restaurants or salons are the target market.
  • This program allows individuals to apply under ACRA using their residential address as their company address without requesting HDB permission. It was developed to assist employees in boosting their revenue.
  • Five years of registration are available for just 20 SGD (14 USD). The program only accepts foreign employees with job passes or work licenses.
  • Permanent and Provisional Residency Passes
  • You should understand how to apply to become a permanent citizen of Singapore if you intend to remain there for an extended period. No application for provisional residence authorization is required.
  • A work ticket is distinct from a residency certificate. You have access to various possibilities as a citizen of Singapore that are not available to non-residents. This can sometimes be taken literally: Singaporeans have access to the Central Provident Fund (CPF), a required savings program that provides you with, among other things, affordable accommodation and a pension.

Singapore’s tax residency

For tax reasons, you will be considered a resident if you relocate to Singapore to work for more than 183 days per year. Many nations around the globe have this automatic mechanism in effect. You can find more information about the Singapore tax structure on our part on banks and taxes. Being a tax resident does not imply that you are a Singaporean citizen. Being a tax citizen only indicates how much you paid during the relevant tax year. How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Acquire Permanent Resident Status in Singapore

  • The first stage is to apply to be a Singapore Permanent Citizen if you want to live there permanently and become a citizen. This means that even though you are not a resident of Singapore, you have the legal right to live there permanently. Immigration Rules for Singapore Permanent Residents
  • Before you can become a regular citizen, you must fulfill several requirements. For example, you must fit one of the following categories:
  • A person who has held an employment pass or S pass for at least six months; a spouse or elderly parent of a Singaporean or permanent resident; an unmarried child under the age of 21 who was born into a valid marriage between two Singaporeans or permanent residents, or who was legally adopted by one; a foreign investor.
  • Remember that obtaining legal citizenship takes time. The processing time should take anywhere from six months to a year. Below, we walk you through converting your Singaporean work permit to permanent citizenship.
  • Anyone who has worked in Singapore for more than two years while holding either a job pass or an S pass can file for permanent residency. All forms must be submitted electronically through the Electronic Permanent Residence (E-PR) method to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
  • Please enter NA in any areas that don’t apply when completing the form.
  • Registration for Permanent Residents of Singapore
  • One digital color picture in the dimensions of a passport (35mm x 45mm) is required for the application. It has to be

Entire face, no headwear (unless you regularly don one for religious or ethnic traditions, in which case it cannot conceal your facial characteristics), measuring 25mm to 35mm jawline to the crown, JPEG picture file; shot within the last three months. Personal Papers the highest level of education certificates, transcripts, professional license/membership certificates, and vocational trade certificates; your employment or S pass; identity card (if applicable); your birth certificate or an official census showing both of your parent’s names; and valid travel documents, passport pages showing personal particulars and official descriptions. Work-Related Documents pay stubs from the previous six months; a letter from the current employer to the Controller of Immigration detailing the date of employment, position held, and salary per month for the previous six months with a breakdown into basic, overtime, and allowance per month; IRAS consent; testimonials from the previous employer(s) attesting to the nature and length of employment and the last drawn basic salary (if any)The spouse’s highest educational certificates, transcripts, professional license/membership certificates, and vocational trade certificates. Documents Relating to Marriage official marriage certificate; deed poll or change of name certificate (if applicable); death certificate or divorce certificate in respect of your prior marriages (if any); custody papers for the child(Ren) in respect of your prior marriage(s) (if any).How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore A Step-by-Step Guide

  • Costs for Permanent Residents in Singapore
  • Procedure Point Charge in SGD Pay Dollars Entrance Permit: 20 14 Registration Fee: 100 72
  • Advantages for Permanent Residents in Singapore
  • It’s common to move to Singapore permanently. In the country of roughly 5.75 million individuals in 2018, there were over 500,000 permanent citizens.
  • Greater mobility for you and your family is one of the main advantages of perpetual residency. This allows you to reside in Singapore and travel without filing for a new work pass. Additionally, you can file for long-stay visas for your parents and include your partner and unmarried children under 21 as permanent citizens, all without considering a work permit.
  • Assistance and Financial Rewards

Access to these includes

Subsidies for healthcare and medical insurance, subsidized housing through the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the Central Provident Fund (for more information, see our Banks and Taxes part), better precedence for obtaining a housing credit, and the opportunity to buy HDB properties. How to Obtain a Work Visa in Singapore A Step-by-Step Guide

Public Welfare

If you are over 21 and have been a regular resident for two years, you can also become a complete citizen of Singapore. But it’s important to remember that Singapore has a National Duty. Male Singapore nationals and permanent residents must enroll by age 16 and a half following the Enlistment Act. All males must complete two years of full-time national service at 18 and an extra 40 days of operationally prepared national duty every year until age 40. This applies up until the age of 50 if they are a soldier.

  • All male permanent residents, including children who acquire permanent residency through their parents, must serve in the military. The only individuals exempt from service are those who enlist through the Investor plan or the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers scheme.
  • Singapore’s process for obtaining a spouse or fiancé visa
  • The procedure for obtaining a Singaporean dependent visa for your partner is straightforward because they can only do so if they are your lawfully wedded spouse.
  • A fiancé(e) passport is not accessible.
  • Your legally married partner and any unattached children (including legally adopted children) under 21 qualify for a Dependent’s Pass if you are working in Singapore on a job or S pass and earning a set monthly wage of at least 6,000 SGD (4,330 USD).

Permanent Visit Permit

You may also transport the following individuals to Singapore on long-term visit visas if you have an employment visa The parents, the common-law partner, the single disabled children over the age of 21, and the unmarried stepchildren under the age of 21. Employers may submit dependency visa requests related to work passes. This is fairly simple, but to qualify, the job or S pass user must bring in at least 6,000 SGD (4,330 USD) monthly from a Singapore-registered business.

Required Papers for Dependent Visas

a valid travel document, including an Immigration Pass and passport pages with personal identification information and official descriptions; a birth certificate with the names of both parents; a deed poll or certificate of name change (if applicable); an identity card (if applicable); a death certificate or divorce certificate; and custody documents for the child(ren) from your spouse’s prior marriage(s) (if any).

Conclusion

Obtaining a work visa in Singapore can be a complex and time-consuming process, but with the right guidance and support, it can also be rewarding. Whether you’re a foreign professional, mid-level skilled worker, or semi-skilled worker, a work visa in Singapore is right for you. So if you want to take your career to the next level, consider exploring the opportunities available in Singapore.