How To Apply for Student / Work / Employment Permit in Singapore

How To Apply for Student / Work / Employment Permit

In an endeavor to ensure the supply of manpower to sustain Singapore’s long-term economic development,the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Government of Singapore, has developed various easy methods to manage the entry, stay and exit of foreign workers in Singapore. Foreign professionals and students who wish to work in Singapore should apply for a Work Pass. There are various types of such passes.

Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has upgraded the Employment Pass (EP) Online to a new improved platform to ensure faster processing of the applications and renewals of Employment Pass.

Students Pass

International Students are required to apply for a Student’s Pass to pursue academic career in Singapore unless they have a Dependent Pass (DP) or a Immigration Exemption Order (IEO). When the Letter of Acceptance from the concerned school is received the applicant should proceed to Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) to apply for a Student Pass. The school can directly admit applicants who have a DP or IEO after passing school’s placement test.

From 2^nd January 2003 ICA has introduced an on-line submission of Student’s Pass application through theSOLAR (Student’s pass On-Line Application and Registration) system to foreigners who are applying for Student’s pass to pursue courses offered by Institute of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Singapore.

Employment Pass (P & Q Pass)

Foreign professionals, executives and specialists, who earn a fixed monthly salary of $2500 and above and have recognized qualification, can apply for the Employment Pass (EP). There are three types of EP:

• 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 upto $7,000 with recognized qualification.
• Q - Pass for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than $2,500 with recognized qualification, skills and experience.

New EP applications are submitted via EP Online. On approval, In Principle Approval (IPA) letter specifying the documents to be submitted during collection of passes is sent. EP holders can apply for Dependent Pass (for spouse and children under 21 years of age) and Long Term Visa (not for Q Pass holders) for family members.

Work Permit (Foreign Workers)

Work Permit application for foreign workers are submitted by the employer. The employer is required to select one business activity in which foreign workers will be recruited which is done through Application for Industrial Classification (business employers need Sing Pass to access). This should be done before submitting WP application. Accredited Employment Agencies are allowed to apply for WP on employer’s behalf. There are two modes of application:

• WP Online - The application is processed on next working day.
• WP Application Form - Need 7 working days for processing and may be submitted at any Sing Post Office.

Work Permit (Foreign Domestic Workers)

Foreign Domestic Workers (FDW) is preferably selected with the assistance of accredited Employment Agencies who are also allowed to apply for FDW Work Permit on behalf of employer. Applications can be made:

• WP Online - The application is processed within 7 working days and can be checked and printed online.
• WP Application forms is processed within 7 working days and mailed to applicant.

To apply for FDW under Joint Income Scheme, income of employer should be combined with that of family member (other than spouse) living in the same address. For FDW under Sponsorship Scheme the employer must be above 60 years of age, should not be staying with working adults and use income of spouse or children.