Monthly Archives: May 2014

Guidelines to Get an Employment Pass in Singapore

Employment Pass

Employment Pass (EP) is a type of work permit issued by the ministry of manpower (MOM) to foreign professionals, managers, and owners/directors of Singapore-based companies.

An EP enables you to work and live in Singapore, and travel in and out of the country freely without applying for Singapore entry visas. Possessing an EP is also the first step for potential Singapore permanent residence in due course. The Employment Pass (EP) is normally issued for 1-2 years which can be renewed.

 

Employment Pass

 

The different categories of Employment Passes are:

P1 Pass: For a base salary above S$8,000 a month.
P2 Pass: For a base salary between S$4,500 and S$8,000 a month.
Q1 Pass: For a base salary between S$3,300 and S$4,500 a month.

All the EP work visas except Q1 pass allows you to bring your spouse and children if they are less than 21 years old.

As a rule of thumb, higher the pass category, the better are the chances of permanent residence approval.

Documents Required

• Employment Form 8 approved by the employing company.
• A copy of the applicant’s resume detailing the work experience
• Copies of educational certificates and past employment testimonials.
• A passport-size photograph taken within the past three months
• A copy of the personal particulars page of the applicant’s passport
• Detailed description of the job profile of the applicant
• Detailed description of activities and/or products of the company

Note: Any documents that are not in English must be officially translated into English.

Follow Up

Completed applications with the required documents have to be submitted to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) – the regulating body that reviews EP applications. The online application is generally quicker but does not allow for attachment of all the supporting documents.

The processing time of an online application varies between 1-10 working days depending on the credentials of the employing company and the qualifications of the applicant.

In case of a manual application, the processing time taken by the MOM can be anything from 3-6 weeks from the date of submission.

Employment Pass

SOME NOTES

• The time taken for the overall application procedure can vary from a few days to a few weeks, depending on a range of factors (such as the availability of the applicant’s documents, whether the application is submitted online or manually, etc.).

• Along with the minimum salary, the applicant’s educational qualifications and work experience are also important factors for the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in granting and determining the Employment Pass category.

• For Q1 pass holders, only those candidates who are qualified from reputed institutions will be considered. The minimum salary requirement of S$3,300 (w.e.f. 1 January 2014) is typically applicable to fresh graduates from quality educational institutions, whereas experienced applicants need to command higher salaries to qualify.

Contact us right now at 65 6338 9465 for all your employment pass related queries or you can also visit here for more information.

Useful Information about Work Permit and S Pass Application in Singapore

Employment Pass, , ,

Work Permit

These days, there is a lot of turbulence on the issue of foreign nationals taking away work from local residents of Singapore. In such times, it is always a good idea to keep your documents complete and ready. We will now talk about two documents that are required if you plan to work in Singapore.

S Pass

Who needs it?
It is required for mid-level skilled workers (e.g. electrician) of foreign nationality, with a monthly salary of at least 2200 SGD (in effect from July 1, 2013).

Eligibility
The candidates are assessed based on a points system that considers different aspects. Some of them are:

• Minimum monthly salary of $ 2200
• Degrees, diplomas and technical training certificates that can act as proof that the person is a trained specialist in the specific field. The course should be of at least a year long duration.
• Relevant work experience

For older candidates, the level of salary commanded has to be higher, along with the skill and the level of skill that they bring with them.

Important Info
• The application can be filed online at the Ministry of Manpower’s website or manually at their office.
• The processing time of online submissions is 7 days while for manual submissions is 5 weeks.
• The cost of application is $60.
• The validity period is generally 1-2 years and can be renewed.
• The renewal cost is $80.

For S Pass applications, an Employer Declaration Form is to be completed and attached. The application form must also be endorsed with the company’s stamp/seal and signed by both the applicant and an authorized officer from the sponsoring company, and the employer (if different from the sponsor).

Work Permit
Work PermitIt is for foreigners from an approved country who want to work in Singapore. An application must be sent by the prospective employer to the Controller of Work Passes.

Eligibility
• The minimum age for non-domestic foreign workers is 18 years. For Malaysians, the maximum age to obtain a work permit is 58 years while for non-Malaysians, its 50 years.

Important info
• The online form is submitted the next working day whereas in case of manual submission, it takes 7 working days.
• The validity period is generally 1-2 years with respect to the worker’s passport validity, employment period and banker’s guarantee.
• The application fee for worker permit is S$30 and the renewal fee is the same.

Hope this brief read comes in handy the next time you need to file a work pass application in Singapore. To know more about employment pass and work pass visit here!