• A job offer in Singapore from a recognized organization.
• Minimum proposed salary of $3,300.
• A degree or specialization from a recognized institute.

Please note that every application is evaluated by the MOM at its merit, with body thoroughly focused on evaluating every parameter. Education, for instance, is one of the pivotal factors that decide the outcome of an application.

In addition to salary, the MOM takes into consideration an array of factors to evaluate applications. The list includes, but is not limited to:

• The national ranking and placement record of the institute of education
• The level of skills possessed by the applicants and their track record
• The credibility of the prospective employer

Please note that some applicants may be required to command a higher salary in order to qualify. Ideally, the proposed salary of an applicant should be proportional to their experience and work quality.

• Application form, endorsed with the employer’s stamp or seal, and signed by the applicant.
• Document to validate the applicant’s educational qualifications, work experience, and skills.
• Verification proof of education certificates from any one of the following verification channels:
  •             Dataflow
  •             The China Higher Education Student Information
  •             The China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education
• Employer’s latest business profile or instant information registered with the ACRA
• Passport-sized photograph of the applicant, taken within three months.
• Personal particulars page of the applicant’s passport or travel document.

Applications to obtain an Employment Pass can be filed both online and in-person.

Those who wish to take the virtual road can simply visit MOM’s EP Online Portal to file their application and pay the administrative fee using GIRO, Visa/MasterCard or eNets Debit.

The portal allows users to perform a number of transactions, including:

• File new application for all types of passes granted to foreign nationals
• Apply for pass renewal and cancellation
• Upload relevant documents required to file requests
• Appeal for rejected pass applications
• View the reasons for the rejection of applications
• Check the status of their applications
• Printing application outcome letter
• Check the Pass quota and tier information of organizations

If a person wishes to apply in person, they need to download the application form (link provided at the end of the page), fill it out, attach all relevant documents, and submit their application at one of the SingPost post offices (MOM-appointed application collecting agents).

The payment of the administrative fee can be made using cash, NETS or CashCard. Once an applicant submits their application, a SingPost payment advice slip is issued at the post office. In the end, all applications are sent to the Ministry of Manpower for consideration.

Employers and recruitment agencies are also qualified to file an Employment Pass application on the behalf of the applicant. The applicants can check the Foreign Identification Number (FIN) assigned and the status of their application using the EP Online Portal about three weeks after submitting the application. If the Employment Pass application is approved, an In-Principle Approval letter is sent to the sponsoring company.

The processing times for online, manual and overseas applications have a notable margin of difference, with the digital medium promising the fastest way to obtain an Employment Pass.

According to MOM’s website, 80 percent of online submissions are processed within a week’s time. On the other hand, the processing time for manual and sponsored applications is about five weeks.

If your application is rejected by the MOM, the notification letter will clearly specify the reason(s) for the rejection and advise you on the remedial actions to follow. Before reapplying, make sure that the concerns pointed out by the letter have been addressed.

In cases of rejection, only the employer is authorised to appeal reconsideration. The MOM does not entertain any direct queries from candidates. Employers can use EP Online Portal to file an appeal, it, however, must be done within three months of rejection.

Please note that you can appeal only for the passes you applied for on the first application. For instance, if your Employment Pass application is rejected, you cannot appeal for an S Pass. In that, you will be required to prepare and submit a new application.

Typical processing time of an appeal is about three weeks, but in some cases, it may take longer, depending on the rush and the intricacies involved. It is, however, advisable for applicants to log in and check their supplication status on a regular basis, after the completion of three weeks.

The MOM charges an administrative fee of $70 per Employment Pass application submission. The fee for issuance request is $150 per issues. In cases of ‘Multiple Journey Visa’, the fee is $30 per issue.