subject: What is a Singapore Employment Pass Application? [print this page] The Singapore Employment Pass (EP) is a visa issued to foreign entrepreneurs, shareholders, and managing directors in order to allow them to setup and personally manage their business in the country. However, EP can also serve as a work visa given to supervisors and managers, "key employees," professionals, and workers with a specialized skill.
For professionals and "key employees," these are the basic requirements for Singapore Employment Pass application:
A fixed monthly salary rate of at least S$2,500
A recognized college degree from a reputable school
Professional qualifications
Specialized skills and talents
Several years of work-related experience
Aside from these four factors, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also makes a decision based on the applicant's age, current citizenship, and his roles and responsibilities in a company.
Contrary to a popular belief, passing in the educational criteria does not automatically make a person eligible for EP. In fact, MOM makes an exception and gives this work visa to those applicants who have outstanding professional skills and qualifications even if they fall short in the educational criteria.
According to the agency, this visa has three categories which are primarily based on the applicants' fixed monthly salary rate:
P1 Pass this is issued to individuals who are earning a monthly salary rate of more than S$7,000.
P2 Pass this is given to foreign applicants who have a fixed monthly salary that ranges between S$3,500 and S$7,000.
Q1 Pass this is issued to individuals who have a monthly salary of not less than S$2,500.
There are cases in which MOM will reject applications that lack supporting documents. Fortunately, applicants can file for an appeal and provide the agency with additional records showing their eligibility for EP.
Generally, it will take more than three weeks before the agency can review the appeal.
It is important to note that whenever there is a change in employer, EP holders should immediately notify MOM which will then review their professional qualifications, employer credentials, and work-related. However, there is no need for EP holders to cancel their existing work pass since the agency will do this for them as soon as they have been approved with their new visa.
Meanwhile, the EP should be renewed every two or three years (depending on its validity to a certain individual). Two months before this visa expires, a person will receive a notification from MOM requiring him to renew his pass four weeks before its expiration.
