Tag: MOM

Singapore Employment Pass Application The Facts And Procedure

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Singapores advancing economic structure attracts a great number of individuals who wish to experience its business potential. Any foreigner who wishes to do business in Singapore, either by seeking employment or putting up his own company, must first obtain a Singapore Employment Pass before he can legally transact his business in the country. A Singapore Employment Pass is a work visa issued by the Ministry of Manpower to foreign business people who are already employed in Singapore or to any business person still seeking for employment or who either owns a Singapore company or is a shareholder or director of such company.

The Singapore Employment Pass has three types, depending on the purpose:

P1 Pass for a minimum monthly income of S$7,000 and holds a managerial, executive or specialist position
P2 Pass for a minimum monthly income of S$3,500
Q1 Pass for a minimum monthly income of S$2,500

Applications for a Singapore Employment Pass are submitted to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The MOM is the sole authority that reviews, evaluates and approves EP Applications. To be eligible for a Singapore EP, the applicant must possess specialist skills and professional qualifications. In this case, an applicants educational attainment and background are added considerations, so it is important that a hard copy of the Original Transcript of Records and other relevant certificates pertaining to education is attached to the application. Although, educational attainment is vital, its absence could still be compensated by presenting the following documents: resume or curriculum vitae indicating in details the educational and employment history, testimonials or certificates of employment from previous employers, and a copy of passport. An applicant who has not earned a college degree is not immediately denied by the Ministry of Manpower as long as his application is sufficient in form and substance and his supporting credentials are excellent.

There are three steps in applying for a Singapore EP with the Ministry of Manpower:

First Step: For newly incorporated companies, an authorization code must first be obtained from the MOM before submitting the application. The authorization code is issued within 1-2 weeks.

Second Step: Submit your EP application. An application may be submitted personally to the MOM or online. The approval of the application takes at least 2 weeks.

Third Step: Once an application is approved, the MOM sends through email, an In-Principle Approval (IPA). The IPA must then be presented personally to the Work Pass Division of the MOM upon claiming the EP. The IPA is valid for 6 months from the time of notification of approval. Aside from the IPA, the applicant must also bring a medical exam report (which may be issued by the applicants country of origin or by in Singapore), original passport with entry embarkation cards, recent passport-size photos, and other documents specified in the IPA. Documents which are not in the English language must be translated into English by any Singaporean accredited official translation service.

An EP issued for the first time is valid for 2 years and can be renewed thereafter. The renewed EP is valid for 3 years. Once an Employment Pass (EP) has been issued, the foreign holder may now apply for a Dependent Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass for his/her family members.

Requirements For Singapore Employment Pass Eligibility

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There are three categories of Employment Passes in Singapore: the P1 Employment Pass, P2 Employment Pass and Q1 Employment Pass. Before considering to apply for a particular employment pass, it is important that you possess all the required criteria to be eligible for the employment pass you are applying for.
The basic requirements to be eligible for a Singapore Employment Pass is that the foreigner applicant must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,500 and must possess the recognized qualifications which includes acceptable degrees, professional qualifications or specialist skills. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) is the authority that evaluates each EP application and qualification, based on a criteria that includes the following: global and country institution rankings by independent accreditation boards, hiring history by top companies in Singapore, validation by HR consultants in listed countries, employment outcome of the institution’s graduates, and the institution’s enrollment standards.
In addition to the foregoing basic requirements of monthly salary and recognized qualifications for a Singapore EP, each of the three categories of EPs have specific eligibility requirements and this article will discuss each of these categories briefly:
P1 Employment Pass
A P1 Employment Pass can be given to an applicant who performs a Professional, Managerial, Executive or Specialist job and has a fixed monthly salary of at least S$7,000.
P2 Employment Pass
A P2 Employment Pass can be given to an applicant who performs a Professional, Managerial, Executive or Specialist job and has a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,500 and not more than S$7,000.
Q1 Employment Pass
A Q1 Employment Pass can be given to an applicant who performs a Professional, Managerial, Executive or Specialist job and has a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,500 and not more than S$3,500. An applicant who does not possess the recognized qualifications as discussed in the first part of this article can still be eligible for a Q1 EP provided he possesses compensatory factors such as skills and years of experience, depending on the discretion of the MOM. A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience is a plus factor.
A fixed monthly salary, as discussed above, refers to the total regular income of a foreign employee earned from his job, including his basic salary, and this income must be paid to the employee on a fixed monthly basis, regardless of his performance.
A fixed monthly salary and/or basic salary does not include the following: additional payment by way of overtime, bonus or commission; any form of reimbursements or in-kind payments; any sum paid to an employee or contract worker to defray special expenses incurred by him owing to the special, unusual or hazardous nature of the employment; any productivity incentive payments and any allowances which are variable in nature; any contributions paid by the employer or employee to any pension or provident fund; or any gratuity payable on discharge or retirement.

The Benefits Of Personalised Employment Pass By Asiabizservices

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In order to help better attract and retain global talent, Singapore has recently introduced the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). PEP facilitates selected Employment Pass holders to continue working in Singapore. The PEP will be granted to suitable EP holders that have worked in Singapore for a period of time.

Currently an Employment Pass (EP) is tied to a specific employer. A fresh application is required for any change in employer. Unless an EP holder finds employment with a new company, the EP is immediately cancelled if an EP holder leaves the company and he must leave Singapore. However, in the new PEP, an EP holders individual merits are the basis for issuance f such PEP and it is not tied to any employer. A PEP holder is allowed to remain in Singapore to evaluate new employment opportunities for up to six months in between jobs.

If you meet any of the below requirements, you are eligible for this visa: The following are the requirements in order to be eligible for this visa:

1) You are earning at least S$7,000 monthly salary. The last drawn salary must not exceed six months from the time of application.

2) You are a former P1 category employment pass holder who is residing overseas. Also, you should not be unemployed for longer than a continuous period of six months at the point of application.

3) You are a current P1 category employment pass holder.

4) You are a current P2 category employment pass holder with at least two years’ of work experience on a P category employment pass. You annual income should be at least S$30,000.

5) You are a foreign graduate from institutions of higher learning in Singapore and have at least two years of working experience on a P or Q1 category employment pass. You annual income should be at least S$30,000.

Since an PEP is not tied to a company, the EP holder must be the one who applies for Personalized employment pass and not the employer.

Once approved, the applicant will be given 3 months to collect the PEP. A cancellation letter for the existing employment pass from the current employer will be required from the applicant.

Singapore companies will be able to hire personalized employment pass holders the same way they hire Singapore citizens and PRs. However, they will need to notify MOM whenever they hire or terminate the services of a PEP holder.

There are various advantages of owning a personalized employment pass. One of the perks of having one is the convenience as it does not require any sponsor or bank guarantee and it only take an average of about 3 weeks to process. Another benefit of PEP holders is the job flexibility, PEP holders are allowed to be employed in any sector and when changing jobs, PEP holders do not need to re-apply for a new pass. Also, PEP holders are given the flexibility of a continuous period of up to six months without a job to evaluate employment or work opportunities and are not required to leave Singapore during this time.

Singapore Employment Pass Application Process

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Foreign entrepreneurs, shareholders, managing directors, high-ranking employees, and professionals in Singapore are required to apply for Employment Pass if they want to work, setup a business, and relocate in the country.

This visa has a more stringent qualification compared to other types of work pass in the country. With this, applicants should meet these criteria in order to receive this visa.

At least a fixed monthly salary of S$2,500. According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), a fixed monthly salary does not include allowance, payment for overtime, bonus and commission, productivity incentives, and contributions of employers to a workers pension.

Work-related experience. MOM recommends at least five years of relevant work experience which can show that a foreign individual has already earned extensive skills and knowledge from his profession.

A college degree from a reputable university. Meanwhile, it is important to note that this requirement is not the sole determining factor that will make an applicant eligible for Singapore Employment Pass.

Specialize skills and professional qualifications for foreign employees and entrepreneurial skills and business background for foreign businessmen.

Aside from the criteria stated above, MOM also considers a professionals role and responsibility in a company, reputation of his company, and his age and current citizenship. For an entrepreneur, the agency usually considers his company paid-up capital and potential contributions to the economy.

Meanwhile, the Employment Pass is categorized in to three types which are primarily based on the fixed monthly salary rate of an applicant:

P1 Employment Pass must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$7,000

P2 Employment Pass must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,500

Q1 Employment Pass must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,500

One of the main advantages of being a holder of Employment Pass is that direct family members can relocate, work, and study in Singapore as long as they will apply for Dependant Pass. MOM defines direct family members as spouses and unmarried children aged under 21 years old.

Both Employment Pass holders and their direct family members are eligible for permanent residence status in due time.

In addition, Employment Pass holders, except foreign individuals who fall under the category of Q1, are allowed to bring their relatives and family members in Singapore through a visa called Long-Term Visit Pass which is issued to unmarried daughters above 21 years old, stepchildren and handicapped children at any age, parents, and parents-in-law.

Singapore Employment Pass Rikvin Singapore Offers Fast Track Premium Ep Application

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More and more foreigners are coming over to Singapore either to get employed or start their own companies. This is highly due to the healthy financial environment in Singapore which attracts foreigners and entrepreneurs from all parts of the world.

However, before engaging to work or be employed in Singapore, there is a need to obtain a permit or visa so that your employment or business will be considered legitimate. This employment visa is more popularly called a Singapore Employment Pass (EP).

EMPLOYMENT PASS (EP) DEFINED. A Singapore Employment Pass is a work visa issued to foreign entrepreneurs, shareholders, and managing directors so that they can legally setup and personally manage their business in Singapore. However, an EP can also be issued as a work visa for supervisors and managers, key employees, professionals, and workers with a specialized skill who are employed in a Singapore incorporated company.

EP ELIGIBILITY. In order to be qualified to obtain an EP, the foreigner must have a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$2,500 and must possess any or all of the following qualifications: acceptable diploma/degrees, professional qualifications, specialist skills, and relevant work experience. Aside from the foregoing qualifications, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also takes into consideration the foreigners age, current citizenship, and his roles and responsibilities in a company. Possessing the requisite educational attainment does not necessarily guarantee issuance of an EP. Sometimes the MOM also makes exceptions especially for applicants who have outstanding professional skills and highly relevant qualifications for the job they are performing even if they fall short of the educational requirement.

EP CATEGORIES: The EP is divided into three categories and are based primarily on an applicants monthly salary. These categories are: P1 Pass, P2 Pass, and Q1 Pass.

P1 Pass. This pass is given to foreign applicants with a fixed monthly salary of more than S$7,000.

P2 Pass. This pass is given to foreign applicants with a fixed monthly salary of more than S$3,500 to S$7,000.

Q1 Pass. This pass is given to foreign applicants with a fixed monthly salary of S$2,500 to S$3,500.

EP APPLICATION. All applications for Employment Pass must be submitted to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The application must be accompanied by all relevant documents showing competency and qualifications especially as to education, skills, and relevant work experience. It also has the discretion to deny applications especially if there is a lack of supporting documents. In case of denial of EP application, an appeal may be made to the MOM providing the agency with relevant documents which were lacking during the first application. Review of the appeal takes more than three weeks.

EP VALIDITY. An Employment Pass is valid for two or three years, depending on the type of pass and the individual holder. Two months before the EP expires, the holder will receive a notification from the MOM informing him that the pass is about to expire and there is a need to renew the same at least four weeks before expiration.

Processing Employment Pass can be a bit exhausting most especially if you are compelled to secure it at once. Fortunately, it is possible to get them at once with Rikvin Immigration Services an independent immigration advisory agency serving professionals and businesses from around the world to relocate in Singapore. Rikvin always think out of the box. They provide a very valuable service by just letting you submit your employment pass (EP) application online and possibly get the EP Visa approved within just 24 hours. Although this service can be served for those who are applying for a Employment Pass (EP) work pass category that can be manageable under the fast track premium service, any option to expedite EP processing would surely create a big difference.