S Pass Application

Besides Employment Pass, the next tier of work pass is S Pass. Generally, this work pass is suitable for mid-skilled foreign employees that have a job offer in Singapore.

Let’s take a look at the key facts about S Pass:

Who is Eligible?

The pass is eligible for any skilled foreign employees such as accountant, technicians, supervisor, and programmers, etc. Application for an S Pass is open to all nationalities.

To qualify for the S Pass, the candidate must meet the following criteria:

  • Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,400. The salary must commensurate to the work experience.
  • Have an academic qualification of at least a diploma or degree. Technical certificates will also be considered in the application. However, the certifications should be from a 1-year full-time study.
  • Relevant working experience

S Pass Quota and Levy

For this work pass, the company will need to have minimum local employees to meet the quota requirement for the S Pass. And the quota requirement differs base on the industry, therefore it is required for the company to declare the business activity and have an account with the Central Provident Fund Board (CPF) for the calculating of S Pass Quota.

The industries are separate in different sector namely:

  1. Services
  2. Manufacturing
  3. Construction
  4. Process
  5. Marine Shipyard

Under the quota, the number of S Pass holders your company can hire is capped at:

  • 13% of the company’s total workforce in the services sector.
  • 20% in all other sectors.

The company that exceeds the quota will need to increase its local workforce or reduce the number of foreign workers.

You can also refer to the quota calculator to plan your workforce before application.

Besides the quota requirement, monthly foreign work levy will be payable for each S Pass holder. The levy liability starts from the day the S Pass is issued and ends when the pass is canceled or expires. The levy rate is charge at either $330 or $650 a month base on the percentage of the workforce.

As an employer, you are responsible for the levy payment. The levy will be deducted from the bank via the GIRO arrangement on the 17th of the following month. You should maintain sufficient funds before the deduction date.

Failure to pay the levy on time will incur a penalty of 2% per month or $20, whichever is higher. In some serious cases, the S Pass will be revoked and you may not be allowed to apply for S Pass again.

Documents Required for S Pass

We will need the following documents to apply for an Employment Pass:

  • Candidate’s Passport Copy showing the personal particulars
  • Candidate’s Fin/Work Pass Number, if any
  • Candidate’s contact details such as email and mobile number
  • Candidate’s education certificate (Degree/Diploma etc.)
  • Candidate’s CV & offer letter copy
  • Candidate’s Job position and Salary
  • Company latest Bizfile

For non-English documents, you are required to submit the original document with an English translation. The translation can be done by a translation service provider.

Missing certificates or Institutions not listed in in the application form can obtain a verification proof from any of these sources:

Global verification agency, e.g. Dataflow and Risk Management Intelligence (RMI)

The candidate who will be working in a specialized industry is required to provide additional documents.

Passes for Family Members

The candidate who earn at least S$6,000 in the monthly salary, are eligible to apply a Dependent’s Pass for their spouse and children.

The application of Dependent’s Pass can be submitted together with the S Pass application or at a later date.

Application of the S Pass

Generally, the submission of the application can be done through the employer or the appointed employment agent (EA).

The application fee is S$75for each submission of the pass.

Typically, the process will take about 3 weeks in most cases. It may take longer if additional documents are required.

Once the application of the pass is approved, the Employer or the Employment Agent will receive the notification to print out the In-principle Approval (IPA). The IPA is valid for 60 days and the candidate has to be in Singapore and have the pass issued. The Candidate may also be requested to undergo a medical screening, which can be done after arrival in Singapore.

As part of an employer’s S Pass medical obligations, the company must buy and maintain medical insurance for the S Pass holders as long they are under the company’s employment.

The insurance coverage must be at least S$15,000 per year and cover inpatient care and day surgery.

Issuance of Pass and receiving the Card

The candidate must be in Singapore when submitting the request to get the pass to be issued.

Nominate up to 3 authorized recipients to receive the card, and provide their NRIC, FIN or passport number, mobile numbers and email address.

Payment of S$100 for each pass issuance

The following information are required to issue the pass:

  • Candidate’s passport details.
  • Details of medical insurance.
  • Details of work injury compensation insurance.
  • Details of the candidate’s current Short Term Visit Pass or immigration pass.
  • Candidate’s residential address in Singapore. From 14 Sep 2018, the candidate’s residential address must meet the housing requirements before you can get the pass issued.
  • A local address where we can deliver the card.
  • Contact details of at least one authorized recipient to receive an SMS or email on the delivery details.

Additional PDF copies of these documents may also be requested by MOM:

  • Personal particulars page of the candidate’s current passport, including any amendment pages.
  • Disembarkation/Embarkation card (immigration white card).
  • Completed medical examination form.
  • Completed declaration form attached with the candidate’s in-principle approval letter. The form should be signed by an authorized human resource personnel, or a person holding at least a managerial position in the company.

After the pass issuance request is done, do refer to the notification letter for whether the candidate needs to register fingerprints and photos. An appointment has to be registered for the candidate to visit the Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC) and the registration must be done within 1 week after the pass is issued.

The candidate should bring along these documents for the appointment:

  • Original passport
  • Appointment letter
  • Notification letter
  • Documents listed in the IPA letter and notification letter

MOM will deliver the card to the given address 4 working days after the candidate registers and gets documents verified at EPSC.

If the candidate does not need to register, the card will be delivered in 4 working days after checking the documents.

The authorized recipients will get an SMS or email with the delivery details at least 1 working day before the delivery.

Work Pass Application Service

Singapore Company Pte Ltd is a licensed Employment Agent under the purview of the Ministry of Manpower. With our extensive year of experience in the employment industry, you can expect the entire process to be streamlined and managed efficiently. Our value-added services include: pre-eligibility assessment of the application, appeal to the rejected application, human resources advisory, and HR planning. Do contact us for a non- obligatory enquiry.