Key Visa Options for Relocating Employees to Singapore: What HR Needs to Know

Are you considering settling in Singapore and want to start a new life away from the hustle and bustle of your city? Singapore is a country with immense business and job opportunities. Specific visa options are essential for foreign professionals when setting up your profile. This guide will help you learn about passes and visa protocols to help you be home away from home.

The country’s reputation has attracted people worldwide to establish their businesses in Singapore. There are various Singapore visa options for employees and their families. People can avail of the Employment Pass, S Pass, or Dependant’s Pass and cater to their needs according to their will. This will significantly help them to relocate with ease in a foreign country.

Employment Pass (EP)

This visa pass is perfect for you if you fall into the category of highly skilled professionals, managers, or executives in your field. The eligiblity criteria for candidates set by the Singaporean government is a minimum of $5000. This may vary with different working sectors; for the financial sector, at least $ 5,500 is required to be eligible for an Employment Pass in Singapore.

The whole process of application is facilitated by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). You need to fill in all the required fields on their online portal. They need your educational documents, previous work history, employer details, and other documents that prove your experience and expertise. Just upload these documents to their online portal, and half of your work is done!

If you do not have a tertiary degree from a university, you do not have to crush your dreams. You can still manually apply for the EP. To qualify, you need strong leadership skills and desirable qualities to attract companies. We strongly suggest applying manually for the Employment Pass, even if you have minimal qualifications but solid vocational experience.

Through MOM, most application processing takes about 3 weeks, which may take longer, subject to your application. The Employment Pass helps applicants settle in the country for upto two years. This settlement comes with the option to renew it for around 3 years. Once MOM has confirmed you, they will provide you with an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter that should be shown when collecting the Employment Pass from the Work Pass Division at the Ministry.

Now, an entry visa is necessary for you if you are a foreign professional. You will find a one-way entry visa and your IPA letter for your convenience. When you arrive in Singapore, complete some essential procedures, and then your Employment Pass will be available for pick-up in 3-4 business days. Your EP can then be collected from the Ministry of Manpower.

The Singapore government highly recommends renewing your EP four weeks before it expires. MOM sends an EP renewal letter to your employer three months before the expiration. You can apply for the renewal, and after the confirmation, your employer will receive the letter via email. This way, you can collect your renewed Employment Pass from the Ministry of Manpower.

S Pass

Mid-skilled workers and technicians who do not qualify for the Employment Pass can still acquire an S Pass and start living their dream in Singapore. The Singapore government has made hiring foreign employees in Singapore and facilitating their hiring a lot easier. You need your educational documents and a minimum of $3000 for an S Pass to become eligible.

The process is somewhat similar to the Employment Pass application. However, the S Pass confirmation greatly depends on the quotas and government levies. This may or may not limit the number of S Pass holders, depending on your company’s workforce and employer’s needs.  The S Pass expires after two years of work but can be renewed later.

The EP helps all the highly professional and skilled personnels to acquire a Singapore visa. On the other hand, for mid-skilled or technical workers, the processing time may take a little longer due to government procedures, but they can still dream of settling in this business hub. The government and the Ministry of Manpower have made the application process easy and sound.

Living away from family is an anguish. Once you have secured your position in the country and acquired an EP or S Pass, or even before that, you should apply to relocate your loved ones close to you. To do so, you have two options: a Dependant’s Pass and a Long-Term Visit Pass. You can apply online, but a separate DP is needed for each family member.

Dependant’s Pass

The Dependant’s Pass is a vital option everyone wishing to relocate their families in Singapore should know about. All the EP and S Pass holders can apply for the employee relocation Singapore visa. Personnels earning a minimum of $6000 can relocate their legally married spouse and children under 21 years and help promote stability and prosperity within their families.

Long-Term Visit Pass

A long-term visit pass is available for employees earning $6000-$12000 monthly. They can apply for LTVP for their spouse and legal children under 21 years. A benefit of LTVP is that it allows you to apply for your step-children under the age of 21 years.

Now, those who earn more than $ 12,000 per month can also avail themselves of the Long-Term Visit Pass benefits for their parents. The application can be processed along with the Employment or S Pass, but it depends on the Ministry and specialists working on your case.

Permanent Residence Options

If you are planning a long-term stay in Singapore, you must look for permanent residency options. After you have acquired an EP, you can apply for the Singapore Permanent Residence. The process is simple, but we recommend waiting at least six months before applying. The Professional, Technical & Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme is the appropriate platform to apply on.

The wait is recommended because they require a minimum of 6 months’ salary slips to process your application. However, their waiting timeline is not fixed, so you must trust the process and apply for the PR. Get your paperwork appropriately done with the help of a professional, try settling in with the locals, and enjoy the daily perks of the Singaporean lifestyle!

What HR Needs to Know

For the HR Professionals who are competently handling the visa and pass processing of the employees, ensure to stay updated and informed about the changing policies in the country. It is important to keep in touch with the Ministry of Manpower as they play a significant role in these application processes.

In complex cases, we recommend collaboration with professional agencies to facilitate the employees better. Although the MOM has made the processing relatively straightforward, HR should still guide the personnels regarding any queries.

Different relocation packages are highly encouraged to assist the employees in settling in a foreign land. This may include initial housing and schooling, help with Singapore’s healthcare system, or navigation with the banking systems. This would greatly support the employees, warmly welcome them, and help them smoothly navigate their move to a foreign land. 

FAQs

What is the minimum monthly salary for an employment pass (EP) in Singapore?

The EP requires a monthly wage of $5000 to be eligible for the application process. This depends on the sector you are working for.

What are the types of work passes in Singapore?

Singapore offers various work passes, including the Employment Pass, S Pass, Dependant’s Pass, and Long-Term Visit Pass.

How long would be the processing time to get an Employment Pass and an S Pass?

The Employment Pass usually takes around 3 weeks for the application to be processed further. For an S Pass, the time may vary due to government levies.

Is there a quota for employment passes in Singapore?

Unlike the S Pass, the Employment passes do not have a quota. They are generally meant for highly skilled professionals with reputable universities.

Conclusion

Relocating to a different country sounds exciting and scary as well. Knowing about the visa options is essential to ensure a smooth transition from your homeland. The Employment Pass and S Pass are safe and secure options to help skilled and technical workers make their dreams come true. The Singaporean government also facilitates employees with family-friendly visa options so they do not have to stay away from their close ones. The HR professionals cater to these needs of the employees by staying updated with the Ministry of Manpower and the Singaporean government with changing policies. They play a key role by familiarizing employees with these policies and ensuring a warm and smooth relocation process. This makes it easier for all employees to fulfil their dreams and gain financial stability.