Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Guide
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Singapore: Gain Flexibility in your Employment
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is an independent work pass for high-income foreign professionals to work in Singapore. The PEP offers you the flexibility to work for more than one employer and you do not need a company sponsorship for this work pass. Learn more about how you can apply for the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) to take advantage of its benefits.
What is The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)?
The Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a visa (issued by the Ministry of Manpower) for those foreign high-income earners who are looking for flexibility in their employment as this is a self-sponsor pass and does not tie you down with any employers. You do not need to re-apply for any new work pass when you switch to new employment but you must be paid a minimum salary of 22,500 SGD per month. Find out more on the eligibility criteria of the PEP and how you can apply for this visa.
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Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Personalised employment pass (pep), you must meet one of the following criteria:
- For foreign professionals who are drawing a monthly fixed Salary of 22,500 SGD
- Applicants should not be unemployed for more than 6 months.
These categories of Executives are not eligible for the PEP scheme:
- Freelancer
- Sole proprietor, partner, shareholder, director of a Singapore registered company
- Journalist, editor, sub-editor, or producer
- Entrepreneurs and business owners that plan to operate their business in Singapore
If you belong to the above list of occupations that do not allow you to obtain a PEP, you may look into obtaining an Employment Pass (EP) instead.
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Vs. Employment Pass
| Employment Pass (EP) | Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) | Tech.Pass Singapore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant's Profile | Company Executives, Working professionals, or specialised roles. Directors and Business Owners | High Income Earning Executives with Work Experience | Candidates must be from the Technology Industries. |
| Visa Issued Validity | First time issued for 1 - 2 years. Renewal: 3 years | First time issued for 3 years. The PEP visa is only issued once and is not allowed to be renewed. You can extend by applying for an Employment Pass and Entrepass. | 2 years |
| Criteria | Minimum Fixed monthly salary of at least S$4,500 See list EP Criteria here. | Applicants must meet the Fixed Salary Criteria of 18,000 SGD per month. For those holding existing EP in Singapore, minimum salary is 12,000 per month | Criterion 1: Your last drawn fixed monthly salary (in the previous 12 months) should be at least S$20,000 or if you are a business owner with an annual income of over S$ 240,000; and Criterion 2: You have more than 5 years of experience in a leading role in a tech company with a market value of at least US$500 million or have at least US$30 million funds raised; or Criterion 3: You have a minimum of five cumulative years of experience in a tech company working in a leading role in the development of a technology with at least 100,000 active users or the product has earned at least an annual revenue of US$100 million. Check out our full list of Tech.Pass Criteria. |
| Features | EP Holders are only allowed to work for one employer or company. | PEP holders can work for more than one company but need to meet the minimum salary requirements yearly | 1. Setup and run more than one tech company; 2. Work as a salaried employee for more than one Singapore-based tech company concurrently without having to apply for another work pass; 3. Work as a consultant, mentor or lecturer for local tertiary institutions, or become an investor and director in one or more Singapore-based tech companies; 4. Sponsor your spouse children and parents under the dependant’s pass or a long-term visit pass; 5. This visa is issued for 2 years and can be renewed for additional 2 years if you meet the renewal criteria |
| Company Sponsorship | To Apply for Employment Pass, applicant must have a local company sponsor. | PEP applications can be submitted without company sponsorship which means that they are allowed to obtain PEP at least 6 months prior to securing work in Singapore. | Not required |
What Are the Documents Required TO APPLY for a Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)?
Documents required for the application of the Personalised employment pass (pep):
- Completed the PEP application form and provide the local contact details
- Passport particular page of the applicant
- Salary slips & Bank statements
- Last employment Letter or contract
- Latest Income Tax Statement
Processing Time for the Singapore Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
The usual timeline for the application of the Personalised employment pass (pep) is 8 weeks. However, there are situations when your Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) can take up to 12 weeks depending on the period.
Upon the Approval of your Personalised employment pass (PEP), you are given 6 months to issue/activate the work pass. The Personalised employment pass is valid for 3 years and is non-renewable. Check out the Employment Pass Scheme if you are looking to extend your current PEP.
As for the family members or parents of the PEP holders, they are eligible for either the Dependant’s Pass or Long Term Visit Pass Guide.
Maintaining your Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) status
As the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is issued for 3 years, there are certain conditions to meet in order to maintain the PEP holder's status. You are required to update the following via the PEP notification form:
- Changes in your employment status;
- Changes in your employment status;
- Declaration of your annual salary 30 days from the last day of each calendar year
As PEP holders, you must note that you have to keep a minimum salary of 12,000 SGD per month and at least 6 months of employment per calendar year to maintain your PEP status. In case you do not fulfill the criteria, you can contact our expert for help.
Need help in your Personalised Employment Pass?
One Visa has helped thousands of professional like you to secure their PEP approval.
Can I renew my Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)?
All PEP holders are only allowed to secure a PEP for only once so they will not be able to renew their Personalised employment pass upon the expiry. In the case when PEP holders wish to continue working in Singapore, they have to apply for either Employment Pass (EP) or entrepass options.
How can I convert my Personalised Employment Pass to Singapore Permanent Residence
As a Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holder, you are eligible to apply for the Singapore PR with at least 6 months’ of stay in Singapore. However, the Singapore Permanent Residency follows a different set of criteria. PR is assessed based on your contribution to Singapore as an individual, your family profile, and your ability to integrate into the Singapore culture. There is no fixed number of years that you have to stay to be eligible for SPR.
If you are interested, you can view our Comprehensive guide on how to apply for Singapore PR.
What should I do if my Personalised Employment Pass is rejected?
It is not common for the PEP to get rejected unless you do not meet the salary criterion or you breach certain work pass conditions. Nevertheless, when the PEP rejected applications are given 3 months to file an appeal for the PEP application. You should only Appeal for your PEP if you have substantial ground to justify your case.
You must first review the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) PEP rejection letter under the reasons for the rejection section. With the PEP rejection, you must first review the rejection reason before preparing a strong justification letter and documentation for the PEP appeal. The PEP appeal will take 8 to 10 weeks to process.
In the situation when you are unclear about the rejection reason or the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not provide you with the PEP rejection reasons you should always seek professional advice from an immigration consultancy.
Should I engage an Immigration Consultant for my PEP?
Are you considering applying for a Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) in Singapore? With the constantly changing immigration policies, it can be a daunting and challenging process. But don’t let that stop you from pursuing your goals.
One Visa is a fully licensed immigration agency (EA No.: 10C2994) in Singapore with over 10 years of expertise in immigration. We have a proven track record of delivering exceptional service and achieving success for our clients. Don’t take chances with your future; let us help you navigate the Singapore immigration system and achieve your personal and professional goals.
Contact us for a Free Eligibility Assessment Today!
Need help in your Personalised Employment Pass?
One Visa has helped thousands of professional like you to secure their PEP approval.
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You are not allow to renew your PEP. You must apply for Employment Pass instead.
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