How to Get a Singaporean Work Visa (7 Steps)

Developed infrastructure, strong international connectivity, and a multicultural society are among the reasons professionals consider working in Singapore. The country is one of Asia’s four “Tiger” economies, a group known for rapid industrialization and economic growth.

Singapore is home to more than 7,000 multinational corporations. The Ministry of Manpower also recognizes certain highly specialized roles through its Shortage Occupation List. However, job availability and work pass eligibility depend on factors such as the occupation, salary, qualifications, employer, and prevailing regulations.

If you want to obtain a work pass in Singapore, here is how to get started:

Steps to Apply for a Singaporean Work Visa

Singapore uses several types of work passes rather than a single work visa. The application process, fees, documents, and processing times vary by pass type. For employer-sponsored passes, such as the Work Permit, S Pass, and Employment Pass, the employer or an appointed employment agent generally submits the application. Eligible applicants for passes such as the Personalised Employment Pass and EntrePass may apply directly.

You can review the general steps below. Always check the official instructions for your specific work pass before applying.

Step 1. Submit an Application

For a Work Permit, the employer or employment agent submits the application through the Work Permit eService in the myMOM Portal. Employment Pass and S Pass applications are submitted through the Employment Pass eService.

For an employer-sponsored application, the candidate normally needs to provide written consent and the required personal, passport, employment, and qualification information. The employer may also need to provide company information and supporting documents. The exact requirements depend on the pass being requested.

Step 2. Pay Application Fee

Application fees and processing times vary by pass. A Work Permit application costs S$35 and is processed within one week in most cases. Employment Pass and S Pass applications each cost S$105 and are normally processed or given an update within 10 business days. Applications may take longer when additional information or documents are required.

Candidates can use MOM’s work pass application status service by entering their date of birth and passport number or Foreign Identification Number. Employers and employment agents can also review applications through the relevant eService.

Step 3. Receive an Approval Letter

If the application is approved, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will be made available to the employer, employment agent, or applicant, depending on the pass. For employer-sponsored applications, the employer should send the candidate’s copy of the IPA letter to the candidate.

An IPA letter is not the final work pass. It confirms that the application has been approved and may serve as a pre-approved single-entry visa where applicable. The period allowed for entry and pass issuance depends on the pass. An Employment Pass IPA generally gives the candidate six months, while an S Pass IPA generally gives the candidate 60 days. Work Permit holders must follow the due date stated in their IPA letter. Any permitted extension should be requested before the IPA expires.

Step 4. Prepare for Arrival in Singapore

The candidate should print the IPA letter and comply with the latest Singapore entry requirements. These may include passport, visa, SG Arrival Card, and public health requirements, depending on the traveler’s circumstances.

Before a Work Permit holder arrives, the employer may need to purchase a security bond for a non-Malaysian worker, arrange medical insurance, obtain work injury compensation insurance where applicable, purchase a Primary Care Plan where required, and complete applicable housing or Onboard program arrangements. S Pass employers must also arrange the required medical insurance and other applicable coverage.

COVID-19 entry approval, Stay-Home Notice, and routine arrival-testing procedures described in older guidance are no longer part of the standard work pass process. Candidates should instead follow the current requirements published by MOM and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.

Newly arrived Work Permit holders who require a medical examination generally must complete it within two weeks of arrival. Employment Pass and S Pass candidates should complete a medical examination when their IPA letter requires one. The candidate may also need to complete sector-specific onboarding or orientation requirements.

Step 5. Register for a Work Pass/Permit

After the candidate arrives and completes the applicable requirements, the employer or employment agent must have the pass issued through the relevant eService. A newly arrived non-Malaysian Work Permit holder generally must have the permit issued within 14 days of arrival. Employment Passes must generally be issued within six months of IPA approval, while S Passes must generally be issued within 60 days.

Issuance fees also vary. As of July 2026, the fee is S$35 for a Work Permit, S$100 for an S Pass, and S$225 for an Employment Pass. An additional S$30 Multiple Journey Visa fee may apply to an Employment Pass.

Once the pass is issued, the employer and candidate receive a notification letter. The letter is generally valid for one month, allows the candidate to start work while waiting for the physical card, and states whether fingerprint and photograph registration is required. Pass holders can also access their digital work pass through the SGWorkPass app.

Step 6. Register Biometric Data

The notification letter will state whether the candidate must register fingerprints and a photograph. This requirement is based on MOM’s instructions for the individual applicant rather than simply on the applicant’s occupation.

Work Permit and S Pass holders who are required to register generally must visit MOM Services Centre – Hall C within one week after the pass is issued. Employment Pass holders generally register at the Employment Pass Services Centre within two weeks after issuance.

The candidate should bring the original passport, appointment letter, notification letter, and a mobile phone with a local number. MOM may also instruct the candidate to install and set up the Singpass and SGWorkPass apps.

Step 7. Receive Work Permit Card

The physical work pass card is generally delivered within five working days after fingerprint and photograph registration or document verification. The candidate or authorized recipient normally receives an email or SMS with delivery details at least one working day before delivery.

If card delivery fails twice, the candidate or an authorized representative can generally collect the card from the relevant MOM service center three working days after the second delivery attempt. The person collecting the card must bring the documents specified by MOM, which may include the candidate’s passport or digital work pass, notification letter, identification, and an authorization letter.

Documents Needed for a Singaporean Work Visa

Singapore’s equivalent of a work visa is commonly called a work pass. Most employer-sponsored passes are applied for by the employer or an appointed employment agent, while some personalized or entrepreneurial passes allow the applicant to apply directly.

The exact document checklist depends on the pass. Commonly requested information and documents may include:

• Written consent for the employer or employment agent to submit the application, where required
• The personal particulars page of the candidate’s valid passport
• The employer’s company information or latest ACRA business profile, where required
• Information about the job offer, occupation, duties, and proposed salary
• Educational or professional qualifications and verification proof, when required by the pass criteria or requested by MOM
• Pass-specific supporting documents, such as a business plan for an EntrePass or salary and employment records for a Personalised Employment Pass
• Medical examination, insurance, security bond, housing, and Singapore contact information where required for pass issuance
• The original document and an English translation combined into one file when a supporting document is not in English

Applicants should use the official document checklist for the relevant pass rather than treating any general list as universally applicable. The following are some of the main work pass categories:

Professionals

• Employment Pass for foreign professionals, managers, executives, and technicians
  • The candidate must have a job offer in Singapore and meet the applicable qualifying salary. As of July 2026, the minimum generally starts at S$5,600 per month and increases with age. Higher salary requirements apply in financial services.
  • Most candidates must pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework, or COMPASS, unless an exemption applies. Qualifications and verification proof are required when they are used to claim COMPASS qualification points or when MOM requests them.
• EntrePass for eligible entrepreneurs
  • The applicant must have started or intend to start an eligible Singapore private limited company that is venture-backed or owns innovative technologies.
  • The applicant must generally hold at least 30% of the company and meet at least one qualifying entrepreneurship, innovation, investment, intellectual property, funding, or research criterion.
• Personalised Employment Pass for high-earning Employment Pass holders and overseas foreign professionals
  • Applicants generally must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500.
  • To retain the pass, holders generally must earn at least S$270,000 in fixed salary per calendar year and cannot remain unemployed for more than six continuous months.

Skilled and semi-skilled workers

• S Pass for skilled foreign workers
  • The candidate must have a job offer and meet the age-adjusted qualifying salary. As of July 2026, the minimum generally starts at S$3,300 per month, with higher requirements for older candidates and workers in financial services.
  • The employer is subject to the applicable S Pass quota, levy, insurance, and fair-hiring requirements.
• Work Permit for eligible skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers
  • The general migrant worker Work Permit covers approved workers in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, and services sectors.
  • Requirements vary by sector and may include approved source-country rules, age limits, quotas, levies, medical insurance, security bonds, safety courses, onboarding, and occupational or skills certification.
  • Separate Work Permit categories apply to migrant domestic workers and eligible Malaysian confinement nannies. The Work Permit scheme for performing artistes stopped accepting new applications on June 1, 2026.

Other work pass schemes include the Training Employment Pass, Training Work Permit, Work Holiday Pass, and Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass. A Dependant’s Pass is a family pass rather than a general work pass. Most Dependant’s Pass holders who want to work must qualify for an appropriate work pass, although eligible business owners and certain dependants of Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass holders may qualify for a Letter of Consent.

In other words, applicants need to meet both the general application requirements and the specific eligibility rules for their chosen pass. If you are unsure which category applies, consult Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower work pass guide.

Intrigued by the prospects in Singapore? A career in the country can offer professional opportunities alongside the experience of living in a multicultural and internationally connected economy. Before accepting a position or making travel arrangements, confirm that the employer and proposed role meet the latest work pass requirements.

We hope that this article on getting a work visa in Singapore was helpful. If you are interested in studying in other countries, make sure to check out our guide to Study in Singapore and explore all Available Programs for International Students.