No. As an EP holder, MOM will only approve an EP for you to operate your business under a Private Limited Company structure.

Yes, an Employment Pass holder is allowed to own shares in a Singapore-registered company.

Yes, but only if the EP holder has obtained a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM. Do note that MOM will generally approve the LOC request for secondary directorship positions in related companies, e.g., a subsidiary that may be critical to the EP holder’s job role. If the secondary directorship position is in an unrelated company, e.g., fund entities, MOM may still grant the LOC if it is relevant to the EP holder’s primary occupation.

No. There is no quota restrictions for Employment Pass (EP) holders in Singapore. However, firms who have a higher share of foreign Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) as compared to their industry peers, or a high concentration of a single foreign nationality source may be placed on the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) Watchlist. Firms who are placed on the watchlist will have their EP applications scrutinised by MOM and the processing time of their EP applications will be longer.

No. If an EP holder changes jobs and the new pass is approved, MOM does not automatically cancel the existing work pass. This is so that the current employer has a notice period.

Incorporating a company in Singapore has numerous advantages, including a business-friendly tax system that enables tax optimization. Singapore offers attractive tax rates and a plethora of tax incentives to promote entrepreneurship and business growth.

• Yes. If you wish to become a Singapore permanent resident, you can apply through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). The application will be assessed based on ICA’s PR criteria. ICA generally considers factors such as the individual’s family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residency, to assess the applicant’s ability to contribute to Singapore and integrate into our society, as well as his or her commitment to sinking roots in Singapore.

Foreigners who are not residing in Singapore, e.g. Social Visit Pass holders, don’t need to apply for an EP to be a registered director of a company.

What should I do if I can’t find my candidate’s qualification in the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) or the work pass application form?

Can I renew or reapply for a PEP once it has expired?

No. The PEP is only issued once and can’t be renewed. Once the PEP has expired or is cancelled, you will need to apply for another pass i.e., and employment pass (EP) if you intend to work in Singapore.

No. The requirement to qualify for PEP remains at fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000 for existing EP holders and S$18,000 for Overseas foreign professionals so long that the PEP application is submitted before 1 Sep 2023.

What is the criteria for renewing the LOC?

To be eligible for a renewal of the LOC, you will also need to hire at least one Singaporean / Permanent Resident who earns at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary (presently at S$1400) and receives CPF contributions for at least 3 months as of point of application submission.

No. EP holders are not allowed to start and operate a sole proprietorship or partnership.

Can a spouse of the same gender (legally married) apply for DP?

The spouse can consider applying for a work pass based on his/her own merits. DP holders will not require an LOC if he/she meets all of the following conditions:

• The DP holder is working remotely for an overseas company in Singapore; and
• The overseas company which the DP holder is working for is a separate entity from any related office it may have in Singapore and their work has no linkage nor any interaction with the Singapore office; and
• The DP holder is not meeting or providing services to clients in Singapore.

If they do so, their work pass would be canceled and they would need to serve an employment ban.

DP holders will not require an LOC if he/she meets all of the following conditions.
The DP holder is working remotely for an overseas company in Singapore; and

The overseas company which the DP holder is working for is a separate entity from any related office it may have in Singapore and their work has no linkage nor any interaction with the Singapore office; and

The DP holder is not meeting or providing services to clients in Singapore.

Yes. Dependant’s Pass (DP) holders can enroll in the following schools without the need to apply for another pass:
Government / Government-aided / Independent School

• Kindergarten
• Foreign System School (FSS)
• Private Institution (for part-time courses)

Those who wish to enrol in the schools below will need to apply for a Student’s Pass (STP) from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA):

• Institute of Technical Education (ITE)
• Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs)
• Private Institutions (for full-time courses)

For more information on how to apply online for an STP, you may wish to refer to ICA’s website.

Yes, you can. However, we recommend waiting until after the main pass is approved. If the main pass application is rejected, your Dependant’s Pass (DP) will also be rejected, and your application fee will not be refunded.

Yes. A DP holder start and operate a business in Singapore so long they have a valid Letter of Consent (LOC). To be eligible to apply for an LOC, the DP holder needs to be one of the following types of business owner:

• The sole proprietor of an ACRA-registered business.
• A partner of an ACRA-registered business.
• A company director with at least 30% shareholding in an ACRA-registered business.

Can a LTVP+/LTVP holder with a PLOC be a local director of a Singapore Company?

Yes. MOM has no issues for an ICA issued LTVP+/LTVP holder to work as a local director for a company, so long that the employer notifies MOM before the start of employment.

Yes. You can apply for a LTVP (Common Law Spouse). You will also need to furnish any one of the following as part of the LTVP application process.
Copy of the common-law marriage certificate.

An affidavit by the work pass holder and their spouse declaring that they are in a common-law relationship recognised under the laws of their home country/region. The affidavit must also be notarised in their home country/region.

A letter from the home country/region’s embassy of the work pass holder or spouse acknowledging that they are in a common-law relationship recognised under the laws of their country/region.

Can S Pass or Work Permit holders be registered as company directors? What are the consequences of doing so?

No. S Pass or Work Permit holders are not allowed to start or manage any business in Singapore. As such, they cannot register themselves as sole-proprietors, partners or directors of any Singapore-registered company. By doing so, they will have infringed the work pass conditions and their work passes will be revoked. They will also need to serve an employment ban.

No. Work Permit and S Pass holders are not allowed to administer or manage any business in Singapore.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) also offers entrepreneurs an opportunity to obtain a work visa such as the Employment Pass or EntrePass once you have incorporated a company in Singapore. This opens the door for you to move to the country and manage business operations here. The process and requirements for each type of visa may vary, so you should check the specific requirements and application process.