singapore
s pass
An S Pass allows the individual to stay in Singapore for up to 2 years
Singapore’s S Pass is a work pass which offers flexibility to employers to hire skilled workers who may not meet the Employment Pass criteria, subject to a quota. New candidates need to earn at least SGD 3,150 a month.
Eligibility requirements
Singapore’s S Pass is for foreign professionals across all nationalities or citizenships who:
- Have a job offer in Singapore.
- Earn a fixed monthly salary that is benchmarked against the top one-third of the local APT workforce by age.
To promote fair employment practices and improve labour market transparency, employers making S Pass applications must first advertise on MyCareersFuture and fairly consider all candidates. Find out more about the advertising requirements.
S Pass quota
The number of S Pass holders an employer can hire is limited by a quota. Under the existing quota, the number of S Pass holders your company can hire is capped at:
- 10% of the company’s total workforce in the services sector.
- 15% in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process sectors.
How much it costs
The government fee to apply for a Singapore S Pass is currently SGD 105. Please note, government fees are subject to change with short notice.
How to apply
An employer or appointed employment agent must apply for an S Pass on behalf of the applicant. Employers are required to advertise job openings on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly before applying.
Please see the pass map for an overview of what you need to do before, during and after you apply for an S Pass.
You are advised to apply for any family passes after the main pass is approved. Although you can apply for family passes at the same time as the S Pass, you will lose the application fees for each family pass if the S Pas application gets rejected.
Processing times
Processing times for a Singapore S Pass can take up to 3 weeks. For overseas companies without a Singapore-registered company, it can take up to 8 weeks for most cases. Please note, the actual processing time remains at the discretion of local authorities and may vary.
How long you can stay
An S Pass allows the individual to stay in Singapore for up to 2 years. Employers can apply to renew an S Pass if you want the pass holder to continue working for you. This is provided you still meet the quota and other requirements.
You can start renewing up to 6 months before the pass expires. You must renew before the expiry date. A renewed pass may be granted for up to 3 years.
How we can help
The Global Immigration team at Smith Stone Walters can assist employers in Singapore with applying for S Passes for workers. Our team based in Hong Kong can offer support to your business and candidates during the application process and thereafter.
To find out more about our immigration services for businesses in Singapore, please contact us today.