Singapore Work Visa / Pass Overview
In Singapore, foreign nationals who wish to work must obtain a valid work pass (often called a “work visa”) before commencing employment.
Here are some common types of work passes:
- Employment Pass (EP) For professionals, managers, executives. Requires a minimum qualifying salary and relevant credentials. Since Sept 2023, new EP applications also evaluate via the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).
- Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) A variation for high-income professionals, offering more flexibility (e.g. change employers without needing a new pass) but usually non-renewable.
- S Pass For mid-level skilled workers. Requires a monthly salary above a certain threshold and meeting eligibility criteria (such as qualification, experience).
- Work Permit (for specific sectors / semi-skilled roles) These are for sectors such as manufacturing, construction, marine, services, domestic helpers, etc. These typically come with quota, levy, and more restrictions.
- Other Permits / Training Passes E.g. Training Employment Pass, Work Holiday Pass, etc., for internships, trainees, or student work programs, under certain conditions.
Requirements & Process Highlights
- Eligibility & Salary You generally need a valid passport, relevant qualifications, and a job offer from a Singapore employer. Salary floors vary: for EP, you typically need to meet or exceed a baseline (varies across sectors).
- Employer Sponsorship & Application Your employer (or an appointed employment agent) must submit the work pass application on your behalf. If approved, the employer receives an “In-Principle Approval (IPA)” letter, which you use to enter / finalize the pass.
- Duration & Renewal Work passes often have validity of 1–2 years initially (some may be longer depending on type) and are renewable as long as criteria continue to be met.
- Fair Hiring / Local Consideration Singapore requires that job offers to foreign candidates give fair consideration to local / Singaporean candidates before applying for EP—this is governed by the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF).
How Dogpay Helps in the Work Visa / Pass Journey
During the process of securing and operating under a Singapore work pass, there are several financial / payment steps (especially cross-border or in foreign currency) where Dogpay can provide convenience, cost savings, and clarity:
- Paying Application Fees & Document Services Work pass / visa application often involves document translation, legalization, courier, consular fees. If you’re paying from abroad, Dogpay ensures you see the conversion and any fees in advance, so the correct amount reaches the Singapore agency or service provider.
- Relocation Costs / Housing Deposits After job acceptance, you may need to pay housing deposits, move-in fees, agent fees, etc. From overseas or foreign accounts, Dogpay helps you manage these large payments transparently with minimized hidden bank markups.
- Pre-Entry / Travel Cost Reimbursements Your employer may reimburse you for flights, accommodation, or relocation costs before you arrive in Singapore. Dogpay can streamline sending or receiving such reimbursements across countries, with clean payment logs for proof.
- Paying for Training / Certification You might need to obtain certifications, licenses, or undergo training that costs money, possibly with foreign or international providers. Dogpay allows you to handle such payments easily across currency boundaries.
- Salary / Bonus Cross-Currency Transfer If your compensation structure includes payments from abroad (e.g. bonus, equity, remote work components), Dogpay helps you receive and convert funds with clarity and lower hidden costs.
- Record & Proof for Pass Renewal / Compliance When renewing work passes or complying with MOM audits, you may need proof of incurred costs, relocation expenses, or payments. Dogpay’s transaction records and receipts support documentation for compliance needs.
