The Ultimate Guide for S PASS in Singapore
You must obtain a work pass like an S Pass if you intend to work in Singapore. However, what precisely is a SPASS? How do you go about obtaining one, too? Foreign professionals can work in Singapore using a S Pass, which is a type of work visa. Mid-level skilled workers having a job offer from a Singaporean firm are often the only ones eligible.
The following article will discuss the S Pass, the requirements, and the application process. This guide will give you every detail you need about S Pass in Singapore, whether you’re a foreign professional trying to work in Singapore or a company looking to hire a foreign worker.
What is an S Pass?
The S Pass is a type of work pass available in Singapore for foreign professionals with suitable work experience, specific skills and technical qualifications. This visa is meant for mid-level skilled employees with particular eligibility criteria and minimum wage requirements.
Foreign professionals in Singapore are paid more per month with the S Pass than locals with less training or experience. Additionally, it provides medical insurance coverage for accidents or sickness. The application processing time for S Pass is variable and dependent on the case’s complexity. Typically, the application is approved or refused within three to four weeks. The S pass is valid for up to 2 years and is renewable, subject to employers’ discretion to renew the employee’s S Pass.
S Pass Eligibility
So who exactly qualifies for the S Pass?
First, a Singaporean employer must have offered you a job, and they must apply for the S Pass on your behalf. Before applying for an S Pass for a foreign worker, the employer must make sure it is not over its foreign worker quota.
Employment Agencies (EA) are the only other party, except the employer, who can assist with the S Pass application.
Depending on the candidate’s field and credentials, the qualifying wage is adjusted yearly. An S Pass applicant will need to make a fixed monthly wage of at least S$3,000 (or S$3,500 if they work in the financial services sector) as of 2022.
Current Minimum Qualifying Salary For New S Pass Applications And S Pass Renewals From 1st September 2023
| Sector | Age Group | Minimum Monthly Qualifying Salary |
| All (Except Financial Services) | From 23 years old and above | S$3,000 |
| From 45 years old and above | Up to S$4,500 | |
| Financial Services | From 23 years old and above | S$3,500 |
| From 45 years old and above | Up to S$5,500 |
To ensure that S Pass holders earn fair compensation and stop employers from using cheaper overseas labour, the salary must equal or surpass the MOM’s minimal requirements.
You can check your eligibility for an S Pass status using the online Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) provided by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The MOM’s SAT can also be used to determine eligibility for an Employment Pass.
What Is S Pass Quota and Levy
Singapore has strict regulations governing foreign employees. To keep tabs on the number of foreigners entering the nation, the government has set a quota on S Pass holders.
Additionally, it aims to make sure that hiring Singaporeans comes first for businesses. After all, the government wants to encourage a more equitable labour market and discourage firms from hiring too many foreign workers. Your employer must adhere to the government-imposed foreign worker quota to qualify for an S Pass in Singapore, which is one of the primary conditions.
S Pass Quota
The foreign worker quota is set by the Singaporean government to regulate (and cap) the proportion of foreign employees (those with work permits or S Passes) to local employees in an organization. Industry-specific quotas are subject to regular review.
For instance, in the services industry, a company is only permitted to hire up to 10% of their overall workforce as S Pass holders.
Employers are required to monitor their S Pass quota and make sure they don’t exceed it. Penalties for exceeding the quota may include fines or the suspension of the right to use a work pass. Employers must be aware of the quota, use the MOM-provided quota calculator, and deliberately strive to hire Singaporeans before contemplating recruiting foreign workers.
S Pass Levy
Employers must pay a tax in addition to the quota for each foreign worker they hire starting on the day the S Pass is issued and continuing until the pass is revoked or expires.
The government charges a tax known as the foreign worker levy to control the number of foreign employees in the nation and encourage firms to hire locals first.
The government sets the levy rate each year, which is based on the S Pass holder’s pay and the sector of employment.
S Pass Application Process
Once a candidate has met the requirements, they must collect all the required paperwork, including their personal information, passport information, academic credentials, and job history.
Required Documents For S Pass Applications:
- The S Pass Application Form was completed
- Letter of approval
- Photocopies of the following documents:
- Information page of your passport
- A copy of your marriage license, if you’re married.
- Diplomas, academic credentials, and professional credentials
- If applicable, a photocopy of your marriage license
- A letter of recommendation or official registration from a professional organization, an accreditation authority, or both (depending on your field)
The employer or the employment agent will submit an S Pass application online via the MOM’s website and pay a S$105 application fee.
The applicant can track the status of their application online after submitting it by entering their personal FIN (Foreign Identification Number) and birthdate. If the S Pass application is approved, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will be given to the company.
The pass bearer must then complete a medical exam to confirm that they are qualified to work in Singapore and have the paperwork needed in the IPA letter for the S Pass to be issued. To ensure a quick and easy application process, it’s crucial to make sure all the information is accurate.
Getting S Pass Issued
One of the first things your employer will do is request an S Pass to be issued to you once you are in Singapore. An additional fee of S$100 is needed to issue the S Pass.
The issuance process involves them providing details of your:
- Medical insurance and work injury compensation insurance (if any),
- Short-Term Visit Pass or Single-Entry Visa,
- Residential address where MOM can mail your S Pass card.
- Embarkation/Disembarkation card.
- Medical examination form (if needed)
Following the S Pass’s issuance by MOM, the employer will receive a notice letter authorizing the S Pass holder to enter and leave Singapore and requesting that the applicant register their fingerprints and photos, if necessary.
Registering Your Photo and Fingerprints
It is necessary to provide your fingerprints and photo while registering for a S Pass in Singapore. This procedure authenticates your identification and demonstrates that you are the rightful owner of the S Pass.
Visit a Sing Post office or an Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC) in Singapore to register your photo and fingerprints. A copy of your passport’s bio-data page, the S Pass application form, and your original passport are required. You are required to constantly have your S Pass card.
It’s important to keep in mind that failing to register your photo and fingerprints could cause a delay in processing or possibly a rejection of your S Pass application. Only if your photo and fingerprints match those on your passport or other documents will your application be approved.
Renewal of S Pass
The S Pass status is renewable. The foreign worker’s employer must agree to renew the S Pass before it can be renewed. It is also provided if the S Pass holder still meets the quota and other requirements. As previously indicated, MOM continuously evaluates and modifies new minimum qualifying incomes. For example, starting from September 1, 2024, the new minimum qualifying wage for S Pass renewals is S$3,150 for most sectors and S$3,650 for individuals in the financial services sector.
Can I bring my family members to Singapore with an S Pass?
Yes, all holders of an S Pass are allowed to bring their family members to live with them in Singapore. Depending on your relationship with a family member, you can bring them via:
- The Dependant’s Pass, available to:
- Legally married spouses (husband/wife).
- Dependent children under 21 who are not married.
- The Long-Term Visa Pass (LTVP), is available to:
- Common-law spouse.
- Dependent child over 21, who has a physical or mental disability which makes them dependent on you.
- Step-children under 21, who are unmarried.
- Your parents.
Your employer has to apply for the Dependent’s Pass or LTVP as well. They can apply either at the same time they submit their own S Pass application or after they have already settled in Singapore.
Summary
You can find all the information you require regarding applying for a Singapore S Pass in this guide. One suggestion is to submit your application as soon as possible. It is due to Singapore’s strict entry requirements for foreigners. For first-time candidates, the Singapore S pass working visa application process can be tedious or confusing. Find a business that processes a professional work pass.
