How to Get a Work Visa in Singapore: Pass Types and Rules

To work in Singapore, you need a valid work pass (commonly called a work visa) before you start work. There is no single “work visa”; the pass you need depends on your role, salary, and qualifications. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) sets the rules, and your employer must apply for the pass on your behalf. This page explains the main pass categories, the basic eligibility criteria, and the limited exemption for foreign students holding a Student’s Pass.

The Core Rule: A Valid Pass Before You Start Work

MOM is explicit: all foreigners who intend to work in Singapore must have a valid pass before they start work. If you are engaging foreigners to work in Singapore, you must ensure that they hold a valid pass. There is no grace period and no “start work while the application is pending” arrangement for most passes.

The practical consequence is that the application process is employer-driven. Your prospective employer applies to MOM, and you cannot begin work until the pass is issued. If you are already in Singapore on a visit pass or another immigration status, you generally cannot simply switch to working; a new pass application is required.

Pass Categories for Professionals

If you are a professional, manager, executive, or technician, the relevant pass is usually the Employment Pass (EP). MOM states that EP candidates need to earn at least $5,600 a month and pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). This is a points-based framework that assesses factors such as diversity and the proportion of local employees in the firm.

There are other passes for specific professional situations:

• EntrePass — for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and operate a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies.
• Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) — for high-earning existing EP holders or overseas foreign professionals. The PEP offers greater flexibility than an EP.
• Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass — for top talent in business, arts and culture, sports, academia, and research.

Pass Categories for Skilled and Semi-Skilled Workers

For skilled workers, the main pass is the S Pass. MOM states that S Pass candidates need to earn at least $3,300 a month.

For skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers in specific sectors, the relevant pass is the Work Permit for migrant worker. This covers the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, and services sectors. There are also separate Work Permits for migrant domestic workers, confinement nannies (for Malaysian confinement nannies to work for up to 16 weeks from the birth of the employer’s child), and performing artistes. Note that MOM states the scheme for firms to apply for Work Permit (Performing Artiste) has ceased.

Pass Categories for Trainees and Students

If you are coming to Singapore for practical training or a structured programme, the options are:

• Training Employment Pass — for foreign professionals undergoing practical training. Candidates must earn at least $3,000 a month.
• Training Work Permit — for semi-skilled foreign trainees or students undergoing practical training in Singapore for up to 6 months.
• Work Holiday Pass (under Work Holiday Programme) — for students and graduates aged 18 to 25 who want to work and holiday in Singapore for 6 months.
• Work Holiday Pass (under Work and Holiday Visa Programmes) — for Australian and New Zealander students and graduates aged 18 to 30 who want to work and holiday in Singapore for 12 months.

Pass Categories for Family Members

If you are a family member of an eligible pass holder, the relevant options are:

• Dependant’s Pass — for spouses and children of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.
• Long-Term Visit Pass — for parents, common-law spouses, step-children, or handicapped children of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.
• Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC) — for eligible spouses or children of Singapore citizens or PRs holding an LTVP/LTVP+ issued by ICA. The holder is pre-approved to work in Singapore. They can only apply for a PLOC when applying for, or renewing the LTVP/LTVP+.
• Letter of Consent for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders — for eligible spouses or children of Singapore citizens or PRs holding an LTVP/LTVP+ issued by ICA. The LOC allows the holder to work in Singapore. The employer must apply for the LOC.
• Letter of Consent for Dependant’s Pass holders who are business owners — for eligible Dependant’s Pass holders who wish to operate a business.

Exemptions and Working While on a Visit Pass

There are limited situations where you can work without a full work pass:

• Miscellaneous Work Pass — for foreign speakers, religious workers, and journalists taking on a short-term work assignment of up to 60 days in Singapore.
• Work Pass Exempt Activities — for performing eligible short-term activities without a work pass. Candidates must still notify MOM of their activities.
• Work pass exemption for foreign students — for foreigners holding a Student’s Pass issued by ICA, and studying full-time at an approved school or institution.
• Work passes for holders of Long-Term Visit Passes issued by ICA — for foreigners married to a Singaporean or permanent resident, or parents accompanying a child who is studying in Singapore.

The Foreign Student Work Exemption in Detail

If you hold a Student’s Pass issued by ICA, you are only allowed to work if you meet specific requirements. The exemption depends on whether you are working during vacation or during the school term.

Working During Vacation

You can work during your vacation without a work pass if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are a full-time matriculated or registered student in one of the approved institutions.
• You hold a Student’s Pass issued by ICA.
• You are aged 14 years and above.

You need not notify MOM before you start work. The list of approved institutions is extensive and includes government secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics, universities, and many international schools. The full list is available on the MOM page.

If you are waiting for your final examination results or convocation, you can also work without a work pass if the waiting period falls within your vacation. However, once you have completed your studies and your Student’s Pass expires, you will need to get a work pass to work in Singapore. Your employer will need to apply for your work pass.

Working During School Term

You can work during the school term without a work pass if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You are a full-time matriculated or registered student in one of the approved institutions.
• You hold a Student’s Pass issued by ICA.

Additionally, your work needs to meet one of these requirements:

• It is for a maximum of 16 hours a week.
• It is under an industrial attachment or internship programme conducted by your university or educational institution. The industrial attachment can be either compulsory or elective but it must contribute towards your graduation requirements.

You need not notify MOM before you start work. However, you must apply for a work pass if you want to take a leave of absence during your school term to do additional industrial attachments that do not contribute towards your graduation.

Who Cannot Use the Exemption

You are not allowed to work if you are an exchange student in Singapore. If you are a foreign student coming to Singapore under a training attachment programme, you should apply for a Training Work Permit, a Training Employment Pass, or be in the Work Holiday Programme. MOM states clearly that it is an offence for a foreign student to work in Singapore without a valid work pass.

Summary Table: Pass Types and Basic Criteria

Pass Type	Who It Is For	Key Basic Criterion from MOM
Employment Pass	Foreign professionals, managers, executives, technicians	Earn at least $5,600/month; pass COMPASS
EntrePass	Foreign entrepreneurs starting venture-backed or innovative businesses	Business must be venture-backed or possess innovative technologies
Personalised Employment Pass	High-earning existing EP holders or overseas professionals	Greater flexibility than EP
Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass	Top talent in business, arts, culture, sports, academia, research	Top talent in specified fields
S Pass	Skilled workers	Earn at least $3,300/month
Work Permit (migrant worker)	Skilled/semi-skilled workers in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, services	Sector-specific
Training Employment Pass	Foreign professionals undergoing practical training	Earn at least $3,000/month
Training Work Permit	Semi-skilled trainees or students	Up to 6 months
Work Holiday Pass (WHP)	Students/graduates aged 18–25	6 months
Work Holiday Pass (Work and Holiday Visa)	Australian/New Zealander students/graduates aged 18–30	12 months
Dependant’s Pass	Spouses and children of eligible EP or S Pass holders	Tied to main pass holder
Long-Term Visit Pass	Parents, common-law spouses, step-children, handicapped children of eligible EP/S Pass holders	Tied to main pass holder
Miscellaneous Work Pass	Foreign speakers, religious workers, journalists	Up to 60 days

What to Do Next and What to Verify

The first step is to identify which pass category applies to your situation. If you are a professional, check the EP criteria, including the $5,600 monthly salary threshold and COMPASS requirements. If you are a skilled worker, check the S Pass criteria, including the $3,300 monthly threshold. If you are a student, check whether your institution is on the approved list and whether your work falls within the vacation or school-term rules.

Your employer must apply for the pass. MOM’s eServices page lists the relevant application channels, including the myMOM Portal and the Employment Pass eService. You can also check work pass and application status online.

Before you rely on any figure in this article, verify it on the official MOM pages, because thresholds and rules can change. The key pages to check are the work pass overview page and the specific pass pages. If you are a student, confirm your institution is on the approved list on the work pass exemption page. If you are unsure whether a proposed work arrangement is exempt, check with MOM directly, because working without a valid pass is an offence.