Singapore work passes: the full list and who each one is for

Singapore requires every foreigner who intends to work to hold a valid pass before starting work. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) groups passes into five broad categories: professionals, skilled and semi-skilled workers, trainees and students, family members, and exemptions or short-term arrangements. Which pass you need depends on your role, your expected salary, your qualifications and, in some cases, your nationality or age. This page sets out the full list as published by MOM, the eligibility conditions stated for each pass, and the routes available if an application is rejected or a pass is revoked.

Passes for professionals

MOM lists five pass types for foreign professionals, managers, executives, technicians, entrepreneurs and top talent.

Pass type	Who it is for
Employment Pass	Foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians. Candidates need to earn at least $5,600 a month and pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).
EntrePass	Foreign entrepreneurs keen to start and operate a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies.
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)	High-earning existing Employment Pass holders or overseas foreign professionals. The PEP offers greater flexibility than an Employment Pass.
Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass	Top talent in business, arts and culture, sports, as well as academia and research.
Training Employment Pass	Foreign professionals undergoing practical training. Candidates must earn at least $3,000 a month.

Note that the Training Employment Pass is listed by MOM under “Trainees and students” in the official guidance, but it is included here for completeness because it applies to professionals in training. The key point for applicants is that the Employment Pass carries a stated minimum salary of $5,600 a month and requires COMPASS. The PEP is not a first-time pass; it is for people who already hold an Employment Pass or who are high-earning professionals overseas.

Passes for skilled and semi-skilled workers

MOM lists five pass types in this category. The main ones are the S Pass and the Work Permit for migrant worker, but there are also specific permits for domestic workers, confinement nannies and performing artistes.

Pass type	Who it is for
S Pass	Skilled workers. Candidates need to earn at least $3,300 a month.
Work Permit for migrant worker	Skilled and semi-skilled migrant workers in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process or services sector.
Work Permit for migrant domestic worker	Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) to work in Singapore.
Work Permit for confinement nanny	Malaysian confinement nannies to work in Singapore for up to 16 weeks starting from the birth of the employer’s child.
Work Permit for performing artiste	Foreign performers working in public entertainment outlets such as bars, hotels and nightclubs. Note: the scheme for firms to apply for Work Permit (Performing Artiste) has ceased.

The S Pass is the main route for skilled workers who do not qualify for an Employment Pass. The stated minimum salary is $3,300 a month. The Work Permit for migrant worker is sector-specific: construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process or services. The performing artiste scheme is closed to new firm applications, so if you are a performer, you should check the current position with MOM before assuming this pass is available.

Passes for trainees and students

MOM lists four pass types under this heading. Two are work passes, and two are holiday or training arrangements.

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

The Work Holiday Pass has two distinct schemes with different age limits and durations. The standard Work Holiday Programme is for students and graduates aged 18 to 25 and allows 6 months. The Work and Holiday Visa Programmes are for Australian and New Zealander students and graduates aged 18 to 30 and allow 12 months. The Training Work Permit is capped at 6 months of practical training.

Passes for family members of pass holders

MOM lists four pass types for family members. These are not work passes in their own right; they are immigration passes that may or may not carry the right to work.

Pass type	Who it is for
Dependant’s Pass	Spouses and children of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.
Long-Term Visit Pass	Parents, common-law spouses, step-children or handicapped children of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.
Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC)	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	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	Eligible Dependant’s Pass holders who wish to operate a business.

The key distinction is between a Dependant’s Pass, which does not itself authorise work, and a Letter of Consent, which does. The PLOC is pre-approved; the LOC requires the employer to apply. If you hold a Dependant’s Pass and want to work, you should check whether you need a separate LOC or a work pass of your own.

Exemptions and working while on a visit pass

MOM lists three arrangements under this heading. Two are for short-term work, and one is a specific exemption for foreign students.

Pass type	Who it is for
Miscellaneous Work Pass	Foreign speakers, religious workers and journalists taking on a short-term work assignment of up to 60 days in Singapore.
Work Pass Exempt Activities	Performing eligible short-term activities without a work pass. Candidates must still notify MOM of their activities.
Work pass exemption for foreign students	Foreigners holding a Student’s Pass issued by ICA, and studying full-time at an approved school or institution.

The Miscellaneous Work Pass is capped at 60 days. The Work Pass Exempt Activities route requires notification to MOM even though no pass is needed. The student exemption is the most detailed and is covered separately below.

Work pass exemption for foreign students

If you hold a Student’s Pass issued by ICA, you are only allowed to work if you meet specific requirements. MOM sets out three scenarios: working during vacation, working during school term, and situations where work is not allowed.

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 listed 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 long and includes government schools, junior colleges, polytechnics, universities, and a range of international schools. 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. Once you have completed your studies and your Student’s Pass expires, you will need a work pass, and your employer will need to apply for it.

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 listed institutions.
• You hold a Student’s Pass issued by ICA.

Additionally, your work must 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, 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, you must apply for a work pass.

Not allowed to work

Exchange students are not allowed to work 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. It is an offence for a foreign student to work in Singapore without a valid work pass.

If your application is rejected or your pass is revoked

MOM provides specific appeal routes. The following are available through MOM’s eServices, and each has an estimated completion time of 5 minutes for the online form.

• Appeal for a rejected EntrePass, Personalised Employment Pass, Work Holiday Pass, or a related Dependant’s Pass/Long-Term Visit Pass. Persons or employment agencies (EAs) can appeal for these rejected pass types.
• Appeal for a revoked Work Permit or In-Principle Approval (IPA), or request to proceed with a Work Permit application. This is available by sector: construction and process, manufacturing, marine shipyard, and services. Employers or EAs in those sectors can use the relevant form.
• Appeal to refund overstaying fines. This is available for business employers or EAs on behalf of their pass holders, and separately for employers of migrant domestic workers.
• Appeal to renew a Work Permit. This is available for business employers or EAs for migrant workers, and separately for employers of migrant domestic workers.

There is also a general eService to amend or delete an incident report submitted through iReport, which may be relevant if you need to correct a work accident report.

What to do next

Before you apply, confirm which pass category you fall into. The salary thresholds stated here are the minimums published by MOM: $5,600 a month for an Employment Pass, $3,300 a month for an S Pass, and $3,000 a month for a Training Employment Pass. If your role does not meet those thresholds, you may need a different pass type or a different arrangement entirely.

If your application has been rejected, use the relevant appeal form on MOM’s eServices page. The forms are sector-specific for Work Permit appeals, so make sure you select the correct one. For a rejected EntrePass, PEP, Work Holiday Pass, or a related Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass, use the general appeal form.

Finally, verify the current details on the official MOM pages. The pass list and the student exemption rules are both published on MOM’s website, and the eServices page lists all available appeal routes. Salary thresholds, eligibility criteria and processing arrangements can change, so always check the live page before you act.