Singapore work pass numbers: format and where to find them

A Singapore work pass number is the unique identifier printed on a work pass card, issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The exact alphanumeric format is not published in the official guidance, so you should read the number directly from the physical card or the digital pass in the SGWorkPass app. The same number is used to check work pass status and validity through MOM’s online eServices, and to verify salary information for Work Permit holders. If you cannot find the number, the official MOM eServices pages are the place to start, not a third-party website.

Where the work pass number appears

The work pass number is issued by MOM when a pass is approved, and it is printed on the physical work pass card. If you hold a pass, you can also use the SGWorkPass mobile app as your digital work pass to support your employment in Singapore. The app is listed in the MOM eServices catalogue, and it is described as a way for persons to use their pass digitally. The number on the card and the number shown in the app should be the same, because both represent the same pass record.

If you are an employer or an employment agent, you will see the work pass number in the pass records you manage through the Employment Pass eService or the myMOM Portal. The number is also used when you submit documents for a work pass application or appeal, and when you request to amend application details after a pass is approved.

Checking work pass status and validity

MOM provides an eService called “Check work pass and application status” that lets employers check the status of a work pass application or the validity of a work pass. The estimated time to complete this transaction is 1 to 5 minutes, and no log in is required. This means you can verify whether a pass number corresponds to a valid pass without needing a myMOM Portal account.

The same eService page states that Work Permit holders can also check their salary information. This is a useful function if you are a Work Permit holder and want to confirm what MOM has on record for your salary, rather than relying on a payslip alone.

If you are a pass holder and you want to check your own pass, the SGWorkPass app is the digital equivalent of the physical card. It shows your pass details, including the pass number, and can be used to support your employment in Singapore.

Using the number for applications and appeals

The work pass number is not just a label; it is the reference key for most MOM transactions. When an employer or employment agent submits an application for an Employment Pass, S Pass, Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass or Letter of Consent, the pass number of any existing pass is used to link the new application to the person’s record. The same applies when you submit requested documents for a work pass application or appeal.

MOM also uses the pass number when you need to amend details after approval. For example, employers or employment agents can request to amend application details after a pass is approved for an Employment Pass (including Sponsorship), an S Pass or a Training Employment Pass. The pass number identifies which application is being amended.

If you need to appeal a rejected pass, the appeal form asks for the pass details of the rejected application. The same is true for appeals to renew a Work Permit, or appeals to refund overstaying fines. In every case, the pass number is the identifier that MOM uses to locate the correct record.

What the number is not

The work pass number is not the same as the application reference number you receive when you first submit an application. MOM issues a pass number only after a pass is approved. If you are still waiting for a decision, you will be tracking an application, not a pass.

The number is also not the same as a foreign identification number, a tax reference number, or a bank account number. It is specific to the MOM pass record. If you are asked for a work pass number by an employer, a bank or a government agency, you should provide the number printed on the pass card or shown in the SGWorkPass app, not any other identifier.

Where to verify the number officially

MOM’s eServices page is the official place to check work pass status and validity. The page lists “Check work pass and application status” as a popular eService, with an estimated completion time of 1 to 5 minutes and no log in required. You can also use the Employment Pass eService to manage pass transactions, and the myMOM Portal for a central view of workforce information.

MOM also warns that its officers will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call or email. If someone contacts you asking for your work pass number and also asks for bank details, treat it as a scam. You can call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline on 1799 if you are unsure.

What to do next

If you have a physical work pass card, read the pass number from the card. If you use the SGWorkPass app, open the app and view your pass details there. Then go to the MOM eServices page and use the “Check work pass and application status” service to confirm the pass is valid. No log in is needed for that check.

If you are an employer, log in to the myMOM Portal or the Employment Pass eService to see the pass numbers for all your pass holders. If you cannot find a pass number, or if the number on the card does not match what MOM has on record, contact MOM through the official enquiry eService rather than relying on any third party.

The MOM eServices page is the authoritative source. The exact format of the work pass number is not published there, so the only reliable way to know the format is to look at a real pass card or the digital pass in the SGWorkPass app.