Aug 04, 2014 Human Resource and Immigration How to Migrate to Singapore. In recent years, the Singapore government began tightening the rules allowing foreigners to work in Singapore. As a leading Singapore registration company, 3E Accounting Pte. Offers comprehensive services to facilitate your ability to secure your Singapore PR and Singapore.
Singapore has become the ideal business and commercial hub in Southeast Asia, partly due to its creative immigration policies designed to attract seasoned entrepreneurs and working professionals from around the world. Find out more about the various work permit schemes available in Singapore for foreign working professionals and entrepreneurs.
Work Permit Schemes for Foreign Professionals & Entrepreneurs
- Employment Pass Scheme The Employment Pass (EP) is the main type of work permit meant for company owners or skilled employees who will be working in Singapore. Your fixed monthly salary must be more than S$3,600 . There is no official quota system limiting the number of EPs that can be issued.
- Validity: An EP is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the company.
- Eligibility: Company owners and professional staff with tertiary education and relevant experience.
- Quota System: There is no quota official system for EPs.
- Permanent Residence Eligibility: Employment Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR in due course.
For more detailed information on the EP, refer to Singapore Employment Pass guide. - Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) Scheme The Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) is a variation of the Employment Pass, and is the primary type of work pass for owners of newly incorporated (or to be incorporated) Singapore companies who wish to relocate to Singapore to operate their new business.
- Validity: An EntrePass is initially issued for 1 year and renewable after that as long as the business remains viable.
- Eligibility: Business owners who wish to incorporate a new company or have recently incorporated a company that is less than six months old. The business must fulfill one of the innovative criteria introduced in September 2013.
- Quota System: There is no official quota system for EntrePass.
- Permanent Residence Eligibility: Entrepreneur Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR in due course.
For further information on the EntrePass, refer to Singapore EntrePass guide. - Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Scheme The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a special type of Employment Pass that is not tied to a specific employer. The biggest benefit of having a PEP work permit is that you can switch jobs without re-applying for a new employment pass provided that you are not unemployed for more than six months. The biggest downside is that you are not allowed to start your own company as a PEP holder; since the pass is meant for you to be employed by a third-party employer. The eligibility requirements for PEP are quite strict.
- Validity: PEP is issued for 3 years and non-renewable.
- Eligibility: Well paid professionals who want to work in Singapore for an employer. PEP holders cannot start their own business in Singapore.
- Quota System: There is no official quota system for PEP.
- Permanent Residence Eligibility: PEP holders are eligible to apply for PR in due course.
For further details on PEP, refer to Personalised Employment Pass - S Pass Scheme The S Pass is for mid-skilled employees who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,200. S Pass applicants are assessed based on employer’s quota eligibility and applicant’s qualifications.Either a degree or diploma is required. Applicants with technical certificates may also be considered. The certification should include at least 1 year of full-time study.
- Validity: S Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and is renewable after that as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the employer.
- Eligibility: Mid-level technical staff.
- Quota System: Yes. For more details on quota, see Computation of Company’s Quota Balance.
- Permanent Residence Eligibility: S pass holders are eligible to apply for PR. The application will be assessed based on the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority's (ICA) PR criteria.
- Miscellaneous Work Pass Scheme The Miscellaneous Work Pass is issued to foreigners working in Singapore on short-term assignments. More specifically, you will be issued a Miscellaneous Work Pass if you are:
- involved in activities directly related to the organisation or conduct of any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk concerning any religion, race or community, or political end;
- a foreign religious worker giving talks relating directly or indirectly to any religion; or
- a foreign journalist, reporter or an accompanying crew member not sponsored by any Singapore Government agency.
The other information about this scheme is as follows:- Validity: Short-term.
- Quota System: No. Each application is considered based in its own merit.
- Permanent Residence Eligibility: Miscellaneous Work Pass holders are not eligible to apply for PR.
- Other Immigration Visa Schemes
Dependent Pass Scheme
A Singapore Dependent’s Pass (DP) is a family relocation visa issued to spouses and unmarried children (below 21 years) of Employment Pass/S Pass holders with a minimum fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000. For more, see Dependent Pass Scheme.Permanent Residence Scheme for Work Pass Holders
Holders of professional work passes are eligible to apply for permanent residence in due course. For more information, see overview of Singapore PR schemes.
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If you are a Singapore citizen or PR, you can help relative or friends to apply for Singapore visa online, quick and easy.
Entry Requirement to Singapore
Visitors must satisfy the following basic entry requirements before they can be considered for entry into Singapore:
- A passport with at least 6 months validity
- Valid Singapore visa, if applicable
- Sufficient funds to last for the intended period of stay in Singapore
- Confirmed onward/return tickets
- Entry facilities to their onward destinations, e.g. visas.
- Completed Disembarkation/Embarkation Card
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate, if applicable (For entry into Singapore, a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers (over one year of age) who, within the preceding six days have been in or have passed through any country endemic for yellow fever)
Visitors are also reminded that it is a punishable offence to overstay in Singapore beyond the number of days given.
Singapore visa extension
If there is a need to stay beyond the period granted, visitors may apply for an extension of stay online, before the visit pass expires. Application for extension of stay is subject to approval.
To submit an application online using the e-Service, you will need to fulfill all of the following conditions:
- You wish to extend your stay for not more than 89 days from the date of entry into Singapore
- Your Visit Pass has a remaining validity of at least three days, excluding weekends and public holidays
- You will not return to Singapore within five days from the departure date of your current trip
- You will require a local sponsor* if you are seeking an extension of stay up to 89 days from the date of entry
If you are unable to submit an Extension of Short Term Visit Pass application online, please email [email protected] to request for further assistance
Upon approval, you will need to pay the following fees: S$40 per extension
Who Need Visa to Visit Singapore?
Foreigners holding travel documents issued by the following countries will require a visa to enter Singapore:
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Bangladesh (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
- Commonwealth of Independent States* (Except Diplomatic/Official/Service passport holders for a stay of up to 30 days )
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Moldova
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine (Except Diplomatic/Official and Service passport holders for a stay of up to 90 days)
- Uzbekistan
- Egypt
- Georgia* (Except Diplomatic/Official and Service passport holders for a stay of up to 30 days)
- India (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Morocco
- Myanmar (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
- Nigeria (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
- People’s Republic of China (Except Diplomatic/Service/Public Affairs passport holders for a stay of up to 30 days)
- Pakistan
- Saudi Arabia (Except Diplomatic passport holders)
- Somalia
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tunisia (Except Diplomatic/Official passport holders)
- Yemen
Visitors holding these travel documents also require a visa to enter Singapore:
- Hong Kong Document of Identity
- Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Travel Permit
- Palestinian Authority Passport
- Refugee Travel Document issued by the Middle-East countries
- Temporary Passport issued by United Arab Emirates
Possession of a visa does not entitle a foreigner to enter Singapore automatically. The grant of a visit pass to a foreign visitor is determined by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at the Singapore checkpoints and each case is considered on its own merits.
How to Get Singapore Visa
If you need visa to enter Singapore, you have a few ways for visa application:
- Submit your visa application online via Submission of Application for Visa Electronically (SAVE) through a local contact with a SingPass account (if you have a friend in Singapore, ask her whether she has SingPass account; if not, kindly ask her to apply one which can be easily done). This is recommended as this is very convenient and takes about only 1-2 days.
- Submit your visa application at the nearest Singapore Overseas Mission. The full list of Overseas Missions can be found at http://dipcon.mfa.gov.sg. Please visit the respective Mission’s website for the visa application procedure
- Apply via a travel agency. You may need to pay a security deposit to the travel agency in order to get the visa. Singapore immigration may also ask for a security deposit.
A security deposit may be required from the local contact or the visa applicant upon approval of the application. ICA will advise whether the security deposit should be in the form of a Banker’s Guarantee, Cashier’s Order or NETS. Insurance guarantees are not accepted. The amount of security deposit is S$1,000.
Documents Needed for Singapore Visa Application
For Business Visit (attending business negotiation/discussion)
- Completed Form 14A (original) .
- One recent passport-sized colour photograph (to be pasted on the top right-hand corner of (Form 14A) which meets the following requirements:
* Image must be taken within the last 3 months.
* Photograph should be in colour, must be taken against a white
background with a matt or semi-matt finish.
background with a matt or semi-matt finish.
* Image must show the full face and without headgear (headgear worn in
accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide
the facial features).
accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide
the facial features).
- Photocopy of the applicant’s passport biodata page. Please ensure that the passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry .
- Completed Form V39A (Letter of Introduction for Visa Application)¹ .
- Computer printout of the Singapore registered business entity’s detailed business profile (showing the names of all the directors/shareholders) from the Instant Information Service, Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and printed within the last 3 months .
¹ Letter of Introduction (LOI) may be issued by a local contact in Singapore. For visa applicants attending business negotiation/discussion in Singapore, the local contact must be a Singapore registered business entity.
The person acting on behalf of the business entity must be a Singapore Citizen / Singapore Permanent Resident who is at least 21 years old. If you are not able to furnish an LOI from a local contact, you may approach your Embassy to issue an LOI to support your visa application.
For Social Visit (visiting friends, relatives and for tourism)
- Completed Form 14A (original) .
- One recent passport-sized colour photograph (to be pasted on the top right-hand corner of (Form 14A) which meets the following requirements:
* Image must be taken within the last 3 months.
* Photograph should be in color, must be taken against a white
background with a matt or semi-matt finish.
background with a matt or semi-matt finish.
* Image must show the full face and without headgear (headgear worn in
accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide
the facial features).
accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide
the facial features).
- Photocopy of the applicant’s passport biodata page. Please ensure that the passport is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry .
- Completed Form V39A (Letter of Introduction for Visa Application)² .
- Local contact’s Singapore Identity Card ( original and photocopy ).
² Letter of Introduction (LOI) may be issued by a local contact in Singapore. Any Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident who is at least 21 years old can act as a local contact. If you are not able to furnish an LOI from a local contact, you may approach your Embassy to issue an LOI to support your visa application.
Visa Application Fee
A processing fee of S$30 per visa application will be collected at the time of submission. The fee collected is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the application or if you withdraw the application after submission.
How to Collect Singapore Visa
If the application is approved, the local contact can print the visa electronically (e-Visa) via Submission of Application for Visa Electronically (SAVE). The validity of the e-Visa shall start from the date of approval. There is no need to submit any documents to ICA unless instructed otherwise.
Disembarkation/Embarkation Card
Foreign visitors arriving in Singapore are required to have a completed Disembarkation/Embarkation Card (or D/E card) for immigration clearance. The D/E card is shown below:
The D/E card is available at all Singapore checkpoints and flights arriving in Singapore. Travellers arriving by air can obtain the card from the airlines or onboard their flights to Singapore. Travellers arriving by land and sea can obtain it from their travel agents, bus companies and ferry operators. The D/E card is free-of-charge.
The Embarkation portion will be returned to the visitor. An endorsement indicating the period that the visitor is allowed to enter and stay in Singapore is stamped on both portions of the D/E Card as well as on the passport.
When the visitor leaves Singapore, the Embarkation portion will be retrieved from the visitor.
Permanent Residents, work pass holders and other long term pass holders are not required to fill in D/E cards each time they enter Singapore.
Source: Singapore ICA
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