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A work pass in Singapore must be cancelled within 1 week after the last day of notice, or within 1 week of the holder leaving the country for good. For an Employment Pass or S Pass, the employer submits the request on the EP eService in the myMOM Portal. Cancellation is immediate unless it was requested in advance. Checked against MOM.
What is the deadline for cancelling a work pass?
The deadline depends on the pass type.
| Pass | Cancel within | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | 1 week after the last day of notice, or 1 week from departure if the holder left for good | Advance request up to 14 days ahead |
| S Pass | Same as the Employment Pass | Levy stops 1 day before cancellation |
| EntrePass | 1 week from the date the business closes | No need to cancel if you become a PR or the pass expires |
| Work Permit | 1 week after the last day of notice, or 1 week from the departure date | Levy charged until 1 day before cancellation |
You do not have to cancel a pass that has already expired.
How do you cancel an Employment Pass or S Pass?
- Log in. Use the EP eService on the myMOM Portal. The employer or its employment agent does this.
- Choose the cancellation date. Pick today or a date up to 14 days ahead.
- Submit. Cancellation is immediate unless you requested an advance date.
- Tell the holder. MOM says the holder cannot work after cancellation, even while waiting to leave Singapore.
- Destroy the card. MOM says to cut the pass card in half and discard it.
An employment agent can do the filing for you. See employment pass agents.
What happens to the family's passes?
MOM says all passes issued to family members are cancelled with the main pass, and you cannot reinstate them. If the holder is still in Singapore, they can request a Short-Term Visit Pass, valid for up to 90 days, and show it with a valid passport when leaving. Read dependant pass before you set the date so the family has time to move.
How do you cancel an EntrePass when you close the company?
MOM says to cancel within 1 week from the date you close the business. For example, a closing date of 3 February means you cancel by 10 February. You also need tax clearance from IRAS at least one month before you close. Closing the company has its own steps: see striking off a company and winding up.
What extra rules apply to a Work Permit?
The Work Permit page adds employer duties. The employer must give reasonable notice, get tax clearance from IRAS, settle employment issues, make sure the worker has a valid passport and buy a one-way ticket, with departure within 14 days of cancellation. If a missing worker is not found within one month, S$2,500, which is half of the S$5,000 security bond, is forfeited. Levy runs until 1 day before cancellation.
What are the penalties for not cancelling?
MOM says an overstaying fine applies to anyone who stays without valid status. Employing a foreigner without a valid work pass is a criminal offence. The pages do not list a fine amount for late cancellation, so check MOM or ask an adviser if you are already late.
What should an employer do before cancelling?
Cancelling is the last step. Before it, check the points below.
- Notice: MOM's deadline runs from the last day of notice, so record that date.
- Final pay and leave: settle what the contract requires. MOM's Work Permit page lists settling employment issues as an employer duty, and the same sense applies to other passes.
- Dependants: tell the holder that family passes end with the main pass.
- Levy: for an S Pass or Work Permit, levy is charged until 1 day before cancellation, so an earlier date saves money.
- Records: keep the cancellation confirmation that MOM sends by email.
What does the holder do after cancellation?
The holder stops work on the day the cancellation takes effect. If they are staying in Singapore for a short time, they can request a Short-Term Visit Pass, valid for up to 90 days, and present it with a valid passport on departure. A holder who plans to return on a new pass will need the new employer to apply. See Employment Pass requirements and how to apply for an Employment Pass.
Should you cancel or renew instead?
If the worker will stay with a new role in your company, you may need a new pass or a variation, not a cancellation. See work pass renewal. If the person is moving to a different employer, the old employer still cancels its own pass.
What about a Personalised Employment Pass or ONE Pass holder?
The cancel pages we read cover the Employment Pass, S Pass, EntrePass and Work Permit. MOM runs separate cancel pages for other passes, including the Personalised Employment Pass. We did not read those, so check the MOM page for your pass type before you use the 1 week rule. Our pages on work permits and the S Pass show the other pass types in the same family.
Independent guide
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide. We are not MOM and we do not file passes ourselves. If you want a provider to handle the cancellation, use the quote form on this page and we pass your request to suitable providers, who reply with their own fees.
Sources
- MOM, Cancel an Employment Pass, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/cancel-a-pass (deadline, advance request, dependants, card)
- MOM, Cancel an S Pass, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/cancel-a-pass (S Pass rules, levy)
- MOM, Cancel an EntrePass, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/entrepass/cancel-a-pass (business closure, tax clearance)
- MOM, Cancel a Work Permit, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/cancel-a-work-permit (employer duties, bond)
