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A Singapore employer cannot simply sign a contract with a foreign candidate. MOM requires a work pass first, applied for by the employer. Which one you use is set by the salary and the type of job, and each carries different costs. Checked on .
Which work pass does a foreign employee need?
Match the pass to the role and the pay. MOM's qualifying salaries below are the current floors, and they rise on 1 January.
| Pass | Role | Qualifying salary (MOM) | Levy and quota |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | Professionals, managers, executives | From S$5,600 at age 23 and below up to S$10,700 for those in their mid-40s; from S$6,000 to S$11,500 | None |
| S Pass | Mid-skilled technicians | From S$3,300 up to S$4,800; from S$3,600 to S$5,100 | S$650 a month, quota 10% to 15% of workforce |
| Work Permit | Semi-skilled workers from approved source countries, in certain sectors | No salary floor on MOM's overview page | Sector levy and quota |
Financial services pay higher floors. The Employment Pass requirements page covers age tables and COMPASS points. The S Pass page and Work Permit page cover the other two.
What are the steps to hire a foreign employee?
- Pick the pass and check the salary floor and, for an Employment Pass, your COMPASS score.
- Advertise the job on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days, unless exempt. Details are on the Fair Consideration Framework page.
- Get the candidate's written consent.
- Submit the application on MOM eServices and pay the fee.
- Receive the in-principle approval letter. It gives the candidate 6 months to enter Singapore and get the pass issued.
- The candidate arrives, the employer gets the pass issued, and fingerprints and photo are registered if needed.
- The candidate sets up the digital pass in the SGWorkPass app and the card arrives within 5 working days.
The employer or an appointed agent applies. How long each step takes is on the processing time page.
What does it cost?
| Item | Employment Pass | S Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | S$105 | S$105 |
| Issuance fee | S$225 | S$100 |
| Multiple-trip visa add-on, if it applies | S$30 | Not read |
| Foreign worker levy | None | S$650 a month |
Work Permit costs depend on the sector. MOM lists the fixed monthly salary, monthly levy, medical insurance, primary care plan, a security bond for non-Malaysian workers and repatriation costs as employer duties. Our foreign worker levy page has the services tiers.
Do you pay CPF and SDL for foreign staff?
CPF contributions apply to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, so a pass holder is outside it. The Skills Development Levy does apply: it is 0.25% of monthly wages, with a S$2 minimum and a S$11.25 maximum. The CPF Board says SDL for foreign employees only is paid directly to the Skills and Workforce Development Agency. The SDL page explains it.
What can go wrong?
- Starting work before the pass is issued.
- An advertisement that does not match the application. MOM requires the same job and employer.
- A false declaration, which can lead to debarment of 12 to 24 months.
- A missed levy payment for two consecutive months, which can cause revocation of the passes.
Should you use an agent?
MOM says the employer or an appointed employment agent can submit the application. An agent can prepare the form, collect the candidate's documents and keep track of the in-principle approval. The employer still carries the legal duty, including the truth of the declarations. Read our employment pass agent page for what to ask before you appoint one.
What about a first hire in a new company?
A new company with fewer than 10 employees is exempt from the MyCareersFuture advertisement, but it still has to meet the salary floor and, for an Employment Pass, the COMPASS points. MOM also says an overseas company with no Singapore registration should expect up to 6 weeks for most Employment Pass cases. Register the company first if you can. The processing time page explains the difference.
What should a candidate bring?
MOM asks for the candidate's written consent before the employer applies. For an S Pass, the passport must stay valid for at least 7 months. Collect the passport scan, the consent and the details the candidate form asks for before you open the application, so nothing stops the 10 business day clock once you submit.
Independent guide
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide. We are not MOM and we do not decide who gets a pass. If you want a provider to prepare the application, use the quote form on this page. We pass your request to suitable firms and they reply with their own fees.
Sources
- MOM, Apply for an Employment Pass, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/apply-for-a-pass (steps, fees, in-principle approval)
- MOM, Employment Pass key facts, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/key-facts (no levy, salary, validity)
- MOM, S Pass eligibility, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/eligibility (salary floors)
- MOM, Apply for an S Pass, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/apply-for-a-pass (fees, quota)
- MOM, S Pass quota and levy requirements, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/quota-and-levy/levy-and-quota-requirements (S$650, quota)
- MOM, Work Permit for migrant workers, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker (overview)
- MOM, Work Permit conditions, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/work-permit-conditions (employer duties)
- MOM, Consider all candidates fairly, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/consider-all-candidates-fairly (advertising)
- CPF Board, Skills Development Levy, https://www.cpf.gov.sg/service/article/how-do-i-calculate-and-pay-the-skills-development-levy-sdl (SDL)
