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A work pass rejection in Singapore is not final, but the appeal window is short. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) gives an employer 3 months to appeal an Employment Pass or S Pass rejection and 30 days for a Work Permit. This page was checked on against MOM's pages.
How long do you have to appeal?
The window depends on the pass.
| Pass | Appeal window | Appeal processing, per MOM |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | 3 months | 85% within 6 weeks |
| S Pass | 3 months | 85% within 6 weeks |
| Work Permit | 30 days | 90% within 3 weeks |
If you miss the window you must submit a new application. For a Work Permit, MOM says the new application is judged on the criteria that apply at that point. Count from the date of the rejection, not from the date you opened the letter.
Who can appeal?
Only the employer, or the authorised third party that filed the application, can enquire or appeal. MOM says it will not deal with the candidate or anyone else. A candidate who wants to challenge a rejection has to go through the employer or the employment agent.
If you applied for yourself as a company director, you are the employer's representative. See Employment Pass for a company director for how that route works.
Why do work passes get rejected?
The reasons are in the rejection advisory, which you read in EP eService (or myMOM Portal for a Work Permit). MOM's Employment Pass pages point to these areas.
- Qualifying salary. The Employment Pass runs in two stages. Stage 1 is the qualifying salary, set against the top third of local professional, manager, executive and technician salaries by age. The figure for most sectors is S$5,600 a month, rising with age, and S$6,200 in financial services. For new applications from , MOM lists S$6,000 and S$6,600. Fail stage 1 and the pass is refused whatever your COMPASS score.
- COMPASS. Stage 2 is a points test. You need 40 points across salary, qualifications, diversity, support for local employment, and a skills bonus for shortage occupations. See the COMPASS framework page. A fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more exempts the candidate, as do intra-corporate transferees and roles of one month or less.
- Verification mismatches. MOM names inconsistencies between what the application declares and what the verification proof shows.
- Job advertising. Employers must meet the Fair Consideration Framework advertising requirement before they file a new Employment Pass application.
- IRAS tax matters. An unresolved tax issue can hold up an application.
- Quota (S Pass). MOM's S Pass appeal page lists the company not having enough quota.
Salary amounts move. Check the Employment Pass salary page and MOM before you quote a number to a candidate.
Should you appeal or reapply?
MOM's advice is blunt: appeal only if you can address the reasons. There is no change in the outcome without new information.
| Situation | Better route |
|---|---|
| A document was wrong or missing, or the advertising step was skipped and is now done | Appeal |
| An IRAS matter was open and is now settled | Appeal |
| The candidate now meets the salary and COMPASS criteria | Appeal, with no extra documents needed |
| The role, the candidate or the salary has changed a lot | New application |
| The appeal window has closed | New application |
When the appeal needs no supporting documents, MOM says to leave them out. Extra papers and remarks that are not required can lengthen processing.
How do you submit the appeal?
Log in to EP eService, find the rejected application and submit the appeal as the employer or agent. For a Work Permit, find the application in myMOM Portal and click Submit an appeal. Afterwards you can check the status and print the outcome letter. If MOM emails to ask for more documents, send them through the online form MOM links to in that email.
What about an EntrePass rejection?
MOM's Employment Pass appeal page lists EntrePass appeals as a separate topic. We did not find a stable MOM page with the window, so read the rejection notice and MOM's EntrePass pages first. Our EntrePass guide covers eligibility. Note that EntrePass holders must hold at least 30% of an ACRA-registered private limited company, so check the shareholding on your application.
What to do before you apply again
Use the Self-Assessment Tool, line up the evidence for each COMPASS criterion, and check that qualifications on the form match the documents. Many problems start with a small mismatch. Renewals follow similar rules; see work pass renewal.
Independent guide
SingaporeCompanySetupGuide.com is an independent guide, not MOM and not an employment agency. We cannot overturn a decision. If you want a firm to prepare the application or appeal, use the form here and your details go to providers who handle work passes. Each sets its own price.
Sources
- MOM, Appeal against a rejected Employment Pass application, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/appeal-against-a-rejected-application (3 months, who appeals, 6 weeks)
- MOM, Appeal against a rejected S Pass application, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/appeal-against-a-rejected-application (3 months, quota)
- MOM, Appeal against a rejected Work Permit application, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/appeal-against-a-rejected-application (30 days, 3 weeks)
- MOM, Eligibility for Employment Pass, https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility (qualifying salary, COMPASS, exemptions)