Singapore Work Permit

In order for a foreign national to work at a country other than the home country, the foreign national will require a work permit so that he can legally work at a foreign country. This applies to all of the countries around the world and the same goes to the country of Singapore. For foreign nationals who wish to legally work within Singapore, he or she will need a valid visa known as a work permit. For the work permit, foreign nationals irregardless of whether unskilled or semi-skilled will be required to apply for work permits in accordance with the Employment of Foreign Workers Act of Singapore if these foreign nationals wish to work within Singapore.

Usually for the work permit in the country of Singapore, the work permit is actually issued based on the different industries sector where some of these industries sector include the construction, non-construction and as well as domestic sectors. Generally for the construction and non construction work permit application, the application procedure and requirements for both of these categories are the same though however, there are also some differences in between two of these applications. Before going any further in the explanation, it is necessary to explain the different work permits available to foreigners wanting to work within Singapore. Basically, there are actually three different types of work passes where these three different work passes include employment pass, S pass and as well as the work permit.

For the work permit, any foreign nationals who wish to work in Singapore with a monthly basic salary of not more than SGD$1800 will need a work permit. However, there are certain exemptions towards the requirement of a work permit and these exemptions include Singapore Permanent Residents (SPR), Dependant’s Pass (DP) holders under the Employment Pass scheme (required to apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower, for employment in Singapore), full-time matriculated or registered students who are on vacation as stated in the Work Permit and last but not least, full-time matriculated or registered students from approved institutes of higher learning whose working hours do not exceed 16 hours a week as stated in Work Permit. For the duration of stay/work for the holder of a valid work permit, the duration is generally two years though it is subjected to the validity of the worker’s Passport (one month before its expiry), the Banker’s/Insurance Guarantee (two months before its expiry) and the worker’s employment period, whichever is shorter. Before employing any foreign workers, the prospective employer will be required to apply to the Controller of Work Permits for a work permit. However, during the period of application, foreign nationals of Non-Traditional Source (India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Philippines), North Asian Source (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau and South Korea) and as well as Republic of China are not allowed to be within Singapore. As for the submission method of the application forms for a work permit, it can be done electronically or via the SingPost post office though however, it is highly advisable that the application is done electronically as the outcome and as well as the processing time of the application is much more faster (combined two working days) compared to submitting it via SingPost post office which usually takes around seven working days. Before a work permit can be issued to a foreign national, the foreign national will be required to undergo medical examinations at a Singapore registered general practitioner and also, the foreign national must be certified to be fit for employment. Upon the successful application for a work permit, the holder of the work permit or the employer will be able to collect the Work Permit Card four days after the registration. For the work permit card, this 3-in-1 Work Permit identification card was first introduced in the year 1999 and the card actually combines the Work Permit, the Immigration Disembarkation/Embarkation card and as well as the Visit Pass.

For the application of a work permit, there are other regulations, procedures and information which differs depending on the work sector and as well as the nationalities. Before any application is made, it is best advised that the employer and also the foreign nationals should pay the Ministry of Manpower a visit in order to clarify and understand some of these differences between applications.

Singapore Work Permit Official Website

http://www.mom.gov.sg/publish/momportal/en/communities/work_pass.html

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