
Are you affected by the latest news that Dependant’s pass holders will no longer be able to work on Letters of Consent from 1 May? Here are the passes or permits you may be eligible for
Earlier this week, the Ministry of Manpower announced that from 1 May 2021, Dependant’s pass (DP) holders will have to secure a work pass instead of a letter of consent (LOC) in order to work in Singapore unless they are business owners who meet specified criteria. This affects many expat families here. Existing Dependant’s pass holders on a LOC will be allowed to continue working until the expiry of their LOC. But what then? All hope is not lost – could you be eligible for an S Pass, Employment Pass or Work Pass? Keep scrolling to read more on the definitions and requirements.
Employment Pass
– For foreign professionals, managers and executives.
– Candidates need to earn at least $4,500 a month (older, more experienced candidates in their 40s need higher salaries, around double the minimum qualifying salary of the youngest applicants). The minimum qualifying salary for EP candidates in the financial services sector is now $5,000 for new applications.
– Have acceptable qualifications.
You can use the Employment Pass Self-Assessment Tool to check if you qualify.
Dependant’s Pass
– For spouses and children of eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holders.
– You can apply for a dependant’s pass for your family members as long as you earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000.
– Are sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company.
Letter of Consent (LOC)
A LOC used to be issued to eligible spouses or children of EP holders who held a Dependant’s Pass. The LOC had allowed the holder to work in Singapore, however as of 1 May 2021, all those on a Dependant’s Pass will need an applicable work pass (EP, S Pass or Work Permit) to work in Singapore, instead of a LOC.
Long Term Visitor Pass (LTVP) holders married to a Singaporean or PR can continue to obtain an LOC.
“As of June 2020, there were about 1.1 million work pass holders in Singapore, excluding foreign domestic workers, which suggests there were about 11,000 Dependant’s Pass holders working on letters of consent.”
– The Straits Times
S Pass
– For mid-level skilled staff.
– Candidates need to earn at least $2,500 a month and meet the assessment criteria.
– To qualify you must have a degree or diploma. MOM may consider technical certificates, such as courses for qualified technicians or specialists. The certification should require at least 1 year of full-time study. Use the S Pass Self-Assessment Tool to check if you qualify.
Work Pass for holders of Long Term Visit Passes issued by ICA
For foreigners married to a Singaporean or permanent resident, or parents accompanying a child who is studying in Singapore.
Work Permit
Work Permits are only issued to foreign workers, foreign domestic workers, confinement nannies or foreign performers working in public entertainment outlets.
Business owners
Only DP holders who are business owners can work using a LOC, and only if they own at least 30% of the company shares and their business creates local employment. They must employ at least one Singaporean or permanent resident earning at least the prevailing local qualifying salary – currently $1,400 – and make contributions to the employee’s Central Provident Fund accounts for at least three months.
Check out the full list of work passes available in Singapore here.
Between now to 1 May 2021, what can be done to prepare?
Keep checking as we add more updates in the coming weeks!
Agencies that can help with processing work passes and PR applications
Need help making sense of the different work passes in Singapore or looking to apply for PR? Contact the agencies below:
Paul Immigrations
CSLB Asia
The Expat Touch
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