Overview of Singapore PR Schemes

The purpose of this guide is to provide an overview of various work permit schemes available in Singapore for foreign working professionals and entrepreneurs. Singapore has become the ideal business and commercial hub in Southeast Asia, partly due to its creative immigration policies designed to attract seasoned entrepreneurs and working professionals from around the world.

Work Permit Schemes for Foreign Professionals & Entrepreneurs

Employment Pass Scheme

The Employment Pass (EP) is the main type of work permit meant for company owners or skilled employees who will be working in Singapore. Your fixed monthly salary must be more than S$3,300 (w.e.f. 1 January 2014) and you should be a degree holder from a reputable university. There is no official quota system limiting the number of EPs that can be issued.

Validity: An EP is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and renewable as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the company.
Eligibility: Company owners and professional staff with tertiary education and relevant experience.
Quota System: There is no quota official system for EPs.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: Employment Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR in due course.

For more detailed information on the EP, refer to Singapore Employment Pass guide.

Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) Scheme

The Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) is a variation of the Employment Pass, and is the primary type of work pass for owners of newly incorporated (or to be incorporated) Singapore companies who wish to relocate to Singapore to operate their new business.

Validity: An EntrePass is initially issued for 1 year and renewable after that as long as the business remains viable.
Eligibility: Business owners who wish to incorporate a new company or have recently incorporated a company that is less than six months old. The business must fulfill one of the “innovativeness” conditions that were introduced in September 2013.
Quota System: There is no official quota system for EntrePass.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: Entrepreneur Pass holders are eligible to apply for PR in due course.

For further information on the EntrePass, refer to Singapore EntrePass guide.

Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) Scheme

The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a special type of Employment Pass that is not tied to a specific employer. The biggest benefit of having a PEP work permit is that you can switch jobs without re-applying for a new employment pass provided that you are not unemployed for more than six months. The biggest downside is that you are not allowed to start your own company as a PEP holder; since the pass is meant for you to be employed by a third-party employer. The eligibility requirements for PEP are quite strict.

Validity: PEP is issued for 3 years and non-renewable.
Eligibility: Well paid professionals who want to work in Singapore for an employer. PEP holders cannot start their own business in Singapore.
Quota System: There is no official quota system for PEP.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: PEP holders are eligible to apply for PR in due course.

For further details on PEP, refer to Personalised Employment Pass guide.

S Pass Scheme

The S Pass is for mid-skilled employees who earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $2,200 (w.e.f. 1 July 2013). S Pass applicants are assessed based on employer’s quota eligibility and applicant’s qualifications. Instead of a degree, a technical diploma is acceptable for this kind of work pass.

Validity: S Pass is initially issued for 1-2 years (at the discretion of authorities) and is renewable after that as long as the applicant continues to be employed by the employer.
Eligibility: Mid-level technical staff.
Quota System: Yes. For more details on quota, see Computation of Company’s Quota Balance.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: S pass holders are eligible to apply for PR; however, they may have to wait at least 4-5 years and have a stable job history in Singapore.

Miscellaneous Work Pass Scheme

The Miscellaneous Work Pass is issued to foreigners working in Singapore on short-term assignments. More specifically, you will be issued a Miscellaneous Work Pass if you are:

involved in activities directly related to the organisation or conduct of any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk concerning any religion, race or community, or political end;
a foreign religious worker giving talks relating directly or indirectly to any religion; or
a foreign journalist, reporter or an accompanying crew member not sponsored by any Singapore Government agency.

The other information about this scheme is as follows:

Validity: Short-term.
Quota System: No. Each application is considered based in its own merit.
Permanent Residence Eligibility: Miscellaneous Work Pass holders are not eligible to apply for PR.

Other Immigration Visa Schemes

Dependent Pass Scheme

A Singapore Dependent’s Pass (DP) is a family relocation visa issued to spouses and unmarried children (below 21 years) of Employment Pass holders with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$4,000. For more, see Dependent Pass Scheme.

Permanent Residence Scheme for Work Pass Holders

Holders of professional work passes are eligible to apply for permanent residence in due course. For more information, see overview of Singapore PR schemes.

Thousands of people have become Singapore permanent residents every year but not all go through the same application process. Permanent Residence (PR) application can be applied for the whole family i.e. the applicant himself plus the spouse and unmarried children under 21. The lure of gaining Singapore permanent residence through a variety of schemes has convinced thousands of foreigners of diverse backgrounds to set up home in the island-state, one of Asia’s most stable and developed countries and a key financial hub. The number of PRs in Singapore as of June 2013 is estimated to be about 530,000 from a population of about 5.3 million people, and the numbers are increasing (accurate for 2013).
Although most foreigners apply for PR after working in Singapore for few years, there are other paths leading you to Singapore PR status. This guide provides an overview of the different types of PR schemes available in Singapore so you can decide on the one that best suits your needs and circumstances. As a permanent resident of Singapore, you would enjoy most of the benefits and rights afforded to citizens. The range of benefits includes the right to live in the country without visa restrictions, higher priority public schooling for your children, more freedom to buy property and participation in the retirement fund scheme, etc. At the same time, you are required to make certain commitments, such as sending your sons to compulsory two-year military service once they reach 18 years old. For more details, see Singapore PR Benefits and Obligations.

Singapore PR Scheme for Individuals Working in Singapore

The Professionals/Technical Personnel & Skilled Worker scheme (or simply “PTS scheme”) is for foreign professionals who are working in Singapore at the time of applying for permanent residence. The PTS scheme is the easiest and most assured route to attaining PR in Singapore.
The key requirement is that you must be working in Singapore at the time of application. This means you must first relocate to Singapore on a work visa of the type known as Employment Pass or Entrepreneur Pass.
You must show a minimum of six months’ worth of salary pay slips, which means that you must have worked in the country for at least six months before applying. For detailed information about this scheme along with step-by-step filing procedure, see Applying for Singapore PR under PTS Scheme.

Singapore PR Scheme for Investors

You can also invest your way to Singapore permanent residence through an investment scheme known as the Global Investor Programme (“GIP scheme”). Under this scheme, you may apply for PR for yourself and immediate family by starting a business or investing in Singapore.
At present, under the GIP scheme, you can choose from two investment options:

Option A: Invest at least S$2.5 million in a new business startup or expansion of an existing business operation.
Option B: Invest at least S$2.5 million in a GIP-approved fund.

Apart from the minimum funds you invest, you must also meet certain other creiteria such as having a good business track record, an entrepreneurial background and a business proposal or investment plan. For more information, see Singapore Permanent Residence for Investors.

Singapore PR Scheme for Foreign Artistic Talent

Singapore’s arts scene has been rapidly growing over recent years, as the country is aiming to be the regional arts hub. If you are talented in any arts, photography, dance, music, theatre, literature or film, you can apply for permanent residence through Foreign Artistic Talent scheme. To qualify for this scheme, you must be a well-recognized artist in your own country, preferably with an international reputation, and possess the relevant training in your field of practice. You must also have made significant contributions to Singapore’s arts and cultural scene, including a strong track record of local engagements at leadership level, and have concrete plans to be involved in the Singapore arts and cultural sector.

In Summary

The Government of Singapore welcomes the arrival of professionals and other foreigners who are able to make positive contribution to the country’s development and economy in may different ways. There are various permanent residence schemes in place to help you obtain Singapore permanent residence through the means that is most relevant to your situation.
For more information about Permanent Residence, visit the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority website.