Your guide to life in Singapore.  Singapore visas, citizenship and more.

Singapore Visas and permits

The Employment Pass

This work permit is for those that have a job offer in Singapore and are foreign professionals, managers and executives. Candidates need to earn at least $3,900 a month (approx USD 2,800) and have acceptable qualifications.  The employer or agent needs to apply on behalf of the candidate.  It is a 2 year work pass which can be renewed for periods of 3 years thereafter.

Here is the official government website for the Employment Pass Visa.

Personalised Employment Pass

This is for eligible high-earning foreign professionals.  It is not tied to an employer and offers greater flexibility for those who earn either:

•  At least $18,000 (Approx USD 13,000) per month overseas. Your last drawn salary should have been within 6 months before you apply.
• An Employment Pass holder earning a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000 (Approx USD8700).

Here is the official government website for the Personalised Employment Pass.

Other Work Permits include

• S Pass for mid-level skilled staff. Candidates need to earn at least $2,200 a month and meet the assessment criteria.
• Work permits for semi-skilled foreign workers in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process or services sector.
• Work Permits for domestic workers.

Here is the full list of Personalised Employment Pass.

Set Up a company in Singapore

This requires at least one director whose ordinarily a resident in Singapore (i.e. usual place of residence is in Singapore).

Startup Visa

You can apply for an Singapore EntrePass (the visa that entitles founders and entrepreneurs to Singapore residency) if you:

• Have started, or intend to start, a private limited company registered with ACRA.
  • If registered, the company must be less than 6 months old on the date you apply.
  • If not registered, you can do so after you know the outcome of your application.
• Meet any of the following innovative criteria for application as an entrepreneur, innovator or investor.

Youth Mobility Visa

• If you are an Australian, French, German, Swiss, Hong Kong, Japanese, New Zealand, UK or US citizen between the ages of 18-30, you may be eligible under the Working Holiday Visa programme (for up to 6 months). Note: you may need a letter of government support to undertake this type of visa.

Singapore Family Visas

If your spouse is a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore, you are probably eligible for residency. Please note that your status of spouse needs to be legally recognised in this country.

Short Term Travel Visas – Singapore

The requirements for travel visas to Singapore are different depending on which passport you have.  To find out if you need a tourist visa to visit Singapore, please use the VisaHQ tool to the right.

Singapore Citizenship

Singapore Residency by Investment programme

The Global Investor Programme (GIP) grants permanent residency to those qualified investors who start a business or invest in Singapore.  To qualify you need to prove that you are either an established business owner, next generation of an established business, founder of a fast growth company or have net investable assets of at least S$200 million (USD 143 million)

There are 3 investment options:

• Invest S$2.5 million in a new business entity or in the expansion of an existing business operation.
• Invest S$2.5 million in a GIP fund that invests in Singapore-based companies.
• Invest S$2.5 million in a new or existing Singapore-based single family office having Assets-Under-Management (AUM*) of at least S$200 million.

Here is the official government website for the Global Investor Programme which gives you more information on the programme and application process.

Click here to read about other investment visas.

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