What Is Personalised Employment Pass?
If you are looking for a work pass that allows you the freedom and flexibility to explore different work opportunities, the Singapore Personalized Employment Pass (PEP) will be the best fit for you. Not only does it offer more benefits than the standard Employment Pass, it will also allow you to switch between jobs easily as a foreign working professional. There are several criteria that need to be fulfilled before you can apply for the PEP, and this article will provide you with more information about PEP in Singapore.
What is a Singapore Personalised Employment Pass?
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) in Singapore is a special and only type of employment pass for foreign professionals that is not tied to a specific employer. PEPs are intended for highly qualified individuals who wish to work in Singapore and provide the flexibility for pass holders to switch employment in Singapore without the need for re-application of employment pass or an entry visa should the pass holder is not unemployed for more than six months.
Personalised Employment Pass vs Employment Pass
Personalised Employment Pass and the Employment Pass are similar in a way that both passes allow the foreign professional to be employed and live in Singapore, they can even travel in and out of Singapore without the need of entry visas. Both passes also allow the pass holder to bring in their family members under Dependent’s Passes and Long-Term Visit Passes.
The PEP will allows holders to change their profession without needing to apply for a new Employment Pass. They will only need to notify the Ministry of Manpower of this change, which makes it more convenient.
However, Personalised Employment Pass holders must earn a fixed salary of at least S$144,000 per annum throughout the duration of the pass (1 – 3 years). The PEP also cannot be renewed, but holders will be able to switch back to a standard Employment Pass.
Limitations
Personalized Employment Pass holders are not allowed to set up a business in Singapore. However, Employment Pass holders are allowed to own a Singapore registered company. However, the Personalized Employment Pass holders are allowed to be salary-drawing directors of a company that is not owned by them.
As mentioned above, the Personalised Employment Pass also cannot be renewed upon the expiration of the given period. Upon expiration, you can apply for an Employment Pass if you wish to continue your employment in Singapore or you can apply for permanent residency (Singapore P.R).
Eligibility for the Personalised Employment Pass
In order to be eligible for the Personalised Employment Pass, you’ll need to fulfil one of the following criteria:
- You are an earning a minimum salary of S$12,000 monthly, or fixed annual salary of at least S$144,000 in the last 12 months.
- You have drawn fixed salary of at least S$18,000 a month and your last drawn salary is not more than six months from the time of the Personalised Employment Pass application.
Documents Required for the Application Process
If you are currently an Employment Pass holder looking to switch to the Personalised Employment Pass, you are not required to provide any additional documents. However, you are still required to complete the Personalised Employment Pass application form, in which you need to fill out these details:
- Passport details
- Name and address of employer (if applicable)
- Job and salary details (if applicable)
- Local contact details (for overseas professionals, the local contact details can be furnished upon approval)
After you have completed the application form, you will need to submit all the documents below to EP Online, the online portal for submitting any work passes.
- Completed application form
- A copy of your passport
- Employment Contract
- Past three months’ salary details
- Bank account statements
- Latest tax statement
- Latest resume and relevant educational certificates
All non-English documents must be submitted along with an official English translation done by a certified translator, High Commission/Embassy, or a notary public.
Processing of Applications
Most Personalised Employment Pass applications are processed within eight weeks from the time of submission.
Upon approval, you will be sent an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which is valid for six months which you would have to collect your pass within this period from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) office in Singapore. Other necessary documents to be submitted will be also requested in the letter.
You can visit the Ministry of Manpower website for the most updated information on PEP application. If you are a working professional keen on applying for a work pass in Singapore, contact us to check your eligibility or answer any of your queries.
