Employment Pass Eligibility Changes in Singapore
August 22, 2011— Foreign nationals applying for new employment passes in the Q1 and P2 categories will face tougher eligibility requirements starting January 1, 2012, when Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will raise the minimum salary for each category and introduce a heightened education requirement for the Q1 pass in an effort to maintain the country’s current level of foreign workers in the face of increased demand.
The P and Q employment pass categories are available to foreign nationals who will enter Singapore to work as managers, professionals, administrators, or specialists provided that they meet minimum salary requirements, and possess professional credentials and post-secondary educational qualifications adequate for their position or relevant work experience.
Q1 pass holders will have to earn a monthly salary of at least S$3,000 (approximately US$2,492), an increase from the current minimum of S$2,800. Individuals termed “older applicants” by the MOM must be offered a higher monthly salary that is commensurate with their work experience. The MOM has not defined “older applicants,” although the term is presumed to refer to Q1 applicants who possess several years of work experience and are not recent university graduates. A Q1 applicant seeking to qualify on the basis of foreign educational qualifications will have to be a graduate of an educational institution recognized by the MOM. Because the list of recognized foreign schools changes from time to time, Q1 pass applicants and their prospective employers are advised to check the most current version of the list before filing their applications once the new requirement takes effect.
P2 pass applicants will have to earn at least S$4,500 (approximately US$3,741) per month, an increase from the current minimum of S$4,000 currently. There are no new education requirements for P2 applicants.
The MOM will retain the discretion to approve applications from foreign nationals who do not meet the new standards but who have extremely strong employment histories, such as those with exceptional skill sets, high educational achievements, and a history of receiving significant salaries or a demonstrated strong career path.
There will be no change to the minimum salaries for the P1 and Personalized Employment Pass categories, both of which require a minimum monthly salary of at least S$8,000, or the S pass category, which requires a minimum monthly salary of at least S$2,000.
Transitional Measures for Current Q1 and P2 Pass Holders
Current Q1 and P2 pass holders will be subject to the new minimum salary requirements based on the expiration date of their current pass, as follows:
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If the pass expires before January 1, 2012, the foreign national will be granted a one-time renewal of up to two years if he or she earns at least S$2,500 monthly for a Q1 pass or S$3,500 monthly for a P2 pass.
If the pass expires between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2012, the foreign national will be granted a one-time renewal of up to one year he or she earns at least S$2,800 for a Q1 pass or S$4,000 for a P2 pass.
If the pass expires on or after July 1, 2012, the foreign national is subject to the full new minimum salary requirement of S$3,000 for a Q1 pass and S$4,500 for a P2 pass when applying for a renewal.
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