The Personalized Employment Pass Scheme Of Singapore
The Personalized Employment Pass (PEP) scheme of Singapore aims to entice highly skilled foreign professionals to reside and work in Singapore with a work visa that does not require a job lined up in Singapore before one can apply for the visa, provided they meet the income requirement.
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The PEP also offers foreign professionals more job flexibility, enabling them to shift between employers and industries seamlessly, eliminating the need to apply for a new employment pass every time they change jobs.
Overview Of Singapore’s Personalized Employment Pass
For higher-income foreigners and Employment Pass (EP) holders of Singapore, the PEP offers more flexibility by waiving the job requirement at the time of application. What’s more, there is no need to apply for a new employment pass when changing jobs.
For the latest features and requirements related to PEP, visit the PEP section of Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower website. There you can also find out about the latest application fees, how long the application will take, how to appeal if your application is rejected, and more.
Key Benefits Of Personalized Employment Pass
The PEP offers high-skilled foreign professionals looking to live and work in Singapore several benefits, including job flexibility, longer stay options, and options for family members to join them in Singapore.
Job Flexibility
The PEP’s most significant advantage is its job flexibility. Unlike other Singaporean employment passes, the PEP isn’t linked to a specific employer or industry, allowing holders to switch jobs and industries without requiring a new employment pass for each transition.
Longer Stay In Singapore
PEP holders may stay in Singapore for up to six months between jobs without needing to apply for a new employment pass. This gives them plenty of time to find a new job and prepare for their next move.
Options For Family
PEP holders may bring their spouse and children to Singapore on a Dependant’s Pass, allowing them to live, work, and study in the country. With a Long-Term Visit Pass, PEP holders may also bring the following people into Singapore:
- Common-law spouse
- Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 or above
- Unmarried stepchildren below 21 years of age
- Parents
Limitations Of PEP
The PEP has its own set of limitations and inconveniences that you should be aware of. We have identified income requirements, short grace periods, non-renewability, the need to apply for separate passes for family members, and restricted work options as the major limitations of the PEP.
Steep Salary Requirement
The PEP not only has high-income requirements for applicants as explained below, but even after it is issued, the holder must make at least SGD $144,000 per calendar year in order to keep their PEP. PEPs issued from September 1, 2023, onwards will raise this bar to SGD $270,000 per calendar year.
Short Grace Period
PEP holders who lose their jobs have a grace period of only six months to secure a new job. If they fail to obtain new employment within this period, their PEP will be canceled, and they will have to leave Singapore.
What’s more, the annual total salary requirement will not be adjusted downwards even if a PEP holder is not employed for some time of the year, meaning they still have to earn at least SGD $144,000 during the remaining months in which they are employed–and this bar will be raised soon as noted.
Non-Renewability
The PEP is valid for three years and is non-renewable. PEP holders who wish to stay longer must get an EP or S Pass. Although by itself this usually does not pose any problem for PEP holders, it also means they must get used to the limitations of the other employment passes eventually.
Additional Passes For Family Members Needed
Although PEP holders can bring their spouse and children to Singapore on a Dependant’s Pass, separate application fees will need to be paid and additional administrative workload will be incurred. Besides, there is no guarantee that these additional applications will be approved.
What’s more, even if a family member already has a Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass, a separate application is required for each individual. These related applications can be submitted with the PEP application.
Restricted Work Options
PEP holders are prohibited from engaging in the following while in Singapore:
- Self-employment
- Freelance work
- Starting their own business
Eligibility For PEP
The main eligibility criterion for the PEP relates to salary income. If you are an overseas foreign professional, your last drawn fixed monthly salary overseas must be at least SGD $18,000, and your last drawn salary should have been no more than 6 months before you apply.
If you are currently holding an EP, the requirement is lowered to a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD $22,500, which is benchmarked against the top 10% of EP holders.
Meeting these eligibility criteria does not guarantee approval for the PEP. The Singaporean government evaluates each application on an individual basis, taking into account factors such as:
- Applicant’s qualifications
- Applicant’s work experience
- Demand for applicant’s skills in Singapore
Application Process Of PEP
To apply for a PEP, applicants must submit an online application. After in-principle approval is obtained, the applicant must go to Singapore to get the pass issued. Some successful applicants will further be required to have their fingerprints and photo registered. The steps are as follows:
Submit an Application
Applicants must submit an online application and pay an application fee of SGD $105. The processing time is typically 8 weeks, but some applications will take longer to process.
Enter Singapore And Get The Pass Issued
Successful applicants will receive an in-principle approval (IPA) letter by email, and they must go to Singapore to get the pass issued within 6 months. To enter Singapore, they must have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with WHO EUL vaccines, including a booster if eligible.
Have Fingerprints And Photo Registered
As noted, some successful applicants will further be required to have their fingerprints and photo registered. If so, they must complete this step within 2 weeks after their PEP is issued. An appointment must first be made with the Employment Pass Services Centre (EPSC).
On the day of the appointment, the new PEP holder must bring the following:
- Original passport
- Appointment letter
- Notification letter
After all the steps are performed and the documents are verified, the PEP card will be delivered to the designated address of the applicant within 5 working days. The authorized recipient will get an email or SMS containing the delivery details 1 working day or more prior to the delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum academic qualification for PEP applicants?
There is no minimum academic qualification that all PEP applicants must possess.
Must PEP applicants be employed in particular fields to qualify?
Journalists, editors, sub-editors, and producers are not eligible for the PEP. Other than that, people employed in all fields are eligible to apply provided they meet the other PEP requirements.
Is there an upper age limit for PEP applicants?
There is no upper age limit for PEP applicants.
Conclusion
For those who qualify, the PEP represents a great option for working in Singapore. Not only does it waive the need to find a job in Singapore from outside of the country, but there is no need to apply for a new work visa with each change of jobs.
However, the requirements of the PEP are also rather onerous. Even if an applicant clears the initial income bar, they must keep making a very decent salary to keep the PEP. While PEP holders can spend as much as 6 months looking for a job, the income requirement will not be lowered accordingly.
Therefore, potential applicants must weigh their options, and think very carefully about whether the PEP is the most suitable work pass for them. Whatever Singapore pass you choose in the end, one thing is clear though–you’ll need adequate expat health or international health coverage.
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Since joining Pacific Prime, Martin has become even more aware of the gap between the true value of insurance products and most people’s appreciation of it, and developed a passion for demystifying and simplifying matters, so that more people get the protection they need at a cost they can easily afford.
In his free time, Martin attends concerts of various genres, and plays the violin with piano accompaniment he pre-recorded himself or played live by his niece.
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