Global Expansion Resources | Singapore
Singapore Work Permits & Visas
Helping businesses expand into Singapore with the leading PEO company
Comply with Singapore visa laws and obtain the correct work permits for employees working in Singapore using our expert PEO services
Expanding into Singapore is an exciting venture, especially due to its strong, growing economy and extensive global connectivity. However, global expansion also comes with a raft of logistical challenges. Obtaining a work visa in Singapore is one of these obstacles.
While obtaining a work permit is difficult at the best of times, new rules around Dependant Passes in Singapore have meant that navigating visas have become more difficult for businesses expanding into Singapore. As such applying for visas in Singapore takes up a colossal amount of time and resources, not to mention incurring additional costs.
Our Singapore PEO Services can help you apply for the correct work permit in Singapore, helping you comply with the latest regulations so you can focus on growing your business. Read on to find out all you need to know about Singapore work visas and how our PEO services can help you navigate each step.
What’s included:
HR software
Bespoke employee management software included in our PEO service.
Global compliance
We have expert teams across the world to ensure global compliance.
Transparent pricing
Avoid hidden costs and account for our fee with our transparent pricing.
Singapore Expansion Advice
What are the different types of Singapore work visa?
As with many countries, Singapore has different work permits, or passes as they are called in Singapore, for different roles and skill levels. The main type of work permits include:
- Employment pass – candidates must earn $4,500 a month to qualify
- S pass – mid-skill level earning $2,500 a month
- Personalised employment pas – offers greater flexibility for higher earners
- EntrePass – for entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business in Singapore
Each visa has different requirements and therefore requires different documentation. Likewise, there are many more passes than those listed above, all with varying eligibility. It is important that you have an in-depth knowledge of each visa, its eligibility and application processes to ensure full compliance when engaging people in Singapore.
To find out more about pass types in Singapore and their eligibility, visit the Singapore government website.
How do I apply for a Singapore work visa?
Employers or employment agents are required to apply for work visas on behalf of employees. While each pass in Singapore has different eligibility requirements, and therefore each have their own stringent application processes, for the most common type of work visa and Employment Pass, you will need:
- A copy of your employee’s passport
- Any educational certificates, e.g., degree certificates that are required
- Hiring company’s business page or information registered with ACRA
If documents are not in English, then these will need to be translated using a third-party translator if required. Both the original and English documents should be uploaded together in one file. You can find out more about the required documents on the Singapore Government website.
For applications submitted online the process usually takes around 3 weeks. However, for overseas companies without a Singapore-registered office, applications can take up to 8 weeks. Meanwhile, if there are errors with the application or if further information is needed, then applications can take considerably longer to process.
As you can see, for overseas companies, applying for a Singapore work visa is complex as well as time-consuming and can put your expansion plans on hold.
How much do Singapore Employment Passes cost?
The cost of an employment visa in Singapore varies depending on the type of visa. However, the Singapore Government gives a rough cost of $105 for an Employment Pass.
This does not include the cost of document translations as well as other extra costs incurred such as staff to process applications or the cost of possible re-applications or follow up questions.
Have changes to Dependant Passes impacted visa applications?
As a result of changes to Dependant Passes in Singapore, obtaining work permits in Singapore has become increasingly more difficult. Essentially, where dependants of those working in Singapore could work on a Dependant’s Pass they now require their own visa to live and work in Singapore.
In order to overcome changes to Dependant’s Passes, employers will have to sponsor work permits for employee spouses or instead risk losing current and new employees.
This makes visa applications even more complex, time-consuming and costly not to mention increasing compliance risk due to the involvement of a second visa for spouses.
These changes to employment laws in Singapore and the complex and costly ways in which businesses would need to overcome them, reinforce the importance of employing a recruitment and PEO partner in Singapore.
You can read more on the changes to Singapore employment laws and visas in our blog.
Why use a PEO partner to obtain a Singapore work permit?
Applying for a Singapore visa is a complex process laden with risk. Applying independently can result in non-compliance, which in turn runs a huge risk of fines, penalties and can jeopardise your new expansion into Singapore. Not to mention that applying for an employment pass is only one task to overcome when expanding your business into Singapore. Businesses also need to consider payroll, tax, national insurance contributions, recruitment and employment contracts.
A PEO partner can take all of this from your shoulders, allowing you to focus on your company’s expansion knowing that visa applications and employee management is taken care of compliantly. If you want to find out more about how our PEO Services in Singapore can support your global expansion, call our experts on +44 (0) 20 8129 6860 or email [email protected] to get started.
Don’t take our word for it!
“
Talk to an expert today
Whatever stage you’re at in your global expansion journey, we can help.
Contact us today to see how Leap29 can be your trusted PEO partner that supports your global expansion.
Singapore
Expansion Resources
Local expertise, global reach
Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – with or without your own foreign entities. We can help you set up and manage foreign entities – or act as an Employer of Record. We can also help with multi-country payroll and all your HR management. Wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can help.
180+
Malaysia
Germany
Finland
Singapore
Spain
France
Turkey
Australia
Malta
Ireland
We make expansion in Singapore simple
Employing people compliantly across international borders can be challenging but we make it simple, bringing down barriers and making light work of the complexities. We offer the full range of compliant global expansion solutions so that wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can support you.
EOR Services
Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – without setting up new entities. We’ll shoulder responsibility as Employer of Record (EOR), making sure all your international employment is fully compliant.
We can also take care of your global HR from multi-country payroll to onboarding and offboarding.
Payroll Solutions
Getting global payroll right is one of the hardest challenges for any business expanding into new countries. We can shoulder this burden, freeing up valuable in-house resource to focus on growing your business.
Consider us an extension of your HR team, ready to answer all your questions large and small.
Global Mobility
Mobilise your people across borders with ease. Relocating to work abroad can feel daunting. But with Leap29 at your side, your employees can feel safe and supported.
We’ll guide your employees through the complexities of working in another country, helping them settle in fast.
Entity Services
Follow the opportunities to grow your business – wherever they take you.
We lighten the load of establishing and managing foreign entities and can help you solve all your entity challenges from running compliant, accurate multi-country payroll to local accounting and financial reporting.
PEO Solutions
Employ international talent wherever and whenever you need it – and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you’re fully compliant. Our Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) services allow you to focus on growing your business while we handle compliance, multi-country payroll and your global HR.
Support & Advisory
The help you need to make your global growth effortless – trusted guidance and advice on your expansion challenges large and small.
HR Support
When you’re employing people in lots of different countries, answering just a simple query can take a disproportionate amount of time for your in-house HR team. Our HR Support service reduces this burden, saving you time and money and giving you the confidence of knowing your employees are well looked after, whatever their location.
Contractor Payroll
Enjoy compliant contractor payroll that meets all local requirements for tax, social security and employment legislation. We understand the importance of compliant contractor payroll to the success of your business and will pay your contractors on time, every time.
Start hiring today – and onboard within hours.
Pricing
Budget confidently with transparent, competitive fees and no hidden costs.
Want us to shoulder employer liability and take care of your global HR through our EOR solution? No problem. Just want global payroll? You can have that too. Pick the solutions that your individual business needs.