Work Permit (Foreign Worker) - Other Information
Foreign Worker Going on Home Leave
If a Foreign Worker from a Non-Traditional Source, North Asian Source or People’s Republic of China leaves Singapore on home leave, an employer can choose either to temporarily cancel the Work Permit or not to.
Temporary cancellation of Work Permit
If an employer choose to temporarily cancel Work Permit before the Foreign Worker goes on home leave:
- The duration of the home leave must not be more than 60 calendar days; and
- The Work Permit must be valid for more than three months at the time of cancellation. This is to ensure that there is sufficient time to re-instate/renew the Work Permit following the Foreign Worker’s return to Singapore.
Cancellation
These documents need to be produced at MOM’s Work Pass Services Counters for a temporary cancellation of a Foreign Worker's Work Permit:
Upon cancellation, the Foreign Worker will be issued a Special Pass valid for not more than seven calendar days. The Foreign Worker must surrender this pass at the Immigration Checkpoint when leaving Singapore.
Foreign Worker Levy/Security Bond
The employer’s levy liability ceases on the day the Work Permit is cancelled and resumes on the second day of the Foreign Worker’s return.
The security bond will be discharged once it has been confirmed that the Foreign Worker has left Singapore. An employer must execute a new security bond before the Foreign Worker returns.
In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter
An IPA letter to re-instate the Work Permit will be mailed to the employer within 10 days of the Work Permit cancellation. A duplicate copy can be obtained at the MOM Building.
The letter is valid for only 60 calendar days after the Work Permit is cancelled. The Foreign Worker must return to Singapore before the letter expires.
Returning to Singapore
The Work Permit can be re-instated only after the Foreign Worker returns from home leave. Please approach MOM’s Work Pass Services Counters to reinstate the Work Permit within seven days of the Foreign Worker’s return.
Failure to return to Singapore
If the Foreign Worker fails to return to Singapore following home leave, please cancel the Work Permit immediately to cease the levy liability.
No cancellation of Work Permit
Foreign Worker Levy
The employer should continue to pay the Foreign Worker Levy while the Foreign Worker is away on home leave.
Upon the Foreign Worker's return to Singapore, please apply to waive the levy either:
Please bring along the Foreign Worker’s passport or boarding passes for verification. The waiver of levy should be applied within a year from the end of the month in which the levy was paid.
Returning to Singapore
The Foreign Worker must produce the Work Permit card and passport to re-enter Singapore after home leave.
Failure to return to Singapore
If the Foreign Worker fails to return to Singapore following the home leave, please cancel the Work Permit immediately to cease the levy liability.
Upon confirmation that the Foreign Worker has departed and not re-entered Singapore, an employer will be discharged of liabilities under the security bond.
To prove that the Foreign Worker has left Singapore, please keep a copy of the travel ticket or a record of the Foreign Worker’s departure itinerary. Should the Foreign Worker re-enter Singapore before the security bond has been discharged, please arrange for the Foreign Worker’s immediate repatriation, or the security bond may be forfeited. Appeals for refund of the forfeited Security Bond will not be considered.
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