The number of Work Permit (WP) and S Pass holders employers may recruit depend largely on the industry they are classified under. Business employers who have never applied for WPs or S Passes before are required to submit an application for Industrial Classification*, prior to submitting the WP/S Pass applications. Due to the shorter processing time, we encourage you to submit the application for Industrial Classification electronically.
Mode of Application | Processing Time | Application Outcome |
Online
Note: This online service is available from 8am to 10pm on Mondays to Saturdays, excluding public holidays. (SingPassis required)
| Two working days | Can be printed online |
Manual  | Seven working days | Will be mailed to you |
* If the company/firm has registered with Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority for less than six months and does not have a Central Provident Fund (CPF) account, please approach CPF Board to open an account. The new start up should contribute CPF for the local employees for at least one month before it makes an application for Industrial Classification.
EP Online provides faster processing times for applications and renewals of Employment Pass and S Passes. As much as 80% of all applications are processed within seven days. Users may also check the status of their applications online. Do register for a new EP Online account now!
For EP Online applications*
Companies are not required to fax relevant supporting documents to Work Pass Division for new S Pass applications submitted via EP Online. For some cases, we may require the applicant to furnish documents when the application is still under review.
For approved applications, the online In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will specify which supporting document(s) are to be submitted at the Work Pass Division counters during the collection of the pass(es).
For manual applications*
Employers should continue to submit the supporting documents for manual applications.
* Please note that if you do not indicate in your S Pass application (both EP Online and Manual) that you also wish to be considered for an Employment Pass (EP), you cannot appeal for an EP if your S Pass application is rejected. Any subsequent requests to be considered for an EP should be submitted as a new application and a $10 administrative fee will apply.
An administrative fee of $10 will be charged for each S Pass application submitted. For submission of applications via EP Online, payment can be made by Visa/MasterCard or NETS Debit.
Mode of submission | Acknowledgement | Processing time |
| Instant | · 80% of applications are processed within seven days
· The applicant may check application status via EP Online |
For manual applications:
1. Complete the S Pass application form; and
- Refer to the List of Standard Occupation before you fill in the 'Occupation' field.
List of Standard Occupation (Letters starting from) |
| | |
For more information on the general description of the various occupation groupings,
please refer to Singapore Department of Statistics website under Appendices I and II.
2. Submit the completed form and make administrative fee payment at any SingPostoffice
An administrative fee of $10 will be charged for every S Pass application submitted. For manual submission, payment can made at the SingPost post offices using cash, NETS or CashCard.
Mode of submission | Acknowledgement | Processing time |
Manual application | All manual applications submitted at any SingPost post offices in Singapore will be routed to MOM. A SingPost payment advice slip will be issued at the post office.
The Ministry will no longer send acknowledgement letters to employers to inform on the foreigner's Foreign Identification Number (FIN).
| · The processing time is about five weeks. You may check the assigned FIN and application status online about 14 days after submitting the application.
Check Application Status
The application outcome will be mailed to the employer about five weeks from the date of application. |
