Today, all Work Permit holders are allowed to transfer to another employer at any time while their Work Permit is valid if they have their current employer’s consent.
From 1 July 2022, Work Permit holders will be able to transfer to another employer, without the need for their current employer’s consent, during the 40 to 21 day window before their Work Permit expiry. This is applicable to all business sectors.
MOM will continue to review these COE schemes as and when needed.
Such workers may contact the MOM Contact Centre or approach the ACE officers assigned to their respective dormitories for assistance.
The duration of a Work Permit is generally two years, subject to the validity of the worker’s passport, the security bond and the worker’s employment period, whichever is shorter. Business sectors that require prior approval (PA) will also be subjected to the duration of the prior approval.
For transfers within the respective sectors
More than 40 days to Work Permit expiry
Firms can submit their request via WP Online
Between 21 and 40 days (inclusive) to Work Permit expiry
Firms in the construction and process sectors can use WP Online to hire Work Permit holders within their respective sectors.
Firms in the marine shipyard, manufacturing and services sectors can submit their request to hire transfer workers via this online form. Agreement from the current employer is not needed.
Within 20 days to Work Permit expiry
Firms can submit their request to apply for pre-approval to hire an existing Work Permit holder with consent from the current employer.
Agreement from the current employer is required.
Note: All prevailing Work Permit criteria apply for all new applications.
Firms are allowed to hire Malaysian Work Permit holders who are in Singapore, from any sector. Agreement from the current employer is not required. Hiring firm can continue to use WP Online to hire existing Malaysian Work Permit holders who are in Singapore.
Please see the table below to find out the current and new employers’ responsibilities during the transfer of a migrant worker within their own business sector:
| Work Permit (WP) status |
Who is responsible for worker's upkeep, maintenance and repatriation |
What you need to do next |
| Current employer |
New Employer |
Current employer |
New employer |
Current employer |
New employer |
| Live |
Approved |
✓ |
|
No action needed. |
You can get the WP issued one day after the current WP expires.
|
| Expired |
Approved |
|
✓ |
No action needed. |
Get the WP issued now to avoid any overstaying fine. Submit a request if you need more time to get the pass issued. |
| Expired |
IPA withdrawn or cancelled on or before the worker’s WP expires
|
✓ |
|
You may renew this WP if you have received the renewal notice. Otherwise, please send the worker home.
|
No action needed. |
| Expired |
IPA withdrawn or cancelled after the worker’s WP expires
|
|
✓ |
No action needed. |
You need to arrange to send the worker home. |
The hiring firm will need to submit a new Work Permit application. The current application fee of $35 per application applies.
All parties (i.e. existing employer, worker and new employer), must agree to the transfer arrangement, unless the worker’s Work Permit is expiring between 40 and 21 days (inclusive).
For all transfers, all other prevailing criteria under the respective sectors (e.g. dependency ratio ceiling, source country controls, maximum employment age, man-year-entitlement prior approval) will still apply.
You can only hire existing non-Malaysian Work Permit holders from your own business sector.