Skip to main content
 
About us
Search

Removal of Entry Approval Requirement For All Work Permit Holders and Launch of Onboard Booking System

Foreign manpower Work passes and permits

From 1 May 2022, fully vaccinated non-Malaysian Work Permit holders (WPHs) holding an In-Principle Approval (IPA) in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process (CMP) sectors no longer need to apply for entry approvals to come into Singapore1. With this, all fully vaccinated work pass holders and their dependants no longer require an entry approval to enter Singapore. This is in line with the easing of border measures, as the local COVID-19 situation stabilises.

2 As is already the case, these WPHs holding an IPA must continue to be onboarded at the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Onboard centres upon their arrival. Employers whose WPHs are required to undergo the Onboard programme must ensure that they have booked a slot at the Onboard centre through a new booking system from 1 May 20222.

Launch of New Onboard Booking System

3 Employers of all non-Malaysian WPHs in the CMP sectors holding IPAs are required to use the new Onboard Booking system to secure onboarding slots before their WPHs arrive in Singapore. This requirement will also be extended to WPHs from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan from 1 May 2022 as well. This simplifies the entry processes through a convenient one-stop service for such employers.

4 Employers must ensure that their WPHs are fully vaccinated and:

a. Undergo the two-day Pre-Departure Preparatory Programme (PDPP) in countries where the PDPP is available3, before entering Singapore;

b. Report to the Onboard centre immediately upon arrival to complete the residential onboarding programme, including the Settling-In-Programme (SIP), for up to 4 days.

Pre-Departure Preparatory Programme (PDPP) requirement

5 As previously announced on 6 March 2022, vaccinated WPHs in the CMP sectors holding an IPA can only enter Singapore through a single entry lane from 1 May 2022. These workers must undergo a two-day PDPP if it is available in their source countries (details can be found in the Annex). This will ensure that worker inflows in the CMP sectors will remain resilient. BCA, MOM, and EDB will continue to review the PDPP to ensure it remains relevant as the global situation evolves. More details of the PDPP and the list of PDPP providers can be found here.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

6 Action will be taken against those who fail to adhere to the PDPP and onboarding requirements. Employers are urged to take proactive actions to ensure their WPHs comply with these requirements to avoid disruptions to work pass transactions or having their security bond forfeited.

 
7 More details on the requirements can be found on the MOM website.


FOOTNOTE

  1. Since 31 Mar 2022, 2359 hours, all fully vaccinated WPHs in non-CMP sectors, Migrant Domestic Workers and existing CMP WPHs holding work permits, are not required to apply for entry approvals.
  2. Before 1 May 2022, employers should still apply for entry approval from MOM regardless of the date of entry of the WPH into Singapore. Employers who have obtained an entry approval before 1 May 2022 for entry of their WPHs into Singapore on or after 1 May 2022 need not book a slot through the new booking system for these workers. A slot at the Onboard centre will be automatically reserved for these workers.
  3. The PDPP is presently available in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. The PDPP will continue to include a pre-departure test (PDT) as part of the regime.

ANNEX

Annex - Removal of Entry Approvals and New Onboard Booking System