Eligible employers can hire foreign performing artistes to work in public entertainment outlets such as bars, hotels and nightclubs.
Who can apply
If you want to hire a foreign performing artiste to work in Singapore, your business must:
- Have a CAT 1 Public Entertainment Licence issued by the Singapore Police Force.
- Operate at least 6 hours a day.
- Be classified as a bar, discotheque, lounge, nightclub, pub, hotel, private club or restaurant.
- Employ at least one local employee who earns the Local Qualifying Salary.
Quota and levy
The number of performing artistes that you can hire is limited by a quota and subject to a levy.
You can employ up to 8 foreign performing artistes. Larger outlets can employ up to 12 foreign artistes on a case-by-case basis.
You will also need to pay a foreign worker levy for each artiste, depending on how many you hire:
| Number of artistes |
Monthly levy |
| First 8 artistes |
$450 |
| 9 and above |
$750 |
If you fail to maintain at least 1 local employee, you will be charged higher levy for all your artistes.
Eligibility
Source countries/regions
Foreign performing artistes are not subject to source country/region restriction.
Age when applying
The minimum age for all non-domestic foreign workers is 18 years old.
Maximum period of employment
The maximum duration of the Work Permit for performing artistes is 6 months.
Other restrictions
- Foreign performing artistes are not allowed to hold another Work Permit (even for another occupation) for 1 year after they stop work as a performing artiste.
- Foreign performing artistes must only perform jobs related to stage performance, such as singing and dancing. They cannot be deployed to carry out any other jobs within the same business.
- There are also specific activities that are not allowed under SPF’s Entertainment Licensing Conditions, such as mingling with customers.