Singapore’s thriving business environment and pro-business policies have attracted professionals from all over the world to bring their families here. According to data from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), as of December 2024, there were 202,100 foreign professionals working in Singapore on an Employment Pass (EP).
Singapore’s diverse work visas, such as the Employment Pass (EP), EntrePass, and Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), offer visa holders flexibility and freedom to work in Singapore. Visas available to the family members of Singapore work visa holders, namely the Dependant’s Pass (DP) and the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), provide expatriates with the flexibility to live, study, and travel in Singapore. However, holding either of these two passes does not automatically grant the right to work freely in Singapore.
If you are a DP or LTVP holder and wish to work legally in Singapore, what are your options?
Option 1: Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC)
A new scheme by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM)—the Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC)—grants its holders the legal right to work in Singapore. The difference between a PLOC and a Letter of Consent (LOC) is that an LOC requires you to have a job offer before you can apply, whereas a PLOC does not require you to find a job first.
During the application or renewal of your LTVP/LTVP+ with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), you can opt to apply for a PLOC. The validity of the PLOC is the same as your LTVP/LTVP+. This means that if your LTVP/LTVP+ expires or is canceled, the PLOC will also no longer be valid.
You are eligible to apply for a PLOC if you meet any of the following conditions:
- You are the spouse or unmarried child of a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- You have obtained an LTVP/LTVP+ from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
You can apply for a PLOC if you have the following need:
- You want the flexibility to look for a job in Singapore on your own schedule.
However, if you are not eligible for a PLOC and you still wish to work in Singapore, you have another option—applying for a Letter of Consent (LOC) through your future employer.
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Option 2: Letter of Consent (LOC)
The Letter of Consent (LOC) issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) grants its holders the legal right to work for a registered company in Singapore.
There is no quota on the number of LOC holders a Singapore company can hire, which means employers in Singapore have fewer concerns when hiring LOC holders.
You are eligible to apply for an LOC if you meet any of the following conditions:
- A Dependant’s Pass (DP) holder linked to an Employment Pass (EP), EntrePass, or Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holder, with at least 3 months’ validity from the date of application.
- A Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holder linked to a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident (PR), with at least 3 months’ validity from the date of application.
- A confirmed job offer from a Singapore employer.
The LOC is applied for by the employer or a designated agency on behalf of the DP or LTVP holder. You will need to provide written consent to your employer or agent to apply for the LOC.
In most cases, an LOC application takes up to 1 week to process, and the applicant can start work after receiving approval and the LOC. The validity of the LOC is the same as the DP or LTVP.
If DP and LTVP holders belong to the following industries, additional documents may be required:
- Regional representatives of overseas companies
- Healthcare professionals (dentists, doctors, nurses)
- Football players and coaches
- Lawyers
- Pharmacists and therapists (rehabilitation therapy, physiotherapy, radiotherapy, speech therapy)
- Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners
- Dietitians
LOC applications are reviewed by the Ministry of Manpower based on the applicant’s individual experience and qualifications, as well as the feasibility and necessity for the Singapore employer to hire the LOC applicant.
You can apply for a PLOC if you have the following needs:
- You have received a job offer and want to start working in Singapore as soon as possible.
- You do not hold any directorship or shareholder positions in the company you work for.
- You want to work in Singapore with no minimum salary requirement and no additional qualification requirements (unless specified by the Singapore employer).
Option 3: Obtain an Employment Pass (EP)
Besides being family members of Singapore work visa holders, DP and LTVP holders can also apply for a Singapore Employment Pass (EP).
An Employment Pass can provide greater flexibility for those who wish to work in Singapore, including holding a directorship in a registered Singapore company.
A DP or LTVP holder with an EP will no longer be affected by their family member’s work visa and can freely renew and cancel their own EP. If the family member’s Singapore work visa expires, they can still legally work in Singapore.
However, it is important to note that DP or LTVP holders need to meet stricter requirements to successfully obtain an EP. They must meet the following conditions:
- A minimum monthly salary of S$5,600, with a higher minimum of S$6,200 for applicants in the financial sector. This salary requirement typically applies to recent graduates, with higher salary expectations for more experienced professionals.
- Possess relevant professional experience.
- Hold a tertiary qualification from a reputable university. The formal education requirement may be relaxed for those with extensive professional experience and a high salary.
To apply for an EP, the Singapore company hiring you will need:
- EP Application Form 8, officially signed and stamped by the hiring Singapore company.
- A copy of your latest resume and relevant educational certificates.
- A photocopy of your passport’s personal information page.
- A copy of the business profile of the hiring Singapore company.
- A detailed description of your job responsibilities.
- A detailed description of the business activities and/or products of the hiring Singapore company.
Most EP applications take about 10 working days to process. However, EP applications for professionals in specialized industries such as financial services, healthcare, law, media, and sports may take longer to process, as they require additional clearance from the respective Singapore regulatory bodies before an EP can be granted. A new EP can be granted for up to 2 years and is renewable.
Apply for an EP if you meet the following conditions:
- You want greater flexibility in your career, independent of your family member’s work visa.
- You will be holding a director position or starting your own company.
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