Singapore offers 5-yr work pass to foreigners

The Singapore government has decided to ease the visa rules for high-salaried expats and a few exceptional talents.

As per the new directive by the Ministry of Manpower, foreigners earning a minimum S$30,000 per month can now secure a five-year work pass, with a provision to allow their dependents to seek employment.

Apart from that, exceptional candidates in sports, arts, science and academia who don’t meet the salary criteria are also eligible for the long-term visa under the so-called Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) pass.

The announcement is expected to attract international business to drive the city-state’s ambitions as a global financial hub, after a pandemic-era slump in white-collar workers from abroad. The salary benchmark is a substitute but the work pass targets the top 5 percent, or even top 2 to 3 percent of talent in the world across these areas. The benchmark salary of S$30,000 is comparable to the top 5 percent of EP holders in Singapore.

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said, “Both businesses and talent are searching for safe and stable places to invest, live and work in. Singapore is such a place. It is therefore timely to leverage on this opportunity to cement Singapore’s position as a global hub for talent.”

He further added, “The pass will be personalised…that allows holders to concurrently start, operate, and work for multiple companies in Singapore at any one time,” the ministry said. “Their spouses will be able to work on a letter of consent.”