Singapore Employment Agency
Employment Pass Application, Renewal and Appeal Guide
Reviewed against official guidance on 8 September 2026. Prepared by the Little Big Employment Agency editorial team.
Treat an Employment Pass as a complete employment process: fair recruitment, accurate evidence, an application, issuance and ongoing administration.
Before application: fair recruitment
Where the advertising requirement applies, keep the MyCareersFuture vacancy open for at least 14 consecutive days and consider applicants fairly before making an offer. The role, employer and offered salary must match the application. The advertised maximum salary cannot exceed twice the minimum, and the offered salary must fall within the range.
Changing material advertisement details requires a new advertisement and another 14-day period. An advertisement closed or expired for over three months cannot be reused. Exemptions include firms with fewer than ten employees, vacancies paying at least S$22,500 fixed monthly salary, and specified short-term or transfer situations. An advertising exemption does not remove fair hiring obligations.
Source: MOM fair consideration requirements.
Check the candidate and the employer
Use the current EP eligibility and COMPASS guide before assembling the file. Check the candidate’s age, sector, fixed monthly salary and any claimed exemption. Keep the basis for each answer with the file. Company registration alone does not establish that a candidate qualifies.
Prepare a consistent document pack
Follow MOM’s document list and the application prompts. These include identity information and, where relevant, qualification verification. Submit an original non-English document together with its English translation as one file. A qualification certificate and acceptable verification proof serve different purposes; check whether proof is required for the points or application being submitted.
Source: MOM EP document requirements.
Before submitting, compare passport spelling, employer identity, role, salary and dates across the form and supporting records. Ask the candidate to clarify discrepancies. Keep the documents readable and avoid unsupported claims or a large bundle of irrelevant material.
Application, IPA and issuance are separate
The employer or appointed employment agency applies. Once approved, follow the in-principle approval letter for entry and issuance steps. Complete any required medical examination, document verification and registration. The notification letter and SGWorkPass record show the next operational steps. A proposed start date should allow for these steps, rather than relying on an estimated approval day.
Source: MOM EP application process.
Renew before expiry
Most EP renewals may be filed up to six months before expiry; EP (Sponsorship) uses a three-month window. A renewed EP can last up to three years. The standard online service processes the application or provides an update within ten business days. Issuance costs S$225, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa where applicable.
The candidate must still satisfy the applicable qualifying salary and COMPASS requirements, unless exempt. Renewal is not guaranteed. Update the employer information, follow the IPA and issue the pass before the earlier of the IPA or current pass expiry. Do not assume a pending renewal extends the current pass.
Source: MOM EP renewal.
A rejected application: address the actual reason
An appeal must be submitted within three months of rejection by the employer or authorised party that submitted the application. Read the rejection advisory and address its issues. An unchanged application with a longer cover letter is not a substitute for resolving the problem. Follow the advisory on whether supporting documents or remarks are required; unnecessary attachments can delay processing. If the appeal period is missed, a new application is needed.
Source: MOM EP appeals.
When employment ends
An EP normally must be cancelled within one week after the last day of notice. Related family passes are also cancelled. Check final salary, applicable tax clearance, travel and lawful stay before completing the transaction. A Short-Term Visit Pass may provide stay for up to 90 days, but it does not allow continued work. Use the actual granted expiry date. Becoming a Singapore PR is one of the situations where MOM says a separate EP cancellation is not needed.
Source: MOM EP cancellation.
Make the file easy to manage
Record the vacancy dates, document version, submission reference, request deadlines, IPA deadline, issuance date and renewal reminder in one checklist. Assign an owner and a backup person. This reduces missed steps when the hiring manager, candidate and HR team work across different time zones.
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