EP Application Status: What Each MOM Status Means and How Long It Takes

Short answer: MOM processes or gives an update on an online Employment Pass or S Pass application within 10 business days, and you can check the EP application status online after that. If it is still pending, MOM has usually emailed the employer for more documents. Only the employer or its authorised agent can act on it.

This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. For matters needing legal advice, we work with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms.

How long does an EP or S Pass application take?

MOM’s published benchmark for an online EP or S Pass application is 10 business days, counted as “processed or given an update”. It is a benchmark for a first response, not a guarantee of an approval within that time.

The benchmark applies to applications submitted by the employer or its appointed employment agent through EP eService on the myMOM Portal. For an overseas company without a Singapore-registered company, MOM states a longer window of within 6 weeks for most cases. For a Work Permit, MOM says within 1 week for most cases. All three figures are taken from MOM’s “Apply for” pages for each pass, as at 25 October 2026.

Pass	MOM processing time (online)	Source page
Employment Pass	10 business days; 6 weeks for most overseas companies with no Singapore-registered entity	MOM: Apply for an Employment Pass
S Pass	10 business days	MOM: Apply for an S Pass
Work Permit	Within 1 week for most cases	MOM: Apply for a Work Permit

How do I check my EP application status?

The employer or agent checks the status in EP eService, because the application is held in the employer’s myMOM account and not the candidate’s. MOM says you may check the application status online after 10 business days.

1. Log in to the myMOM Portal as the employer or authorised agent.
2. Open Work Passes and choose the application record.
3. Select View details to see the outcome or any action required from you.
4. If MOM has asked for more documents, choose Submit documents on the same record, or use the online form linked in MOM’s email.
5. If the outcome is approved, print the IPA letter. If it is rejected, open the rejection advisory in EP eService.

A candidate who wants an update should ask the HR contact or the employment agent, since MOM states that it will not entertain enquiries from the candidate or anyone other than the employer or authorised third party.

What does each stage of an EP application mean?

An application moves through a few stages, and each has a different next step for the employer. MOM does not publish a glossary of every label shown in EP eService, so the table below describes the stages that MOM’s own pages document.

Stage	What it means	What the employer does next
Submitted and being processed	The application is within MOM’s 10 business day benchmark.	Wait, and check the status after 10 business days.
Pending after 10 business days	MOM has probably asked for more information or documents, and processing can take longer than 10 working days.	Check the email for MOM’s request and submit the documents promptly.
Approved with an IPA letter	The EP is approved in principle. The IPA is a pre-approved single-entry visa for the candidate.	Print the IPA, send the candidate’s copy, and arrange the candidate’s arrival.
Rejected	MOM has issued a rejection advisory with the reasons and advice on next steps.	Read the advisory. Appeal within 3 months only if the reasons can be addressed.
Pass issued	The employer has paid the issuance fee and issued the pass while the candidate is in Singapore.	Give the notification letter to the candidate and book card registration if required.

Why is my EP application pending for more than 10 business days?

The most common documented reason is that MOM needs more information. MOM’s page says that if an application is still pending after 10 business days, the employer should check its email for MOM’s request for additional documents, and that processing may then take longer than 10 working days.

MOM’s appeal guidance also names inconsistencies between the qualification information in the application and the verification proof as an issue to correct. Employers can reduce delays by checking that the declared qualifications, job title and salary match the supporting documents before submitting. Our guides on common EP application mistakes and on earning the 40 COMPASS points cover the checks in more detail.

Two points from MOM’s page are worth acting on while you wait. First, the employer must keep the turnover information for the past 3 years updated before submitting. Second, you should bring the candidate in only once the pass is approved, because MOM states it will not be able to extend their visit pass.

What happens after an EP is approved?

Once approved, the employer prints the IPA letter and sends the candidate’s copy. The IPA is a pre-approved single-entry visa and gives the candidate 6 months to enter Singapore and get the pass issued. It also states whether the candidate needs a medical examination after arrival.

1. The candidate shows the IPA letter to the immigration officer on arrival.
2. The employer logs in to EP eService with the candidate in Singapore and issues the pass. MOM lists a fee of S$225 for each pass, and S$30 for each Multiple Journey Visa where applicable.
3. Both parties receive a notification letter by email. It is valid for 1 month, allows the candidate to start work and to travel in and out of Singapore while waiting for the card, and states whether fingerprint and photo registration is required.
4. If registration is required, the candidate completes it within 2 weeks after the pass is issued, at the Employment Pass Services Centre.
5. The card is delivered within 5 working days after registration or document verification, and the candidate can use the SGWorkPass app for the digital work pass.

The application fee is S$105 per application (MOM, as at 25 October 2026). If the IPA particulars are wrong, correct them before travel, as explained in our guide on correcting IPA details.

What should I do if my EP application is rejected?

Read the rejection advisory in EP eService first, because it sets out the reasons and the advice on what to do next. MOM says you have 3 months to appeal, but you should do so only if you can address the reasons for rejection.

MOM states there will be no change in the outcome unless the appeal contains new information. Supporting documents and remarks are not needed if the candidate can now meet the qualifying salary and COMPASS criteria, or if outstanding issues have been fixed. Examples MOM gives are correcting inconsistencies between the application and the verification proof, meeting the job advertising requirement and resolving IRAS tax matters. If you miss the 3 month period, you must submit a new application. MOM says 85% of appeals are processed within 6 weeks, and you can follow the appeal status in EP eService.

Before any resubmission, use MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool. MOM says you should not apply if the tool shows the candidate does not qualify. Also note that EP qualifying salary and COMPASS rules change for new applications from 1 January 2027: see our salary by age tables for the current and 2027 figures.

How is the S Pass different?

The S Pass has the same 10 business day online benchmark, and the same pattern of checking status, submitting documents and printing an IPA. Two S Pass specifics matter for timing. The candidate’s passport must be valid for at least 7 months, and the company must have a CPF account with the CPF Board for the S Pass quota to be calculated. The S Pass IPA also differs from the EP: it gives the candidate 60 days, not 6 months, to enter Singapore and get the pass issued, and the issuance fee is S$100 rather than S$225.

MOM also says that if the Self-Assessment Tool shows a candidate is eligible, there is around a 90% chance that the candidate will get a pass. If the tool shows the candidate is not eligible, MOM says you should not apply because the application will be rejected. See MOM’s S Pass eligibility page for the tool and current thresholds.

Frequently asked questions

Can the candidate check the EP application status?

No. MOM states that only the employer or the authorised third party that submitted the application can make enquiries or appeals. The candidate should ask the employer or agent.

Is 10 business days a guaranteed decision time?

No. MOM’s wording is “processed or given an update within 10 business days”. If MOM needs more documents, the processing time may be longer.

How long is an EP in-principle approval valid?

MOM states that the IPA gives the candidate 6 months to enter Singapore and get the pass issued.

Can the employer apply for family passes at the same time?

Yes, but MOM advises applying after the main pass is approved. If the EP is rejected, the application fees for each family pass are lost.

How long do I have to appeal a rejected EP?

Three months from the rejection. After that, MOM says a new application is needed.

Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

Last reviewed: 25 October 2026. The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency.