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Extension of Stay in Singapore After EP Cancellation (2026)
Short answer: When an Employment Pass is cancelled, your employer or agent can request a Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) through EP eService. Per MOM, as at 26 October 2026, it gives up to 90 days of stay for an EP holder. You cannot work on it. Extensions of an MOM-issued STVP go through MOM, not ICA.
Key facts at a glance
- EP cancellation STVP: valid stay of up to 90 days from the date of application (MOM, as at 26 October 2026). For an S Pass the figure is up to 30 days.
- Your employer or employment agent requests the STVP in EP eService when cancelling the pass. You both receive it by email.
- You cannot work after cancellation, even while waiting to leave Singapore. Overstaying brings a fine and is an offence.
- To stay longer on an MOM-issued STVP, a request goes to MOM 7 to 14 days before expiry, and MOM replies within 7 days.
- ICA’s online extension e-service is for STVPs issued at the border, when 14 days or less remain. Fee: S$40 per block of 90 days from entry (ICA, as at 26 October 2026).
- Family passes tied to your EP are cancelled with it and cannot be reinstated.
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.
If your job has ended and your pass is being cancelled, the first question is how long you may stay and how to extend your stay in Singapore if the job search runs on. This guide covers the STVP that follows an EP cancellation, how its length is set, when an extension is possible, and what it means for job hunting and your family. It replaces our earlier note on extension of stay, which described the border-issued visit pass and some rules that have since changed.
What is the short-term visit pass after an EP is cancelled?
It is a visit pass that lets a former pass holder stay lawfully in Singapore after the work pass ends, so that they can wind up affairs or arrange to leave. It is issued by MOM, not at the airport.
MOM’s guidance for employers says the pass holder must have valid stay after cancellation, otherwise an overstaying fine is imposed. The employer or agent requests the STVP in EP eService on the myMOM Portal, either when cancelling or within a day after the EP expiry date. The pass holder and the employer both receive it by email, and you show it with your passport when you leave (MOM: Cancel an Employment Pass, as at 26 October 2026).
Employers must cancel within 1 week after the last day of notice, and can submit the request up to 14 days ahead. Our employer guide to work pass cancellation and repatriation covers that side in detail. If an employer drags its feet, see what to do when an employer refuses to cancel your work pass.
How long does the STVP last after EP cancellation?
For an Employment Pass holder, MOM states a valid stay of up to 90 days from the date of the STVP application. The wording is “up to”, so the period actually shown on your STVP email is what binds you.
| Pass cancelled | STVP stay stated by MOM | Source, as at 26 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | Up to 90 days from date of application | MOM, Cancel an Employment Pass |
| S Pass | Up to 30 days from date of application | MOM, Cancel an S Pass |
You may see “30 days” quoted widely online, and some older posts, including our own earlier retrenchment article, used it. That figure is the S Pass period and the usual border-issued visit pass period. For an EP, rely on MOM’s current figure and on the dates in your own STVP.
Can I extend my stay, and where do I apply?
Yes, but only for set reasons, and the route depends on who issued the STVP. Looking for a new job is not one of the reasons MOM lists.
An STVP issued by MOM on cancellation is extended through MOM. ICA itself directs holders of MOM-issued STVPs (for example on cancellation of a work pass or Dependant’s Pass) to MOM’s website (ICA: Seeking Extension of Visit Pass). MOM’s request must be submitted 7 to 14 days before the pass expires. Late requests may incur overstaying fines and early ones are rejected. The outcome is emailed within 7 days (MOM: extend your pass holder’s stay, as at 26 October 2026).
| Reason for more time to leave | Supporting document MOM asks for |
|---|---|
| Waiting for a new passport or travel document | Embassy letter or delivery slip with the collection date |
| Flight rescheduled or cancelled by the airline | Proof from the airline and the new itinerary |
| Medically unfit to travel | Doctor’s memo stating the condition and expected fit date |
| Outstanding employment issues, such as the last salary | TADM or MOM correspondence on an ongoing salary dispute, or an IRAS Travel Restriction Order |
Because the listed reasons are about leaving Singapore, plan your job search to finish inside the STVP period rather than counting on an extension.
How does the ICA e-service extension work?
The ICA e-service applies to a visit pass issued at the checkpoint on arrival, for example if you leave and come back as a visitor. It is online only. Walk-in applications are not accepted.
- Wait until your STVP has 14 days or less remaining. Check the date with ICA’s visit pass validity tool.
- Open the ICA extension e-service and upload your passport particulars page and the Disembarkation/Embarkation number from your SG Arrival Card.
- Add a local sponsor if one is required. A sponsor must be a Singapore citizen or PR aged at least 21 with a Singpass. One is needed if you have immediate family who are citizens or PRs, or hold a passport from a country on ICA’s listed set. The list has changed since our earlier post, so read it on ICA’s page.
- Pay if the extension is approved. ICA charges S$40 where the stay reaches 90 days or more from entry, and again for each further 90-day block. Visa-required visitors may also pay S$30.
- Collect the outcome by email. ICA processes within five working days, though some take longer.
All of this is per ICA, as at 26 October 2026. ICA says it considers each case holistically, so approval and the length of any extension are not guaranteed. An ICA extension generally runs to 1 month, or up to 89 days from entry in total.
Can I look for a job while on the STVP?
Yes, you can interview and negotiate, but you cannot work, paid or unpaid, until a new pass is in place.
MOM says the former pass holder cannot work after cancellation. ICA says visit pass holders may not carry out employment, business, profession or occupation unless they hold a valid work pass or an exempt activity applies. A new employer applies for a fresh EP for you, and per MOM there is no need to cancel your existing EP before the new one is applied for. In practice, if an offer comes before your last day, ask the new employer to file early so approval can overlap with your notice period. Start work only once the new pass is issued.
The new application is assessed on its merits under current criteria. Our retrenchment action guide for EP holders sets out the wider steps after a layoff, and the PEP guide explains a pass that is not tied to one employer.
What happens to my spouse and children?
Their passes end with yours. MOM states that once an EP is cancelled, all related passes issued to family members are also cancelled and cannot be reinstated.
Plan for them as soon as you have the cancellation date. Ask your employer or agent whether STVPs are being requested for each family member, and diarise every expiry. If a new EP is approved, the family’s passes are applied for again under it. Our Dependant’s Pass guide explains what spouses and children can hold, and children’s school terms are a sound reason to start early. MOM does not list a family-specific STVP length on its EP cancellation page, so confirm each person’s dates from the emailed pass.
What if I overstay or my plans change?
Overstaying brings a fine, and it is a criminal offence for a foreigner to remain beyond the expiry of a visit pass, according to MOM. It can also count against future applications.
If you are applying for permanent residence while between jobs, read our guide to PR applications on a short-term visit pass first. For official reference, ICA and MOM pages are the ones to trust: MOM and ICA. Both can change without notice, so check the live page before you rely on a number here.
Frequently asked questions
Is the STVP after EP cancellation 30 days or 90 days?
MOM’s EP cancellation page says up to 90 days from the date of application, as at 26 October 2026. The 30-day figure applies to S Pass cancellations. Your emailed STVP shows your actual end date.
Can I apply for the extension myself?
For an MOM-issued STVP, MOM’s online request form is open to the pass holder or the employer, and must be filed 7 to 14 days before expiry with supporting documents. ICA’s e-service is a separate route for border-issued passes.
Will MOM extend my STVP so I can keep job hunting?
MOM’s listed reasons concern leaving Singapore, such as a missing passport, a cancelled flight, medical unfitness or an unresolved salary dispute. Job hunting is not listed, so do not assume an extension.
Can a new employer apply before my current EP is cancelled?
Yes. MOM says there is no need to cancel the existing EP before applying for a new one. You still must not start work until the new pass is issued.
Do my dependants get their own STVP?
Their passes are cancelled with yours. MOM’s page does not set out a separate dependant period, so ask your employer or agent how their stay is being covered and check each emailed date.
Little Big Employment Agency can help with new pass applications, PR and citizenship applications, and planning around a cancellation date. Visit singaporeemploymentagency.com, email [email protected] or call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133.
Last reviewed: 26 October 2026. The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency.
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