Training EP and Work Holiday Programme — Step-by-step walkthrough
The Training EP and Work Holiday Programme are two short-stay Singapore work passes administered by the Ministry of Manpower. The Training Employment Pass lets foreign professionals and students train in Singapore for up to three months, while the Work Holiday Programme lets eligible students and graduates work for up to six or twelve months. This walkthrough explains eligibility, process and cost.
Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.
What the Training EP and Work Holiday Programme offer
The Training Employment Pass is for foreign professionals undergoing practical training attached to a Singapore company, typically as part of a global graduate scheme or an inter-company transfer for skills development. It is valid for up to three months and is not renewable in the ordinary case. The Work Holiday Programme, by contrast, is aimed at students and recent graduates from eligible universities who want to work and holiday in Singapore.
Both are governed by the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990, which makes it an offence to employ a foreign worker without a valid work pass. Employers carry the primary compliance duty, including the obligation to pay levies where applicable and to repatriate the pass holder at the end of the pass.
Eligibility for the Training EP
The Training EP requires the trainee to earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000 (mirroring the Employment Pass qualifying salary band), or to be a student attached from an acceptable institution undergoing training related to their studies. The sponsoring company must show a genuine training plan rather than ordinary employment. Where training will lead to longer-term hiring, employers often plan an eventual move to an Employment Pass; our cross-site note on Sole proprietorship vs LLP vs Pte Ltd covers the corporate setup that supports such hires.
The Work Holiday Programme in detail
The standard Work Holiday Pass lets undergraduates and recent graduates aged 18 to 25 from eligible countries work in Singapore for up to six months. The separate Work and Holiday Pass, available under specific bilateral arrangements, allows up to 12 months. There is a quota on the number of passes issued, and the pass is tied to genuine short-term work rather than long-term employment. For the tax position of short-term foreign workers, our cross-site guide on Singapore Corporate Tax 2026: Rates, Exemptions and Filing Guide is a useful reference.
Step-by-step application
For the Training EP, the employer submits the application through MOM’s EP Online portal with the training plan, the trainee’s qualifications and salary details. For the Work Holiday Programme, the individual applies directly through MOM’s portal once they hold a confirmed eligibility. Processing is usually within three weeks. On approval, an in-principle approval letter is issued, the pass holder enters Singapore, completes any required medical examination, and the card is issued. Our on-site walkthrough on The Career Conversion Programme (CCP): How to Pivot Your Mid-Career Hires shows how short-term routes fit into a wider hiring pipeline.
Cost and timeline
The Training EP application fee is S$105 and the issuance fee is S$225, so budget around S$330 per pass plus the trainee’s salary of at least S$3,000 a month. The Work Holiday Pass carries a S$175 application and issuance cost. Both are typically processed within three weeks of a complete application. Neither attracts a foreign-worker levy.
Common mistakes
Employers commonly mislabel ordinary employment as training to use the cheaper, faster Training EP, which MOM scrutinises closely. Other errors include applying for a trainee who does not meet the salary or institution criteria, and overlooking that the Training EP is short and generally non-renewable, so a longer engagement needs a proper Employment Pass from the outset.
FAQs on the Training EP and Work Holiday Programme
How long is a Training Employment Pass valid? Up to three months, and it is generally not renewable.
What salary does the Training EP require? A fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000, unless the applicant is a student on an approved attachment.
How long can I work under the Work Holiday Programme? Up to six months under the standard Work Holiday Pass, or up to 12 months under the Work and Holiday Pass available through specific bilateral arrangements.
Is a levy payable? No foreign-worker levy applies to the Training EP or the Work Holiday Pass.
Authoritative sources: the Ministry of Manpower. See also the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority. See also the Economic Development Board.
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.