Personalized Employment Pass (PEP) is one of the many diverse job offerings you can find at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore. It’s an official document required for one of the country’s many types of work visas.
All professionals with a specific set of skills can apply for this visa pass. However, they must meet strict eligibility requirements to get a PEP visa. Other similar options for professionals include the Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) and Employment Pass (EP).
Today, we’ll delve deeper into how getting a PEP visa works and everything else you should know before applying.
What is a PEP visa?
PEP is a specific work pass document that provides the holder with unique jurisdictions in Singapore. Since it bears no connections to any specific industry or company, this work pass allows professionals to find employment with any employer in the country.
Professionals whose job nature requires them to switch employment frequently apply for a PEP visa to avoid the complex reapplication process for the entry visa. Highly skilled individuals and top-grade professionals from foreign countries are entitled to PEP work visas.
However, they must meet strict criteria for professional skills and merits, such as their prior work experience, salary, and education. Those applying from abroad must meet the eligibility requirement of a monthly salary of at least SGD 18,000 (for foreigners) or 12,000 SGD (for locals).
You can find more information on eligibility criteria for PEP at a1corp.com.sg
PEP visa eligibility criteria
The PEP visa eligibility criteria depend upon numerous factors, but the prior salary is the most important requirement. Since only top-tier professionals can receive this document, here’s what you must meet to apply:
- A monthly salary in Singapore of at least S$12,000 and an Employment Pass;
- Foreigners must deliver proof of a prior salary of S$18,000 for the last six months.
- You should not possess a Sponsorship scheme-issued Employment Pass;
- You should not be a director, proprietor, or sole shareholding partner with any ACRA-registered Singapore employer;
- Producers, sub-editors, editors, and journalists can’t apply for a PEP visa.
In addition, you shouldn’t have prior work experience as a freelancer if you plan to become an employee at a Singapore company.
PEP visa paperwork
The required selection of documents for a PEP visa differs based on the applicant. EP holders and foreign applicants must collect different paperwork to apply.
EP holders
Employment Pass holders don’t need additional documents to apply for a PEP visa. However, the application form requires them to fill in the following details:
- Passport details;
- Employer’s name and address;
- Salary and employment details;
- Local contact details;
- DP holder details (if applicable);
- Information on the LTVP holders.
Foreign applicants
Overseas-based applications should submit the following paperwork for PEP:
- A verified Passport copy;
- Employment contract;
- Salary slips for the last three months;
- Bank account statement;
- Latest tax form;
- Copies of educational certificates;
- Local contact details.
The paperwork must be in English. For those who don’t have a local contact, you can hire an agency to act as one and file your PEP visa application.
How to apply for PEP
MOM requires applicants to follow these steps to complete the PEP application process. PEP applicants can submit the PEP application form physically at any SingPost branch or use the EP online system to submit the form electronically.
Online applications must go through an authorized employment agency. Upon approval of the application, an applicant will receive a MOM-issued In-Principle letter in their name. Applicants have six months to receive their work pass from the issuance of the In-Principle letter.
Applicants must submit the latest photography and register their fingertips before they receive the PEP. After that, applicants will receive the PEP cards at their addresses. MOM takes about three weeks to process the PEP online applications, while applications sent by post take up to eight weeks.
Since the validity of an In-Principle letter lasts for six months, applicants must collect their passes from the MOM office in Singapore within that period. We recommend carefully reading all the MOM requirements to collect and submit all the additional documents before collecting your PEP visa. PEP passes are valid for three years.
How to maintain a PEP
PEP holders are responsible for informing MOM Singapore of any changes and updates about their employment and contact details.
They can do it in two ways:
- By following a PEP notification form;
- By opening an Employment Pass online account (EPOL).
The easiest way to keep MOM up to date with essential information is via an EPOL account. Visit the MOM Singapore website and use your SingPass to log in to your EPOL account.
EPOL simplifies sending updates to MOM, such as travel document renewals, lost/damaged/replacement PEP reports, residential address changes, local contact details updates, employment status changes, etc.
Conclusion
A PEP visa is a vital official document for every capable professional planning to pursue employment opportunities in Singapore. The card allows you to switch positions and change jobs without applying for a new work pass. More importantly, skilled professionals can use a PEP visa to receive better employment terms and higher salaries and find jobs in any sector they prefer. In addition, PEP can help with Singapore Permanent Residence for professionals who plan to live and work there.
