Work after study in Singapore

Work after study in Singapore: At times, studying abroad can be a double-edged sword. The cost of studying abroad is high and students always look for ways to offset the cost by finding a job in the country after they finish their studies. In fact, financially well-off students and those on scholarships also would not like their post-study work opportunities to be limited. Post-study work opportunities not only help in honing one’s skills, but also provide necessary experience which can help students earn good salary.

If you too are an international student and planning to study in Singapore, it is safe to assume that post-study work in Singapore is a big deal for you as well. So, here we bring you all that you need to know about work after study in Singapore, things that will help you take an informed decision before you pack your bags and set off for Singapore.

Work after study in Singapore for international students: Where to start?

As international students taking up part-time work need a work pass, students looking to pursue work after study in Singapore must also get a valid pass (commonly known as a work visa) before they can join the work force in Singapore. There are chiefly two categories to work after study in Singapore for international students – (1) professionals and (2) skilled and semi-skilled workers.

1. Professionals: This category is further divided into three sub-categories:

• Employment Pass
• EntrePass
• Personalized Employment Pass

A. Employment Pass (EP): One of the most popular routes to work after study in Singapore, the employment pass is open to students of all nationalities and is reserved for eligible candidates only.

Eligibility: To be eligible for the employment pass, one must:

• Have a job offer from an institution in Singapore

• Worked in a managerial, executive or specialized job

• Earn a minimum salary of SGD 5000 per month

• Showcase good academic achievements

Each application for an employment pass is treated on its own merit, with due consideration given to global and country rankings and enrolment standards. Therefore, a student from a top university in Singapore will be preferred over someone from a low-ranked university.

Also, there is no guarantee that just because one has an acceptable degree, he or she will automatically be eligible for the pass. The same is true for candidates, who may not have acceptable qualifications, but yet their application for work after study in Singapore may be approved.

How to apply for employment pass to pursue post-study work in Singapore

Applicants cannot apply directly for the EP themselves. Instead, the employer or appointed employment agent (EA) will have to apply on behalf of the applicants.

Your employer or an accredited Employment Agency can apply for your Singapore work visa issued through EP Online. You can find the online application service on the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) website.

Processing time of employment pass: It is usually three weeks if you make an online application and it may take up to 8 weeks if it is an offline application.

Documents to be furnished with the application:

• Personal particulars page of the candidate's passport

• The latest business profile or instant information of the company registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)

• Educational certificates, e.g. degree certificate

b. EntrePass: If one does not want to work for a third party and instead plans to start and operate own business in Singapore, one should apply for EntrePass.

How to apply: Candidate can apply directly for this pass.

Eligibility:

• The applicant must get his/her business registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.

  1. If the company is registered, it must not be older than 6 months on the date of application

• 2. If one has not registered the company yet, one can wait until the application is processed.

• The company must have at least $50,000 in paid-up-capital.

• The applicant be the owner of at least 30% of the shares in the company.

Other key facts about the EntrePass:

• It has no stipulated minimum salary

• It is valid for up to one year and is renewable

c. Personalized Employment Pass (PEP): This is an advanced version of the employment pass. It entails greater job flexibility. Additionally, the eligibility criteria for the pass makes it amply clear that the first step for international students looking for post-study work in Singapore is to apply for the employment pass, and then gradually work for PEP.

Eligibility criteria:

• To be able to work after study in Singapore using this pass, the applicant must be an existing employment pass holder with a fixed monthly salary of at least $18,000.

However, applicants with employment pass but under the scholarship scheme are not eligible for PEP. Also included in the not-eligible list are journalists, editors, sub-editors or producers; freelancers; and the sole proprietor, partner or director and shareholder in an ACRA-registered company.

Important benefits of PEP:

• It allows the applicant to take up employment in almost all sectors

• Pass holders need not have to re-apply for a new pass in the event they change jobs; a simple notification will suffice

• They are allowed to stay in Singapore for a period of up to 6 months at a stretch without a job and, in the meantime, can search for new employment

2. Skilled and semi-skilled workers:

In addition to the popular work passes that have been mentioned, there are a few other passes that international students studying in Singapore can access to pursue work after study in Singapore. Here we give you a brief description of these passes:

S Pass: To be eligible for this pass, the applicant's monthly earning should be at least SGD 6000. The pass is suited for mid-level jobs, like technicians. It is open to all nationalities.

Work permit for foreign worker: This pass is reserved for approved source of countries to work in a few specific sectors, like construction, manufacturing, marine, and process or services. A unique aspect about this particular pass is that there is no qualifying salary. The duration of the pass is up to two years and it is renewable.

Also read:

Singapore student visa

Top universities in Singapore

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