Company Registration With Employment Pass

If you are a foreign individual who to incorporate a Singapore Company and relocate to Singapore, the followings are the steps that we will do for you:

• Incorporate a Singapore company using our local resident nominee director
• Apply for Employment Pass
• Upon successful application, you can come to Singapore to start the business
• Apply for dependent visa for your family members

How to incorporate?

The foreign individual who wants to set up a Singapore Company with the intention to relocate to Singapore will have to accomplish the followings:

Requirements for Singapore Company Formation

Directors: A minimum of one resident director (a Singapore Citizen, a Singaporean Permanent Resident, a person who has been issued an EntrePass, Employment Pass, or Dependent Pass) is mandatory.

Shareholders:The shareholder can be an individual or a corporate entity. 100% local or foreign shareholding is allowed. A director and shareholder can be the same or different person.

Paid-up Capital: Minimum paid-up capital for registration of a Singapore company is S$1.

Registered Address: The address must be a physical local address.(PO Box is not allowed.)

Company Secretary: Companies Act requires one Company secretary who must be a natural person and an ordinarily resident of Singapore.

Employment Pass Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an Employment Pass, the foreign professional must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000 and possess one or more of the following:

• Generally, a recognized Diploma/Degree qualification from a reputed university is expected.
• Professional qualifications
• Specialist skills
• Work related experience

The Ministry of Manpower evaluates each applicant on the basis of individual merit. Other factors which also play a very important role are:

• Salary of the applicant
• Age of the applicant
• Roles & responsibilities
• Reputation of the company
• Company paid up capital
• Applicant's current citizenship

We will need the following documents from you:

Documents Required For Company Incorporation

For each Singapore resident individual shareholder and director

• Copy of Singapore IC; and
• Copy of passport if the individual is not a citizen of Singapore

For each non-resident individual shareholder and director:

• Copy of passport; and
• Copy of residential address proof such as a recent utility bill, residential phone bill, tax bill, or cable TV bill

For each corporate shareholder:

• of the Foreign Corporate Company Certificate and
• Special Director Resolution to resolve becoming newly incorporated company subsidiary's shareholder 

Please note the following:

All documents must be in English or officially translated in English;

All copies of documents must be certified true copies by a notary public or you must bring the originals to our office for sighting;

If you are overseas, you can email us the scanned copies of documents so we can proceed with preparing the necessary incorporation documents.

However we must receive the certified true copies (or sight the originals at our office) before we can incorporate the company.

Our compliance department may ask for additional information if necessary.

After engaging our services, we would perform the followings to incorporate your company:

Scope of Services

• Name check and reservation
• Preparation of memorandum & articles of the company and other incorporation documents
• Preparation of registration forms
• Professional & Filing Fees
• E-Certificate of incorporation
• Preparation of compliance corporate kit, including corporate seal, share certificates, register and minutes book
• Minutes of first board meeting
• Resolution to open a bank account

Requirements for Opening a Corporate Bank Account

Basically, the followings are the required documents to open a corporate account in Singapore banks:

• Completed Corporate Account Opening Forms

• Board of Directors Resolution approving the opening of the account and the signatories to the account

• Certified True Copy of Certificate of Incorporation (must be certified by the company secretary or one of the directors)

• Certified True Copy of Company's Business Profile from Company Registrar

• Certified True Copy of Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association (MAA)

• Certified True Copies of Passport (or Singapore IC) and Residential Address Proof of Directors, Signatories, and Ultimate Beneficiary Owners. If you are in Singapore, just bring the originals and the bank will make a copy.

Singapore banks may ask you to produce additional documents depending on the case. Generally, the majority of the banks require that the account signatories and majority directors be physically present in Singapore for signatures at the time of opening the company bank account. However, some banks will accept the signing of documents at one of their overseas branches or in front of a Notary Public.

Overview of Employment Pass

Employment Pass (EP) is the main type of Singapore work visa issued to foreign professional employees, managers, and owners/directors of Singapore companies. There is no quota system constricting the number of Employment Passes that can be issued to a company.

Employment Pass is normally issued for 1-2 years at a time and renewable thereafter. An EP visa enables one to work and live in Singapore and travel in and out of the country freely without having to apply for Singapore entry visas.

Possessing an EP allows one to apply for PR in Singapore.

Employment Pass Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for an Employment Pass, the foreign professional must have a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000 and possess one or more of the following:

• Generally, a recognized Diploma/Degree qualification from a reputed university is expected.
• Professional qualifications
• Specialist skills
• Work related experience

The Ministry of Manpower evaluates each applicant on the basis of individual merit. Other factors which also play a very important role are:

• Salary of the applicant
• Age of the applicant
• Roles & responsibilities
• Reputation of the company
• Company paid up capital
• Applicant's current citizenship

Having a recognized educational qualification does not guarantee a successful EP application as the applicant is also required to satisfy other criteria such as relevant work experience and/or professional skills.                

Similarly, an applicant who does not possess a recognized educational qualification may not necessarily be rejected for EP if he or she possesses other compensating factors.

Permanent Residence Eligibility

EP pass holders of P1, P2 and Q status are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence through Professional, Technical & Skilled Workers scheme. There is no designated waiting period but since one of the documents required is the salary record of 6 months, hence it is advisable to wait for at least six months prior to application. It is, however, advised to the Q1 pass holders to wait for at least 2 years before applying for permanent residence.

Visa/Pass Types

There are three categories of Employment Pass: P1, P2 and Q1 Pass.    
The P Pass is for the foreigners who are seeking managerial, executive or specialist jobs.

• P1 Pass - for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than or equal to S$8,000.

• P2 Pass - for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than or equal to S$4,500 and up to S$8,000, and he or she possesses recognized qualifications.

• Q1 Pass - for applicants earning a fixed monthly salary of more than or equal to S$3,000 and he or she possesses recognized qualifications.

Passes for Family Members

All Employment Pass holders can apply for Dependent Pass and/or Long-Term Visit Pass for their family members.

Dependent Pass

Both P and Q1 Pass holders can apply for Dependent's Pass for their:

•    Spouse
•    Unmarried children under 21 years of age

Long-Term Visit Pass

P Pass holders can also apply for Long-Term Visit Pass for their:   

•     Common law spouse
•     Unmarried daughters above 21 years of age
•     Handicapped children
•     Step-children
•     Parents/parents-in-law

Entry Visa into Singapore

If you are from abroad and require an entry visa to Singapore, your IPA letter will include a single journey entry visa. After your arrival in Singapore, we will make an appointment with the  Ministry of Manpower on your behalf for finger prints. Having completed the procedures, your pass will be ready in 4 working days.
You may collect the pass at Ministry of Manpower personally or authorize someone else to collect it on your behalf.

Employment Pass Validity

The validity period of an EP varies for :

•     First-time applicants - up to two years
•     Employment Pass renewals - up to three years

Rejection of Employment Pass Application

In case your Employment Pass application is rejected by the MOM, we will investigate why your application has been rejected. Based on the reasons provided by MOM, we will submit an appeal that will address the issues mentioned by MOM and also include additional documents, if any, requested by them. MOM will take a minimum three weeks or more to review your appeal.

Change of Employer

Employment Pass holders must apply for a new Pass whenever they change employers. There is no need to cancel the existing pass prior to application for a new pass. Ministry of Manpower evaluates each application for a new pass based on the applicant's qualifications, work experience, and employer credentials. A new pass will be issued once the old pass is cancelled.

Procedure and Timeline

We submit all Employment Pass applications electronically to Ministry of Manpower as the application process is short, and subsequently you will also learn of your application outcome sooner. The process consists of the following steps:

• To obtain authorization code you have to submit an online application for new incorporated company. Upon submission, it takes about 7-14 days for Ministry of Manpower to send the authorization code.

• With the online submission of the application, it takes the Ministry of Manpower between 1-15 working days to process the application.

• After receiving the In-principle Approval notification, we will make arrangement for the collection of your EP.

Approval and Collection of Employment Pass

Once the application is approved, the Ministry of Manpower will issue an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter via email. The IPA letter must be produced after the collection of the EP at the Work Pass Division at Ministry of Manpower. An IPA letter is valid for six months from the date of notification of approval.

To collect your EP you will be required to present:

•     A copy of the IPA letter
•     Recently taken passport size photograph
•     Original passport with the entry embarkation cards
•     Medical exam report* (if the In-Principle Approval states that you require one)
•     Any other documents that are requested in the approval letter

* You can get a medical examination done in your own country through an established clinic/hospital or in Singapore. Most clinics in Singapore can provide medical examination and report within a day

Renewal of Employment Pass

Ministry of Manpower will mail an Employment Pass Renewal Form to your employer's address two months before your EP expired. You should submit the renewal application four weeks prior to the expiration of your EP. Once approved, the new pass is ready to be picked up at the Ministry of Manpower and your employer will receive a letter of notification.

Entrepass Vs Employment Pass

Our Services

We have a team of Accountants,Bankers and compliance experts who can advice on Singapore's Tax Regime(IRAS) & various regulatory frameworks such as ACRA to offer you a customized advisory services that include: