How do you apply for a residence permit in Singapore in 2026?

An Employment Pass (EP) covers qualifying foreign professionals after the employer or appointed employment agent applies through MOM. An S Pass covers qualifying skilled employees under different salary, quota and insurance rules. Neither pass is transferable between employers: a new company must file a new pass.

Eligible family members of certain work-pass holders use a Dependant's Pass (DP) or, for other family profiles, a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) routed through MOM or ICA depending on the sponsor. A DP or LTVP does not automatically grant the same work rights as an EP or S Pass. PR is a separate ICA e-Service application for eligible EP or S Pass holders, spouses of citizens or PRs, and other listed categories. ICA weighs family ties, economic contribution, qualifications, age and length of stay; processing is often within about six months when documents are complete.

Tourist or short visit permission is not a remote-work residence product. If you need local employment, start from the MOM pass that matches the job offer, then complete work pass issuance after the In-Principle Approval (IPA).

Most travellers must submit the free ICA SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival, including arrival day. The employer or agent then issues the MOM pass while you are in Singapore, within the IPA window, with passport, local contact, residential details and any medical or insurance items the IPA lists. Current issuance fees on MOM pages include S$225 for an EP or DP and S$100 for an S Pass, plus any Multiple Journey Visa fee when required.

The Foreign Identification Number (FIN) appears on the issued pass record. Use that FIN to set up Singpass, then open banking and tax portals with matching spellings: Open a bank account. Update the residential address through the MOM or ICA route that owns your pass: Register your address. Treat the first-month checklist in Paperwork after moving as the sequence, not a random errand list.

Health cover for most foreign-pass holders sits outside MediShield Life: Choose health insurance. School places for children run on separate Ministry of Education (MOE) calendars: Enrol in a public school. Housing search can start earlier, but landlords often want pass proof before a long contract: How to rent a home.