Due to the worsening COVID-19 situation globally, such businesses could not bring in any new work pass holders from higher risk countries from 11 May 2021, even if they had received entry approvals. Applications for entry approvals for work pass holders from higher risk countries were also stopped from 7 May 2021.
From 10 August 2021, businesses can start applying for entry approvals for work pass holders (and their dependants) from higher risk countries. This comes as welcome news for businesses that are working with work pass holders.
Here are 10 things that you need to know about the latest re-opening.
#1 Does This Affect All Work Pass Holders?
This announcement to re-open applications for work pass holders and their dependants to enter Singapore only applies to those from higher risk countries/regions. The list of higher risk countries/regions refers to all countries and regions except Brunei, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Macao, New Zealand and Taiwan.
Applications for work pass holders and their dependants entering Singapore from the low risk countries/regions were not affected in the earlier announcement to stop receiving entry applications. Similarly, those entering Singapore via the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) were also not affected. Applications for work pass holders working on “key strategic projects and infrastructural works” were also allowed to continue entering.
#2 Work Pass Holders Entering Singapore Must Be Fully Vaccinated
To be eligible for entry approval, work pass holders and their dependants must be fully vaccinated before arrival in Singapore, unless they belong to the following categories:
- Pass holders who are below 18 years old on date of entry. Unvaccinated pass holders who are 12 years old to below 18 years old on date of entry will need to get their first vaccination in Singapore using a PSAR-approved vaccine within 1 month of arrival. They must complete the full vaccination regime within 2 months of arrival.
- Pass holders who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions. To be considered for exemption, employers must submit a request for their pass holders and upload a doctor’s memo. If the request is approved, employers can then proceed with the entry application.
- Construction, Marine shipyard or Process sector workers (“CMP Workers”) who:
- Hold Work Permit, Training Work Permit or S Pass, or in-principle approval for any of these 3 passes; and
- are entering Singapore without their dependents
- Helpers and confinement nannies
Individuals are considered “fully vaccinated” two weeks after they have received the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/ Comirnaty, Moderna or WHO EUL vaccines.
#3 What Documents Do Pass Holders Have To Produce To Prove They Are Fully Vaccinated?
| Place pass holder was vaccinated | Pass holder can produce any of the following |
| Singapore | – Hardcopy vaccination certificate – Vaccination status on HealthHub app – Vaccination status on TraceTogether app |
| Overseas | Hardcopy vaccination certificate with all these details: – Name (as stated on the passport) – A least 1 other personal identifier, e.g. date of birth or passport number – Country of vaccination – Name of vaccine used (if more than 1 dose, the name of each vaccine administered) – Vaccination date(s) (if more than 1 dose, the dates each dose was administered) |
Individuals who have received their vaccinations overseas must update their vaccination records in the National Immunisation Registry (NIR) within two weeks of completion of their Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in Singapore. To do so, they will need to show documentary proof of their overseas vaccination, and a positive serology test result taken at one of the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) designated private healthcare providers.
Failure to produce valid vaccination documents or take the required serology test may result in the suspension and revocation of work pass privileges.
#4 What Are The COVID-19 Insurance Requirements For Workers Entering Singapore?
As employers may be responsible for workers’ medical expenses, you must buy a COVID-19 medical insurance for all Work Permit, Training Work Permit and S Pass holders before they arrive in Singapore. The insurance must:
- Cover at least $10,000 for medical expenses if the worker develops COVID-19 symptoms or tests positive within 14 days of arrival in Singapore.
- Cover workers on in-principle approvals (IPAs).
For all other pass holders (e.g. Employment Pass holders or dependants), they are encouraged to buy medical insurance with the appropriate coverage before entering Singapore. They are responsible for their medical expenses if they develop COVID-19 symptoms or test positive within 14 days of arrival in Singapore.
#5 Who Is Responsible For The Costs Of Foreign Employee’s Entry Approval Charges?
| Type of Employee | Purpose of Travel | Who is Responsible for the Costs? |
| Existing work pass holders returning from overseas | Left Singapore for work | Employers must bear the costs in full and are not allowed to pass on any cost to the employees. |
| Left Singapore for personal reasons | Employers and employees should come to a mutual agreement on who bears the costs or how to share them. This also applies to employees coming in under the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA) scheme. | |
| New work pass holders on in-principle approvals | Plan to enter Singapore for employment | For Work Permit holders, employers must bear the costs in full and are not allowed to pass on any cost to the employees. For other work passes, employers and employees should come to a mutual agreement on who bears the costs or how to share them. |
Read Also: Hiring Foreign Employees In Singapore: Why Underpaying Or Over-Declaring Salaries Is Against The Law
#6 Can You Get a Refund For Workers You No Longer Want to Bring In And Workers Whose Arrival Date You Wish to Change?
For MOM to consider a refund, employers need to submit a request to cancel the entry approval at least seven days before the pass holder’s approved arrival date using the relevant link below:
- Foreign employees employed by companies and their dependants
- Work Holiday Pass holders
- Personalised Employment Pass holders (without employers) and their dependants
- EntrePass holders (without Corppass) and their dependants
Note: The approved arrival date is the middle date stated on the entry approval letter or email. For example, if the pass holder is allowed to enter Singapore from 1 May to 3 May, the approved arrival date is 2 May.
Once the entry approval is cancelled, you can submit another entry application with a new arrival date to bring them in. The new application will be subject to the prevailing entry controls.
#7 Can You Get Levy Rebates?
A Quarantine Order (QO) issued by MOH is a form of hospitalisation leave, so levies can be waived for the duration of the QO. Movement Restriction Orders (MROs) issued by MOM are considered hospitalisation leave, so employers with workers serving their MRO will not be required to pay levies for the duration that their workers are on MRO.
For QOs starting from 1 Sep 2020, MOM will process the levy waivers for workers placed on QOs automatically without the need for employers to apply for the levy waiver. For MRO starting from 1 May 2021, MOM will process the levy waivers for workers placed on MRO automatically without the need for employers to apply for levy waiver.
Employers can view the levy waivers as an adjustment in MOM’s Check and Pay Levy portal from the 14th of the following month the worker is placed on QO or MRO.
Read Also: Foreign Worker Levy Rebates In Singapore: How Much Businesses Can Expect To Receive In 2021
#8 What Should You Do if Your Pass Holder Falls Sick During Their SHN?
| If your pass holder is serving SHN at | You should |
| A dedicated SHN facility | – Inform the staff there to assist in making the necessary arrangements. – If your pass holder develops a fever or acute respiratory infection, get them to inform MOM using the FWMOMCare app. |
| Another place | – (For non-emergency medical situations) Get your pass holder to call the SafeTravel Helpline at 6812 5555. – (For medical emergencies) Get your pass holder to call 995. – If your pass holder develops a fever or acute respiratory infection, get them to inform MOM using the FWMOMCare app. |
#9 What if You Are Operating in the CMP sectors?
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will only accept new entry applications for these work pass holders from higher risk countries/regions at a later date, as rescheduling efforts are still ongoing for those affected by the tightening of entry approvals earlier this year.
If you are applying for entry approval for your CMP workers, do not submit multiple requests for your worker within the same day. MOM will only process the first request, and you will not receive an outcome for the others.
You will receive the entry approval outcome by email. Please send the approval email to your workers. They must show a print-out of it to the airline staff upon check-in before boarding the plane and at the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority’s (ICA) checkpoint upon arrival in Singapore.
| Countries/ Regions workers spent the last 21 consecutive days in before entering Singapore | What they must do |
| Group 1 countries/ regionsBruneiMainland China, excluding Jiangsu provinceNew ZealandTaiwan | 1. Take on-arrival COVID-19 test in Singapore. 2. Remain isolated in one of the following until they get negative test result: – Hotel room – Room with an attached toilet in their house If tested negative, they can go about their activities in Singapore, without a need to serve Stay-Home Notice. |
| Group 2 countries/ regionsHong Kong Jiangsu province, Mainland ChinaMacao | 1. Take on-arrival COVID-19 test in Singapore. 2. Serve 7-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in one of the following: – Hotel – Place of residence (only occupied by the worker or family) 3. Take a COVID-19 swab test before 7-day SHN is over. |
| Group 3 countries/ regionsBangladeshIndiaMyanmar NepalPakistanSri Lanka | Defer entry. Not allowed to enter Singapore until further notice. This applies even if workers had obtained an approval to enter Singapore earlier on. |
| All other countries/ regions | 1. Take COVID-19 PCR test within: – 48 hours before departure for workers with travel history to Indonesia within the last 21 days before arrival – 72 hours before departure for all other workers 2. Take COVID-19 test when they arrive in Singapore. 3. Serve 14-day SHN in SHN dedicated facilities (SDFs). 4. Take Antigen Rapid Tests (ARTs) during their SHN using self-test kits issued by SDFs. 5. Take COVID-19 swab test before 14-day SHN is over. 6. After the 14-day SHN, they must undergo an additional 7-day stay and testing regime. |
#10 What About Payment?
Once the worker has arrived in Singapore, you will get an email from [email protected] within 10 days for you to make payment. Please also check your junk and spam folders in case the email was sent there.
You must make payment no later than 7 days after getting the payment email.
Read Also: Foreign Worker Quota In Singapore: What Is It And How To Calculate It For Your Business
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