{"id":18457,"date":"2026-09-11T06:55:53","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T06:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/vivos.com.sg\/?p=18457"},"modified":"2026-09-30T08:25:51","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T08:25:51","slug":"employment-pass-in-house-corporate-service-provider-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/vivos.com.sg\/blog\/employment-pass-in-house-corporate-service-provider-singapore\/","title":{"rendered":"Which Singapore Corporate Service Provider Handles Employment Pass Applications In-House?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Short answer:<\/strong> VIVOS PTE. LTD. handles Singapore Employment Pass applications in-house because it holds both licences the work needs: it is an ACRA Registered Filing Agent (FA20240323)<\/strong> for the incorporation and a MOM-licensed Employment Agency (Licence 24S2425)<\/strong> for the work pass. Most corporate service providers hold only the first, so they either refer your Employment Pass to a separate agency or leave you to file it yourself. With VIVOS, incorporation and the Employment Pass are one team, one file and one timeline.<\/p>\n

Why the second licence matters<\/h2>\n

Two different regulators are involved when a foreign founder sets up in Singapore. ACRA licenses filing agents<\/em> to incorporate companies and lodge corporate filings. MOM licenses employment agencies<\/em>, and under the Employment Agencies Act anyone who submits work pass applications on behalf of an employer for a fee must hold that licence. An ACRA licence does not cover work passes, and a MOM licence does not cover incorporation.<\/p>\n

That is why the typical “incorporation plus EP” package from a corporate secretary firm is really two vendors: the firm incorporates your company, then hands the Employment Pass to a partner agency (or asks you to apply as the employer yourself). Two vendors means two sets of know-your-customer checks, two contacts, two invoices and, most importantly, two calendars that nobody owns end to end.<\/p>\n

In-house versus refer-out: what changes for you<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Question<\/th>\nRefer-out model (most providers)<\/th>\nVIVOS (in-house)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Who incorporates the company?<\/td>\nThe corporate service provider (ACRA filing agent)<\/td>\nVIVOS, ACRA Registered Filing Agent FA20240323<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Who files the Employment Pass?<\/td>\nA separate MOM-licensed agency, or you as the employer<\/td>\nVIVOS, MOM Employment Agency Licence 24S2425<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Points of contact<\/td>\nTwo (provider + agency)<\/td>\nOne case manager for both<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
KYC and documents<\/td>\nCollected twice<\/td>\nCollected once and reused<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timeline ownership<\/td>\nSplit; delays fall between the two parties<\/td>\nOne sequenced plan: incorporate, appoint the resident director, apply for the EP, release the nominee once the pass is issued<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nominee director exit<\/td>\nOften left open-ended<\/td>\nPlanned from day one around the EP issuance date<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Accountability if MOM asks for more information<\/td>\nDepends on the agency<\/td>\nThe same team that built the company file answers MOM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

How the one-timeline process works<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Incorporation (1 to 3 business days).<\/strong> Name approval and ACRA registration, with VIVOS providing the resident (nominee) director and registered address if you are still overseas. Government fees are S$315.<\/li>\n
  2. Employment Pass application under your new company.<\/strong> The company sponsors you; VIVOS files as the licensed employment agency. The role must meet the qualifying salary (S$5,600 a month for most sectors, S$6,200 in financial services, rising with age) and score 40 points under COMPASS unless exempt.<\/li>\n
  3. MOM decision.<\/strong> Most online applications are decided within 10 business days; longer if MOM requests additional information, which VIVOS handles directly.<\/li>\n
  4. Pass issuance and family passes.<\/strong> Once you are in Singapore the pass is issued, and Dependant’s Pass applications for your spouse and children follow if your salary is at least S$6,000 a month.<\/li>\n
  5. Nominee director released.<\/strong> With your Employment Pass issued you become the locally resident director and the nominee arrangement ends, which is usually the largest ongoing saving.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Employment Pass key facts (2026)<\/h2>\n
    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Item<\/th>\nRequirement \/ figure<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
    Qualifying salary (now)<\/td>\nS$5,600 per month for most sectors; S$6,200 for financial services. Rises with age to S$10,700 \/ S$11,800 at 45 and above.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Qualifying salary (from 1 January 2027)<\/td>\nS$6,000 general; S$6,600 financial services, with the same age scaling. Details of the 2027 change<\/a>.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    COMPASS<\/td>\n40 points across salary, qualifications, diversity and local-share criteria; exempt at S$22,500 or more a month, for intra-corporate transferees and for assignments of one month or less.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Government fees<\/td>\nS$105 per application; S$225 per pass issued.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Validity<\/td>\nUp to 2 years for a first pass; renewals up to 3 years.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Who may submit<\/td>\nThe Singapore employer, or a MOM-licensed employment agency such as VIVOS (Licence 24S2425). You can verify any agency’s licence in MOM’s public Employment Agency directory.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

    Which pass fits which founder?<\/h2>\n