A special pass card is the Singapore pass that allows foreign nationals to stay in Singapore, only for certain specific purposes like attending court, and stateless persons living in Singapore and aiding investigations. Not every foreigner can request this pass. To get more details about the Special pass, keep on reading the guide.
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What is a special pass card?
A special pass card is a type of Singapore card which grants the foreigner to stay in Singapore. Not everyone can issue this pass, this pass is only issued for certain specific purposes including, attending court, and stateless persons living in Singapore, and aiding investigations. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Ministry of Manpower (MOM) are the only authorities that issue these special pass cards.
Key facts that every Special Pass Holders should know
- As mentioned, special pass cards allow you to live in Singapore for special purposes like claiming for a work injury, salary claims, assisting in the investigation.
- Special Pass cards are only issued by the Ministry of manpower (MOM) and the immigration and checkpoints Authority (ICA). Even almost all the passes and permits in Singapore are issued by these authorities.
- The foreigners holding special pass cards are not granted to work in any of the Singapore-based companies, and if any of the Special pass holders if found working and getting paid for it without any valid work pass, then this will be considered an offensive thing. If this happens, then the Singapore government has the complete right to take legal action against those SP holders.
- All the Singapore special cards are valid for a short period.
- If you wish to stay in Singapore for more time, you can make a renewal request at MOM (Hall C) or ICA.
- If your special pass card has been lost or stolen, you will have to register a police complaint and request the special pass card replacement by visiting MOM or ICA center.
Apply for a special pass for the work permit holder
You will require completing the special pass form for the work permit holder.
Completing the form will not take much time; it will hardly take 10 to 15 minutes.
While filling the form, ensure to read all the instructions properly as even a single mistake can waste all your efforts.
- The form needs to be completed and signed by a partner or sole proprietor only if the company is registered as a sole proprietorship or partnership company.
- Directors registered with ACRA of private limited companies can also complete and sign the form. In case the director of the company wishes to appoint an employee to sign the form, in such a situation, they will first require sending a written authorization to the Ministry of manpower. If the MOM grants them to do so, they can appoint the employee to sign the form.
Filled by an employer:
After that, in the next step, the employer will require to give details about the application, like they are applying for the special pass for their injured workers. The date of the application should also be mentioned in the form.
The employer required to mention some basic details about their Organization which includes:
- Unique Entity Number (UEN)
- Name
- Accommodation details of a worker
Employer will require to mentions of the accommodation details of the worker, which includes:
- Address of the workers,
- Bed type
- Type of housing
Note:
Always remember that you will require including the minimum of three colored photographs of the accommodation that is provided to the worker.
The photographs include:
- Interior of the bedroom
- Living/dining area
- At last, the employer and immigrant worker both require agreeing to the declaration sent by the Singapore government.
You can get the list of the declaration that the employer and work permit holder needs to agree on by visiting the official website of the Ministry of manpower.
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Documents to bring for the Special Pass Application for the work permit holder
- The applicant will require bringing the company request letter consisting of company letterhead; the letter must also specify the reason to apply for the special pass.
- The applicant will require bringing the original passport, and if the passport is stolen or lost, they are required to bring the police report in such a situation.
- The applicant is also required to bring the medical appointment card, if applicable.
- The work permit card of the applicants also needs to be presented.
Applicant required showing at least three color photos which mention about the accommodation offered to work permit holder.
In order to fill the application, the applicant will require visiting MOM Services Centre – Hall A at 1500 Bendemeer Road, Singapore 339946.
If the form is entirely completed along with the required photographs, the company representative does not need to be physically present.
Important points to note for a special pass for the work permit holder
Being an employer of the foreign worker, you will require fulfilling all the work permit conditions set by the Singapore authorities. If an employer violates the work permit conditions, they will have to pay the fine of up to $5,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or maybe both, depending on the situation.
Depending on the work permit conditions, the employer will be responsible for the maintenance of the foreign workers along with the cost that needs to be paid for the medical treatment if required.
Cancellation of Work Permit,
Here are some of the conditions upon cancellation of the permit:
- Being an employer of the foreign worker whose work permit is canceled, the employer will require fulfilling the set of conditions given under the employment of foreign manpower regulations.
- The employer is also required to manage the cost of food, medical treatment and several other accommodations. Also, it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the safety and well-being of the foreign worker is not compromised.
Security bond
- The employer is required to purchase the security bond worth $5000 for every foreign worker that you wish to hire in your company.
- You and your foreign worker both are required to follow the security bond conditions. If any of you violates the condition, it might result in the elimination of the security bond.
- As per the security bond conditions, the employer will be solely responsible for the health of the immigrant worker, including the cost of medical treatment.
How you can extend the Special Pass if my Work Permit holder requires some extra time to leave Singapore?
In case your foreign worker requires extra time to make arrangements for leaving Singapore (if their flight has been rescheduled), you can apply for the extension of the special pass by following the given instructions:
- In order to make a request for the extension of the special pass, you will need to sign on to the relevant e-service.
- Then visit the e-service for helpers and tap on the ask for or extend special pass.
- Or you can visit WP online for workers employed by businesses and tap on the special pass or short work permit extension.
- Once approved, the employer will require to handover the new special pass to the worker. The foreign worker will need to present the new special pass and their valid passport to the available immigration officer while leaving Singapore.
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Difference between Singapore special pass and Student pass
| Singapore special pass | Student pass |
| Singapore special pass is granted only to the foreigner to stay in Singapore only for some specific purposes, including aiding in investigating, asking for work injury and salary claims and attending court. | Student pass is granted to the international students who are willing to complete their higher education in Singapore. |
| Not every foreigner can apply for the Singapore special pass. | Any international student, after getting eligible, can apply for the student pass. |
| A foreigner holding Singapore special pass cards is not granted to work in Singapore until they have a valid work pass or permit. | After obtaining a student pass granted to work in Singapore even without any work passes or permit. They only required to meet the following conditions: · There should be a minimum of 14 years of age · They must be registered in any of the recognized learning institutions. · You can work only in that industry that is part of your educational institution. |
| Singapore special pass card is only valid for a short period; you can find its validity at the back of the SP card. | The student pass is valid for one year. But if you wish to stay for more in Singapore to look for employment, you can convert your student pass into a visit pass for an additional one year to look for employment opportunities in Singapore. |
FAQs
What is a special pass MOM?
The special pass MOM grants the foreign workers to stay in Singapore and make all the travel arrangements for returning. While returning, the worker requires to show the special pass followed by the valid passport to the immigration officer.
Who will be issued with an SP card?
The Singapore special pass card will only be issued to foreigners to stay in Singapore for a limited time for specific purposes like attending court, stateless person residing in Singapore and assisting in the investigation. The specific purpose of why the SP pass holder is staying in Singapore will be given at the backside of the special pass card.
Can SP card holder work in Singapore?
The individual holding special pass cards are not granted to work in Singapore. In case any of the special pass holders wish to work in Singapore, they will require to request the valid work pass by filling up the application to the Ministry of manpower. Suppose a special pass holder is caught working in Singapore without a valid work pass. In that case, it will be considered as an offensive thing, and legal action will be taken against that holder under the Singapore relevant laws.
Can you give room on rent to SP cardholder?
House owner can give their room or flat on rent to special pass holders only if they are legally staying in Singapore. It is the house owner’s responsibility to verify the documents of the special pass holder and ensure that they are legally living in Singapore. You must also cross verify the original immigration document of the Singapore special pass holder along with the original passport and check the validity period of the pass.
However, it is the responsibility of the house owner to also check the guidelines of the housing development board (HDB) or urban redevelopment authority (URA) that if the foreigners holding such cards are eligible to get room on rent and what will be the maximum period to provide the room on rent to such foreigners.
What to do if I want to check and verify the validity of the SP card holder’s stay in Singapore?
The special pass cardholder can check the validity of their special pass card on the backside of the card. As of now, the Singapore government has not introduced an online facility to verify and check the validity of Singapore pass cards or for how much time foreigners can stay in Singapore holding a Singapore special pass card.
Also, in order to check the validity of the special pass card provided by the immigration and checkpoints Authority (ICA) to get some basic details regarding the card, you can contact ICA by dialing 6391 6250
Can I continue renting my house to SP holder if their pass has been expired?
If you have provided a home on a rent to the special pass cardholder and now their special card has expired, but they are still staying in Singapore. Then it will be considered as an offensive thing if you continue to provide shelter to the overstayer (or illegal immigrant).
In case you find any of these foreigners still staying in your rented house even after the expiry of their card, then you can message or call ICA at 1800-3916150. Don’t worry; your name will not be disclosed, all your details and calling numbers will be kept confidential.
What happens if you overstay in Malaysia?
If you stay in Malaysia even after your immigration pass has expired, you will be considered an overstayer. Overstaying in Malaysia is a punishable offense. If you do this, legal action will be taken against you by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. You will have to pay a fine for doing this, or in some cases, you will be barred from entering Malaysia.
What is Malaysia Special Pass?
Malaysian special pass is only issued to those foreigners who overstayed in Malaysia and required some extra time to return to their home country.
Malaysia special pass is issued by the Malaysian Immigration Department only to foreigners whose current immigration passes expired, or if they did not renew their current immigration pass; if overstaying is not done intentionally and has a reason for it, then it may be acceptable.
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We hope the above-given information regarding the Singapore special pass was sufficient enough in understanding about the exact meaning of the special pass card.
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