Work Holiday Pass Singapore — Complete Guide for 2026

If you are a young student or fresh graduate from certain countries and you want to work and travel in Singapore for a few months, the Work Holiday Pass (WHP) is made for you. It lets you live, work, and explore Singapore without needing a full-time job offer first. This guide covers everything you need to know — who can apply, how to apply, what documents you need, what you can and cannot do, and what happens after your pass ends.

What Is the Work Holiday Pass Singapore?

The Work Holiday Pass is a pass issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It is for young people — students and graduates — from specific countries who want to spend time in Singapore working and holidaying at the same time.

It is not a regular work visa. It sits outside the normal work pass system like the Employment Pass or S Pass. You do not need a confirmed job offer to apply. You do not need your employer to sponsor you. You apply directly on your own.

The pass gives you the freedom to find work after you arrive, change jobs, work part-time, work full-time, or even freelance — all within Singapore’s rules.

Two Types of Work Holiday Pass Singapore

There are two separate programmes under the Work Holiday Pass. You apply under one of them depending on your country and age.

1. Work Holiday Programme (WHP)

This is for students and graduates from these 9 countries:

• Australia
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom
• United States

Who can apply:

• You must be between 18 and 25 years old
• You must be a current undergraduate student OR a graduate from a university recognised by your home country’s government
• If you are still studying, you must have been a full-time student and resident at your university for at least 3 months before applying

How long can you stay: You can stay and work in Singapore for up to 6 months. The pass cannot be extended or renewed.

Quota: MOM only accepts 2,000 applicants at any one time under this programme. If the quota is full, your application will not be processed until a spot opens up.

2. Work and Holiday Visa Programme

This programme is specifically for Australian and New Zealand citizens.

Who can apply:

• You must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen
• You must be between 18 and 30 years old
• You must be a university graduate OR have completed at least 2 years of a full-time undergraduate course

How long can you stay: Up to 12 months — double the time of the standard WHP.

Quota: MOM accepts a maximum of 500 applications at one time under this programme.

What Can You Do with a Work Holiday Pass?

The Work Holiday Pass gives you a lot of flexibility. Here is what you are allowed to do:

• Work full-time or part-time for any company registered with ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) or ROS (Registrar of Societies)
• Freelance and take on short-term projects
• Change employers as many times as you want — you are not tied to one company
• Work in regulated professions like medicine, law, architecture, or dentistry — only if you meet the registration requirements for that profession in Singapore

What you are NOT allowed to do:

• Stay in Singapore beyond the validity of your pass
• Work for the same employer for more than 6 months under the Work and Holiday Visa Programme
• Bring family members on Dependant’s Pass or LTVP through your WHP
• Apply for permanent residence directly through WHP

Singapore Work Holiday Pass Application — Step by Step

Step 1 — Apply Online

Go to MOM’s official website and choose the programme you want to apply under — Work Holiday Programme or Work and Holiday Visa Programme.

Fill in your personal details, education details, and contact information. Upload all required documents.

Processing time:

• Work Holiday Programme: around 3 to 4 weeks
• Work and Holiday Visa Programme: around 3 weeks

Step 2 — Receive Your IPA Letter

If MOM approves your application, you will get an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter by email. This letter works as your entry visa into Singapore.

You must enter Singapore within 3 months of the IPA letter being issued. If you do not arrive within this period, your IPA will expire and you will need to reapply.

Step 3 — Enter Singapore and Request Pass Issuance

Once you are in Singapore, you need to request the actual Work Holiday Pass to be issued. You must do this while physically present in Singapore.

If you have a Singpass account: Apply online through MOM’s EP Online portal.

If you do not have Singpass: You can either appoint an employment agent to handle it for you or visit MOM’s Employment Pass Services Centre in person.

Pass issuance fee: SGD 175

After you submit the request, you will receive a notification letter. This letter lets you travel in and out of Singapore while you wait for your physical pass card.

Step 4 — Register Fingerprints and Photo (If Required)

Your notification letter will tell you if you need to register your fingerprints and photograph. If yes, you must do this within 2 weeks by visiting the Employment Pass Services Centre. Book your appointment in advance.

Bring these documents to your appointment:

• Your appointment letter
• Your notification letter
• Your valid passport
• Any additional documents mentioned in your IPA or notification letter

If everything is in order, your Work Holiday Pass card will be ready within 4 working days of registration.

If fingerprint registration is not required, MOM will deliver the card to your Singapore address. You will get an SMS or email one day before delivery.

Documents You Need for the Work Holiday Pass Application

All documents you submit to MOM must be in English. If any document is in another language, you must get a certified English translation done before submitting. MOM will not accept documents in any other language.

Here is the full list of documents needed:

Documents every applicant must submit:

• A copy of your passport bio-data page — the page with your photo, name, date of birth, and passport number
• Your passport must be valid for the full duration of your planned stay in Singapore

If you are a graduate:

• A copy of your degree or diploma certificate from your university
• Your official university transcript showing the courses you completed and your grades
• Both documents must be from a university recognised by your home country’s government

If you are still studying (current undergraduate):

• A letter of enrolment or proof of student registration from your university — this must not be older than 3 months at the time of application. It must clearly show your full name, date of birth, nationality, and confirm that you are a full-time student
• A copy of your student ID card
• If you are an international student studying outside your home country, a copy of your study visa for that country

For the Work and Holiday Visa Programme (Australian and New Zealand citizens only):

• Proof of completed undergraduate degree OR evidence of having completed at least 2 years of a full-time undergraduate course

Important points about your documents:

Every document you upload must be in JPEG or PDF format.

If your degree certificate is in French, German, Japanese, Chinese, or any other language — you need to get it translated. Submit both the original document and the certified English translation together. MOM needs both.

Same rule applies to your transcript. If your university issued your transcript in a language other than English, a certified translation must come with it.

Do not submit blurry scans or photos. Make sure every document is clearly readable. A poor quality scan can slow down your application.

Documents needed at the pass issuance stage (after you arrive in Singapore):

• Your valid passport
• The personal detail page of your passport
• Your IPA letter with the completed declaration form
• Details of your Singapore address — MOM will send your pass card here
• Your Disembarkation or Embarkation card details
• Details of at least one contact person in Singapore who can accept delivery of your card
• Details of your current immigration pass or Short-Term Visit Pass

If MOM asks you to register your fingerprints and photo, you will also need to bring your appointment letter and notification letter to the Employment Pass Services Centre.

Why Document Translation Matters for WHP Applications

This is something many applicants miss. MOM only accepts documents in English. If your university degree, transcript, or any other supporting document is in another language — German, French, Japanese, Chinese, or any other language — you must submit a certified English translation alongside the original.

For example:

• A French student’s degree certificate issued by a French university will be in French
• A German student’s transcript from a German university will be in German
• A Japanese graduate’s diploma will be in Japanese

None of these will be accepted by MOM without a proper English translation.

Getting your university degree certificate translated by a certified translator means your application will not be delayed or rejected because of a language issue.

Similarly, if your academic transcript needs translation from French, German, Japanese, or any other language into English, a certified translation ensures MOM accepts it without any problem.

If your passport bio-data page has any information that needs to be translated or clarified, you can also get a certified passport translation done quickly.

Always get translations done before you submit your application — not after. A delay in translation means a delay in your IPA, which means a delay in your Singapore plans.

Work Holiday Pass — After the 6 Months

The Work Holiday Pass cannot be renewed. Once your 6 months are done, you have a few options:

Option 1 — Leave Singapore

If you only came for the work-holiday experience, you simply leave when your pass expires. Remember to cancel your pass before leaving.

Option 2 — Apply for a Short-Term Visit Pass

When you cancel your Work Holiday Pass, you can request a 30-day Short-Term Visit Pass to stay in Singapore for a bit longer before you fly home. This gives you time to wrap up your stay properly.

Option 3 — Convert to Employment Pass or S Pass

If you found a job you love and your employer wants to keep you, you can apply to convert to a longer-term work pass. The most common options are:

• Employment Pass (EP): If your salary is SGD 5,600 or more per month for most sectors, or SGD 6,200 for financial services, you may be eligible
• S Pass: If your salary is SGD 3,300 or more per month (rising to SGD 3,600 from July 2026 for new applications)

If your employer wants to keep you on an Employment Pass, they may need to submit an application along with your employment documents. Any documents that are in a foreign language — like your education certificates or employment records — will need to be translated. A certified employment pass document translation covers exactly this.

Important: File the conversion application at least 4 to 6 weeks before your WHP expires. If you leave it too late, you may need to exit Singapore and wait for the new pass to be approved before re-entering.

Work Holiday Pass Cancellation

After your time in Singapore is done — or if you decide to leave early — you need to cancel your Work Holiday Pass.

Who can cancel:

• You (the pass holder) yourself
• An employment agent you have appointed

How long it takes: The cancellation is processed immediately.

After cancellation:

• Cut your pass card in half so it cannot be misused
• You can request a 30-day Short-Term Visit Pass to stay briefly before departure
• You must give this Short-Term Visit Pass to the immigration officer when you leave Singapore
• You cannot apply for another Work Holiday Pass for 12 months after your pass is cancelled or expired

Key Facts About Work Holiday Pass Singapore

• The pass is held by you, not your employer — your employer cannot cancel it
• No foreign worker levy applies to WHP holders — employers do not pay extra to hire you
• No quota restrictions apply for employers — any ACRA or ROS registered company can hire you
• You can change jobs freely — you are not tied to the employer you joined first
• The pass is not renewable — plan your time carefully
• No direct path to permanent residence through WHP
• IPA is valid for 3 months — you must enter Singapore within this time

Common Mistakes WHP Applicants Make

Mistake 1 — Submitting documents in a foreign language

MOM will not process your application if your degree or transcript is not in English. Always get a certified translation done before applying.

Mistake 2 — Applying when the quota is full

The 2,000 quota (WHP) and 500 quota (Work & Holiday Visa) fill up at certain times of the year — especially after graduation season. Check MOM’s website for current quota availability before applying.

Mistake 3 — Not entering Singapore within 3 months of IPA

Your IPA expires after 3 months. If you miss this window, you have to start the application all over again.

Mistake 4 — Waiting too long to convert to a long-term pass

If you find a job and want to stay, apply for EP or S Pass conversion at least 4 to 6 weeks before your WHP ends. Late applications may force you to leave Singapore first.

Mistake 5 — Forgetting to cancel the pass before leaving

You need to formally cancel your Work Holiday Pass before you leave Singapore. Do not just let it expire without cancelling.

FAQs

I am from France but studying at a UK university. Which programme do I apply under?

You apply based on your nationality, not where you are studying. Since you are French, you apply under the Work Holiday Programme. Your nationality must be from one of the 9 eligible countries.

Can I apply for WHP if I graduated more than a year ago?

MOM’s guidelines focus on recent students and graduates, but they do not specify a strict time limit after graduation. However, the spirit of the programme is for young people early in their career. If you graduated several years ago, check with MOM directly before applying.

Can I work for two employers at the same time on WHP?

Yes. Since WHP gives you flexibility, you can work part-time for more than one employer at the same time — as long as both are registered with ACRA or ROS.

What if the 2,000 quota is full when I apply?

Your application will be kept on hold until a space opens up. MOM will not reject it outright — it will be processed when the quota allows. Check MOM’s website for current quota status before applying so you can time your application better.

My university degree is in German. Do I need to translate it?

Yes, absolutely. MOM only accepts documents in English. Your German degree certificate must be translated into English by a certified translator before you submit your WHP application. Submit both the translation and the original document together.

Can I bring my partner or children to Singapore on my WHP?

No. The Work Holiday Pass does not allow you to bring dependants. Your partner or children cannot come to Singapore on a Dependant’s Pass or LTVP linked to your WHP. They would need their own valid pass or visa to visit Singapore.

What happens if I overstay my Work Holiday Pass?

Overstaying is a serious offence in Singapore. You may be fined, detained, or banned from entering Singapore in the future. Always leave before your pass expires or get the 30-day Short-Term Visit Pass when you cancel your WHP.

Is there any minimum salary requirement for WHP holders?

No. Unlike the Employment Pass or S Pass, there is no minimum salary requirement for Work Holiday Pass holders. You can take up any job at any salary level.

Getting Your Documents Ready for Work Holiday Pass Application

If your degree certificate, university transcript, or any other required document is not in English, you need a certified translation before MOM will accept your application.

We have been providing certified translation services in Singapore since 2003. We translate academic documents, degree certificates, transcripts, and passports from French, German, Japanese, Chinese, and 200+ other languages into English. All our translations are certified and accepted by MOM.

Get your document translated before your WHP application and make sure your documents are ready so there are no delays.