Application prerequisites and duration
The employer or appointed employment agent applies online, obtaining the worker’s written consent. A first-time employer must declare business activity. Non-Malaysian workers cannot be in Singapore during application. A permit normally lasts two years, but ends no later than one month before passport expiry or two months before security-bond expiry.
Apply, pay and check approval
Submit the application and pay S$35 by GIRO, Visa or Mastercard. Most cases take one week, with longer processing if additional information is needed; check status after that week. When approved, print the IPA and application form in myMOM Portal under Work Passes > Quick Menu > View details. Correct any mismatch between IPA and passport particulars before arrival, as an error can cause entry refusal.
Pre-entry housing, bond and insurance
For non-Malaysian male CMP workers on IPA, submit the pre-entry housing check; after approval book Onboard at least four days before arrival and before securing the flight. For non-Malaysians, buy a security bond and allow up to three working days for the insurer or bank to transmit details. New workers receive a FIN within three working days of approval; regenerate the IPA to obtain it before buying the bond if needed. The IPA/renewal notice also contains the employer’s CPF submission number. The bond must be effective at arrival: MOM cannot change its effective date to enable entry and an affected worker must be sent home. Buy medical insurance, applicable work-injury insurance and the required care plan; declare the care-plan purchase in WP Online.
Arrival programme and health checks
Register non-Malaysian manufacturing workers and female CMP workers for SIP once the arrival date is known. The worker should print the IPA, meet current travel requirements and show the IPA on entry. Non-Malaysian male CMP IPA holders complete up to three days at Onboard. Within two weeks of arrival arrange a medical examination with a Singapore-registered doctor or, for eligible care-plan workers, a MOM-appointed Anchor Operator, plus applicable SIP. Complete the security-bond form: a sole proprietor or partner signs for those entity types; an ACRA-registered director signs for a company, or authorises an employee in writing to MOM.
Issuance deadlines differ by worker
A newly arrived Malaysian must be issued the permit before the IPA deadline; extend IPA in WP Online before that deadline if needed. A newly arrived non-Malaysian must be issued the permit within 14 days after arrival; request a Special Pass in Work Permit eService on myMOM Portal if delayed, which extends the IPA automatically. A worker changing employer needs issuance before both the current permit expiry and IPA deadline; request any IPA extension in WP Online in time.
Issue the permit and provide documents
The worker must be in Singapore. Submit through Work Permit eService on myMOM Portal and pay S$35 by GIRO, Visa or Mastercard for immediate processing. Supply passport, local contact and suitable residential address, card delivery address and details of up to three authorised recipients. Depending on the case, upload travel and immigration documents, a completed declaration signed for the employer by authorised HR staff or at least a managerial employee, the security-bond form and qualifications. Print IPA and application form before issuance. New construction workers who passed SEC(K) overseas must arrange BCA identity verification and IPA endorsement within four months of the test before issuance; a BCA self-help kiosk produces an endorsement letter.
Notification and registration
Print the emailed notification letter and give it to the worker. It lasts one month, permits work and travel pending the card and states whether fingerprints/photo registration is needed. Request a validity extension if registration needs longer. Required registration must be completed within one week of issuance at Hall C by appointment, with passport, appointment and notification letters and a local-number phone carrying Singpass and SGWorkPass. MOM captures biometrics and helps set up Singpass. The registration panel also refers broadly to CMP newcomers attending Onboard SIP; for actual routing use the page’s specific sex/nationality arrival categories and the relevant programme instructions.
Digital pass and physical delivery
On registration day, log into SGWorkPass with Singpass and view the digital pass; workers not required to attend should also set it up. The detailed page states physical delivery within five working days after registration or document verification, compared with four days on the older overview. Recipients get SMS/email details at least one working day beforehand. The worker shows a passport or digital pass; authorised recipients show NRIC, FIN or passport. If delayed, check correct uploaded documents and WP Online delivery details.
After failed deliveries
After two failed deliveries, collect at the Hall C service desk after three working days without an appointment. Bring the worker’s original passport or digital pass and notification letter. An authorised collector additionally needs an employer authorisation letter, their NRIC or passport, the worker’s original passport and notification letter.
Official source
Written independently from official MOM source material.