Marine shipyard classification
The business must principally build or repair ships and qualify as a shipyard or sponsored contractor. Marine-related work alone does not qualify and may instead fall under services or manufacturing. Match ACRA’s declared activity to SSIC 2025 code 30110 for ships, tankers, offshore structures and other ocean-going vessels, or 30120 for pleasure craft, lighters and boats.
Shipyard and contractor categories
A sponsoring shipyard needs shipyard registration and a waterfront facility, can support resident/common contractors and applies independently without prior approval for NTS/PRC permits. A non-sponsoring shipyard also needs registration/waterfront facilities, may support common contractors subject to approval, applies independently but needs NTS/PRC prior approval. A resident contractor has one sponsoring shipyard, which applies or renews on its behalf without prior approval. A common contractor may have several sponsoring/non-sponsoring shipyards, needs prior approval and uses a supporting shipyard for applications; the same shipyard that supported prior approval must submit the relevant permit application/renewal.
Sources, age and work location
Sources include Malaysia, PRC; NTS India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Philippines, Bhutan, Cambodia and Laos; and NAS Hong Kong (HKSAR passport), Macau, South Korea and Taiwan. The published application age limits are 18 and 62, with holders permitted to work until 64, linked to retirement age. Work must be within shipyard premises, and NTS/PRC workers can only hold approved occupations.
Quota, current levy and announced 2028 increase
Three Work Permit holders may be employed for each local employee meeting LQS. Higher-skilled levy is S$350 monthly/S$11.51 daily; basic-skilled S$500/S$16.44. Daily rates apply to partial months and use monthly rate × 12 ÷ 365 rounded up. The basic-skilled monthly levy is announced to rise to S$600 from 2028, with detailed implementation timing still to be released; do not apply it to current bills. Local-quota and S Pass rules must also be checked.
Higher-skilled qualification routes
Academic evidence includes Malaysian SPM, with a transcript or institution letter giving course duration for diploma/higher qualifications, or NAS high-school certificates. Skills routes include ITE SET Level 1 or Nitec and welding trade tests at 3G or above endorsed by the institutions MOM lists. Market-Based Skills Recognition instead requires fixed monthly salary of at least S$1,200 and at least two years’ Singapore Work Permit experience; update salary in WP Online.
Orientation and safety before issuance
Non-Malaysian first-time or returning IPA workers attend SIP before issuance. After IPA, register for SSICGT or Apply Workplace Safety and Health in Shipyard (General Trade). Complete within two weeks of arrival and pass within three months; arrange prompt retaking after failure or risk permit revocation.
Safety-course renewal cycle
Workers with six or fewer years in the sector pass every two years; those with more than six years pass every four. At permit renewal the safety certificate must have more than one month of validity, otherwise renewal is refused. These sector requirements apply in addition to general Work Permit conditions.
Official source
Written independently from official MOM source material.