Work pass expiry in Singapore: a practical renewal guide for SMEs
When to renew an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit, what happens if a pass lapses, and what to do when a holder leaves. Every rule is linked to MOM.
By Cova
If your company employs foreign staff, every one of them has an expiry date that matters as much as their start date. Miss it and you can't simply "renew late": for an Employment Pass or S Pass you have to apply for a new pass, and for a Work Permit you face levy and possible overstaying fines.
This guide covers the three passes most SMEs deal with: the Employment Pass (EP), the S Pass and the Work Permit. It sets out when you can renew, what happens if a pass runs out, what you have to do when someone leaves, and how to keep track. Every rule links to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) page it comes from.
Renewal windows at a glance
The three passes open their renewal windows at very different times. EP and S Pass renewals open 6 months (180 days) before expiry. Work Permit renewals are meant to happen in a much tighter band of 7 to 12 weeks before expiry.
Earliest time you can start renewing (weeks before expiry)
Show the data
| pass | earliest weeks before expiry |
|---|---|
| Employment Pass | 26 |
| S Pass | 26 |
| Work Permit | 12 |
| Pass | When to renew | Renewed pass lasts | Fee to renew |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | Up to 6 months before expiry; must apply before expiry | Up to 3 years | $225 (+$30 per Multiple Journey visa, if applicable) |
| S Pass | Up to 6 months before expiry; must renew before expiry | Up to 3 years | $100 |
| Work Permit | 7 to 12 weeks before expiry | Usually 2 years | $35 |
Employment Pass renewal
You can apply to renew an EP up to 6 months before it expires, and you must apply before the expiry date. If you miss the deadline, you need to apply for a new pass. For EP (Sponsorship) holders, renewal opens 3 months before expiry. (MOM: renew an Employment Pass)
MOM says any remaining validity on the current pass, up to six months, is added on to the renewal, and the renewed pass starts when the current one expires.
To be renewed, the candidate needs to earn at least the EP qualifying salary, work for you in a managerial, executive or specialised job, and pass the COMPASS points framework. Candidates on a fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500 are exempt from COMPASS. Renewals aren't guaranteed.
If the renewal is approved, you get an in-principle approval (IPA) letter valid for 3 months. You must get the pass issued before the IPA or the current pass expires, whichever comes first. Otherwise an overstaying fine is imposed.
S Pass renewal
The S Pass works on the same 6-month window: you can start renewing up to 6 months before expiry, you must renew before the expiry date, and if you miss the deadline you must apply for a new pass. Renewing early doesn't cost you the remaining days, because MOM says the renewed pass starts when the current pass expires. (MOM: renew an S Pass)
Three requirements catch people out:
- Passport validity. The pass holder's passport must be valid for at least 7 months, and the renewed pass can only run up to 1 month before the passport expires.
- Quota. You must have enough S Pass quota for your sector.
- Primary Care Plan (PCP). For workers who live in dormitories that house 7 or more workers, or who work in the CMP sectors, you must buy the PCP and declare it in EP eService before the pass can be renewed.
The S Pass IPA letter is valid for 60 days, and you must get the pass issued before the current S Pass expires. If the new pass is issued after the old one expires, levy penalties, an overstaying fine, or both may be imposed, and you still pay levy for that period.
Work Permit renewal
Work Permits run on a shorter cycle. MOM says you should renew 7 to 12 weeks before the permit expires, otherwise an overstaying fine will be imposed. (MOM: renew a Work Permit)
Before you renew, line up:
- A passport with enough validity. For a 2-year permit, it must be valid for at least 25 months.
- A new security bond for non-Malaysian workers, with the details sent to MOM by the bank or insurer before you renew.
- Extended or new medical insurance.
- The worker's residential address and mobile number registered in OFWAS at least an hour before renewing online.
- The PCP purchase and declaration, if the worker needs one.
A Work Permit is usually valid for 2 years, but it can be shorter if the passport expires sooner (the permit then ends 1 month before passport expiry) or the security bond is valid for less than 26 months. To get the full 2 years, renew the passport and security bond first.
What happens if a pass lapses
A lapsed pass isn't just paperwork. MOM states plainly that it's a criminal offence for employers to employ foreigners without a valid work pass, and for foreigners to remain beyond the expiry date of a visa. (MOM: cancel an Employment Pass)
If a pass simply expires and isn't renewed, you don't need to cancel it. But while the person is still in Singapore you need to give them valid stay, or an overstaying fine is imposed:
- EP: request a Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP), on cancellation or within a day after expiry. It gives up to 90 days' stay.
- S Pass: the same STVP route, but it gives up to 30 days. (MOM: cancel an S Pass)
- Work Permit: request a Special Pass. (MOM: cancel a Work Permit)
Cancellation duties when staff leave
When a pass holder stops working for you, you must cancel their pass within 1 week after the last day of notice. If they've left Singapore for good, cancel within 1 week of the departure date. For EP and S Pass, you can submit the request up to 14 days in advance. You don't need to cancel if the person becomes a permanent resident or the pass has already expired.
Before cancelling, MOM expects you to:
- Give reasonable notice of their repatriation.
- Seek tax clearance from IRAS at least 1 month before the last day of employment.
- Settle outstanding employment issues, including salary.
- Pay for the trip home: an air ticket with check-in luggage and connecting transport to the port of entry nearest their hometown. For EP and S Pass holders, this applies unless they agree in writing to pay. For Work Permit holders, you buy a one-way ticket departing within 14 days of cancellation.
After cancellation the person can't work, even while waiting to leave. Cut the card in half and discard it. Cancelling an EP or S Pass also cancels family members' related passes, and they can't be reinstated. For S Pass and Work Permit holders, levy stops 1 day before cancellation, and any PCP must be terminated separately with the Anchor Operator.
Tracking tips
A few habits help:
- Keep one list of every pass holder with pass type, expiry date and passport expiry date. Passport validity limits how long S Passes and Work Permits can be renewed for.
- Set reminders by pass type. For EP and S Pass, start at 6 months out. For Work Permits, flag them at 12 weeks so you renew within the 7 to 12 week band.
- Track the dependencies: security bond, medical insurance and PCP for Work Permits, and quota for S Passes.
- Record IPA expiry dates after approval. The IPA can run out before the current pass does.
- Add pass cancellation to your offboarding checklist, with the 1-week deadline and the IRAS tax clearance a month ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How early can I renew an Employment Pass or S Pass?
Up to 6 months (180 days) before the pass expires, and you must apply before the expiry date. EP (Sponsorship) renewals open 3 months before expiry. Source: MOM renewal pages.
When should I renew a Work Permit?
MOM says 7 to 12 weeks before the permit expires. Otherwise an overstaying fine will be imposed, and you remain liable for levy after expiry if you renew late.
What if I miss the EP or S Pass renewal deadline?
You can't renew it. MOM says you need to apply for a new pass instead. If the person is still in Singapore after expiry, request a Short-Term Visit Pass so they have valid stay.
How soon must I cancel a work pass when an employee leaves?
Within 1 week after the last day of notice, or within 1 week of departure if they have left Singapore permanently. For EP and S Pass you can submit the request up to 14 days ahead.
Do I lose validity if I renew early?
No. For an EP, remaining validity of up to six months is added to the renewal. For an S Pass, the renewed pass starts when the current pass expires, so you don't lose the remaining days.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules were checked against MOM's website on 14 October 2026. Always check the linked MOM pages for the latest position.