Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Beginning next year, foreign spouses of Singapore citizens and permanent residents on Long Term Visit Passes may obtain Letters of Consent from the Ministry of Manpower allowing them to work.
What does the change mean? Companies that hire foreign spouses can obtain Letters of Consent instead of separate work authorization.
Background: Effective Jan. 1, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower will issue Letters of Consent to foreign nationals who are married to Singapore citizens and permanent residents and who are staying in Singapore on Long Term Visit Passes. Previously, only foreign spouses who were eligible for Long Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) were issued Letters of Consent. This meant that foreign spouses who were not eligible for an LTVP+ had to obtain a work pass. In order to obtain an LTVP+, the foreign spouse must either be the parent of a child who is a Singapore citizen or be married to the Singapore partner for at least three years. The new change primarily affects newly married foreign spouses, particularly those without children.
While the relative numbers are small, businesses may now find foreign spouses on Long Term Visit Passes more attractive as employees, as hiring them after obtaining a Letter of Consent will be simpler than other work authorization options. If the foreign spouse could have been eligible for an S Pass, the employer will no longer have to use quota space or pay levies. If the foreign spouse could have been eligible for an Employment Pass, the employer will be freed from possible job advertisement requirements needed to fill the position with a foreign national.
BAL Analysis: Businesses will welcome having another option to employ foreign spouses of a Singapore citizen or permanent resident that does not require obtaining a work pass and managing the issues involved in either an S Pass or Employment Pass application.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in Singapore. For additional information, please contact singapore@bal.com.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced it will fully decommission the legacy Permanent…
The government of Cuba has launched a new electronic visa platform, known as Evisa. Key Points: The new Evisa replaces…
The Qatari government has extended the validity period for the multiple-entry work visa (MEWV) for nationals of Bangladesh, India, Nepal,…
In this week’s episode, BAL’s Chad Li and Kyle McLaughlin discuss common questions about the PERM process and identify four…