Achi Biz GuidesWork Pass Exemption For Foreign Students

Work pass exemption for foreign students in Singapore

If you are holding a Student Pass in Singapore, you are only allowed to work if you meet specific requirements. Find out if you are eligible.

Not allowed to work

You are not allowed to work if:

You are not studying in any of the approved institutions listed below.
You are an exchange student doing study modules in Singapore.

If you are a foreign student or trainee coming to Singapore under a training attachment programme, you should be holding a Training Work Permit, a Training Employment Pass, or be in the Work Holiday Programme. It is an offence for a foreign student to work in Singapore without a valid work pass.

Working during Vacation

You can work during your vacation without a work pass if you meet all of the following criteria:

You are a full-time matriculated or registered student in one of the following approved institutions.
You hold a Student Pass issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).
You are aged 14 years and above.

You need not notify MOM before you start work.

Approved Institutions

The approved institutions are:

Anglo-Chinese School (International) Singapore
Australian International School
Canadian International School
Chatsworth International School
Digipen
EDHEC Risk Institute-Asia
ESSEC Business School (Singapore)
German European School Singapore
German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia
Government Junior Colleges
Government secondary schools
Government-aided Junior Colleges
Government-aided secondary schools
Hwa Chong International School
Hollandse school
INSEAD, Singapore
Institute of Technical Education, Singapore
International Community School
ISS International School
The Japanese School Singapore
LaSalle College of the Arts
Lycee Francais De Singapour
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Polytechnic
Nanyang Technological University
National University of Singapore
Nexus International School (Singapore)
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Overseas Family School
Republic Polytechnic
S P Jain School of Global Management Singapore
Saint Joseph’s Institution International School
Sekolah Indonesia
Singapore American School
Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore Management University
Singapore Polytechnic
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia
Swiss School in Singapore
Tanglin Trust School
Temasek Polytechnic
United World College of South East Asia
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Waseda Shibuya Senior High School in Singapore

If you are waiting for your Results

If you are from an approved institution and are waiting for your final examination results or convocation, you can also work without a work pass if the waiting period falls within your vacation.
Once you have completed your studies and your Student Pass expires, you will need to get a work pass to work in Singapore. Your employer will need to apply for your work pass.

Working during School Term

You can work during the school term without a work pass if you meet all of the following criteria:

You are a full-time matriculated or registered student in one of the approved institutions.
You hold a Student Pass issued by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Additionally, your work needs to meet one of these requirements:

It is for a maximum of 16 hours a week.
It is under an industrial attachment programme conducted by your university or educational institution. The industrial attachment can be either compulsory or elective but it must contribute towards your graduation requirements.

You need not notify MOM before you start work.

Approved institutions

The approved institutions are:

Digipen
EDHEC Risk Institute-Asia
ESSEC Business School (Singapore)
German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia
INSEAD, Singapore
Institute of Technical Education, Singapore
LaSalle College of the Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Polytechnic
Nanyang Technological University
National University of Singapore
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic
S P Jain School of Global Management Singapore
Singapore Institute of Technology
Singapore Management University
Singapore Polytechnic
Singapore University of Social Sciences
Singapore University of Technology and Design
Sorbonne-Assas International Law School – Asia
Temasek Polytechnic
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

You must apply for a work pass if you want to take a leave of absence during your school term to do additional industrial attachments that do not contribute towards your graduation.

ACHI BIZ is one of the licensed Employment Agencies in Singapore. We will assist your work pass related applications and appeals at our level best with the regulatory authority Ministry Of Manpower (MOM) for successful outcome.

Please refer to our GUIDES for more information, SERVICES to meet your requirements or CONTACT us if you wish to avail these or many other services.