FAQ
Questions founders ask.
The practical answers, in plain language. If your question isn't here, the concierge is one message away.
- How long does the whole process take?
- Incorporation itself is typically complete within three to seven business days. An Employment Pass application usually takes three to eight weeks from submission, depending on the profile and the volume of cases in the system. Where the two are run together, a founder can often be working in Singapore within two to three months of the first conversation.
- Do I need a Singapore company before applying for an Employment Pass?
- Yes. The Employment Pass is applied for by the employer, so a locally registered company must exist to sponsor you. Most founders incorporate first and then build the pass application on that entity — which is why we design the corporate structure with the pass in mind from the outset.
- What salary do I need to qualify?
- There is a minimum qualifying salary that varies with age and sector, and beyond that the salary is scored against the local workforce under the COMPASS framework. The right figure is the one that makes your profile comfortably admissible while remaining credible for the role.
- Can my family come with me?
- An approved Employment Pass holder can typically bring a spouse and children on a Dependant's Pass, and in some cases parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass. We prepare those applications alongside your own so the family moves together.
- Do I have to be in Singapore to set this up?
- No. Incorporation, the pass application, and most of the surrounding work can be completed remotely. You arrive once the structure is in place and the pass is approved.
- What happens if my application is rejected?
- A rejection is not the end of the process. We review the grounds, strengthen the profile where it was weak, and either resubmit or appeal with a clearer case. Our preference is always to build a submission that does not invite the rejection in the first place.
- Can you open a bank account for the company?
- We arrange corporate banking introductions as part of incorporation. The bank conducts its own due diligence, but a well-structured company with a clear purpose typically clears it without difficulty.