Question about marriage approval for female Work Permit holder (former EP) marrying Singaporean

[chrischanwenhui]

Hi all, need some clarity regarding MOM regulations on marriage for Work Permit holders.

My girlfriend is currently an Employment Pass (EP) holder, and has been working in Singapore for about 2 years. She holds a 1st Class Honours degree in Counselling from a university in Sarawak, Malaysia.
She’s now planning to switch jobs, and due to the new COMPASS framework and tighter EP/S Pass requirements, she might have to downgrade to a Work Permit (WP). She has an offer to work as a Retail Supervisor at an MNC, and was previously a Management Trainee at a local fashion brand.

We’re planning to ROM end of next year (~12 months from now). By then, she’ll most likely be a WP holder.
I came across this clause on MOM's site:

“You do not need to seek approval if you are a former Work Permit holder who:
– Is now holding an EP or S Pass
– Previously held an EP or S Pass as your last work pass in Singapore
– Is now a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident”

Does this mean if she's holding a WP at the time of ROM, but was previously on EP, we still need to seek MOM approval before marriage?

Also, what are the chances of approval if we apply properly in advance (genuine relationship, clean record, both of us working full-time, etc.)?

Appreciate any advice from those who’ve gone through something similar, or who know how strictly MOM applies these rules. Thanks in advance!

 

[li9ht5peed]

ask her go for s pass instead. work permit holders need state permission to get pregnant or to marry. if she breaks the rule, it's a pban from singapore

 

[Balian]

best to email MoM or RoM directly

https://www.marriage.gov.sg/civil/marriage-process

 

[eversomighty]

retail sup should get S pass ley.. if really WP, u need approval to ROM

 

[li9ht5peed]

i think the best is still to sign the marriage contract asap while she's on EP

 

[sango65]

i think the best is still to sign the marriage contract asap while she's on EP

hmm, maybe can consider apply LTVP after ROM

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/LTVP

 

[li9ht5peed]

hmm, maybe can consider apply LTVP after ROM

https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/LTVP

that's incomplete information. he needs to ROM, then apply for LTVP and then obtain a LOC to work

 

[sango65]

that's incomplete information. he needs to ROM, then apply for LTVP and then obtain a LOC to work

oh

anyway, not sure why the lady having 1st class honours cant get better job opportunity

 

[Joe Mahmood]

Hi all, need some clarity regarding MOM regulations on marriage for Work Permit holders.

My girlfriend is currently an Employment Pass (EP) holder, and has been working in Singapore for about 2 years. She holds a 1st Class Honours degree in Counselling from a university in Sarawak, Malaysia.
She’s now planning to switch jobs, and due to the new COMPASS framework and tighter EP/S Pass requirements, she might have to downgrade to a Work Permit (WP). She has an offer to work as a Retail Supervisor at an MNC, and was previously a Management Trainee at a local fashion brand.

We’re planning to ROM end of next year (~12 months from now). By then, she’ll most likely be a WP holder.
I came across this clause on MOM's site:


Does this mean if she's holding a WP at the time of ROM, but was previously on EP, we still need to seek MOM approval before marriage?

Also, what are the chances of approval if we apply properly in advance (genuine relationship, clean record, both of us working full-time, etc.)?

Appreciate any advice from those who’ve gone through something similar, or who know how strictly MOM applies these rules. Thanks in advance!

You need to go to MOM - Marriage Dept to seek for approval. Yes, MOM has a marriage dept specially to deal with this kind of cases. You need to fill up the form and submit all her documents and yours too.

As long she has a work visa in SG she needs to seek approval from MOM to marry a Singaporean/SPR even though she is no longer working in SG she still needs to seek approval or permission to marry a Singaporean/SPR

https://www.mom.gov.sg/eservices?keywords=APPLY&category=Work+Permit+for+foreign+worker

 

[Joe Mahmood]

that's incomplete information. he needs to ROM, then apply for LTVP and then obtain a LOC to work

Before ROM after MOM permitted for them to get married must attend marriage course then register with ROM to get married and then apply for LTVP with ICA.

 

[Joe Mahmood]

Hi all, need some clarity regarding MOM regulations on marriage for Work Permit holders.

My girlfriend is currently an Employment Pass (EP) holder, and has been working in Singapore for about 2 years. She holds a 1st Class Honours degree in Counselling from a university in Sarawak, Malaysia.
She’s now planning to switch jobs, and due to the new COMPASS framework and tighter EP/S Pass requirements, she might have to downgrade to a Work Permit (WP). She has an offer to work as a Retail Supervisor at an MNC, and was previously a Management Trainee at a local fashion brand.

We’re planning to ROM end of next year (~12 months from now). By then, she’ll most likely be a WP holder.
I came across this clause on MOM's site:


Does this mean if she's holding a WP at the time of ROM, but was previously on EP, we still need to seek MOM approval before marriage?

Also, what are the chances of approval if we apply properly in advance (genuine relationship, clean record, both of us working full-time, etc.)?

Appreciate any advice from those who’ve gone through something similar, or who know how strictly MOM applies these rules. Thanks in advance!

In that case don't work or apply for WP until both of you are married. Attend marriage course then register for marriage at ROM. Then after marriage apply for LTVP for her then she has better chances to get a good job in SG. In SG companies who hire LTVP are exempted from MOM Monthly Levy plus the LTVP holders are exempted from the hiring of foreign workers quota within the company. LTVP just need the Letter of Consent from MOM to work in SG.

 

[Roundtreex]

0% chance for WP. ICA dont see past history. Dont waste time on past.

 

[coyote]

I don't know the answer for all of TS's question, still

Congratulations to TS!!!

 

[Roundtreex]

retail sup should get S pass ley.. if really WP, u need approval to ROM

TS story dont tally

 

[Joe Mahmood]

0% chance for WP. ICA dont see past history. Dont waste time on past.

Since formerly she held EP work visa no need to apply for WP or seek MOM permission. Just attend marriage course first then ROM after that apply for LTVP so she can remain and work in SG.

No need WP.

 

[MoeLanYong]

Is this a PSLE math question that appeared in exams?

 

[Kunkka]

Malaysian chinese? mom Will close eye anot. Maybe against miscegenation

 

[Spike]

I'm surprised that a Malaysian EP holder didn't apply for PR after two years in Singapore.

 

[chrischanwenhui]

In that case don't work and apply for WP until both of you are married. Attend marriage course then register for marriage at ROM. Then after marriage apply for LTVP for her then she has better chances to get a good job in SG. In SG companies who hire LTVP are exempted from MOM Monthly Levy plus the LTVP holders are exempted from the hiring of foreign workers quota within the company. LTVP just need the Letter of Consent from MOM to work in SG.

Thanks for the reply, so in this case Long Term Visit Pass is next best option compared to being a PR or SC? Since companies don't need pay levy and has no quotas.. It's good that Spass and Epass no need prior approval to get married to a SC.

I already did a Pre-LTVP assessment, and ICA replied
"Please be informed that your pre-marriage Long-Term Visit Pass assessment is
successful. This letter of Long-Term Visit Pass eligibility for "her name"
under the sponsorship of "my name" is valid for one year, until
09/06/2026.
(But of course this one need to get married then can apply)

Hmmm seems like kinda stuck here, goes back one big round "get married"

I not ready for getting married yet since my mother just passed away few weeks ago, and there's a will that states her HDB will split between me and my sister but she already has a 4room resale so she's selling her 50% shares at half price of market rate, (was wondering if I can use my cpf OA to pay her)..

Previously wanted to BTO with my mum but I was born out of wedlock so HDB don't recognize me and my single mum as a family nucleus..

So the only way is for me to BTO with my fiancee/wife, but she's Malaysian so have to become PR first, but to get PR I think it's best to get married first right? Either way need to get married then can do this and that

 

[chrischanwenhui]

Malaysian chinese? mom Will close eye anot. Maybe against miscegenation

She's from Sarawak IBAN ethnic race, not Chinese/malay