For foreign professionals aiming to work in Singapore, understanding the Notification Letter (NL) and In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter is essential. Since 16 March 2015, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires all Employment Pass (EP) holders to have an NL before commencing work. The IPA letter alone no longer grants the right to start employment.
IPA vs. Notification Letter (NL)
| Type of Letter | In-Principle Approval (IPA) | Notification Letter (NL) |
| When Issued? | Upon work pass approval | Once the work pass is issued |
| Validity | 6 months – New pass 3 months – Renewal |
1 month – New pass Not applicable – Renewal |
| Function | For new passes: Allows entry into Singapore and planning of resignation/notice period. For renewals: Confirms successful renewal |
Authorizes the candidate to start work and complete card issuance registration |
| If No Action Taken | Approval withdrawn by MOM | Work pass revoked, candidate must return home |
The IPA letter is crucial for foreign employees not yet in Singapore. It allows them to plan their relocation and resignation process smoothly. The IPA also outlines personal information, job title, and salary details agreed upon with the employer.
Why the Notification Letter (NL) Is Important
The NL confirms:
- Which company the employee will work for.
- When they can start their employment legally in Singapore.
- Proof that the company has issued the work pass and is liable to pay the salary indicated in the IPA.
Without the NL, an EP holder cannot commence work, regardless of having an approved IPA.
Impact of NL on EP Renewal
The NL is vital for both new and renewal Employment Passes:
- After EP approval, the IPA is issued.
- The EP must then be issued for work commencement, and MOM provides an NL.
- Failure to obtain an NL or issue the EP leads to IPA revocation, and the employee cannot legally work in Singapore.
Key Insight: EP holders do not lose remaining days of the current pass. IPA provides a 3-month window to submit card issuance. Once processed, the NL confirms renewal and updates the expiry date in the SGWorkPass app.
Does the Notification Letter have an Impact towards Employment Pass Renewal?
Yes, the Employment Pass notification letter does have an impact towards EP renewal. For both new and renewal applications, we’ll send an In-Principal Approval (IPA) letter once your employment pass is approved, as previously discussed.
However, for a person to start working or continue working in Singapore, they will need to proceed and issue their employment pass.
Once issued, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will then issue a Notification Letter (NL) as proof that they can now start working or continue working in their position.
Failure to issue the pass will result in the revocation of the In-Principal Approval (IPA) letter. The pass holder must return home or cannot continue working in Singapore.
Will I lose the Remaining Days of the Current Pass?
No, you will not. For employment pass renewal, the IPA letter will grant you three (3) months to submit the card issuance online.
After you submit the application, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will send a Notification Letter (NL) confirming the work pass renewal. The SGWorkPass app will have the updated expiry date.
This, however, does not mean you will lose the remaining days of your current pass.
Our Thoughts
All pass holders, whether their Employment Pass is new or renewed, must receive their physical card as the final step.
The issuance of the card means that the pass holder can now start working or continue working in Singapore with their information, updated in the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) database.
Hence, optimising the validity given in each In-Principal Approval (IPA) letter to plan your trip to Singapore to ensure the card is being issued is very important. Again, the MOM notification letter is the only letter that grants you the right to commence work in Singapore.
If you like to know more about living in Singapore as an expat, you can check out our guides here.
FAQs
If you are ready to start your Employment Pass application, click here to fill up the Employment Pass Questionnaire. Our in-house agent will help you with this process.
You may also use the Self Assessment Tool (SAT) to check your eligibility for the Employment Pass or S Pass before applying or appealing.
Job scope and qualifications do not match. Educational background and experience must align with the job requirements.
The previous employer did not hire locals or maintained an imbalanced local-to-foreign ratio, showing weak contribution to Singapore’s workforce.
The role can easily be filled by a local candidate.
The applicant does not meet salary or educational qualification benchmarks.
Short job tenures or frequent job changes (less than two years) raise red flags with MOM regarding stability and intent.
After applying for an EP online, the following image can be seen:
- Pending: MOM is still reviewing your documents.
- Approved: MOM has granted the pass, and you can now proceed to card issuance.
- Rejected: The application has been declined, and you may file an appeal within three months.
Approved applicants should schedule an appointment with MOM to receive and activate their Employment Pass.
- S Pass holders cannot own or be a director of a company and are limited in certain industries.
- Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) holders have higher salary requirements and face restrictions on some job types.
- EntrePass holders must meet strict innovation, investment, or entrepreneurial criteria.
By contrast, the Employment Pass offers flexibility, fewer restrictions, and accessibility, making it the most preferred work visa among foreign professionals in Singapore.
Since August 2014, MOM requires most companies to advertise job vacancies on the MyCareersFuture portal for at least 14 days before applying for an EP, ensuring fair consideration for local candidates.
Exemptions apply to:
- Companies with fewer than 25 employees
- Jobs paying more than SGD 12,000 per month
- Intra-corporate transferees (senior managers or specialists)
- Short-term positions (less than one month)
If your EP application is rejected:
- Review MOM’s stated reasons carefully.
- Prepare an appeal letter addressing the issues raised.
- Submit additional documents (like improved salary proof or new company financials).
Appeals take a minimum of three weeks, and all must be filed within three months of rejection. After that period, a new application must be submitted.
The Self-Assessment Tool (SAT), available on MOM’s official website, helps employers and applicants check their eligibility before applying for an EP.
It assesses:
- Nationality
- Educational qualifications
- Work experience
- Expected salary
If the SAT shows ineligibility, it is recommended not to proceed, as such applications are likely to be rejected. However, the SAT is an advisory tool, and MOM ultimately makes the final decision after full evaluation.
People of various educational levels, skill levels, and salaries are interested in moving to, living in, and working in Singapore. These differences prevent the same visa from being used for every foreigner who plans to work in Singapore. Thus, to overcome this potential problem, the Singaporean government must offer different types of visa to cater to the needs of as many foreign workers as possible.
The current regulations regarding the Employment Pass do not bar anyone from receiving one on the basis of nationality. Anyone who meets all of the relevant criteria may receive it. Therefore, any eligible person from any country may receive an Employment Pass.
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Hi, what if employer issue IPA But never give employee work permit card and ask her start to work around 1 month? Can the employee continue to work?
No, the employee cannot legally work without a valid Work Permit (WP) card. An IPA letter is NOT a work permit; it only allows entry into Singapore. The employer must issue the WP card within 7 days of the employee’s arrival.
6 month for EP applicant, how about S pass applicant? also 6 month?
Hi Steve,
Your question has been answered under our forum.
https://www.paulhypepage.com/forums/business-forums-singapore/s-pass-applicant/
Feel free to interact with us in the forum if you need further clarification. We will be happy to assist.
Best Regards,
Paul
What happens if the employee turns the offer and does not come to Singapore. What happens to the IPA and EP.
Does this incident affects the future visas or EP applications
Hello Pankaj,
If you are interested in learning of your EP application status, you may use the Self-Assessment Tool to find out more. The Self-Assessment Tool exists on the Ministry of Manpower’s website and is used to check if one is likely to have an EP application approved.
Feel free to contact us at any time if you would like to know more about the EP
Thank you.
Paul
“EP holders should then proceed for work pass card registration(with notification letter) as soon as possible, as the Notification Letter is only valid for one month.”
Who will receive notification letter? Employee or Employer ? And via which medium – post or online ?
Thanks,
Dear Sandip,
The employer would receive the notification letter both by post and E-mail.
Thank you and regards,