Singapore Training Employment Pass (TEP) & Work Pass Exempt Activities Guide 2026
Singapore Training Employment Pass (TEP) guide for 2026 covering eligibility, S$3,000 salary route, acceptable institutions, 3-month validity, fees, documents, application process, renewal limits and Work Pass Exempt Activities.
Key Framework Criteria & Principles
1. Foreign Student Training Route
Course-Related AttachmentThe training attachment in Singapore must be part of the student's course of study. The student must either be studying at an acceptable institution or earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000.
2. Foreign Office / Subsidiary Trainee
S$3,000 SalaryA trainee from the employer's foreign office or subsidiary must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000.
3. Professional-Level Training
PMET TrainingThe TEP is intended for practical training for professional, managerial, executive or specialist jobs in Singapore.
4. Employer Application
Employer AppliesThe Singapore employer must submit the TEP application through MOM's Employment Pass eService.
5. Three-Month Limit
Maximum 3 MonthsThe TEP is valid for up to 3 months and is not renewable.
6. Same-Training Restriction
No Repeat for Same TrainingA candidate who has previously held a TEP is not eligible for another TEP for the same type of training.
Mandatory Eligibility Requirements
Step-by-Step Procedure
Confirm the correct TEP route
Determine whether the candidate qualifies as a foreign student or as a trainee from a foreign office or subsidiary. Check the course-of-study requirement, acceptable-institution route and applicable S$3,000 salary requirement.
Prepare the training programme
Prepare a detailed training programme covering the objective, type of training, location and duration. Keep supporting education or corporate-relationship documents available in case MOM requests them.
Submit the TEP application
The employer submits the TEP application through MOM's Employment Pass eService and pays the S$105 application fee.
Wait for MOM's outcome
MOM states that TEP applications are generally processed within 3 weeks. An approved application results in an in-principle approval letter.
Prepare the candidate for entry
After approval, the candidate should comply with applicable Singapore entry requirements and use the in-principle approval documentation as directed.
Issue the TEP after arrival
The employer completes pass issuance through the Employment Pass eService after the candidate arrives in Singapore and pays the S$225 issuance fee.
Complete registration if required
The notification letter states whether fingerprint and photo registration is required. Where registration is required, the candidate must attend the specified appointment.
Receive the pass card
MOM states that the pass card is delivered to the provided address 5 working days after fingerprint/photo registration or document verification, as applicable.
Eligibility Tracks
Acceptable Institution Rule
Summary
For the foreign-student route, an acceptable institution can satisfy the institutional side of the TEP criteria without requiring the student to meet the S$3,000 salary route.
Important Point
MOM maintains a sample list of acceptable institutions. The list takes reference from institutions awarded 20 points under COMPASS criterion 2 (Qualifications).
Verification
Employers should check MOM's current acceptable-institutions list rather than relying on an institution name appearing in an older third-party list.
Salary Rules
Foreign Student
A foreign student must either be studying at an acceptable institution or earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000.
Foreign Trainee
A trainee from a foreign office or subsidiary must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000.
Fixed Monthly Salary
The relevant salary threshold is expressed by MOM as a fixed monthly salary.
Important Distinction
S$3,000 should not be described as a universal minimum salary for every TEP applicant because foreign students may qualify through the acceptable-institution route.
Document Notes
- MOM's dedicated TEP document page specifically lists the passport particulars page and detailed training programme as core application documents.
- MOM may request additional documents during review, so an application should not be treated as complete merely because the two core documents have been prepared.
- A generic ACRA BizFile incorporation report should not be presented as a mandatory universal TEP document because MOM's TEP document guidance does not list it as a blanket requirement.
Validity And Renewal
Maximum Validity
Up to 3 months
Renewable
Extension
The TEP itself is not renewable or extendable beyond its permitted validity.
Same Training Rule
A candidate who previously held a TEP is not eligible for another TEP for the same type of training.
After Expiry
The person cannot continue working on an expired or cancelled TEP. Any subsequent employment or training arrangement requires the appropriate separate immigration or work-pass status.
Family
Family passes are not available under the TEP.
Twp Comparison
Intro
The TEP and Training Work Permit (TWP) are separate Singapore work-pass routes. The correct route depends largely on the level and type of training and the candidate's circumstances.
Comparison
Singapore Work Pass Exempt Activities
Intro
Work Pass Exempt Activities (WPE) are a separate MOM framework that allows certain foreigners to perform specifically listed short-term activities without obtaining a work pass. They should not be presented as a type of TEP or as an alternative that automatically applies to ordinary training or employment.
Basic Requirements
- The person must be engaged to perform an eligible Work Pass Exempt activity before entering Singapore.
- The person must hold a valid Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) that allows the stay during the activity.
- The person must notify MOM after arriving in Singapore and before starting the exempt activity, unless the particular activity is one of the situations where notification is not required.
- Starting an activity that requires WPE notification before notifying MOM is an offence.
- The activity duration is limited to a total of 90 days in a calendar year, which can be cumulative across multiple visits.
Notification Process
Enter Singapore
Step 1Arrive in Singapore and obtain the applicable Short-Term Visit Pass.
Submit WPE notification
Step 2Submit the MOM e-notification after arrival and before starting the eligible activity.
Keep the acknowledgement
Step 3After submission, print or retain the acknowledgement letter as evidence of the notification.
Stay within the 90-day annual limit
Step 4The total duration of WPE activities cannot exceed 90 days in a calendar year.
Eligible Activity Examples
- Arbitration or mediation services, subject to MOM's specific conditions.
- Participation as an exhibitor at an eligible exhibition during the exhibition's official opening hours, subject to the detailed conditions.
- Certain performances at eligible venues or events, subject to venue and event restrictions.
- Certain sports competition, event or training activities supported by the Singapore Government or a statutory board.
- Tour facilitation performed as logistical support for visiting tour groups by eligible foreign-company personnel.
Activities That May Not Need Notification
- Attending company meetings, corporate retreats or meetings with business partners.
- Attending study tours, training courses, workshops, seminars or conferences as a participant.
- Attending exhibitions as a trade visitor.
Important Boundary
Being physically present for a conference, training course or exhibition does not automatically create a WPE right to perform productive work. Activities that involve actual work, on-the-job training or a contract of service/contract for service may require a work pass or a different immigration permission.
Work Pass Exempt Activity Examples
Eligible exhibitors may participate subject to MOM conditions. Merely attending an exhibition as a trade visitor is listed as an activity that does not require WPE notification.
Certain arbitration or mediation services are work-pass exempt subject to the exclusions and conditions set by MOM.
Certain performers and key support staff may qualify for WPE depending on the event and venue. Commercial or excluded venues may require another work pass.
Certain sports competitions, events or training supported by the Government or a statutory board may qualify.
Eligible foreign-company tour facilitators may qualify for the logistical-support exemption, but tour guiding itself is not generally WPE.
Compliance And Practical Notes
- A TEP is a work pass for structured professional-level practical training; it should not be used as a substitute for an ordinary Employment Pass where the underlying arrangement is regular employment.
- MOM can consider the employer's overall pattern of TEP applications and holders. An unusually high number or proportion compared with similar companies in the industry can result in rejection.
- A foreign student should not be described as needing S$3,000 in every case because the acceptable-institution route can satisfy the student eligibility test.
- A candidate who previously held a TEP cannot simply obtain another TEP for the same type of training.
- TEP holders do not receive family passes.
- TEP holders are not subject to the foreign-worker levy or quota.
- When a TEP holder's training ends, the employer must cancel the pass as required. MOM states that cancellation should generally be submitted within 1 week after the last day of training, unless the pass has already expired.
- If the pass holder remains in Singapore after cancellation, they must have valid immigration status. MOM allows an employer to request an STVP in the relevant circumstances.
- A Work Pass Exempt Activity is a separate legal framework and cannot be used simply because a person is visiting Singapore for a short time.
- For WPE activities, notification must be made after arrival and before beginning the activity whenever notification is required.
- The WPE annual limit is 90 days and can be cumulative across multiple visits.
- An ordinary on-the-job training arrangement should not be assumed to qualify for WPE; MOM specifically states that on-the-job training requires a work pass.
Cancellation
When To Cancel
The employer must cancel the TEP when the pass holder's training has ended. MOM states that cancellation should be submitted within 1 week after the last day of training and may be submitted up to 14 days in advance.
After Cancellation
Once cancelled, the pass holder cannot continue working on the TEP.
Departure
The employer should handle repatriation and ensure the pass holder has lawful immigration status until departure.
Stvp
Where the pass holder remains in Singapore after cancellation, an STVP may be requested in the circumstances permitted by MOM.
Application Process
Confirm the correct TEP route
Step 1Determine whether the candidate qualifies as a foreign student or as a trainee from a foreign office or subsidiary. Check the course-of-study requirement, acceptable-institution route and applicable S$3,000 salary requirement.
Prepare the training programme
Step 2Prepare a detailed training programme covering the objective, type of training, location and duration. Keep supporting education or corporate-relationship documents available in case MOM requests them.
Submit the TEP application
Step 3The employer submits the TEP application through MOM's Employment Pass eService and pays the S$105 application fee.
Wait for MOM's outcome
Step 4MOM states that TEP applications are generally processed within 3 weeks. An approved application results in an in-principle approval letter.
Prepare the candidate for entry
Step 5After approval, the candidate should comply with applicable Singapore entry requirements and use the in-principle approval documentation as directed.
Issue the TEP after arrival
Step 6The employer completes pass issuance through the Employment Pass eService after the candidate arrives in Singapore and pays the S$225 issuance fee.
Complete registration if required
Step 7The notification letter states whether fingerprint and photo registration is required. Where registration is required, the candidate must attend the specified appointment.
Receive the pass card
Step 8MOM states that the pass card is delivered to the provided address 5 working days after fingerprint/photo registration or document verification, as applicable.
Documents
- Candidate's passport particulars page showing the personal particulars and travel document number.
- Detailed training programme stating the training objective, type of training, location and duration.
- For foreign-student applicants: supporting evidence that the training attachment is part of the course of study where requested.
- For foreign-student applicants: educational qualification or institutional documents where relevant.
- For trainees from a foreign office or subsidiary: evidence of the foreign-company relationship or ownership where MOM requests it.
- Verification proof of educational qualifications may be requested during assessment.
- Documents not in English should be submitted with an English translation as required by MOM.
Required Document Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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