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MOM Work Permit

Singapore Work Permit Sector Quota (DRC), Levy & LQS Guide 2026

Complete guide to Singapore Work Permit rules. Review sector Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) quotas, foreign worker levies (S$200-S$950), and July 1, 2026 LQS (S$1,800).

Overview & Statutory Background

The Work Permit (WP) is issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for semi-skilled foreign workers in Construction, Manufacturing, Marine Shipyard, Process, and Services sectors. Employers are regulated by Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) sector quotas, monthly foreign worker levies (S$200 to S$950/month), and the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) threshold of S$1,800/month.

Key Pass Highlights & Statutory Criteria

July 1 2026 LQS Rate

S$1,800 / month

Verified

Services DRC Quota

35% Max

Verified

Construction Quota

1 Local : 5 Foreigners

Verified

Monthly Levy Range

S$200 - S$950 / head

Verified

Evaluation Criteria & Points Breakdown

1. Local Qualifying Salary (LQS S$1,800)

S$1,800/month

Effective July 1, 2026, local employees must be paid at least S$1,800/month to count as 1 full local employee for foreign worker quota calculations.

2. Services Sector DRC Quota (35%)

35% Quota Cap

Services sector firms can hire foreign Work Permit holders up to 35% of their total workforce.

3. Construction & Manufacturing Quota

Higher Ratios

Construction permits up to 1 local to 5 foreign workers (ratio 1:5); Manufacturing capped at 60% DRC.

4. Tiered Foreign Worker Levies

S$200 to S$950

Levies scale based on worker skill level (R1 Higher-Skilled vs R2 Basic-Skilled) and company quota tier.

Mandatory Eligibility Requirements

Employer must have available Work Permit quota under their sector Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC).

Workers must meet source country age limits (18 to 50 years old at time of application; up to 58 for Malaysians).

Employer must pay monthly GIRO levies and purchase medical insurance (minimum S$60,000 coverage).

Mandatory security bond (S$5,000) required for non-Malaysian workers.

Step-by-Step Application & Issuance Process

Check DRC Quota on WP Online

Employer logs into MOM WP Online portal to verify available DRC quota.

Submit Application

Submit Work Permit application with S$35 processing fee.

Purchase Bond & Medical Insurance

Upon IPA approval, purchase S$5,000 security bond and S$60,000 medical insurance.

Arrival, Medical Check & Card Issuance

Worker enters Singapore, completes medical screening, and collects physical Work Permit card (S$35 fee).

Required Document Checklist

•Foreign Worker Passport Copy (valid for 6 months)

•Educational / Skill Evaluation Certificate (SEC/SEC-K for Construction)

•CPF Contribution Statements proving local employee count at S$1,800 LQS

•ACRA BizFile Search Report of the Employer

•S$5,000 Security Bond & Medical Insurance Policy Document

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Effective July 1, 2026, the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) threshold is S$1,800 per month. A local worker earning S$1,800+ counts as 1 full local employee for foreign worker quota calculations; earning S$900 to S$1,799 counts as 0.5.

The Services sector DRC quota is capped at 35% of a company's total workforce.

Work Permit levy rates range from S$200 to S$950 per worker per month, depending on the sector, company tier, and whether the worker is certified as Higher-Skilled (R1) or Basic-Skilled (R2).

Non-Malaysian workers must be between 18 and 50 years old at the time of application. Malaysian workers can be up to 58 years old.

The maximum employment period is 14 years for Basic-Skilled (R2) workers and up to 26 years for Higher-Skilled (R1) workers.

Current or former Work Permit holders must obtain prior approval from MOM before marrying a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident.