Did someone, in recent times, acquire a Personalised Employment Pass that is valid for five years and allows one to switch employers.

no but I am considering switching my EP to a PEP.

if you are already here on a P1 you should get one no problem. If you are applying for one before having a job then you need to be earnng a minimum salary of S$7k a month.

The PEP has the advantage that if you lose your job you can stay for 6 months to look for work. The disadvantage if you plan to stay long term is that it cannot be renewed. Once it expires you have to become PR or leave.

Aren't you usually on the Australia forum, msi geek? Have you had a change of plan or have you just given up trying to find work in Oz?

I would think Singapore is in an even worse state than Oz currently is; quite a few of my friends have been retrenched.

Seasider,

Thanks for your reply.

Australia certainly has more openings than Singapore - wish the Aussie immigration was as efficient as Singapore.

An SG employment pass is approved in 48 hours, an Oz 457 visa take up to 2 months - no employer wants to wait that long.

I tried my best for Aussie visa sponsorship and still trying - with every second person working in IT in Singapore an expat - there are no visa related issues as exists in Australia.

Also, OZ dollar and Singapore dollar are on parity - singapore better income tax wise...

All the companies I have worked in NZ also have a huge presence in OZ, but these Aussies, for some reason, are very reluctant to sponsor visa - even Intra Company transfer is proving very difficult.

If you are applying for one before having a job then you need to be earnng a minimum salary of S$7k a month.


If my overseas salary in SG dollars was more than 7000/month in a CONTRACT job working overseas - not a permanent one - will I be entitled to a PEP?

Oh yes taxes definitely better in Sg! We're feeling the effect since moving to Oz (although of course we knew we would).

I don't know the terms of a PEP (we're PR) but Singapore is not a cheap place to be if you don't have work. Are you hoping it will make you more marketable to employers?

Yes - in Australia earning a salary of 100K would get you only 74K after taxes.

In comparison, my boss who had moved from UK working in Barclays SG on 160K was getting 144K after taxes. Ofcourse, he was a permanent employee and did not have to slog like contractors.

Singapore was recently rated as 12th most expensive city of the world.

as far as I know you just need to be earning the equiv of 7k in the month prior to your application. so I guess yes you will.

Yes - but is not fixed monthly salary - contracting means it not "FIXED"

The following groups of foreigners will be eligible for a PEP:

Overseas foreign professional whose last drawn fixed monthly salary overseas
was at least $7,000
. The last drawn fixed monthly salary overseas should be no more than six
months from the time of the application.

Hi msi geek, did you manage to find out if your contracting income counts towards the S$7k required for the PEP? I'm in a similar position, I am a contractor in the UK and I draw a combinations of salary and dividends. The salary amount itself is below the $7k but the dividends is above. I have emailed MOM and am waiting for their response.

Hi Rugless,

What will be your monthly base salary in Singapore?

No definite response from MOM regarding Personalised Employment Pass:

We refer to your email dated 04 February 2009.

You may wish to note that we will not be able to advise you on an
application before it is submitted to us.

Therefore, you may submit the application form to us for the consideration
of our processing officers. Please note that every application will be
subjected to the approval of the processing officers.

just submit your application with proof of your income and see how it goes. the turnaround on applications is very quick

[QUOTE=msi geek;7272459]wish the Aussie immigration was as efficient as Singapore.

Hi msi greek,
That makes 2 of us!! We're travelling in SE Asia at the moment (meant to be on our way to Aus) but the visa still hasn't been granted. So we're also looking into staying in Singapore for 6 months or maybe longer (if the visa takes longer). Kindof makes more sense to hang around in Singapore rather than go to the hassle and expense of going back to London.

Good luck to you!

Are you eligible to "hang around in Singapore" for six months?