Employment Pass Holders Transferring to Related Employer Now Require New Application
December 21, 2016

Employers can no longer transfer an Employment Pass (EP) holder to a related company in the case of a merger or acquisition without the new employer submitting a new EP application, according to a policy change announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Once the new EP is approved, the previous employer can cancel the old EP, without re-advertising the role in the job bank.
Previously, employers could transfer an EP holder to a new company without a new EP application.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
Employers that need to transfer an employee to a related company should contact their immigration professional to ensure that there is adequate time to complete a new EP application and that the new company’s corporate relationship is properly indicated in the application form.
This change in process may result in a fee increase.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
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