Work Pass Exemption

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Work Pass Exemption (WPE)
Purpose	Short-term specified work activities
Stay	Up to 90 days yearly
Cost	Not stated in the source
Eligibility timing	Engaged before entering Singapore
Work rights	Eligible activities only
Study	Participant activities permitted
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Valid Short-Term Visit Pass required
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Not stated in the source
Visa record	Print acknowledgement letter
Notification	After arrival, before work
STVP extension	Not for WPE purposes

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Purpose

The Work Pass Exemption allows short-term work in Singapore without a work pass, but only for specified exempt activities.

You may perform exempt activities over any number of visits, up to a cumulative 90 days in a calendar year.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be engaged for the exempt activity before entering Singapore.
• Hold a valid Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP) issued at immigration.
• Notify the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) after arrival and before starting work.
• Meet any applicable Singapore legal or professional registration requirements.

Being engaged before travel does not guarantee entry into Singapore. Entry is assessed at immigration checkpoints.

Stay and Extensions

• Your permitted activity period for each visit depends on your STVP validity.
• The total activity period cannot exceed 90 days in a calendar year, including cumulative periods.
• STVP extension requests made to perform a WPE activity will not be considered.
• You may extend an existing notification before its stated activity end date if:
  • Your STVP remains valid throughout the extension; and
  • Your total WPE activity period remains within 90 calendar-year days.
• If the original notification has ended, submit a new notification.

Eligible Activities

The exemption covers the following activities, subject to their stated limits.

Activity	Key limits
Arbitration or mediation	Cannot concern religion, race, community, or political causes
Exhibitions	Registered exhibitor; official exhibition hours only
Journalism	Government or statutory-board supported activities
SICC legal duties	Specified international judges and registered foreign lawyers
Junket activities	Overseas-based licensed promoters or representatives
Location filming and fashion shows	Includes specified production crew and photographers
Performances	Government-supported or eligible public-performance venues
Specialised technical services	New plants, operations, machinery, or equipment
Seminars and conferences	Direct organising or conducting roles
Sports	Government or statutory-board supported events or training
Tour facilitation	Logistical support for visiting tour groups

Important Activity Limits

Exhibitions

You must be registered with the organiser and may provide information, perform, demonstrate, display, or sell goods or services related to the exhibition. The exemption does not cover temporary fairs, certain permitted events, peripheral services, or booth construction and dismantling.

Location filming and performances

Performing at venues with a Public Entertainment Licence, such as bars, discotheques, lounges and nightclubs, generally requires a Work Permit for performing artiste. An exemption may apply where the event is supported by the Government or a statutory board.

Specialised services

The work must require expertise not generally available in Singapore and relate to new plants, operations, machinery, or equipment. The exemption does not cover public sales, manufacturing products for sale, renovation, carpentry, or specified commercial diving work.

Seminars and conferences

Permitted roles include speaker, moderator, facilitator, or trainer. The event must not mainly sell or promote goods or services, or relate to religion, race, community, or political causes. Peripheral, set-up, maintenance, dismantling, and examination administration work require a work pass.

Sports

You are not eligible if hired as a sportsman under a contract of services with a Singapore sports organisation.

Tour facilitation

Tour facilitation is logistical support, such as hotel arrangements and border crossings, usually by staff of a foreign company. It does not include tour guiding. Tour guides need a MOM work pass and a Singapore Tourism Board tourist guide licence.

Activities Not Requiring MOM Notification

You do not need to notify MOM for the duration of your STVP if you are only:

• Attending company meetings, corporate retreats, or business-partner meetings.
• Participating in study tours, visits, training courses, workshops, seminars, or conferences.
• Attending exhibitions as a trade visitor.

These activities must not involve a contract of service or contract for service with a Singapore employer.

A trainer or speaker at a training course or workshop must notify MOM for the exemption or obtain a Miscellaneous Work Pass. On-the-job training requires a work pass.

How to Notify MOM

Notify MOM online after entering Singapore and receiving an STVP, but before beginning the exempt activity.

Provide:

• Personal particulars, including name and date of birth.
• Passport number and expiry date.
• Disembarkation/Embarkation card number.
• STVP expiry date.
• Activity type.
• Activity start and end dates.
• Workplace address.

After submitting the e-notification, print the acknowledgement letter and keep it available if required.

Important Warning

It is an offence to carry out a Work Pass Exempt activity without notifying MOM first.