Letter of Consent Singapore (LOC Singapore)
A Letter of Consent (LOC) is an authorization certificate issued by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that allows eligible LTVP or LTVP+ holders and business owners to work for a Singapore company.
To successfully navigate the application procedure, you should consider working with a service provider who will guide you through the process and submit the application on your behalf. To connect with a professional who can help, click “Contact Us”. Otherwise, read more to learn about Letters of Consent in Singapore.
Key Facts About Letters of Consent in Singapore
- An applicant for an LOC in Singapore must apply in cooperation with his/her employer or appointed service provider. The applicant cannot apply for an LOC on his or her own.
- A Letter of Consent in Singapore is available to persons who meet one of the following criteria:
- Eligible holders of the LTVP or LTVP+ issued by Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA)
- Workers who have a job offer from a Singapore employer
- Dependant Pass holders who are also business owners
Eligibility Requirements for a Letter of Consent in Singapore
Factors That May Affect LOC Singapore Application Outcomes
Though there are no specific qualifying criteria for applicants, not all LOC applications are approved. Every application is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The approval or denial of the application is entirely at the discretion of the Ministry of Manpower.
The factors that affect the success of the application include:
- Applicant’s age, salary, citizenship, qualification, work experience, and skills; for example, applicants with a respected university degree, a rich professional background, specialised skills, or a high salary have greater chances of success
- Applicant’s job profile
- Availability of local candidates and the economic viability of the company in Singapore; chances of a successful outcome increase if the applicant has a job with a well-known company or in a field where local candidates are not easily available
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Required Documents for a Letter of Consent in Singapore
The employing company or its appointed corporate service provider should submit the LOC application through the EP Online portal.
Before submitting the LOC application, employers must get written consent from the candidate. The document may be in any format as long as it shows the candidate's agreement to be employed.
For certain professions, it’s necessary to submit additional documents when applying for a Letter of Consent in Singapore. These positions include:
- Lawyers
- Restaurant workers
- Regional representatives
- Healthcare professionals
For more information on the required documents for selected professions, please visit the MOM website.
Note that for non-English documents, it’s necessary to submit the original document alongside an English translation. The translation should be performed by a translation service provider.
Application Timeline
Renewing or Replacing a Letter of Consent in Singapore
When renewing the LOC, you should be aware of the following:
- The DP, LTVP or LTVP+ must be valid for at least three months before submitting an application for the LOC renewal. If the DP, LTVP, or LTVP+ expires in less than three months, you must go to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore (ICA) to renew the pass.
- The LOC in Singapore must be renewed up to six months before it expires.
- To be eligible for a renewal of the Letter of Consent in Singapore, a DP holder who is also the business owner must hire at least one Singaporean or Permanent Resident who earns at least the prevailing local qualifying salary and receives CPF contributions for at least three months.
If the Letter of Consent is lost, you should report the loss and request a replacement.
Canceling a Letter of Consent in Singapore
Since the DP, LTVP, LTVP+, and consequently the LOC are tied to the main work pass, the DP, LTVP, LTVP+, and LOC are automatically cancelled with the cancellation of the relevant work pass.
The LOC will be cancelled within one week of the LOC holder's last day of notice. The cancellation should be done by an employer or an appointed employment agent (EA) and is effective immediately (unless you submit an advance request).
Before cancelling, it’s necessary to:
- Seek tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
- Settle all outstanding employment issues
Pre-Approved Letter of Consent in Singapore (PLOC)
The Pre-Approved Letter of Consent (PLOC) allows eligible ICA-issued LTVP or LTVP+ holders to secure and switch jobs more easily. PLOC is granted without having secured employment.
In addition, PLOC holders do not need to reapply for a new one when they change employers.
The PLOC scheme is available to LTVP or LTVP+ holders who are spouses or unmarried children (under 21 years old) of Singapore citizens or Permanent Residents. The validity of the PLOC will follow the applicant’s LTVP or LTVP+ and is no longer valid once the LTVP or LTVP+ expired or is cancelled.
Successfully obtaining a Letter of Consent has become more difficult in recent years. If you have any questions or would like guidance applying for a Letter of Consent in Singapore, contact a professional service provider who can guide you through the complexities of the application process.
