Can you work in Singapore while on a visit pass?
Work in Singapore requires a valid work pass or an exemption published by the Ministry of Manpower, and a short-term visit pass is not one. Certain short business activities, such as meetings and negotiations, are treated differently from performing work.
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How it works
MOM publishes a work pass exemption route for specific short-term activities, with notification requirements and time limits attached. Both the individual and the employer carry liability if work is performed without the correct pass.
Commonly mixed up with
Remote work for a foreign employer while visiting is often assumed to be outside the rules. The published position depends on the activity, so it should be checked rather than presumed.
Can you work in Singapore while on a visit pass?
| Knowledge, Singapore | Legal, visa and entry |
|---|---|
| Short answer | Work in Singapore requires a valid work pass or an exemption published by the Ministry of Manpower, and a short-term visit pass is not one. Certain short business activities, such as meetings and negotiations, are treated differently from performing work. |
| How it works | MOM publishes a work pass exemption route for specific short-term activities, with notification requirements and time limits attached. Both the individual and the employer carry liability if work is performed without the correct pass. |
| Commonly mixed up with | Remote work for a foreign employer while visiting is often assumed to be outside the rules. The published position depends on the activity, so it should be checked rather than presumed. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Are business meetings work?
- MOM distinguishes short business activities from employment.
- Is there a short-term exemption?
- An exemption route exists for listed activities with notification.
- Who is liable?
- Both the individual and the employer can be penalised.
- Can I start before the pass is issued?
- Work should begin only once the pass is in force.
- Where are the rules?
- The Ministry of Manpower publishes pass and exemption conditions.
Sources
More in this track
- Do you need a visa to enter Singapore?
- What passport validity does Singapore require?
- What is the difference between an Employment Pass and an S Pass?
- Can family join a work pass holder in Singapore?
- How does permanent residence work in Singapore?
- What can you bring into Singapore, and what is prohibited?
- How strict is Singapore law on serious offences?
- How does Singapore's data protection law affect a business?
- How are commercial disputes resolved in Singapore?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
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Machine-readable summaries for AI agents: /llms.txt and /llms-full.txt.
