Is Singapore Self-Employed EP Application Difficult? (Fundamental Analysis of EP Application)

In recent years, as Singapore has become a popular destination for entrepreneurs in Asia, more and more foreigners hope to apply for EP for themselves by setting up a company, which is the so-called "Self-Employed EP".

So the question arises: Is Singapore Self-Employed EP application really difficult?

Short answer: Not easy, especially without professional planning.

Self-Employed EP is not a policy issue, the difficulty lies in higher approval standards

First, let's be clear: Singapore law does not prohibit applying for EP through a newly registered company for yourself, which means Self-Employed EP is an allowed and compliant method.

But the difficulty is: The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has very strict review standards for applications where "employment relationship and business model are combined". Since you are both employer and employee, MOM needs to specifically confirm several points:

• Whether the company is genuine and can operate normally
• Whether the company has the necessity to employ you
• Whether you have the ability to be competent for the position
• Whether the entire business model is sustainable and reasonable

Once MOM has doubts about these aspects, you may receive a request for additional documents or be directly rejected.

Why do many people fail in their applications?

Many people mistakenly believe that "establishing a company + meeting COMPASS score = guaranteed approval", this is the biggest misconception.

In fact, the COMPASS system is only the threshold for you to be eligible to submit an application, it does not mean the EP will definitely be approved. The actual review is determined by MOM's case-by-case assessment. Since the applicant and employer overlap in Self-Employed EP, the margin for error during review is very low.

Common reasons for failure include:

• Company registration structure or business model is not credible
• Position setup is unreasonable or doesn't match applicant's background
• Business plan is vague and cannot convince MOM
• Lack of actual funding/customer support, like a "paper company"
• Application materials are incomplete, unprofessional, or logically confused

Key to successful Self-Employed EP: Demonstrating strength + Material strategy

Successful Self-Employed EP applications focus on showing a "credible logical chain" between company operational strength and applicant capabilities, convincing MOM to approve this seemingly "self-employment" application.

The following are key factors in successful cases:

1. Clear and executable Business Plan
2. Strong correlation between applicant and position (educational background, work experience)
3. Reasonable company structure and business planning (office address, startup capital, etc.)
4. Clear financial and employment arrangements (reasonable salary, company affordability)
5. Complete set of materials planned and reviewed by professional agencies

This cannot be completed by simply using templates or copying, it needs to be customized according to each applicant's specific situation.

To improve success rate, here's what we recommend

If you're considering applying for Self-Employed EP, we recommend the following steps:

• Don't submit the application right away, get a professional evaluation first
• Find an experienced service agency to develop a feasible registration and EP strategy
• Prepare a complete set of application materials in advance, including company structure, job description, business plan, etc.
• Ensure the application logic is clear, with all content focused on "demonstrating strength and convincing MOM"

Summary

Self-Employed EP is not impossible, but it definitely cannot be applied for hastily.
The difficulty lies in: you are both boss and employee, so the review standards are naturally higher, especially for newly registered companies, every document must serve the function of "convincing MOM".

Therefore, if you plan to start a business or reside in Singapore through self-employment, please make sure to find a professional team to assist with planning and packaging your application from the beginning, don't wait until after failure to "lock the stable door after the horse has bolted".

Want to know more?

📌 Want to learn more about "Self-Employed EP application process" and "Planning and success strategies"
📌 Welcome to check out our prepared "Singapore Self-Employed EP Special Introduction"
📌 Contact us for a free preliminary assessment and personalized solution recommendations