Letter of Consent (LOC) in Singapore: Who Needs It to Work and How It Is Obtained

The Letter of Consent (LOC) allows eligible LTVP/LTVP+ holders to work in Singapore if they find a job here.

MOM issues the LOC for three groups: eligible LTVP/LTVP+ holders who are spouses or unmarried children under 21 of a Singaporean or PR, Dependant’s Pass holders setting up or operating their own business, and Employment Pass holders taking up a secondary directorship.

The employer or appointed employment agent can apply for the LOC for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders, the Dependant’s Pass holder submits an online request and applies for the business-owner LOC using EP eService or by engaging an employment agent, and the employer who intends to appoint the EP holder applies for the secondary-directorship LOC.

For the LOC for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders, you can only begin working after the employer has received the LOC., and the LOC for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders is free with a stated processing time of 1 week.

Who needs a Letter of Consent

The clearest LOC route is for holders of a Long-Term Visit Pass or LTVP+ issued by ICA. MOM’s Letter of Consent for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders page states the LOC allows eligible LTVP/LTVP+ holders to work in Singapore if they find a job here. To be eligible, you must be an LTVP/LTVP+ holder married to a Singaporean or PR, or an unmarried child under 21 years old of a Singaporean or PR who holds an LTVP.

Dependant’s Pass holders who want to set up or operate their own business also use an LOC. MOM’s Dependant’s Pass “Working in Singapore” page says a DP holder looking to set up or operate their own business can apply for a Letter of Consent. This is separate from the Employment Pass, S Pass and DP-Work Permit routes that a prospective employer may use for a DP holder who joins an organisation.

Employment Pass holders moving to a board role need an LOC as well. MOM treats directorship duties as work, so an employer who wants to appoint an EP holder from another related company to its board must get MOM approval by applying for a Letter of Consent. The appointment must still be registered with ACRA after MOM approval.

Other family members and pass holders usually need a different pass rather than an LOC. MOM states that parents of Singaporeans and PRs who hold an LTVP can work on a Work Permit, while other family members not holding an LTVP must qualify for an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit on their own merit. This article therefore focuses on the three LOC routes and the related work-pass alternatives.

Eligibility for the LOC for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders

Two categories are eligible. MOM’s eligibility page lists an LTVP/LTVP+ holder who is married to a Singaporean or PR, and an unmarried child under 21 years old of a Singaporean or PR who holds an LTVP. The LTVP/LTVP+ also has to be valid for at least 3 months, and you must have a job offer with a Singapore employer.

The application is made by the employer or an appointed employment agent, not by the candidate. MOM states the employer or appointed employment agent can apply for the LOC, and you can only begin working after the employer has received the LOC. MOM’s work-pass page for ICA-issued LTVP holders adds that you first need to find a job in Singapore and get the employer to apply for an LOC for you.

Duration runs to the earlier of two dates. MOM states the duration granted for the pass is based on the earlier of what the employer indicated in the LOC application, or the expiry date of the LTVP/LTVP+. The LOC stops being valid when the LTVP/LTVP+ is cancelled or expires, or when you are no longer employed by the company; in the latter case the employer still needs to cancel the LOC.

MOM also notes limits on the type of work. The work-pass page for ICA-issued LTVP holders states LTVP holders are not allowed to work in objectionable occupations such as a dance hostess or a masseur. The Pre-approved LOC adds further restricted occupations, which are set out below.

How to apply for the LOC for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders

The application is made through EP eService on myMOM Portal. MOM’s apply page gives the following at-a-glance parameters.

Submit the application in this order. Each step below is one action.

1. Get a written consent to apply for the LOC from the candidate.
2. Log in to EP eService on myMOM Portal to fill out the application and upload the required documents.
3. Ensure that your organisation’s turnover information for the past 3 years has been updated before submitting the application.
4. Check your application status after 1 week.
5. If the application is still pending after 1 week, check your email for MOM’s request for additional documents.
6. Submit the documents via Work Passes > Choose the application record > Submit documents, or select ‘View details’ to see the action required.
7. If the LOC is approved, MOM will email the outcome.

MOM states the processing time is 1 week, and some cases will take more time. If additional information or documents are required, the case may take longer after the first week. If the LOC is approved, MOM emails the outcome, and the related eServices are EP eService and Check application status.

The Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC)

The PLOC is an alternative that starts at the ICA stage. MOM’s Pre-approved Letter of Consent page states the PLOC allows eligible LTVP/LTVP+ holders who are spouses or children of a Singaporean or permanent resident to work in Singapore. When you apply for, or renew, an LTVP or LTVP+ with ICA, you will be given the option to apply for one.

The main practical difference is the job search. MOM says the PLOC allows LTVP or LTVP+ holders to work in Singapore without the need to find a job first. The standard LOC described above requires you to first find a job and get the employer to apply for the LOC.

Restricted occupations still apply to PLOC holders. MOM states PLOC holders are not allowed to work in some restricted occupations such as journalist, editor, sub-editor, producer, or in any religious occupation. To work in these occupations, your prospective employer needs to apply for an LOC.

The retrieval packet does not state a fee or processing time for the PLOC itself. Check MOM’s PLOC key-facts page for parameters such as validity and exceptions, because the packet does not quote those values.

LOC for Dependant’s Pass holders who are business owners

A DP holder who wants to set up or operate a business applies for an LOC rather than an EP, S Pass or DP-WP. MOM’s application page states the cost is free and the processing time is within 4 weeks for most cases.

Check the Dependant’s Pass validity first. Before applying, check that your Dependant’s Pass is valid for at least 3 months. If it is not, you need to renew your Dependant’s Pass.

Submission runs in two stages, and the full sequence is below.

1. Check that your Dependant’s Pass is valid for at least 3 months, and renew it if it is not.
2. Submit an online request to apply for an LOC.
3. Receive the outcome of your request within 1 week.
4. If the request is approved, apply for the LOC using EP eService on myMOM Portal, or engage an employment agent to apply on your behalf.
5. Ensure that your business’ turnover information has been updated before submitting the application.
6. Check the application status after 3 weeks.
7. If the application is still pending after 3 weeks, check your email for MOM’s request for additional documents.
8. Submit the documents via Work Passes > Choose the application record > Submit documents, or select ‘View details’ to see the action required.
9. If the LOC is approved, MOM will email the outcome.

MOM gives an overall processing time of within 4 weeks for most cases, and asks you to check the application status after 3 weeks. If the LOC is approved, MOM will email the outcome. MOM’s related pages cover eligibility and appeals against a rejected application; the packet does not set out those conditions, so check MOM’s eligibility page before filing.

LOC for Employment Pass holders taking up a secondary directorship

An EP holder appointed to the board of a related company needs an LOC. MOM’s secondary directorship page states eligible companies can appoint Employment Pass holders from another related company to their Board of Directors. The employer who intends to appoint the EP holder applies, and directorship duties are considered work, so MOM approval is required before the appointment is registered.

MOM will generally grant the LOC only if two conditions are met. Your company must be related by shareholding to the Employment Pass holder’s employer, and this must be reflected in ACRA records. The EP holder must be taking up the secondary directorship for purposes related to their primary employment.

The steps are set by MOM. Ensure the EP holder’s employer has no objections to the EP holder taking on directorship. Get approval from MOM by applying for a Letter of Consent. If approved, proceed to register the directorship position with ACRA. MOM also points to a factsheet on EP holders taking up secondary directorship appointments for more information.

When a different pass is required instead of an LOC

DP holders working for an organisation use other routes. MOM’s Dependant’s Pass “Working in Singapore” page states prospective employers can apply for an Employment Pass, S Pass, or DP-Work Permit for their DP holders. DP holders who get an EP or S Pass must meet prevailing EP or S Pass qualifying criteria, gain the work and stay privileges of that pass, and have their DP cancelled before the EP or S Pass is issued.

A DP-Work Permit works differently. MOM states DP-WP holders can be of any nationality or citizenship, are not subject to a minimum qualifying salary, and have their DP-WP validity period tied to their DP. They are not subject to the six-monthly medical examination and security bond requirements, and do not need their employer to provide medical insurance if they are already covered under a plan that meets MOM’s minimum mandatory insurance coverage requirement.

DP-WP holders are subject to Work Permit quota and levy. MOM publishes the following DP-WP monthly levy rates, which are aligned to the lowest levy rates for each business sector.

A Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) or quota is the maximum ratio of foreign workers to the total workforce that a company can employ in each sector. From 2028, the current Tier 1 and Tier 2 in the Services and Manufacturing sectors will be merged. The monthly levy rate for the merged tier will be S$300 in the Manufacturing sector and S$400 in the Services sector, and MOM will release more details on the implementation timeline in due course.

ICA-issued LTVP holders outside the spouse and child categories use other passes. MOM states parents of Singaporeans and PRs who hold an LTVP can work on a Work Permit and are only counted under the employer’s overall quota. Other family members not holding an LTVP need to qualify for an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit on their own merit. Your LTVP should have a validity of at least 4 months remaining if you wish to apply for a Work Permit.

A parent accompanying a child studying in Singapore faces a time rule. MOM states such an LTVP holder is not allowed to work during the first year here, to encourage the parent to spend more time with the child and help the child adjust to Singapore’s education system. After the parent has been in Singapore for a year, they can find a job and the employer can apply for a Work Permit.

Under that Work Permit, MOM states the holder is able to work in any sector, is not subject to source country restriction, and is only counted under the employer’s overall quota. The holder is subject to the foreign worker levy and is not allowed to work in objectionable occupations such as a bar or dance hostess, or masseur.

The documents required are a copy of the child’s student pass, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, a letter from the child’s school indicating the child’s current education level, a copy of your current LTVP, and a copy of your passport personal particulars page.

Volunteering does not need a work pass. MOM states DP holders do not need a work pass to participate in volunteer activities, provided that no payment is involved and the activities are for a charitable purpose.

What to read next

• Dependant’s Pass Guide: Who Qualifies, How to Apply and What Family Members Can Do — This guide sets out who qualifies as a dependant, how the application is made and what family members can do.
• Dependant’s Pass Work Rights in 2026: LOC and Work Permit Pathways Explained — This page explains the LOC and Work Permit pathways available to Dependant’s Pass holders who want to work.
• Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP): Who Can Apply, Who Issues It and How the Application Works — This article covers who can apply for an LTVP, which agency issues it and how the application runs.
• 2026 LTVP+ vs. LTVP: Which Long-Term Visit Pass Unlocks Employment and Healthcare for Spouses? — This comparison explains which long-term visit pass unlocks employment and healthcare for spouses.
• Employment Pass Application Guide: Fair Consideration, Eligibility, Documents and the EP Online Steps — This guide sets out Employment Pass eligibility, the Fair Consideration requirement, documents and the EP Online steps.
• Checking Your Singapore Work Pass Application Status: MOM, ICA and Where Each Pass Is Tracked — This page shows where each pass application is tracked and how to check status with MOM and ICA.

Official sources

• Letter of Consent for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders — MOM overview and key facts for the LOC route.
• Eligibility for Letter of Consent for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders — MOM eligibility requirements and pass-duration rules.
• Apply for a Letter of Consent for ICA-issued LTVP/LTVP+ holders — MOM application steps, cost and processing time.
• Pre-approved Letter of Consent — MOM page on the PLOC, including restricted occupations.
• Apply for a Letter of Consent for Dependant’s Pass holders who are business owners — MOM application steps, cost and processing time for DP business owners.
• Work passes for holders of Long-Term Visit Passes issued by ICA — MOM page on LOC, Work Permit and other routes for ICA-issued LTVP holders.
• Dependant’s Pass: Working in Singapore — MOM page on EP, S Pass, DP-WP and business-owner LOC routes for DP holders.
• Taking up secondary directorship — MOM page on the LOC needed for EP holders appointed to a related company’s board.

This site, Pass & Permit Desk, is not an immigration agent: it does not file applications or represent anyone, and it provides general information only, not immigration or legal advice. The official-source packet behind this article was retrieved on 2026-10-07; MOM rules, fees and processing times can change, so confirm the current position on the agency page before acting.