---
title: "Working in Singapore from Indonesia: Legal Routes and Checks"
description: "Legal routes for Indonesians in Singapore: migrant domestic work, the S Pass and the Employment Pass, and why factory Work Permits are not open."
lang: en
canonical: "https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/"
datePublished: "2026-10-07"
dateModified: "2026-10-08"
sources:
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker/eligibility-and-requirements/fdw-eligibility"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/eligibility"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/construction-sector-requirements"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/manufacturing-sector-requirements"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/services-sector-requirements"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/process-sector-requirements"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/is-there-a-prescribed-minimum-wage-for-foreign-workers-in-singapore"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/employment-agencies/how-will-foreign-workers-know-the-amount-that-they-are-expected-to-pay-the-singapore-ea"
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf"
  - "https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/non-traditional-sources-occupation-list"
---

> Markdown version of https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/. Cite that HTML page and its update date.

# Working in Singapore through legal routes

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by [Kaiser Khan](https://kariraman.com/en/authors/kaiser-khan/) (editor), 8 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Legal routes for Indonesians in Singapore: migrant domestic work, the S Pass and the Employment Pass, and why factory Work Permits are not open.

Work Permits for construction, manufacturing, services and the process sector are not available to Indonesian passport holders, because Indonesia is not a source country approved by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

## Summary

- The legal routes for Indonesian migrant workers to Singapore are the migrant domestic worker Work Permit, the S Pass and the Employment Pass.
- Indonesia is not an approved source country for Work Permits in construction, manufacturing, services or the process sector.
- Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) does not prescribe a minimum wage for local or foreign workers.
- Singapore employment agencies may charge at most one month's salary for each year of the contract, and no more than two months' salary.

## Which legal work routes exist for Singapore?

- **Routes we cover:** 3
- **Routes marked Open:** 3
- **Status last checked:** 7 October 2026

**Summary of legal work routes to Singapore**

| Route | Status | Age | Language tests | Who pays placement costs |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Employment Pass for professionals, managers and executives](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/employment-pass/) | Open<br>Status as of 7 October 2026 | at least 18 years | Not stated | Through a P3MI: the employer. Independent applications: check this route’s cost rules. |
| [Migrant domestic worker (MDW)](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/migrant-domestic-worker/) | Open<br>Status as of 7 October 2026 | 23 to 49 years | Not stated | The employer (through a P3MI) |
| [S Pass for associate professionals and technicians](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/s-pass/) | Open<br>Status as of 7 October 2026 | at least 18 years | Not stated | Through a P3MI: the employer. Independent applications: check this route’s cost rules. |

[Compare with other routes to work abroad](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/compare/#singapura-employment-pass)

- [Open **Employment Pass for professionals, managers and executives** Open to professionals of all nationalities who meet the salary threshold and COMPASS. The salary threshold rises for new applications from 1 January 2027. Status as of 7 October 2026](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/employment-pass/)
- [Open **Migrant domestic worker (MDW)** Open. Indonesia is an approved source country; workers must be women aged 23 to under 50 at application with at least eight years of formal education. Status as of 7 October 2026](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/migrant-domestic-worker/)
- [Open **S Pass for associate professionals and technicians** Open to all nationalities with a job offer in Singapore. The S Pass qualifying salary rises for new applications from 1 January 2027. Status as of 7 October 2026](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/s-pass/)

## Which route fits you?

The three legal routes differ in who the employer is and how you leave Indonesia. For domestic work the employer is a private individual, so the route is through a licensed P3MI. For the S Pass and Employment Pass the employer is a company, so you can go through a P3MI or as an independent migrant worker.

**Legal work routes to Singapore for Indonesian passport holders**

| Route | Who it is for | Channel from Indonesia |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Migrant domestic worker Work Permit | Women aged 23 to under 50 at application, with at least eight years of formal education | Licensed P3MI |
| S Pass | Associate professionals and technicians with a job offer and a fixed salary at or above MOM's threshold | Licensed P3MI or independent |
| Employment Pass | Professionals, managers and executives who meet the salary threshold and the COMPASS points test | Licensed P3MI or independent |
| Construction, manufacturing, services, process Work Permits | Not available to Indonesian passport holders | No legal channel |

## How do you check a job offer for Singapore?

Match the work pass the recruiter names against the table above. If a recruiter offers Indonesians a factory, construction, restaurant or warehouse Work Permit, that route does not exist. For domestic work, make sure the P3MI is active on SISKOP2MI. For the S Pass and Employment Pass, ask for a written job offer from the company and look the company up yourself, not through a link from the recruiter.

## Which official channels can you contact?

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Licensed agency (P3MI) list on SISKOP2MI** Check a licensed migrant-worker placement agency and its status [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/profil/lembaga/list_lembaga/p3mi)
- **Official overseas job orders on SISKOP2MI** Official job orders for migrant workers [siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id](https://siskop2mi.bp2mi.go.id/lowongan/list)
- **Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)** Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad [+62-812-9007-0027](tel:+6281290070027) [WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027](https://wa.me/6281290070027) [peduliwni.kemlu.go.id](https://peduliwni.kemlu.go.id/beranda.html)

## Frequently asked questions

**Are there factory jobs in Singapore for Indonesians on a Work Permit?**

There is no legal route. MOM accepts construction, manufacturing, services and process-sector Work Permits only from approved source countries, and Indonesia is not on that list. Indonesia is also not a Non-Traditional Source (NTS) country for the restricted service jobs, such as cooks, waiters and kitchen assistants. A factory, construction, dishwasher or kitchen assistant job in Singapore on a Work Permit offered to an Indonesian passport holder is a red flag.

**Can I go to Singapore without a P3MI agency?**

For the S Pass and Employment Pass, Law 18/2017 Article 63 lets independent Indonesian migrant workers work for legal-entity employers. You carry the risks yourself and must report to the labour office and the Indonesian mission. For domestic work the employer is a private individual, so the route is through a licensed P3MI.

**What is the age limit for working in Singapore?**

Age limits differ by legal route: Employment Pass for professionals, managers and executives: at least 18 years; Migrant domestic worker (MDW): 23 to 49 years; S Pass for associate professionals and technicians: at least 18 years. Check the route page again before you apply.

## Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published 7 October 2026 Updated 8 October 2026

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: 8 October 2026.

## Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

1. [Eligibility for Work Permit (migrant domestic worker), Ministry of Manpower Singapore](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-domestic-worker/eligibility-and-requirements/fdw-eligibility) Ministry of Manpower, Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
2. [Eligibility for S Pass](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/eligibility) Ministry of Manpower, Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
3. [Eligibility for Employment Pass (qualifying salary and COMPASS)](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility) Ministry of Manpower, Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
4. [Construction sector: Work Permit requirements](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/construction-sector-requirements) Ministry of Manpower Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
5. [Manufacturing sector: Work Permit requirements](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/manufacturing-sector-requirements) Ministry of Manpower Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
6. [Services sector: Work Permit requirements](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/services-sector-requirements) Ministry of Manpower Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
7. [Process sector: Work Permit requirements](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/process-sector-requirements) Ministry of Manpower, Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
8. [Is there a prescribed minimum wage for migrant workers in Singapore?](https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/is-there-a-prescribed-minimum-wage-for-foreign-workers-in-singapore) Ministry of Manpower, Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
9. [How will foreign workers know how much they have to pay the Singapore employment agency (EA)?](https://www.mom.gov.sg/faq/employment-agencies/how-will-foreign-workers-know-the-amount-that-they-are-expected-to-pay-the-singapore-ea) Ministry of Manpower, Singapore · accessed 7 October 2026
10. [Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed 7 October 2026
11. [Non-Traditional Sources (NTS) Occupation List, Ministry of Manpower Singapore](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/work-permit-for-foreign-worker/sector-specific-rules/non-traditional-sources-occupation-list) Ministry of Manpower Singapore · accessed 8 October 2026

**How to cite**

KarirAman (2026). Working in Singapore through legal routes. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/singapore/

[Report a fake job](https://kariraman.com/en/report-form/) [Report a data problem](mailto:redaksi@kariraman.com?subject=Data%20correction%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fkariraman.com%2Fen%2Fwork-abroad%2Fsingapore%2F&body=Page%3A%20Working%20in%20Singapore%20through%20legal%20routes%0AUpdated%3A%208%20October%202026%0A%0AWhat%20needs%20correcting%3A%0A%0ACorrect%20official%20source%20%28link%29%3A%0A) [How we handle corrections](https://kariraman.com/en/contact/#koreksi)

## Related guides

- [**How to check a licensed overseas recruitment agency (P3MI) on SISKOP2MI**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/check-a-licensed-agency/)
- [**Placement fees for Indonesian migrant workers: who pays and what is lawful?**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/placement-costs/)
- [**Human trafficking (TPPO) through job offers**](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/human-trafficking/)
- [**Job checker: is this job offer a scam?**](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/)
- [**Hong Kong**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/hong-kong/)
- [**Malaysia**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/malaysia/)

- [Panduan Warga passport guide](https://panduanwarga.org/en/guides/indonesian-passport-m-paspor/)
- [Panduan Warga guide to visas abroad for Indonesians](https://panduanwarga.org/en/guides/visas-abroad-for-indonesians/)

CariTalent and PanduanHewan are Kode Nirlaba projects; Panduan Warga and The Cast Index are independent publications with the same founder. CourseToJob is a study-guide site with the same owner, run by Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd.

**Change log**

- 8 October 2026 : Added that Indonesia is also not a MOM Non-Traditional Source (NTS) country for service jobs such as cooks and kitchen assistants.