What is “In-principle” Letter

What is “In-principle” letter?

 

This is a letter will be issued by MOM (Ministry of Manpower) declaring that you are approved on your application for an “employment Permit”.

Your employer will process your application on Ministry of Manpower. This will check if you are qualified for their interview. 

This letter is required to be submitted personally in Ministry of Manpower in Singapore.

Still in the Philippines but you already got your “In-Principle” letter, what does this mean?

If this scenario happens, It is assumed that you applied in an agency here in Philippines or you undergo through phone interview and your Singapore employer have already made the necessary application in MOM.

Just like “EPEC” certification, this “In-Principle” letter has no power over the Philippine Immigration and Singapore Immigration. This means that: 

• You are still expected to get a return-ticket even you have an “In-principle” letter with you. This letter is required to be applied in MOM and if your passport has no stamp of “Multiple entry to Singapore”, you are still considered as a Tourist. 

• It is not recommended showing this “In-principle letter” in Philippine Immigration because it will surely cancel your flight. When they see this, they will require you to apply in OWWA to be registered as an OFW, which is quite a pain. 

You can apply in OWWA Singapore when you are already there which is faster without hassle and no extra charge (lagay). 

Although if you have the time, you can visit POEA in Ortigas City and apply for OWWA OFW registration there. A lot some 2 days (actually one day is enough) for doing this before your flight.

WHAT is Employment Pass?

This Employment Pass will only be given to you after you personally submit you In-Principle letter in MOM together with your passport and a medical check-up result from a registered Singapore Medical Doctor.

This is not required when you are still planning to seek job or planning to go to Singapore.

S-Pass (also called Q2 pass) , E-Pass (also called "EP" or Q1 pass) are types of Employment permit which is issued by MOM that will depend on your experience, salary and qualifications.

How long it will take you to find a job in Singapore?

The most commonly asked question. For some, on the very first day itself, they already got jobs from employers, for some, it take weeks, months, and even the on the day of their flight back home, that is the time companies require you to submit all your requirements. There is no definite “time frame”, but it entirely depends on several factors:

• How eager and motivated you are to find job around day by day. You should use your time wisely. 
• Work Experience + Certificates: The more, the better chance of landing for a job. 
• Field of expertise: IT (Information Technology), Architecture and Engineering are some of the most in-demand line of work. You can always find another job that is similar to your Job in the Philippines. 
• Know how to sell yourself: For some, this is easy, for others, quite difficult. Please practice yourself speaking in English on how to sell yourself. Lessen your time watching telenovela series and start watching CNN or other English channels. It is not required to speak English perfectly because English grammar of Singaporean is not also perfect. But you must be able to express or tell a story in a straight conversation. Know your strengths and weakness and how to overcome them.

What is the chance of a fresh graduate to have a job in Singapore?

Singapore is a mix of a lot of races (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Myanmar, Indonesian, British and Americans) aside from the Local Singaporeans. Singaporean companies would take preference to those who are either local / Malay or those who have acceptable experience for the required work. In short, they need experienced people.