International undergraduate and graduate students from universities and equivalent institutions in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States may apply to pursue an attachment in Singapore under the Work Holiday Programme (WHP). Students who have gained admission to the University but have not commenced their studies may also apply.
Eligibility
To qualify for the WHP, students must be:
- between 17 and 30 years of age
- from universities or institutions as listed at the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) website
The WHP is valid for six months. Extensions are not permitted. Students are allowed to work under the WHP and are not restricted to only specific types of work. However, they must check with MOM on existing licensing, registration or accreditation requirements for practicing medicine, law, architecture, etc. There are no minimum salary requirements.
How to apply for the WHP
Please click here for application procedures and to apply.
Apply for the WHP two months before the commencement of your internship/ project work. It takes about 21 days to process your application, after which other administrative matters will follow. Once approved, you will receive an In-Principal Approval (IPA) letter that is valid for three months. Present the following documents for immigration clearance when you arrive in Singapore:
- IPA letter from MOM
- letter of offer of admission
- a valid passport
You need to be able to support yourself financially during your time in Singapore and will be required to declare in your application that you have sufficient funds for your stay and departure.
Collecting the WHP
Register with the University then present the following documents at the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to collect your WHP:
- IPA letter from MOM
- declaration form issued by MOM
- WHP employment survey form issued by MOM
- a valid passport (with at least two blank pages)
- proof of return in the form of an air, rail, ferry or coach ticket dated before the expiry of the WHP
Work Pass Division
Ministry of Manpower
18 Havelock Road
Singapore 059764
(Nearest MRT station: Clark Quay MRT station)
Submission times:
Weekdays : 8am to 4pm
Saturdays : 8am to 12pm
Closed on Sundays and public holidays
You may collect your WHP on the same day if you submitted your documents before 2:30pm on weekdays or before 10am on Saturday. It takes about 3 hours to process each collection.
Extending the WHP
The WHP is valid for six months. Extensions are not permitted.
Cancelling the WHP
Please cancel your WHP when you complete your work stint under the programme. You may cancel the pass before the end of its validity period. Return the WHP and disembarkation/ embarkation card (green card) at the immigration checkpoint upon departure.
Application fees and charges
| Work Holiday Pass fee |
$40 per issuance |
Single-journey entry visa
Multiple-journey visa |
$30
$30 |