Singapore Work Permit & Work Pass Check: How to Verify Validity, Status & Rights

Whether you just landed in Singapore on a Work Permit, hold an S Pass, or came over on a Work Holiday Pass, keeping tabs on your legal work status is non-negotiable. Working on an expired, unissued, or mismatched pass violates Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regulations—and the penalties hit both workers and employers hard.

If you need to check work pass validity in Singapore, you don't need to ask your employer's HR department or log into a corporate account. You can verify your live status online in seconds, see registered salary details, and make sure your working hours match Singapore Employment Act rules.

1. How to Check Work Pass & Work Permit Validity Online

To check your work pass validity in Singapore, visit MOM's official Check Work Pass and Application Status (CheckPass) portal or scan the QR code on your card using the SGWorkPass mobile app.

Here are the two official ways to check your status:

Method A: MOM CheckPass Web Portal

1. Go to the MOM Check Work Pass and Application Status tool.
2. Enter your Date of Birth along with your FIN (Foreign Identification Number) or Passport / Travel Document Number.
3. The system pulls up applications submitted within the past 6 months as well as live pass validity.

Method B: SGWorkPass Mobile App

1. Download the free SGWorkPass app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Open the app and scan the QR code on the back of your physical work pass card, or log in with Singpass to view your digital work pass card.
3. The app displays your live status, pass expiry date, sponsoring employer, and registered basic salary.

What Your Status Means

• Issued / Approved: Your pass is active. You can work legally for the employer listed on your pass.
• Pending: MOM is still reviewing the application. Standard processing takes between 1 and 3 weeks.
• Cancelled / Expired: You cannot perform any work. You must leave Singapore before your Short-Term Visit Pass expires, or have an employer submit a fresh application.

2. Singapore Work Passes at a Glance

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower separates work passes by job scope, salary, and qualification level:

If you also have questions about tax filing obligations in Singapore, check out our Singapore Tax & IRAS Guide.

3. Employment Act Protections: Hours, Overtime & Payslips

All Work Permit and S Pass holders are covered under Singapore's Employment Act. If you earn an hourly wage or work shifts, Part IV of the Employment Act gives you strict legal rights:

• Maximum Working Hours: Standard contractual hours cannot exceed 8 hours a day (for a 6-day week) or 9 hours a day (for a 5-day week), up to a strict cap of 44 hours per week.
• Overtime Pay (1.5x): Any work past 44 hours in a week must be paid at a minimum of 1.5 times your hourly basic rate of pay. Overtime is capped at 72 hours per month.
• Mandatory Itemized Payslips: Your employer must give you a written or digital itemized payslip at least once a month, within 3 working days of payday. The payslip must show basic pay, overtime hours worked, allowances, and any deductions.

If you are placed on standby between shifts or during off-hours, make sure you understand how on-call pay rules apply to your weekly hours.

4. 3 Steps to Protect Your Wage and Pass Records

1. Check your expiry date 3 months early: Don't wait until the last week. Check your pass validity on CheckPass so your employer has enough time to submit renewal paperwork.
2. Log your shifts independently: Keep your own record of exact clock-in, clock-out, and break times on your phone. If there's a discrepancy on payday, your personal log gives you proof.
3. Audit your itemized payslip every month: Match your overtime hours and basic rate against your monthly log before signing off on pay stubs.

Keep Track of Your Singapore Shifts with WageFlow

Tracking overtime across split shifts, rest days, and public holidays shouldn't require manual math. WageFlow lets you log shifts in seconds, calculates statutory 1.5x overtime automatically, and exports clear payslip summaries—100% offline and private on your iPhone.

Download WageFlow for iOS

Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. For official regulatory inquiries, visit the Ministry of Manpower website.