Recent changes have been made by MOM in regard to Intra-Corporate Transfers (ICT) and Employment Passes. Foreign employees of multinational corporations who have been transferred to a Singapore branch (ICT) are no longer able to bring their family members with them to Singapore via a dependant’s pass or a long-term visit pass.
An Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) is an Employment Pass holder who has been posted to the Singapore branch, affiliate, or subsidiary of the foreign company and must have been working for the company for at least one year prior to transferring to a Singapore branch.
Furthermore, the ICT must be employed in Singapore as either a Manager, Executive, or specialist.
To be exempt from these new changes, Employment Pass candidates would have to meet the stringent guidelines of an ICT under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), or any applicable Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to which Singapore is party.
There is however an advantage to being an ICT, as jobs to be filled by ICT’s do not require to be advertised on jobs bank under the Fair Consideration Framework.
Lastly, an ICT from overseas generally will not be eligible for future employment in Singapore after expiry/termination of the work pass or permanent residency.
