You can request for MOM to help transfer your work pass holders if your company is undergoing business restructuring. Make sure you meet the criteria before submitting the request.
Business restructuring scenarios and criteria
| Type of business restructuring |
Requirements |
MOM can help you to |
Changing to another type of business entity
(from sole proprietorship to private limited company or partnership, or vice versa)
|
At least one of the directors, partners or the sole proprietor from the previous company must move to your new company |
Transfer all your work pass holders to your new business entity. |
Undergoing business restructuring
(merger, acquisition, amalgamation or decentralisation of corporate function)
|
Must provide proof of buyer and seller relationship, including legal documents. |
Transfer all your work pass holders to your new company
OR
Only transfer EP holders (and their dependants) and LOC holders to the new company.
|
Renewing a business registration with a different ACRA number but keeping the company name
(i.e. sole proprietorship expired)
|
Sole proprietor from the previous company must either be a director or partner in the new company.
|
Transfer all your work pass holders to your new company.
|
- Do not submit a transfer request to MOM if you are:
- Transferring work pass holders to a related company (e.g. sending them to work at a subsidiary or parent company).
- Transferring work pass holders on a specific date.
- Transferring work pass holders to a company in a different sector.
Instead, you should transfer your Employment Pass, S Pass and Work Permit holders by applying for new work passes for them.
- We do not facilitate transfer for the following pass types:
- Personalised Employment Pass
- Pre-approved Letter of Consent
- Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass
Instead, you will need to notify MOM of the change in employer.
Before you submit a request
| What you need to pay for |
During the process, you must:
- Buy new security bonds if transfer includes non-Malaysian Work Permit holders.
After transfer is complete, you must:
- Buy new medical insurance for Work Permit and S Pass holders.
|
| How long it takes |
Within 2 months, for most cases.
|
| Eligibility |
Companies involved must not have an adverse record with MOM at the point of transfer.
|
| Levy payment |
You need to pay all outstanding levy for both the previous and new company. The normal levy and quota requirements will apply to both companies during the transfer of migrant workers.
|
How to submit a request
| Step |
What to do |
Who does it |
| Declare business activity |
Declare your business activity. It must be in same sector as previous company.
|
New company
|
Renew work passes
|
Renew work passes for those expiring in less than 2 months.
|
Previous company |
| Check pending applications |
Ensure there are no pending work pass applications or renewals for the pass holders who will be transferred. |
Previous company |
| Print IPA |
Print the IPA letters of all approved work passes applications or renewals.
|
Previous company |
| Prepare documents |
- Undertaking letter (PDF)
- List of pass holders (in excel format) stating their FIN, name, work pass types, pass expiry date.
Only if prompted:
- Business restructuring documents
|
Previous or new company |
| Submit the transfer request |
Submit the online form 1.5 to 2 months before the intended transfer.
|
|
During the transfer process
The previous company should continue to make CPF contributions for their local employees to avoid paying higher levy due to a drop in local workforce.
We will not be able to make any levy adjustments if a higher levy bill is incurred due to a drop in local workforce.
After the transfer is completed
The requester will receive an email upon success of transfer. The new company name will be updated in our records, and can be seen if you scan the pass holder's work pass card with SGWorkPass.
The new company must then complete the following:
- Start contributing CPF for the transferred local employees.
- Help pass holders set up their digital work pass to view the updated information.
- For Work Permit or S Pass holders:
- Arrange to pay migrant worker levy through GIRO.
- Update medical insurance policy.