“I had expected to wait at least a month or two.“WhenMs.Lreceivedher approval-in-principle (IPA)letterfrom Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM), she was in a bit of disbelief.The whole process, fromsubmitting the application on January13tobeing approved on January18, took just five days.
The general manager of this e-commerce company from Shenzhen, China,successfully knocked on the door to the Southeast Asian marketwith a customizedpackage tailoredto her needs in early2026, a year when Singapore’s Employment Pass policy was getting tighter.
1, art designer’s e-commerce dream: the leap from shenzhen to singapore
The trajectory of Ms.L‘s life has been closely linked to the wave of e-commerce development in China.After graduating from a well-known art university in China with a degree in design in 2011, she plunged into the fast-growing e-commerce industry.
In Shenzhen, a city of innovation, she started from a design position and gradually grew to become the general manager of an e-commerce company by virtue of her keen sense of aesthetics and precise judgment of the market.
More than a decade of experience in the industry has allowed her to accumulate a wealth of industry experience, but it has also opened her eyes to new opportunities and challenges. With the domestic market becoming increasingly saturated and competitive,Ms.Lmade an importantdecision toset her sights on a broader stage andenter the Southeast Asian market, with Singapore becoming her primary strategic pivot point.
“Singapore has always been my first choice.“Ms.Lconfessed. The country is not only the financial and business hub of Southeast Asia, but also known for its transparent regulations, efficient services and location as a bridge between East and West.2026At the beginning of the year, she officially launched her Singapore market expansion plan, and obtaining her Employment Pass (EP) was a key first step in that plan.
2、Precise positioning under policy tightening: how to cross thethreshold of2026EPapplications
For foreign entrepreneurs looking to expand their business in Singapore, the2026pass application landscape is very different from previous years.The implementation of theCOMPASSassessment frameworkbySingapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM)has introduced more systematic and transparent assessment criteria for foreign professionals’ applications.
This frameworkscoresonfour core dimensions: salary, educational qualifications, company diversityandsupport for local employment, and only applicants who achieve sufficient points are approved.
“I knew that Singapore welcomes entrepreneurs who really bring value to the table, but it was also clear that applying was never going to be easy.“Ms.Lexpressed her concerns during her initial consultation.
Her challenge was twofold: on the one hand, she needed to incorporate her company in Singapore; on the other hand, as the future manager and core employee of the company, she needed to apply for an Employment Pass for herself and ensure that her personal background and business plan would convince the approving officials.
After an in-depth study ofMOM‘s latest policy,the Account Managerpointed out thatMs.L’s application had to clearly demonstrate the necessity and uniqueness of her business, as well as its potential contribution to Singapore’s economy, in order to successfully leapfrogthe increasingly stringent policy thresholds in2026.
3、Tailored three-step strategy: how design background can be transformed into an application advantage
Faced withMs.L‘s needs and the challenges of the industry, the account manager began a meticulous one-on-one service that culminated in a clearthree-step customized strategy thatsuccessfullytransformedMs.L‘s design background into a unique application advantage.
First of all, it is the precise personal and business positioning.The account manager carefully analyzedMs.L‘s background: a design degree from a well-known Chinese art school, more than ten years of experience in the e-commerce industry, and company management experience.
“The combination of your design background and e-commerce experience is uniquely suited to the cross-border e-commerce sector in Singapore.“The Account Manager pointed out that this is in line with theCOMPASSframework’sassessment of“relevance of qualifications to the position“.
Secondly, there is the compliant and efficient company registration.According to the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority of Singapore (ACRA), the registration of a private limited company requires at least one shareholder and one director, and at least one of the directors should be a Singapore resident.
The account manager assistedMs.Linefficiently completing the whole process from company name search to constitution making, ensuring that all documents meet thelatest compliance requirements in2026, andlaying a solid legal entity foundationfor the subsequentEPapplication.
The last and the core step is the in-depth polishing of the business plan.The account managercommunicatedwithMs.Lseveral times and transformed her successful experience in Shenzhen and insights into the Southeast Asian market into a detailed and credible business plan.
The proposal not only describes the business model and marketing strategy, but also emphasizes the potential future contribution of the company to local employment in Singapore, which directly echoesthe“Supporting Local Employment“dimensionof theCOMPASSframeworkand greatly enhances the success rate of the application.
Photo/Client successfully approved for EP in Singapore, photo theft must be investigated!
4. Possibilities Created in Five Days: A Journey of Surprise from Submission to Approval
On January13, all the documents were ready and the account managerofficially submittedMs.L‘sEPapplicationthroughMOM‘s online system.Official guidelines from MOM show thatEPapplications are usuallyprocessed or updated within10working days.
After the application was submitted, the account manager maintained a high level of attention.Just five days later,on January18, the system status was updated andthe application was successfully approved.
Whenthe electronic document ofthe IPA(Approval-in-Principle Letter) appeared in her mailbox,Ms.Lwas pleasantly surprised to find that the whole process went much smoother and faster than she had expected.
The approval of theIPAmeant that she was given a“ticket“to enter Singapore, and could enter the country and complete the formalization of her pass within six months. Such an efficient approval process is attributed to the thorough preparation of documents and precise strategic positioning.
Photo/Client successfully approved for EP in Singapore, photo theft must be investigated!
6.Beyond the value of the pass: the significance of Singapore as a strategic pivot in South-East Asia
ForMs.L, theEPapproval-in-principle letter is much more than a work permit. It representsthe formalization ofherinternational expansion strategyin the important hub of Singapore, marking the strategic pivot point for her business to radiate the entire Southeast Asian market.
“WithEP, I can set up an operations center in Singapore and expand into the Southeast Asian market more efficiently.“Ms.Lplanned. Singapore’s stable business environment, sound legal system and favorable tax policies will provide a solid foundation for her cross-border e-commerce business.
What’s more, as anEPholder, she will be able to apply for family passes for her family members in the future and realize work-life balance planning, which makes her international expansion plan more complete and sustainable.
The Account Manager’s professional services did not end withthe approval ofthe EP.She continued to adviseMs.Lon Singapore tax registration, bank account opening and local HR compliance to ensure a smooth transition from the start-up phase of the business and a seamless transition from acquisition to landing.
[Conclusion]
The IPAletter sits quietly in her mailbox, givingMs.L.permission todepart for Singapore anytime within the next six months. Andthe Certificate of Incorporation fromSingapore’sACRA(Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) signaled that her business had a legal identity in the city-state.
From Shenzhen, China to Singapore, from Chinese e-commerce to cross-border outbound,Ms.L‘s story has just turned a new page.
And for more entrepreneurs with dreams like hers, this story sends a clear signal: with the support of professional, customized solutions, the road to international expansion can be smoother.
*Source of reference:MOMSingapore,ACRA, synthesized from client’s oral presentation, reproduced with attribution.
……
👇 Plus V enters Singapore’s largest outbound community 👇
Past Recommendations
