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Apply for an employment agency licence

At a glance

Who can apply

The following key appointment holders can apply:

  • Owner (for sole-proprietorship and partnership)
  • Managing director and director (for company)
  • Partner (for limited liability partnership)
  • General partner (for limited partnership)

Use the EA self-assessment tool to check your eligibility.

Check if you need CEI before you apply.
What documents are required

The following documents are required: 

  • ACRA Business Profile
  • Approval letter from URA or HDB to operate at a residential address
  • Identification for all ACRA registered directors or owners
  • Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC) and E-notification for ICA issued Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or LTVP+ holders
  • Letter of Consent (LOC) for ICA issued Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or LTVP+ holders or Dependant's Pass holders (Business Owners)
How much it costs

When you apply: $400.

When the licence is issued: $100.

Fees are non-refundable.
How long it takes

For in-principle approval (IPA) issuance: 7 working days for most cases.

For electronic banker's guarantee (eGuarantee) application with Financial Institution (FI): May take 3 weeks, depending on your FI. 

For payment notice of licence issuance upon submission of undertaking: Within 1 working day.

For issuing the licence: Within 1 working day.
Validity 3 years.
Related eServices Perform EA licence transactions via GoBusiness Singapore.

These are the steps for applying:

  1. Use the EA self-assessment tool to check your eligibility.
  2. Attain the CEI, if applying for any of the Comprehensive Licenses.
  3. Submit the licence application.
  4. Apply for the eGuarantee.
  5. Undertake the conditions for an EA licence.
  6. Get the licence issued.

Submit the application

Processing time: 7 working days for most cases

To submit an EA licence application:

  1. Log in to GoBusiness Singapore to apply.
  2. Pay the $400 applicant fee online.
The application fee is non-refundable. Do use the EA self-assessment tool to check your eligibility before you submit your application.

Apply for your eGuarantee

Processing time: May take 3 weeks (depending on your financial institution's processing time)

You may proceed to apply for your eGuarantee once you receive your IPA.

To apply for the eGuarantee:

  1. Select your preferred eGuarantee provider. The list of participating FIs is available at eGuarantee@Gov.
  2. Apply for the required security bond in the form of an eGuarantee through your preferred FI.
  3. The eGuarantee must be submitted to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) before the IPA's expiry date. Check in with your FI on the timelines for submission of the eGuarantee to MOM and monitor the status of the submission to MOM.
  4. Look out for the email notification from MOM to confirm that the eGuarantee has been received from your FI.
  • Your FI may take 3 weeks to process the request and IPA is valid for 4 weeks. You should ensure sufficient time for the FI to submit the eGuarantee to Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Once it lapses, you must make a new application.
  • You are not allowed to operate an employment agency yet. The IPA only facilitates your electronic banker's guarantee and setting up the employment agency.

Undertake the conditions for an EA licence

Processing time: Up to 1 day

You may proceed to complete the undertaking and issue your EA licence once you receive the email notification from MOM to do so. You must do this within 2 months of IPA issuance.

To undertake the conditions:

  1. Log in to GoBusiness Singapore.
  2. Retrieve and select the correct active eGuarantee Information for the EA licence application.
  3. Read through the security bond terms and conditions.
  4. Read through the EA Licence Conditions and complete the declarations.
  5. Look out for the email on the payment notice for the issuance of your EA licence, which will be sent within a day after you complete the undertaking.

Make payment for the issuance of your EA licence

Processing time: Up to 1 day

You may proceed to make payment for issuance of your EA licence once you receive the email notification from MOM to do so. You must also do this within 2 months of IPA issuance.

To make payment and issue your EA licence:

  1. Log in to GoBusiness Singapore upon receipt of an email notification.
  2. Pay the $100 issuance fee online.
  3. Your licence will be issued within one day of payment. You will receive a digital copy of the licence via email. You can also download a copy of the e-licence at  GoBusiness Singapore.

You can start operating your employment agency only after the licence is issued.

  • You must complete the issuance of your EA licence within 2 months of the IPA issuance. Once it lapses, you must make a new licence application. The application fee paid when you submitted your licence application is not refundable.
  • You must be a registered employment agency personnel before registering for the EP eService and WP Online account to transact on behalf of your clients.

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