SINGAPORE, Jan 25 (Bernama) — The Singapore government will no longer issue Professional Visit Passes (PVP) to foreigners working in republic on short-term assignments from next month.
Instead, they will be issued two types of work passes, the Miscellaneous Work Pass and the Work Permit for performing artiste by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said today.
However, MOM would continue to exempt foreigners currently exempted under the PVP scheme as well as those performing two new short-term activities that required specialised skills or expertise from having to obtain a Work Pass, it said in a statement.
It said a foreigner who is involved in activities directly related to the organisation or conduct of any seminar, conference, workshop, gathering or talk concerning any religion, race or community, cause, or political end, needed to apply for the Miscellaneous Work Pass from Feb 1.
Others who need to do the same are foreign religious workers giving talks relating directly or indirectly to any religion and foreign journalists, reporters or an accompanying crew member not supported or sponsored by any Singapore government agency to cover an event or write a story in Singapore.
The Miscellaneous Work Pass is valid for up to 60 days.
ICA said similarly, foreign artistes performing at any bar, discotheque, lounge, night club, pub, hotel, private club or restaurant would need to apply for a Work Permit (Performing Artiste) which had a maximum duration of six months.