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Last Wed (29 Apr), a foreign expat lady with the moniker MariaT posted a message on the popular Singapore Expats Forum asking if expats on Employment Pass (EP) are allowed to open online store to do some business on the side in Singapore.
MariaT said she is on EP here in Singapore and has an “amazing” corporate job. “But during the weekend I like to bake and, thus, want to open my online store selling a few cupcakes and sweets,” she added. She asked if she is allowed to do so under current rules from the Manpower Ministry (MOM).
“Do I have to set up a sole proprietorship?” she asked. “To be honest, I could go ahead and just open a store within a day, but just want to be clear whether it’s legally ok to do so.”
A moderator of the forum, sundaymorningstaple, replied ‘NO’. “Work pass holders (EP, S & WP) are not allowed to engage in any other business as long as they are on a work pass sponsored by another employer in Singapore. This includes part time business as well,” he shared.
Then MariaT turned around and asked what if she registers the business in another country but supporting it with “some activities” while being in Singapore?
One expat chipped in and recounted that a work pass is not required for those on Dependant Pass if they are working for a business that has no presence and no sales in Singapore. He said, “There have been lots of posts over the years by people on dependent passes that have done exactly this. A trailing spouse comes over from the USA and continues to work as a remote accountant for the company that she worked for in the USA. No problem.”
MariaT added that in fact, her current employer is quite alright with her baking and selling cupcakes and sweets on the side. She said, “My company is okay for me to have a side project, I have indicated it long time before.”
She also asked what happens if the online store business was created by a person outside of Singapore way before he or she landed in Singapore to work here?
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/20...ore-to-do-sideline-food-business-while-on-ep/
MariaT said she is on EP here in Singapore and has an “amazing” corporate job. “But during the weekend I like to bake and, thus, want to open my online store selling a few cupcakes and sweets,” she added. She asked if she is allowed to do so under current rules from the Manpower Ministry (MOM).
“Do I have to set up a sole proprietorship?” she asked. “To be honest, I could go ahead and just open a store within a day, but just want to be clear whether it’s legally ok to do so.”
A moderator of the forum, sundaymorningstaple, replied ‘NO’. “Work pass holders (EP, S & WP) are not allowed to engage in any other business as long as they are on a work pass sponsored by another employer in Singapore. This includes part time business as well,” he shared.
Then MariaT turned around and asked what if she registers the business in another country but supporting it with “some activities” while being in Singapore?
One expat chipped in and recounted that a work pass is not required for those on Dependant Pass if they are working for a business that has no presence and no sales in Singapore. He said, “There have been lots of posts over the years by people on dependent passes that have done exactly this. A trailing spouse comes over from the USA and continues to work as a remote accountant for the company that she worked for in the USA. No problem.”
MariaT added that in fact, her current employer is quite alright with her baking and selling cupcakes and sweets on the side. She said, “My company is okay for me to have a side project, I have indicated it long time before.”
She also asked what happens if the online store business was created by a person outside of Singapore way before he or she landed in Singapore to work here?
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/20...ore-to-do-sideline-food-business-while-on-ep/
