Singapore Expats

Hi guys,

Im a SC and my gf is on EP. Qn is after we are married, will MOM cancel her EP and issue her LTVP instead?

Is it better to have EP or LTVP? And whats the difference between LTVP vs LTVP+?

Appreciate ur advice, thanks!

MOM will not cancel her EP automatically.
It is up to her to apply for LTVP from ICA. If the LTVP application is successful, she will surrender the EP and receive the LTVP.

LTVP+ is a version of LTVP given to spouses of SCs and PRs.
LTVP+ seems to be a more convenient pass to hold as it is not tied to any employer and once your spouse has an LOC then she will not be counted against the foreign employee quota making it easier for her to be employed in theory.

Your gf has an EP and once you are married she can continue to be on EP. I will leave it up to others if they will recommend changing the EP to LTVP immediately or keep the EP since I am not sure which is the best way forward.

In addition to the excellent info that bro75 has supplied I will address your last question and his last paragraph instead of repeating a lot.

While I don't think this is the case, if your gf is here as an expat (in the classic sense of the word) and is receiving housing allowances, home leave tickets, car or transportation allowances as an EP holder, her employer will definitely renegotiate her contract as her residency type has changed. At the time she gives up her EP for the LoC/LTVP+ (LoC to continue to work with that employer) she will, in almost 100% of the cases lose all those expat perks as the employer will fully realize that she has another means of support. The other benefit for the employer was covered by bro75 regarding quotas within the company.

On the flip side, if she converts to LTVP and the marriage dissolves for some reason (nobody wants to think about that but from an international perspective it's necessary), If she converted to an LTVP+, she would lose that and then have to apply for an EP all over again. (she could not just be 'reverted' back to EP status). The problem with that is the issue of qualifying for the EP again in later years. Did her income increase enough over the LoC period to still qualify for the basic EP? Or other criteria may have changed that she may no longer meet. These are all things to think about. Even if she doesn't want to convert to the LTVP+ the employer may want to renegotiate based on the fact that being married to a Sg Citizen, they would know that eventually you will probably apply for PR. They may want to put a codicil in the contract to account for the possibility of future employer costs of Employers' CPF payments should you take up PR.

I've already been down this road.

sms

Yes my wife's colleagues routinely lose expat benefits when they marry locals.

applyforpr wrote: ↑

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 1:49 pm

Hi guys,

Im a SC and my gf is on EP. Qn is after we are married, will MOM cancel her EP and issue her LTVP instead?

Is it better to have EP or LTVP? And whats the difference between LTVP vs LTVP+?

Appreciate ur advice, thanks!

Hi,
No, her EP will not be canceled.

I respond here based on my exp because I married an SC too. I previously did not see LTVP as attractive as EP. To me, EP gives me a certain independent level. Also, LTVP is esp for someone who cannot get an EP.

I suggest she apply PR if she already with her EP for more than 2 years.