Learn how to get freelance jobs in Singapore with visa sponsorship. Opportunities, application tips, visa processes, and more in this guide.
Singapore has an aggressive economy with matching infrastructure, making it one of the world’s top financial centers and attracting talent globally. Freelance jobs need an awareness of the local job market, visa regulations, and application strategies in order to compete with other applicants for sponsorship successfully. This guide looks at in-demand sectors, visa options, and strategies for hunting jobs with tips for success.
The Freelance Job Market in Singapore
High-Demand Freelance Sectors
Freelance Opportunities in Information Technology: Singapore has a huge demand for freelance information technology professionals in the fields or areas of software development, data analysis, and cyber security.
- Freelance Opportunities in Digital Marketing: With each passing day, companies in Singapore are utilizing more freelancers for purposes like SEO, content creation, social media posting, and management.
- Graphic Design and Multimedia: Graphic Design and Multimedia professionals, writers, editors, and finance experts are in high demand in Singapore’s growing gig economy. Freelancers often find work on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr, with additional opportunities through local job portals and networking events. The Singaporean government supports freelancing by promoting flexible employment and skill development initiatives.
Visa Sponsorship for Freelancers in Singapore
What is Visa Sponsorship?
Visa sponsorship is a process in which a local company, or a local individual, is empowered to sponsor your stay inside the country by making an application on a relevant work pass for and on your behalf. It may be a tough setup for freelancers as the work pass for a freelancer is perhaps designed for full-time members.
Visa Options for Freelancers
Whilst there’s no proper visa for freelancers in Singapore, several options exist, depending on your situation:
- Employment Pass: This is usually meant for professionals working with a firm based in Singapore. However, freelancers can also have an EP if hired by a company on contract. This application would have to be sponsored by the company.
- EntrePass: If you want to set up a freelance business in Singapore, probably the most appropriate would be the EntrePass. It is meant for a foreign entrepreneur willing to establish and operate a business in Singapore. Specific eligibility includes having an innovative business idea.
- Personalized Employment Pass (PEP): Targeted at high-earning professionals, the PEP gives you much more flexibility compared to the EP, which means you could still move jobs without anyone having to be given a new pass. The pass is not particularly intended for freelancers.
- Dependent Pass with LOC: All Dependents can avail of the LOC and be allowed to work as freelancers in Singapore.
Visa Sponsorship Requirements
Visa Sponsorship requirements that need to be satisfied for you to be eligible for a Singapore work visa:
- Job Offer or Contract: You should have a job offer or a contract at hand, confirmed by a Singaporean company or a client for a freelancing job.
- Relevant Skills and Qualifications: MOM checks for the relevancy of skills and qualifications to the job in its process while you apply for a visa.
- Financial Requirements: In some visas, such as EntrePass, you would be required to indicate or have invested a certain amount of funds for the business.
Application Process
In Singapore, application for visas, generally should most likely be done through:
- Acquiring a Contract: You can secure a freelance contract or job offer from a company in Singapore.
- Submission of Application: Your sponsor will have to submit the visa application to MOM.
- Medical Examination: Upon application, you may need to undergo a medical examination
- Approval and Issuance: If your application is successful you will be sent an in-principle approval letter. Your work pass will then be issued upon your entry into Singapore.
How To Get Freelance Work in Singapore
Online Job portals
Working in Singapore as a freelancer can be facilitated through several online job portals:
- Upwork and Freelancer: Global websites to bid for freelance jobs across skills.
- LinkedIn: Professional platform to source for freelance jobs, including trying to get connections from potential clients.
- Glints: Popular among Singapore job boards; they offer freelance jobs in technology, marketing, and the creative industry.
- FastJobs: App and website to source for freelance, part-time, and short-term opportunities in Singapore.
Networking and Referrals
The saying “Your network is your worth” is possibly most true when thinking about the job market in Singapore. Attend industry events, join professional associations, and network with prospective clients through LinkedIn and local meetups. A good network opens up referrals, and one can receive freelance opportunities without them being posted openly.
Cold pitches are unsolicited pitches made directly to your potential clients or companies. Take your time to research companies that might require your service. In your pitch, have well-articulated content to demonstrate your know-how and the value you will bring to their business.
Tips to Succeed as a Freelancer in Singapore
- Know the Local Market Rates
Research the current rates of freelance work within the field to enable you to charge competitively. Look out for websites such as Glassdoor or salary surveys on average rates.
- Develop a Strong Portfolio
Create your best works in a strong portfolio. Case studies and testimonials are also beneficial on this, together with the availability of certifications and/or any achievements towards it.
- Upskill
Continuous learning supports a competitive market. Particularly, take courses that will increase your skills in the fields with high demand in Singapore: digital marketing, data analysis, or coding.
- Legal and Tax Considerations
As an independent professional, you will be required to adhere to the laws and regulations governing taxes in Singapore. If you are an independent contractor, then you will have to register your business and pay taxes in the same way. For the most appropriate legal implications, you could even consult with a local accountant.
FAQs
- Can I do freelance work in Singapore on a tourist visa?
No, you cannot legally work or freelance in Singapore on a tourist visa. You need an appropriate work visa, such as an Employment Pass or EntrePass.
- How much time does it take to get a work visa to freelance in Singapore?
The processing time for work permits in Singapore may be anything between a few weeks to a couple of months, contingent on the type of pass and application complexity.
- What is the pay per gig on average for freelancers in Singapore?
The average income for a freelancer in Singapore is rather diverse since it depends on the sector, experience, or kind of projects it may entail. For example, freelance IT professionals and digital marketers commonly earn anywhere between SGD 3,000 to SGD 10,000 a month.
- Are freelance jobs easy to get in Singapore?
Yes, indeed, more so in careers like IT, digital marketing, and finance, which are so hungry for competent freelancers. However, finding consistent work means networking and building a satisfying portfolio.
Unfortunately, it is very likely that as a freelancer in Singapore, you can apply for PR, especially if you have stayed on an Employment Pass or EntrePass and proved economical contributions to Singapore.
Conclusion
Freelancing in Singapore opens up many opportunities for skilled individuals, especially in high-demand areas like IT, digital marketing, finance, and others. However, engaging in the process of visa sponsorship and ensuring a constant flow of work can be pretty sensitive, so it requires meticulous planning and persistent effort. Understand your local market, network effectively, and choose the right visa option to build a successful freelance career in Singapore. Below is a guide to get you started on freelance jobs in Singapore with visa sponsorship.