Can an Employment Pass (EP) holder be the local resident director of a Singapore company?

Yes, an EP holder can be the local resident director of the company that sponsored the EP. However, to also be a director of another company, the holder must first obtain a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM.

ACRA states that a local resident director must be a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident or a person who meets the residency requirements, and that foreign pass holders should check with the issuing authority such as MOM before becoming a director. A LOC for a directorship in a related company such as a subsidiary is generally approved, but for an unrelated company the decision depends on the views of the relevant government agency.

• If the EP holder is the only local resident director: if the EP is cancelled or the holder leaves Singapore, the local resident director position becomes vacant, so another resident director must be appointed.
• If there is no local resident director: a nominee director service can be used until the director's EP is approved.

Lee Kim Alliance provides a nominee director service.

As of November 2026, source: ACRA, MOM