Hiring and Managing Japanese Chefs in Singapore: Visa, Salary and Retention (2026)

This guide answers the questions restaurant owners in Singapore ask us most often before hiring a Japanese chef from Japan. Salary ranges reflect the positions Washoku Agent has handled; visa facts come from official government pages, checked on 2026-10-14.

How much do Japanese chefs earn in Singapore?

Based on the positions Washoku Agent has handled in Singapore, advertised annual packages for Japanese chefs typically fall between JPY 5 and 9 million when converted, with the highest advertised packages reaching around JPY 12 million. In local terms, recent offers have been in the order of SGD 5,200 per month or SGD 6,800 per month. These are offers at the time of advertising; the final package depends on city, concept and seniority.

Which roles and restaurant types hire Japanese chefs in Singapore?

The demand we see in Singapore is concentrated in a few role types and concepts. The most common roles are head chef and sous chef positions, and the most common concepts are sushi, Japanese cuisine and kaiseki.

Do Japanese chefs need to speak English, and is housing provided?

Nearly all of our listings accepted beginner-level English. Employers in Singapore generally prioritise cooking technique and experience; kitchen English develops on the job. A minority of our listings included housing or a housing allowance.

Which visa lets a restaurant in Singapore sponsor a Japanese chef?

An Employment Pass (EP) or an S Pass, applied for by the employer. The Work Permit for the services sector is not open to Japanese nationals, and Singapore has no working-holiday agreement with Japan.

• Minimum fixed monthly salary at age 23 and under (MOM, 14 October 2026): EP S$5,600, S Pass S$3,300. Both rise with age, to S$10,700 and S$4,800 at 45 and over. For applications from 1 January 2027: EP S$6,000, S Pass S$3,600.
• EP applicants must also score 40 points under COMPASS. S Pass holders count against the services-sector quota (10 percent of the workforce) and carry a levy of S$650 a month paid by the employer.
• Before applying, the job must be advertised on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days under the Fair Consideration Framework, unless the company has fewer than 10 employees or another exemption applies.
• Fees: S$105 to apply; S$225 (EP) or S$100 (S Pass) to issue the pass. MOM processes the application or gives an update within 10 business days. The first pass is valid for up to 2 years.

1. Advertise the job on MyCareersFuture for 14 consecutive days, unless exempt.
2. The employer applies through MOM’s EP eService and pays S$105.
3. MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (valid 6 months for EP, 60 days for S Pass).
4. The chef enters Singapore and the employer issues the pass (S$225 or S$100).
5. Biometric registration; the pass card arrives within 5 business days.

Which pass lets a Singapore restaurant sponsor a Japanese chef?

The Employment Pass (EP) or the S Pass. The Work Permit for the services sector is not available because Japan is not an approved source country for it.

What does the employer have to do before applying?

Under the Fair Consideration Framework the job must be advertised on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days before an EP or S Pass application. EP applicants must also score at least 40 points under COMPASS. S Pass holders may make up no more than 10% of the workforce in the services sector (35% combined with Work Permit holders), and the S Pass levy is SGD 650 per month.

What is the minimum salary?

EP: SGD 5,600 per month at age 23, rising to SGD 10,700 at age 45 and above; from 1 January 2027 new applications require SGD 6,000 to SGD 11,500. S Pass: SGD 3,300 (age 23 and below) to SGD 4,800 (45 and above); from 1 January 2027, SGD 3,600 to SGD 5,100. There is no chef-specific threshold, and cooks are not on the COMPASS Shortage Occupation List.

How much are the fees, how long does it take, and can the chef stay long term?

EP: SGD 105 to apply and SGD 225 on issuance. S Pass: SGD 105 and SGD 100. The Ministry of Manpower states that most applications receive an outcome within 10 business days. Both passes are issued for up to two years initially and renewed for up to three years. EP and S Pass holders may apply for permanent residence (SGD 100 fee, processed within about six months).

Rules change. We confirm the current requirements with the employer before an offer.

Where do restaurants in Singapore find Japanese chefs?

Singapore has no Japanese-community job board of any size, so owners work the general boards, the government portal and a small number of recruiters. The government portal is not optional: an Employment Pass application must be preceded by a job advert on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days unless an exemption applies.

Washoku Agent sits alongside these channels as the specialist route: we hold a registered pool of Japanese chefs, screen for technique and willingness to relocate, interpret interviews and manage the paperwork. You can run local channels in parallel and use us for the chef you cannot find locally.

Hire from Japan or from the local market in Singapore?

Singapore has no working-holiday agreement with Japan, so every Japanese chef you hire from abroad needs an Employment Pass or S Pass sponsored by your company. That makes the local-versus-Japan choice mostly a question of time and salary floor.

Common hiring challenges in Singapore, and how to keep the chef

What owners and chefs say in public, in their own words:

Not ready to hire full-time? Start with a project: a Japanese chef can develop a menu or train your team for a few weeks. See how a project works.

How do restaurants in Singapore hire a Japanese chef through Washoku Agent?

Frequently asked questions