If you are applying for a Work Permit or S Pass in Singapore, you will hear the term 6ME. The short answer: it is the medical examination the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requires before a foreign worker can be issued a pass. No 6ME, no Work Permit.

What does 6ME stand for?

6ME means the Six-Monthly Medical Examination, the standard health screening MOM sets for migrant workers. For a first-time application it is the entry medical, and for some workers it is repeated every six months while they hold a pass.

What does it screen for?

The examination checks that a worker is fit and free of certain conditions, including:

  • Tuberculosis (TB), through a chest X-ray
  • HIV
  • Syphilis
  • Malaria and other items, depending on the pass type and the worker’s job

The exact tests vary slightly by pass type, but the goal is the same: confirm the worker meets MOM’s health requirements before they start work.

Why it matters before you apply

MOM will not issue or renew the pass until the 6ME results are in and the worker is certified fit. So this is not a step you can leave for later. Getting it done early means:

  • No delay to the worker’s start date
  • No back-and-forth with MOM over an incomplete application
  • One clear result that you can submit straight away

Getting it done

We complete the full 6ME in our clinic, including the chest X-ray on-site, so there is no second trip to an X-ray centre. Results and the signed MOM form are usually ready the same day.

See our Work Permit medical check-up page for what to bring, or contact us and a real person will reply.