the short version
- For staff training, your SME status is worked out from government data. You don’t normally apply for it.
- If that data is wrong or missing, your company is funded as a non-SME and pays more per course.
- You can ask for a review online. A correction only counts for claims made after it is approved. Courses already paid for stay as they are.
- The status can refresh at the end of each calendar year, so look again every January.
how to fix it
Checked 20 Oct 2026 against the official guide (last updated Sep 2026)
-
1
checkMake sure you qualify
- rule
- Registered or incorporated in Singapore, and either 200 staff or fewer, or annual sales of S$100 million or less.
- also counts
- Sole proprietors, charities, societies and other groups not registered with ACRA.
- doesn’t
- Ministries, statutory boards and other government agencies.
-
2
accessGet the right Corppass role
- who
- Your company’s Corppass administrator. If that isn’t you, ask them.
- what
- At corppass.gov.sg, under the Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA), assign the role EPJS ENTERPRISE USER to the person who handles training claims.
- tip
- Do this first. Without the role, you can’t log in to apply.
-
3
prepareHave three numbers ready
- headcount
- Everyone employed under a contract of service, of any nationality.
- turnover
- Annual sales, as shown in your income statement.
- ownership
- The form asks for it. The criteria in the guide don’t mention it, so if you’re unsure what to choose, ask SWDA.
- files
- Supporting documents in PDF, JPG, PNG or GIF.
-
4
applySubmit and keep an eye on it
- where
- OurWorkforce e-services, then “Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Status Application”. Log in, open the SME Status tab and press “+”.
- after
- The same tab shows each application as Pending, Approved or Rejected.
- then
- Enrol staff once it says Approved.
Questions the guide doesn’t answer, like why a company shows no status at all, go to SWDA: 6669 7932 (Mon–Fri, 8.30am–5.30pm) or the SWDA service portal. Corppass questions go to the Corppass helpdesk: 6335 3530 (Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm).
Sources
Rules and screens change. Before you apply, check the latest guide on the official site: SME Status Application Guide.
More for SME bosses: Pre-visit Fact Sheet and show what your staff can do.