Technical Personnel Requirements for Grades A1 and A2 Firms for CRS
- a22162
- May 20
- 8 min read
A1/A2 Firm Technical Requirements
Technical Personnel Requirements for Grades A1 and A2 Firms for CRS
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) in Singapore sets out specific technical personnel requirements for construction firms registered under the Contractors Registration System (CRS), particularly for higher grades like A1 and A2. These requirements aim to ensure that firms possess the necessary expertise to undertake large government construction projects.
Here's a breakdown of the key technical personnel requirements for A1 and A2 grade firms, primarily for Construction Workheads (CW01 General Building and CW02 Civil Engineering):
General Requirements for A1 and A2 Firms:
Full-time Personnel: Firms must employ a specific number of full-time professional and technical personnel (P&T) who are stationed in Singapore. Consultants or part-time employees generally do not count towards these requirements.
Qualifications: Personnel must hold qualifications recognized by bodies like the Professional Engineers Board (PEB), Board of Architects (BOA), or BCA. These typically include degrees in civil/structural engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, architecture, or diplomas from recognized polytechnics or BCA Academy.
Experience: A significant portion of the P&T must have relevant experience in Singapore, with a certain amount of this experience being recent.
Continuing Education & Training (CET): Personnel in A1 and A2 firms may be required to meet annual CET requirements, typically involving a minimum number of structured training hours.
Productivity Certifications: Specific productivity-related certifications like the Specialist Diploma in Construction Productivity (SDCP) or Certified Construction Productivity Professional (CCPP) are required for at least one of the firm's RP/P/T. The CCPP can supersede the SDCP requirement.
Specific Requirements for A1 and A2 Grades (as of previous updates):
A1 Grade:
Personnel Quantity: Requires 24 full-time professional and technical personnel (P&T).
Qualified Personnel: Minimum one-third of the P&T must have qualifications recognized by BOA, PEB, or BCA.
Local Experience: At least one-third of the P&T must have a minimum of 24 months of relevant experience in Singapore, of which at least 12 months must be within the latest 3 years at the point of submission.
Key Personnel: Minimum 8 Registered Professionals (RPs).
A2 Grade:
Personnel Quantity: Requires 12 full-time professional and technical personnel (P&T).
Qualified Personnel: Minimum one-third of the P&T must have qualifications recognized by BOA, PEB, or BCA.
Local Experience: At least one-third of the P&T must have a minimum of 24 months of relevant experience in Singapore, of which at least 12 months must be within the latest 3 years at the point of submission.
Definition of Personnel Types:
Registered Professional (RP): Typically holds a degree in Civil/Structural, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering recognized by PEB or BCA, or Architecture recognized by BOA.
Professional (P): Generally holds a recognized degree in Civil/Structural, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, Architecture, Building, or equivalent.
Technician (T): Possesses a technical qualification such as a diploma from BCA Academy or a Singapore Polytechnic in relevant engineering or building fields, or a National Certificate in Construction Supervision (NCCS) or equivalent.
Important Notes:
Verification: For foreign personnel (Employment Pass or S-Pass holders), companies may need to submit verification by their financial auditor or a legal firm/credit rating agency in Singapore that the personnel have remained in Singapore for at least 183 days in the last one year at the point of application.
Interviews: BCA may conduct interviews with technical personnel, especially for new applications for A1 grade (all 24 personnel may be interviewed).
Updates: The BCA regularly updates its requirements. It's crucial for firms to refer to the latest "Specific Registration Requirements (SRR)" for each workhead and the "CRS Guidelines" on the BCA's official website for the most current and detailed information. As of June 1, 2025, the CRS will be expanded to a nation-wide registry for all firms hiring construction S Pass and/or Work Permit holders.
These requirements, along with financial capability and track record, are critical for firms seeking to register or maintain their A1 and A2 grades with the BCA.
How Financial Auditor in Singapore can Verify
When the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) requires a financial auditor in Singapore to verify that foreign personnel (Employment Pass or S-Pass holders) have remained in Singapore for at least 183 days in the last one year at the point of application, the auditor's role is to provide an independent, objective assurance based on available documentary evidence.
Here's how a financial auditor would typically approach this verification, along with the documents they would examine:
Auditor's Approach:
Understand the Requirement: The auditor first needs to clearly understand the specific BCA requirement: "at least 183 days in the last one year at the point of application." This means they need to count the days of physical presence within a rolling 365-day period ending on the application date.
Request Supporting Documents: The auditor will request a comprehensive set of documents from the company for each foreign personnel in question.
Review and Corroborate: The auditor will then meticulously review these documents, looking for consistency and corroborating information across different sources to build a clear picture of the individual's presence in Singapore.
Issue a Verification Letter/Report: Based on their findings, the auditor will issue a formal letter or report to the company (and potentially to the BCA directly, if required) stating whether, in their professional opinion, the individual has met the 183-day residency requirement. This report will typically outline the scope of their work and the evidence reviewed.
Key Documents a Financial Auditor Would Examine:
Passport Entry and Exit Stamps/Records: This is the most direct evidence of physical presence. Auditors will scrutinize every stamp, noting entry and exit dates. For e-gate entries/exits, they might request records from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) if physical stamps are insufficient or unclear.
Immigration Records (e.g., SGArrival Card, MOM records):
SGArrival Card: This digital declaration is typically required for all arrivals and provides a record of entry dates.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Records: The MOM maintains records of Employment Pass (EP) and S-Pass issuance and validity. While these don't directly show daily presence, they confirm the individual's legal right to work and reside in Singapore during the period. The SGWorkPass app can be used to scan the QR code on the work pass to check status and expiry.
Company Payroll Records:
Payslips: Regular payslips indicate continuous employment and presumably presence in Singapore.
CPF Contributions (for Singapore Permanent Residents or those who opt in): While primarily for local employees, if a foreign employee contributes to CPF, this indicates employment in Singapore.
Employee Travel Records/Leave Records:
Company Leave Records: These show periods when the employee was on official leave, including any overseas leave. This helps the auditor subtract periods of absence from Singapore.
Business Travel Authorizations/Reimbursement Forms: If the employee traveled for business, these documents would detail the dates of absence from Singapore.
Company's Internal Attendance Records/Timesheets: These records (e.g., clock-in/clock-out data, daily attendance logs) can provide granular proof of physical presence at the workplace in Singapore.
Rental Agreements/Utility Bills (supporting evidence): While not direct proof of daily presence, these documents can demonstrate a residential address in Singapore, supporting the claim of residency.
Bank Statements: Regular local transactions might imply continued presence, but this is usually considered supplementary evidence rather than primary proof of physical presence.
Flight Tickets/Boarding Passes: These can be used to confirm specific travel dates, especially for periods of absence from Singapore.
Challenges and Considerations for the Auditor:
Completeness of Records: The biggest challenge can be incomplete or inconsistent records, especially for individuals who travel frequently.
Interpretation of "Temporary Absences": IRAS (Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore) guidelines on tax residency state that temporary absences (e.g., overseas vacation leave, business trips) are still counted in the total days of employment for tax residency purposes. The BCA's 183-day rule for contractors registration often aligns with this principle of physical presence for work or residency. The auditor will need to assess if these temporary absences are indeed brief and consistent with the individual's overall intention to reside and work in Singapore.
Fraud Detection: Auditors are trained to look for red flags and potential misrepresentations. They will question any anomalies in the documentation.
Third-Party Confirmation: In some cases, if there are doubts or insufficient internal documents, the auditor might suggest obtaining confirmation from third parties (e.g., landlord, travel agent) or directly from the employee.
Period of Verification: The auditor must ensure that the 183-day period is calculated accurately in the "last one year at the point of application," which is a rolling period, not necessarily a calendar year.
In essence, the financial auditor acts as an independent verifier, using their professional judgment and the documented evidence to ascertain the foreign personnel's physical presence in Singapore for the specified duration as required by BCA.
How Bestar can Help
Bestar, being a firm that offers a range of corporate services in Singapore, including audit and assurance, corporate support, and HR & payroll services, can certainly assist with the verification of foreign personnel residency for BCA registration.
Here's how Bestar can help:
As a Financial Auditor (Independent Verification):
Official Verification Letter: If BCA specifically requires verification by a "financial auditor," Bestar, with its audit and assurance arm, can perform the necessary procedures to verify the 183-day residency. We would act as an independent third party.
Document Review: They would meticulously review the foreign personnel's documents, including:
Passport entry and exit stamps/records (or obtain ICA records if needed).
MOM records (Employment Pass/S-Pass details, SGWorkPass app screenshots).
Company payroll and attendance records.
Leave applications, especially for overseas travel.
Any other corroborating evidence of physical presence in Singapore.
Formal Report/Letter: After their review, we would issue a formal letter or report, signed by our registered public accountant, stating whether the individual has met the 183-day residency requirement based on the evidence examined. This provides the independent assurance BCA seeks.
As a Corporate Services Provider (Advisory & Preparation):
Guidance on Requirements: Bestar can advise the construction firm on the precise BCA requirements for foreign personnel residency, including the 183-day rule and the necessary documentation. We stay updated on BCA's latest guidelines.
Document Compilation Assistance: We can guide the company in compiling all the required documents for each foreign personnel. This ensures that the company provides comprehensive and accurate information for the verification process.
Internal Controls Review (Proactive): Beyond just verification, Bestar can help the firm establish robust internal processes for tracking foreign personnel's presence. This could involve setting up proper leave management systems, attendance tracking, and record-keeping protocols to ensure ongoing compliance. This proactive approach helps the firm avoid issues during future BCA applications or audits.
Liaison with BCA (if applicable): While the primary responsibility for verification lies with the auditor or firm, Bestar, as a corporate services provider, can assist in understanding and responding to any queries from BCA regarding the personnel's residency.
Overall BCA Registration Support: Bestar also offers general BCA registration and compliance services. This means we can help the firm with the entire application process for A1/A2 grades, which includes ensuring all other technical personnel, financial, and track record requirements are met, not just the foreign personnel residency aspect.
Why engage Bestar?
Expertise: We have experience in Singapore's regulatory environment, including ACRA and BCA requirements.
Objectivity: As an independent auditor, we provide an unbiased assessment, which adds credibility to the verification.
Efficiency: We can streamline the document review and verification process, saving the construction firm time and effort.
Risk Mitigation: Our involvement helps ensure compliance and reduces the risk of rejection or penalties from BCA due to inaccurate or insufficient documentation.
In summary, Bestar can provide both the independent financial audit verification for foreign personnel residency and comprehensive advisory and support services to ensure a construction firm meets all the stringent BCA A1/A2 technical personnel requirements.
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