For Foreign Practitioners
Overview
Foreign-qualified lawyers who pass the Foreign Practitioner Examinations (“FPE”) can apply to the Director of Legal Services under section 36B of the Legal Profession Act 1966 for registration to practise in permitted areas of Singapore law. The permitted areas, as set out under Rule 4 of the Legal Profession (Regulated Individuals) Rules 2015, include banking and finance, mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property law.
The Institute is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the FPE, and more updates, including dates for future sessions of the FPE, will be provided in due course.
Eligibility
The eligibility requirements for registration to sit for the FPE are set out in Rule 4 of the Legal Profession (Foreign Practitioner Examinations) Rules 2011 (the “FPE Rules”). Some of the key eligibility requirements are as follows:
- A prospective candidate needs to be a foreign lawyer within the meaning of the Legal Profession Act 1966.Note: A “foreign lawyer” means an individual who is duly authorised or registered to practise law in a state or territory other than Singapore by a foreign authority having the function conferred by law of authorising or registering persons to practise law in that state or territory.
- A prospective candidate must have, after becoming a foreign lawyer, been engaged in relevant legal practice or work, in Singapore or elsewhere, in one or more of the permitted areas of legal practice in any foreign law, for at least 3 years in the 5 years immediately preceding the date on which the application is made.Note: For the purposes of determining whether a foreign lawyer has been engaged in relevant legal practice or work for at least 3 years, any period spent in attending any course of instruction, course of study or postgraduate education (not being a period spent to satisfy any applicable requirements relating to continuing professional development), and any period spent in serving any articles, period of pupillage, practice training period or other period of supervised training in relation to the practice of law (by whatever name called), shall be disregarded. A “relevant legal practice or work” means (a) active practice as — (i) a legal practitioner, by whatever name called, in any jurisdiction other than Singapore; or (ii) a foreign lawyer in Singapore; or (b) work of a legal nature which is performed as a legal counsel in any corporation or other entity the equity securities of which are listed on the official list of a securities exchange in Singapore or elsewhere.
- A prospective candidate must be practising in Singapore as a foreign lawyer in a Joint Law Venture, Qualifying Foreign Law Practice, licensed foreign law practice or Singapore law practice, or has received a job offer to practise in Singapore as a foreign lawyer in a Joint Law Venture, Qualifying Foreign Law Practice, licensed foreign law practice or Singapore law practice. It is acceptable if the job offer is contingent on the prospective candidate passing the FPE.
Prospective candidates should satisfy themselves that they qualify for registration for the FPE before making their application. Please note that the Institute will not be able to entertain specific enquiries on whether a particular prospective candidate qualifies to register for the FPE outside of the registration process.
Application Period
Applications for the FPE are closed and are not open to further applications at this time.
Supporting Documents
Prospective candidates who wish to sit for the FPE should prepare the following documents and submit them together with the application. If any document is in a language other than English, a certified true English translation of that document should be enclosed.
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Identification document* (a) If you are currently working In Singapore, you are required to submit a colour copy of your Employment Pass or NRIC (if you are a Singapore citizen or permanent resident); (b) If you are not working in Singapore, please submit a colour copy of the cover and particulars page of your current valid international passport. |
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A copy of your digital passport-sized photograph The photograph should be taken in colour and against plain white background without shadow, clearly showing the full face without headgear, except headgear worn in accordance with religious or racial customs. |
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Bar admission document(s)* Please submit the bar admission documents of all the jurisdictions that you are qualified to practise in. |
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Degree and/or Professional Examinations Certificate(s)*, where applicable Please submit the degree and/or professional examinations certificate(s) that were used in support of your bar admission. |
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Practising Certificates* If you are relying on active practice as a legal practitioner in any jurisdiction other than Singapore to apply for approval to sit for the FPE [Rule 4(7)(a)(i) of the FPE Rules], please submit the practising certificate(s) of all the jurisdiction(s) you were practising in, for at least 3 years in the last 5 years from the date of FPE application. |
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Original employment verification letter(s) These letters should be prepared by the Partner/Director/Supervisor of each of the Law Practices/Corporations you were employed at, in the last 5 years from the date of FPE application. For your current position, the employment verification letter should be dated no earlier than 3 months from the date of FPE application. |
| Supplementary Documents, if applicable | |
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Foreign Lawyer Certificates If you are relying on active practice as a foreign lawyer in Singapore to apply for approval to sit for the FPE [Rule 4(7)(a)(ii) of the FPE Rules], please submit the foreign lawyer certificate(s) issued by the Singapore Legal Services Regulatory Authority and/or Attorney-General’s Chambers (as applicable) for the last 5 years from the date of FPE application. |
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Evidence that the corporation or entity is one whose equity securities are listed on the official list of a securities exchange in Singapore or elsewhere Please submit this evidence if you are relying on work of a legal nature performed as legal counsel (Rule 4(7)(b) of the FPE Rules) to apply for approval to sit for the FPE. |
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Correspondence relating to previous applications/attempts of the FPE Please note that pursuant to Rule 4(6) of the FPE Rules, a foreign lawyer who has failed the Examinations twice within a period of 5 years shall not be eligible, and the Director shall not approve the person’s application, to sit for another session of the Examinations until a period of 3 years has elapsed from the year in which he last failed the Examinations. |
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Exemption letter from the Ministry of Law. If your exemption application outcome is still pending, a copy of your completed exemption application form should be submitted. |
* Please submit certified true copies of these documents. Certification should be carried out by an independent person of recognised authority, such as the University/College Dean/Registrar, an official of an Inn of Court, a lawyer of standing or a notary public, but not by a relative of the applicant. The full name of the certifier and a description of the certifier’s status or authority should be placed under the signature.
FPE Subjects
The FPE comprises 4 compulsory subjects which broadly cover areas of competency, knowledge or skills that are relevant to the practice of law as a foreign-qualified lawyer.
| No. | Module | Paper | Duration |
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1. |
Corporate Practice |
MCQ |
2.5 hours |
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Written Paper |
2.5 hours |
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2. |
Commercial Practice |
MCQ |
2.5 hours |
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Written Paper |
2.5 hours |
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3. |
Corporate Finance |
MCQ |
2.5 hours |
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Written Paper |
2.5 hours |
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4. |
Ethics & Professional Responsibility |
Written Paper |
2.5 Hours |
Please note that the examination format is subject to change, following the Institute’s comprehensive review of the FPE. All papers are compulsory.
FAQ
When will the FPE be held?
The FPE is currently undergoing a comprehensive review following the 2025 FPE examinations. More details will be released once the review is complete.
Will there be a preparatory course for the FPE?
No, candidates are expected to prepare for the FPE on their own.
Candidates will be guided by syllabuses and reading lists issued by the Institute. Candidates who register to sit for the FPE will be given a LawNet account to aid in their preparation for the FPE.
Can I take the FPE from outside Singapore?
No, the FPE will only be conducted in Singapore. All candidates are expected to sit for the examinations in Singapore.
What if I do not meet some of the requirements to sit for the FPE?
Under rule 16 of the Legal Profession (Foreign Practitioner Examinations) Rules 2011, the Minister for Law may exempt a foreign lawyer from all or any, and from the whole or any part of any, of the requirements under rule 4(3)(b) to (g), if the Minister is of the opinion that the foreign lawyer is, by reason of their standing and experience or for any other cause, a fit and proper person to be so exempted. Please enquire directly with the Ministry of Law if you need to apply for an exemption under rule 16. More information on exemption applications can be found on the Ministry of Law’s website.
Last Updated: 13 August 2025