MDEC processing time - 2026

Sharing Employment Pass (EP) + Dependent Pass (DP) Timeline – Category 1

Hi everyone,

I’d like to share my Employment Pass (EP) + Dependent Pass (DP) timeline for reference, in case it helps others who are currently going through a similar process.

⸻

Background

    •    EP Category 1

    •    Dependent Pass: wife + 1 child

    •    EP and DP applications were submitted together by employer

⸻

Timeline

    •    24 November 2025

EP and Dependent Pass (wife & child) were submitted together by employer via the ESD / MDEC system.

    •    4 December 2025

EP status showed “In MDEC: Verification Stage.”

    •    8 December 2025

Both Dependent Pass applications (wife & child) moved to

“In IMM: Decision Stage,”

while EP was still showing MDEC: Verification Stage at that time.

    •    17 December 2025

EP was approved (Stage 1 / MDEC Approved) and officially moved to the IMM stage,

and I received the EP approval letter from my employer.

At the same time, both Dependent Pass applications were still showing

“In IMM: Decision Stage.”

    •    18 December 2025

I immediately applied for eVisa via the MyVisa Portal.

The eVisa was approved within a few hours and was available for download on the same day.

⸻

Total Processing Time (EP – Stage 1)

    •    From submission (24 Nov 2025) to EP approval (17 Dec 2025)

    •    Approximately 18 working days in total

(Actual duration may vary depending on case complexity, submission volume, and year-end processing.)

EP + DP Timeline Summary (Updated)

    •    24 Nov 2025: EP + DP (wife & child) submitted together via ESD / MDEC

    •    4 Dec 2025: EP → In MDEC: Verification Stage

    •    8 Dec 2025: DP (wife & child) → In IMM: Decision Stage (EP still showed MDEC)

    •    17 Dec 2025: EP Stage 1 approved (MDEC), approval letter received from employer

    •    18 Dec 2025: eVisa applied via MyVisa Portal → approved within a few hours

    •    19 Dec 2025: DP (wife & child) approved, approval letters received

⸻

Processing Time Summary

    •    EP Stage 1 (MDEC): ~18 working days

(24 Nov → 17 Dec)

    •    DP Stage 1 (IMM decision): ~19 working days

(24 Nov → 19 Dec)

not sure, many ppl say it might take till 3 months & some ppl say within 15 days

not sure how the actual process works