Singaporebrides | Photography

September 2025

MOM & VICPA Advisory Explained: Can You Hire Foreign Wedding Vendors in Singapore?

By Michelle Tay

Share this article on:
Facebook

Know what you’re getting into when you engage a overseas vendor for your wedding with new MOM x VICPA Joint Advisory.

Planning your dream wedding just got a bit more complicated. The Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (Singapore), or VICPA, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) have issued a stern joint advisory to the wedding industry, clarifying that companies, and individuals alike, cannot engage foreign freelancers on tourist or student visas to provide photography, videography, and makeup services in Singapore. For couples deep in wedding planning mode, this enforcement could significantly impact your vendor choices and budget.

The advisory isn’t introducing new rules—it’s reinforcing existing ones under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). Foreigners on tourist or student visas have never been legally allowed to work in Singapore’s wedding industry, but enforcement has historically been patchy. Now, the Ministry of Manpower is cracking down, with serious consequences for both foreign workers and the companies that hire them.

The penalties are substantial: foreigners caught working without valid work passes face fines up to $20,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both. They may also be barred from entering Singapore in future. Companies engaging such workers face identical penalties, making this a high-stakes issue for wedding vendors. We speak with some established wedding industry professionals who share some brutally honest facts about the wedding scene moving forward.

What was your first reaction when you heard about the new advisory?

YuKee Ong, Adante: “Honestly, it wasn’t a surprise. I’ve heard rumblings about something like this for a while. It felt like one of those things that was going to happen eventually. So when it finally came out, it was more like… okay, here we go.”

Bryan Foong, Antelope Studios: “Happy that it is finally happening after more than a decade of dialogues with government bodies and ministers through various associations.”

Alvin Ang, Iriswave: “I was shocked at first! But the next thought was that, it’s been finally said out loud.”

Annabel Law, Annabel Law Productions: “I was very happy, because this has been a long-term issue for many wedding vendors. It’s important to educate couples that while hiring foreign freelancers may appear cheaper, the risks are not worth it. We’ve even seen cases where couples cancelled their contracts with us just one month before their wedding to switch to a foreign freelancer. They resell their package at a “loss,” but still end up saving because the freelancer charges much less—leaving us without work on a date we had already reserved.”

What This Means for Your Wedding Planning

Industry insiders suggest that foreign freelancers—particularly photographers and videographers from neighbouring countries—have been a common sight at Singapore weddings, often offering competitive rates that undercut local professionals. Some couples have knowingly engaged these services, attracted by the significant cost savings and unique artistic styles from overseas talent.

However, this enforcement will likely eliminate these options entirely, regardless of whether couples were aware of the legal implications or not.

In your experience, how common is it for couples or companies to hire foreign freelancers for weddings in Singapore?

YuKee: “It’s actually pretty common. These days, couples are exposed to so many different styles from all over the world. And truthfully, some of them feel that local talents are… safe. Like they’re following a script. You hear things like ‘Work from Singapore photographers look the same’ or ‘It’s just another standard SOP’.”

That’s why some couples start looking abroad. There’s this hunger for fresh eyes, different energy, and a more heartfelt or artistic take on weddings. And overseas creatives often bring that. They treat weddings with emotion and individuality, not just as another project.

Yang Ang, Substance Films: “This practice has become increasingly common to the point where it threatens the livelihood of local companies. It also raises questions about fairness, as legitimate businesses bear the cost of securing work passes for foreign staff, while overseas vendors are able to fly in and operate without the required permits.”

Annabel: “It’s more common than many realise—photographers from Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, and Taiwan often fly in just for a shoot without valid visas. This has driven market rates down drastically; when I started 17 years ago at just 16, I was charging more than many of these freelancers do today. We’re grateful the media is finally highlighting this long-standing issue, especially as foreign freelancers became even more aggressive in their marketing after COVID. To be fair, some may not have known the rules, and couples often didn’t either.

The immediate impact

Expect your wedding photography and videography budget to increase substantially. With foreign competition removed from the equation, local professionals may adjust their prices to reflect true market value. For couples already stretching their budgets, this could mean difficult choices about which services to prioritise.

You might also find fewer available vendors during peak wedding seasons. The local talent pool is finite, and without the supplementary workforce of foreign freelancers, popular dates and the booking of wedding vendors could become even more competitive.

What do you expect couples to face because of this enforcement, such as higher costs or fewer options?

YuKee: “I think couples might need to rework their plans. They’ll probably have to do more research and dig deeper into what’s available locally. There are so many talented creatives in Singapore who don’t get as much visibility. Some of them trained overseas, some bring really unique perspectives, but they fly under the radar. This could be a chance for couples to find them. Instead of sticking to the usual big-name studios, maybe this is a time to explore smaller, passionate teams who are doing things differently.”

Yang: “Couples won’t face fewer choices—there are plenty of talented local vendors. The bigger issue is that the industry has already seen a big drop in jobs over the past two years with the uncertain economy, yet we’re still competing with overseas vendors and dealing with rising costs in Singapore. This enforcement will help level things out and support local businesses.”

Alvin: “I would expect couples to face higher costs in the longer term, but options and prices will stabilise after the short term (three to six months). There will be more options, as gradually, more vendors will be willing to expand, or create new services to bolster the creative service sector in Singapore. With more options, prices will also stabilise.”

Annabel: “Couples may need to be more careful in their selection. On your wedding day, you don’t want to save a few hundred dollars only to end up without a photographer or videographer at the last minute. Since the news broke, we’ve already seen a rush of couples urgently seeking local vendors. Just like with confinement nannies, domestic workers, or construction workers, work permits are required. This advisory ensures the same accountability applies to the wedding industry, which is a good step.”

Do you think couples usually understand the legal restrictions around hiring foreign freelancers?

Yang: “Honestly, most couples don’t fully understand the restrictions. Many assume that if a foreign photographer, videographer, or freelancer can fly into Singapore, they can freely work here , but that isn’t the case. Regulations around work passes and permits are not clearly communicated to the public, and couples naturally tend to focus more on creative style and budget when choosing their vendors.”

Alvin: “Probably not, while many understand the need for work visas et cetera, many don’t understand that it also applies to creative services as well.”

The Real Risks of Engaging Unauthorised Freelancers

Whilst the cost savings might be tempting—foreign freelancers often charge 30-50% less than local professionals—couples who knowingly engage unauthorised workers are exposing themselves to significant risks that extend far beyond legal penalties.

Your Wedding Could Be Disrupted: Immigration checkpoints and venue security are increasingly vigilant. If foreign freelancers are questioned or detained on your wedding day, you could find yourself without essential services at the worst possible moment. There’s no backup plan when your photographer is at an immigration office instead of capturing your first kiss as married couple.

No Legal Recourse: When things go wrong with unauthorised vendors, you have limited legal protection. If they disappear with your deposit, deliver substandard work, or fail to show up entirely, pursuing compensation becomes nearly impossible when they’re operating outside Singapore’s legal framework.

Your Reputation at Risk: If authorities discover the arrangement, both you and your chosen vendors could face penalties. The last thing you want is your wedding making headlines for the wrong reasons, or dealing with legal proceedings during what should be your honeymoon period.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Whether you’re intentionally seeking foreign talent or want to avoid it entirely, these warning signs can help you identify potentially unauthorised vendors:

Suspiciously Low Quotes: If a vendor’s pricing seems too good to be true compared to others, investigate further. Legitimate local professionals need to cover business registration, insurance, CPF contributions, and other overhead costs that foreign freelancers might avoid.

Vague Business Registration Details: Reputable wedding vendors should readily provide their business registration information. Be wary of anyone who’s evasive about their legal status in Singapore or claims to be “visiting for your special day.”

Payment to Overseas Accounts: If you’re asked to transfer deposits or payments to foreign bank accounts, this is a clear indicator of unauthorised operations. Legitimate Singapore businesses operate local bank accounts.

Last-Minute Team Changes: Some companies might promise local teams but switch to foreign freelancers closer to your wedding date to cut costs. Ensure your contract specifies exactly who will be providing your services.

How do you think this advisory will affect your business or the wider industry?

Bryan: Within the first two weeks, we have seen an increased amount of clients returning to the local industry after dropping their foreign freelancers.

Yang: “Local companies like ours follow the rules and bear the costs of permits, while foreign freelancers without passes have been undercutting the industry. With this clarification, couples can feel assured they are engaging lawful vendors, and the industry as a whole can grow in a more fair and sustainable way.”

Annabel: This advisory won’t hurt our business—in fact, it feels like a long-awaited awareness campaign. At Annabel Law Productions, we are very strict about work visas and only hire Singaporeans or PRs. While many foreign photographers are very talented, undercutting the market with $300 shoots—four times lower than the market rate—creates an unsustainable situation for locals who face much higher living costs in Singapore.

It’s also about protecting wedding couples. If you pay a deposit to someone without a proper company, you may have no legal recourse, such as making a claim at the Small Claims Tribunal, if things go wrong.

Smart Steps for Couples

Verify Your Vendor’s Credentials: Ask potential vendors directly about their team composition. Reputable companies should be transparent about using only legally authorised workers. Check their business registration with ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) if you have concerns.

Budget Realistically: Factor potential price increases into your wedding budget. The days of bargain-basement photography packages from foreign freelancers are numbered.

Book Early: With a potentially smaller pool of available vendors, securing your preferred team well in advance becomes even more crucial, particularly for popular wedding dates.

The Bigger Picture

This crackdown reflects Singapore’s broader commitment to protecting local employment opportunities and ensuring fair competition in the creative industries. For couples who previously relied on foreign freelancers for budget-friendly options, this represents a significant shift in wedding planning economics.

The enforcement also protects consumers from the genuine risks associated with unauthorised vendors—uninsured services, unclear legal recourse when things go wrong, and the possibility of vendors disappearing before delivering final products. Whilst it might mean higher costs for couples in the short term, it should ultimately result in a more professional, regulated wedding industry where consumer protection is paramount.

Some couples may feel frustrated by the loss of affordable overseas talent, but the reality is that these “bargains” often came with hidden costs and risks that only became apparent when things went wrong.

What would you say to couples who want to bring in overseas talent for their weddings?

YuKee: “Be honest about it early on. Most international creatives understand the situation and will work with you to figure things out. And if it’s not legally possible, there are always other ways. Maybe do a pre-wedding shoot overseas or find a creative workaround. If you really love someone’s work, there’s usually a way to make it happen without breaking rules.

Let’s keep things open, keep learning, and keep the quality of our work high. Singapore has so much potential, but we have to keep earning our place. Not just because we’re local, but because we’re doing work that speaks for itself.”

Bryan: “Always try to support locals as much as possible, if there is truly a need to bring in overseas talent, do it the bonafide way.

I hope that Singapore authorities will protect the livelihood of local professionals like how other much bigger countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia are doing to stop illegal misuse of tourism visas to conduct work right at the immigration.”

Yang: “We get why some couples are drawn to overseas talent, but the reality is that anyone working here needs the right permits. The good news is, Singapore already has so many talented local vendors who charge fairly and offer a wide range of creative styles. By choosing local, you’re keeping everything safe and legal and there’s truly no shortage of amazing talent here. Most importantly, you’re also supporting Singapore talents and helping our industry grow.

What we really want to add is that this isn’t about shutting doors on creativity. It’s about making sure everyone plays by the same rules in a fair manner. We are glad that the issue has finally been addressed to the public.”

Alvin: “The Singaporean creative is one that is globalised, yet understanding of local norms and cultures. Invest in an experience that’s not just the lowest price, but the highest in enjoyment for one of life’s pivotal moments. We work hard at ensuring that our clients are always happy and understand the need for good service.”

Annabel: “It’s important to follow the rules of every country when working. Likewise, if a Singaporean photographer travels overseas for shoots, we must respect and comply with that country’s regulations.”

Moving Forward

As a couple, your best strategy is to work with vendors who embrace transparency and operate within Singapore’s legal framework.

Remember that your wedding vendors aren’t just service providers—they’re custodians of your most precious memories. Choosing legitimate, properly authorised professionals ensures you’re protected legally and can focus on what matters most: celebrating your love story. With proper planning and realistic expectations, you can still achieve the wedding of your dreams whilst supporting the local creative community that makes Singapore’s wedding scene so vibrant.

If you become aware of illegal employment practices in the wedding industry, you can report these to MOM via their eService “Report an Infringement”.

All content from this article, including images, cannot be reproduced without credits or written permission from SingaporeBrides.

Follow us on Instagram, Telegram, and TikTok for the latest article and promotion updates!