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Apprenticeship New Timelines & Process Framework Effective 1 April 2026

Apprenticeship Portal • Process Standardisation • Timelines • Payroll Controls
Apprenticeship: New Timelines and Procedural Framework Effective 1 April 2026
The Ministry of Skill and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), through its Apprenticeship Training Division, issued an Office Memorandum dated 8 January 2026 on standardising timelines and process flow for apprenticeship contract signing, advisor verification, and payroll creation on the Apprenticeship Portal.
The Ministry clarified that the timelines and procedural directions prescribed up to December 2025 are to be kept in abeyance for the coming three months, and the revised framework will be implemented from 1 April 2026. Until then, stakeholders may continue following existing timelines and procedures to ensure a smooth transition.
Effective date
Revised standardised framework goes live from 1 April 2026.
Transition window
Existing process continues during the three-month interim period.
Who it impacts
Candidates, establishments, and advisors on the Apprenticeship Portal.
Timelines and procedures for all stakeholders
Candidates, Advisors, and Establishments: Standardised process flow
1) Candidate signing timelines
(i) Upon issuance of a contract by the Establishment, the Candidate shall sign the contract within 7 days.
(ii) If the Candidate does not sign within 7 days, the system shall automatically mark the contract as Expired at 12:00 midnight on the 7th day.
2) Advisor verification flow
(i) Once the Candidate signs within 7 days, the contract shall be routed to the Advisor for registration and verification.
(ii) The Advisor must verify and register the contract within 30 days from the date of first receipt.
(iii) The date of receipt means the date when the contract is first received by the Advisor, and the timeline starts from this date.
3) Advisor action timelines
Window I
Day 1 to Day 15: Advisor may Approve, Reject, or Send Back for correction.
Window II
Day 16 to Day 30: If sent back, Advisor acts on the resubmitted contract in the second 15-day window.
The Advisor may send back the contract any number of times during both windows. However, from Day 24 onwards, the Send Back option shall be disabled. Between Day 24 and Day 30, the Advisor shall only Approve or Reject.
4) Establishment timelines for “sent back” contracts
(i) Establishments may respond to “Sent Back” contracts up to the 24th day of the Advisor’s 30-day action window.
(ii) No Establishment action shall be allowed from Day 25 to Day 30.
(iii) After corrections, the Establishment shall re-submit the contract to the Advisor for verification.
5) Portal status on the 31st day
System action Contract status on 31st day
Contract pending in Establishment login Auto-Reject
Contract pending in Advisor login Auto-Approve
6) Payroll control on the Apprenticeship Portal
(i) Payroll creation shall be permitted only for contracts that are approved or verified by the Advisor, or auto-approved or auto-verified by the system.
(ii) For contracts converting from TEMP to CN on or after 01-01-2026, payroll creation shall not be available unless the contract is approved or verified, or auto-approved or auto-verified.
(iii) Payroll creation shall not be permitted for contracts that are pending for Advisor verification or approval, sent back to the Establishment for correction, or rejected by the Advisor.
(iv) Creation of future-period payroll shall be restricted. Establishments may create payroll for the current month and past or backlog months only.
Karma Global’s role
Managing apprenticeship obligations and enabling industry-ready talent
Program coverage
Karma Management supports apprenticeship obligations for both categories of apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS).
Student pathway
Students may approach Karma Management to enrol for apprenticeship training programs, gain practical work experience, and receive a stipend to support their financial needs.
Karma Global supports students in becoming industry-ready by aligning training pathways with compliance requirements, ensuring smoother onboarding and a stronger foundation for long-term employability.
Contact
For compliance guidance and implementation support, write to marketing@karmamgmt.com
Disclaimer: This blog is based on the content provided and is intended for general informational purposes.

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