Having recently got an EPEC (and Long Term Visit Pass), I agree the various websites are contradictory and muddled. It doesn't help that this particular 'visa' seems to slip between many of the groups on various government websites.
This process is not as efficient as it should be. Although I did find that the government people are actually very helpful (unlike most other countries).
Once you have the EPEC you have to apply seperately for a Long Term Visit Pass in order to actually be able to spend the one year in Singapore.
The steps you need to go through are as follows:
1) Apply for the EPEC (normally less than a week)
https://epec.mom.gov.sg/epec/index.doNote: You need the official mailed copy of this for the final approval (#3 below), however if it doesn't arrive before your move to Singapore (or doesn't arrive at all), you can ring the Ministry of Manpower and they will provide another copy for you to collect from their office/post another copy to a Singapore address.
2) After the above is approved, you can apply for preliminary approval of the Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) electronically here (takes about a month)
https://ltpass.ica.gov.sg/eltsvp/main.do Note: you DO NOT require a SingPass to apply if you have the EPEC, ignore references to the SingPass
3) After preliminary approval for the above, you have a month to pay your fee and then have to complete paperwork etc in person for final approval (that includes photo, medical etc). That involves going into the Singapore office with all your paperwork. They will then issue you with a one year pass starting FROM THAT DAY.
Final approval is very quick (about an hour start to finish - I recommend going at 9am), the longest wait is for #2.
Therefore, obvious tip:
You can enter Singapore on a standard visa and then apply for the Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) after you get here. Because they give you 1 year from the date you are *finally approved*, you can wait until you have about 6 weeks left on your standard visa and then do #2 above, that way you get some more time in the country (1 year + whatever time you spent here prior to final approval).
Hope that helps.
