Work Passes (WP / S Pass / EP / PEP / ONE Pass)

The S Pass is for mid-level skilled foreign employees who are associate professionals or technicians with mid-level skills – holding a degree, diploma, or technical certificate. Examples of sectors would be manufacturing, construction and services.

Eligibility For S Pass Application

• To have a job offer from a Singapore-based employer.
• Earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,150 (as of 2024).
• The minimum monthly salary for foreigners in financial services is S$3,650 (as of 2024.)
• Proper educational qualification
• Relevant work experience

The Singapore-based employer or approved employment agency is responsible for applying for the foreigner’s S Pass Application. They would be the ones handling the paperwork and application submission.

The number of S Pass holders that the companies can hire is limited by a quota. Employers must also pay a monthly levy for these workers. Under the existing quota by MOM, the number of S Pass holders the company can hire is capped at:

• 10% of the company’s total workforce is in the services sector.
• 15% in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process sectors.

*For employers, you may calculate your foreign employee quota or check for your company’s available quota via the Work Permit Online portal.

The Step-By-Step S Pass Application Process

An IPA letter in Singapore:

• Acts as a single-entry visa which allows you entry into Singapore.
• Informs you whether you need to have a medical check-up in Singapore.
• Contains a list of documents you will need when your employer applies for the issuance of the S Pass.

The IPA letter is valid for 60 days from the date of approval. You are required to complete the formalities with MOM within these 6 months and have your S Pass issued.

Documents Needed For S Pass Application:

Your employer needs to make sure they have secured the following documents when submitting your S Pass application:

• Filled out S Pass Application Form
• Letter of consent
• Photocopies of the following:
  • Your passport’s details page
  • Photocopy of your marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Diplomas and other educational certifications
• Letter of Support or registration from a registration agency, accreditation agency, or professional body (this varies depending on your profession)

S Pass Application Issuance Process

Step 1
Once you are in Singapore, your employer will visit Employment Pass Online (EP Online) and request an S Pass to be issued to you.

Step 2
Your employer will need to provide the following documents:

• Details of medical insurance and work injury compensation insurance (for employees doing manual labour).
• Details about your Short-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Pass.
• Address where MOM can mail your S Pass card.
• Embarkation/Disembarkation card.
• Medical examination form (if applicable).

Step 3
Pay the S Pass fee of S$100.

Step 4
Once MOM has issued the pass, your employer will receive a notification letter that:

• Allows you entry to and exit from Singapore while waiting to receive your S Pass.
• States you must register your fingerprints and photo (if it’s your first time applying for an S Pass or if five years have passed since you last registered).

Employment Pass (EP) is intended for professionals with high-level qualifications, a good university degree or specialised skills. EP holders are those who work in managerial, executive or specialised roles.

Eligibility For Employment Pass Application

• To have a job offer from a Singapore-based employer.
• Hold a managerial, executive or specialised role.
• Earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$5,000 (as of 2024).
• The minimum fixed monthly salary for foreigners in financial services is S$5,500 (as of 2024).
• Relevant educational qualification of degree, professional qualifications or specialised skills.
• Relevant work experience.

EP qualifying salary (Stage 1)

The following EP qualifying salary requirements apply to new applications and renewals:

• At least $5,000 for all sectors except financial services (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $10,500 at age 45 and above)
• At least $5,500 for the financial services sector (increases progressively with age from age 23, up to $11,500 at age 45 and above)
  Note
  

  • For EPs expiring from 1 September 2024, in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary, they will also need to pass COMPASS to get their pass renewed.
  • From 1 January 2025, the EP qualifying salary for new applications will be revised to at least $5,600, and at least $6,200 for the financial services sector.
  • This revised EP qualifying salary will also apply to the renewal of EPs that are expiring from 1 January 2026

COMPASS (Stage 2)

COMPASS is a transparent points-based system that gives businesses greater clarity and certainty for manpower planning. It enables employers to select high-quality foreign professionals, while improving workforce diversity and building a strong local core.

How To Pass COMPASS

Your application needs to earn 40 points to pass COMPASS.

Image from ICA website

The Step-By-Step EP Application Process

An IPA letter in Singapore:

• Acts as a single-entry visa which allows you entry into Singapore.
• Informs you whether you need to have a medical check-up in Singapore.
• Contains a list of documents you will need when your employer applies for the issuance of the EP.

The IPA letter gives you six months to be in Singapore, complete your medical check-up (if needed), and collect your EP card.

Documents Needed For EP Application

Your employer needs to make sure they have secured the following documents when submitting your Employment Pass application:

• Completely filled-out EP Application Form
• Photocopies of the following:
  • Your passport’s details page
  • Diplomas and other educational certifications
• Letter of Support or registration from a registration agency, accreditation agency, or professional body (this varies depending on your profession)

EP Application Issuance Process

Step 1
Once you are in Singapore, your employer will visit MOM’s website and request the Employment Pass to be issued.

Step 2
Your employer will need to provide the following documents:

• Details about your Short-Term Visit Pass or Immigration Pass.
• Address where MOM can mail your Employment Pass card.
• Embarkation/Disembarkation card.
• Medical examination form (if applicable).

Step 3
Pay the EP issuance fee of S$225 / S$255.

Step 4
Once MOM has issued the pass, your employer will receive a notification letter that:

• Allows you entry to and exit from Singapore while waiting to receive your Employment Pass.
• States if you need to register your fingerprints and photo.

The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) application is a non-renewable pass reserved for a niche group of overseas foreign professionals or high-earning EP holders.

Having the PEP is exclusively paired with a significantly higher income and, as such, subjected to one of the highest reviewing standards for Passes. If you need a work pass that does not tie you down to a single employer, applying for a Personalised Employment Pass application is your solution.

Additionally, this pass enables you to switch jobs in Singapore without having to re-apply for an entry visa — so long as you haven’t been unemployed for more than six months.

Eligibility For Personalised Employment Pass Application

• An overseas foreign professional, your last drawn fixed monthly salary overseas was at least S$22,500 (The last drawn salary should have been within six months before you applied).
• Existing EP holders earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500.

Other eligibility criteria include the following:

• Not being a freelancer who plans to work without a Singapore employer.
• Not having your EP issued by a Sponsored scheme (if you are an EP holder)
• Not sole shareholding partner, proprietor, or director in any Singapore-registered company.
• Your profession should not be a journalist, editor, sub-editor or producer.

To retain this pass, you must:

• Not be unemployed in Singapore for more than six months at any time. Otherwise, you will need to cancel the pass.
• Earn a fixed salary of at least S$144,000 per calendar year (regardless of the number of months you are employed).

The Step-By-Step Personalised Employment Pass Application Process

Documents Needed For PEP Application

• Completely filled-out PEP Application Form
• Passport details
• Your salary (drawn for the past six months)
• Your employment offer letter (if applicable)
• A copy of your academic transcripts and certificates
• Latest income tax statement

ONE pass is meant for top talent in business, arts and culture, sports, academia and research.

This pass is more attractive than the PEP because it allows the pass holder to start and operate multiple companies in Singapore. The ONE pass is valid for five years, and it is renewable.

Eligibility For ONE Pass Application

• Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000, or its equivalent in foreign currency for the last year; or
• Will earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 under their prospective employer based in Singapore.
• Working for an established company for at least one year or will be working for an established company in Singapore.

*The fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 should only come from one employer.

Alternatively, foreign talents with exceptional accomplishments in the arts and culture, sports, academics, and research may be eligible for the ONE Pass without meeting the above criteria.

The ONE Pass application is valid for foreign talents who have shown a high level of achievement in scientific or other academic research with a track record of significant outcomes from research conducted (which may include international recognition of scientific or academic leadership).

To be considered for the outstanding achievement track for academia and research, the foreign talent must submit a thorough Curriculum Vitae (CV). The CV includes their academic credentials, professional experiences, accomplishments, and letters of recommendation from a regional host research institution (such as Autonomous Universities or A*STAR).

Existing work pass holders in Singapore can also apply for ONE Pass if they have been working in Singapore for at least one year or prove that they will be working for an established company.

The established company must have a market capitalisation or valuation of at least US$500 million or annual revenue of at least US$200 million in Singapore.

The Step-By-Step ONE Pass Application Process

Documents Needed For ONE Pass Application

Compulsory for all categories of eligible applicants: The passport details page and the following documents apply to applicants of the various categories.

Please note that an explanation letter and supporting documents (e.g., deed poll or affidavit) will be required if the applicant’s name in the passport differs from that on the other document(s).

A. Applicants who earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 in Singapore in the past year

• Your monthly payslips for a consecutive period of 12 months
• Most recent tax statements from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
• Documents supporting other income sources other than fixed monthly salary (if applicable)

B. Applicants who earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 working overseas in the past year

• Monthly payslips for a consecutive period of 12 months
• Employment verification proof from a background screening company
• Documents supporting income sources other than fixed monthly salary (if applicable).
• Documents indicating the latest company valuation, market capitalisation or annual company revenue of the candidate’s current or most recent employer from using any one of these sources within the last three months:
  • Pitchbook
  • Yahoo Finance
  • Crunchbase
  • Bloomberg
  • Google Finance
  • Venturecap
  • Preqin
  • QCC.com
  • chinaventure.com.cn
  • itjuzi.com

You may provide the company’s latest audited Profit & Loss statements if the documentation is unavailable.

C. Applicants who will earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 under a prospective employer in Singapore

• Employment contract with a Singapore organisation or letter of offer from a prospective employer in Singapore
• Documents indicating the prospective company valuation, market capitalisation or annual company revenue using any one of these sources within the last three months:
  • Pitchbook
  • Yahoo Finance
  • Crunchbase
  • Bloomberg
  • Google Finance
  • Venturecap
  • Preqin
  • QCC.com
  • chinaventure.com.cn
  • itjuzi.com

You may provide the company’s latest audited Profit & Loss statements if the documentation is unavailable.

D. Having outstanding achievements in arts and culture, sports, or academia and research

• Payslips from the latest month.
• Documents supporting other income sources other than fixed monthly fixed salary (if applicable).
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) highlighting key achievements.
• For candidates applying under the academia and research track:
  • The CV should list significant publications, patents or technology disclosures in the past five years.
  • Provide a recommendation, recommendation letter, or document by a local host institution for a potential position.

The Tech.Pass is a visa designed to attract established tech entrepreneurs, leaders, and experts to contribute to Singapore’s innovation ecosystem. Overseen by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), this pass offers holders flexibility to operate businesses, invest, or work for multiple companies while in Singapore.

Eligibility For Tech.Pass

To be eligible for the pass, applicants must satisfy any two of the following conditions:

• Have a last drawn fixed monthly salary (in the last 1 year) of at least S$22,500².
• Have at least five cumulative years of experience in a leading role in a tech company with a valuation/market cap of at least US$500mil or at least US$30mil funding raised
• Have at least five cumulative years of experience in a leading role³ in the development of a tech product that has at least 100,000 monthly active users or at least US$100mil annual revenue.

To retain this pass, you must fulfil either criteria 1 or 2, and (ii) criteria 3:

• Criterion 1 or 2
  1. Have earned at least S$240,000 in assessable income based on the latest Notice of Assessment from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (can be made up of salaries and / or business income);
  Note: From 1 September 2024, the required assessable income will be raised to S$270,000.
• Demonstrate total annual business spending of at least S$100,000 and employ at least 1 local PME¹ or 3 LQS².³
• (ii) AND Criterion 3
  At the time of renewal, be performing at least two of the following roles, at least one of which must be in Category (A):
  

  Category A

  Category B

  Founded a company in Singapore, offering a tech-based or tech-enabled product or service.3 Served a leading role (e.g. CEO, CTO, APAC MD) in a Singapore-based tech company Served a leading role in two or more Singapore-based tech companies Employed in a technical role leading a team in a Singapore-based company (e.g. senior engineer or senior researcher leading a team in a particular tech field) Employed in a technical role leading a team in two or more Singapore-based companies

  Served on Board of Directors of a Singapore-based company (need not necessarily be tech company) Acted as advisor / mentor to a Singapore-based start-up Served as professor / lecturer / adjunct professor / adjunct lecture in a Singapore Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) Provided training in some form not covered by B2 or B3 above (e.g. workshops, corporate training classes). Invested in one or more Singapore-based tech companies

The EntrePass is designed for foreign entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors seeking to establish venture-backed businesses or those possessing innovative technologies in Singapore.

Eligibility For EntrePass

To be eligible for the pass, applicants must satisfy both of the following conditions:

• Have started, or intend to start, a private limited company that is:
  • Registered with ACRA (Pass holder must hold at least 30% of registered company)
  • Venture-backed or owns innovative technologies.

• Meet at least one of the following criteria below:

The Singapore Work Permit is a labor permit issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to employers for hiring foreign workers in lower-skilled or unskilled roles across various industries. Eligible foreign nationals are restricted to specific countries.

Unlike professional roles, which typically require Employment Passes or S Passes, Work Permits cater to the blue-collar workforce. Companies are subject to quotas and levies for Work Permit holders to manage the foreign workforce effectively.

Eligibility For Work Permit

To be eligible for Work Permit, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

• Age Limit: Singapore Work Permit holders must be at least 18 years old. Malaysians can work up to age 58, while non-Malaysians can work up to age 50.
• Skill Categorization: Applicants must provide educational or trade certifications to determine their skill level (skilled or unskilled). Skill level directly impacts the monthly levy amount.
• Mandatory Insurance: Employers must secure work injury insurance coverage for all foreign workers.
• Employment Act Compliance: Employers are responsible for adhering to employment terms and conditions outlined in the Employment Act, ensuring fair treatment for foreign workers.
• Housing Provision: Suitable accommodation must be provided for all foreign workers.
• Repatriation Costs: Employers bear the cost of repatriating foreign workers upon Work Permit expiration.