The Types of Work Passes in Singapore: Which Suits Your Profile?

Relocating to Singapore is a significant life and business milestone. For high-earning professionals and business leaders, the process is far more than a form-filling exercise; it is a strategic decision that requires aligning your profile with the correct regulatory framework.

Singapore issues over a dozen different pass types through the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), each designed for a specific profile and purpose. It is important to understand the available types, how each work category is structured, and which pass fits your needs.

This guide breaks down the main categories so you can navigate the immigration landscape with confidence, precision, and risk mitigation.

Professional Work Passes

For senior professionals and business leaders, selecting a pass is a strategic move. The passes in this category are designed for professionals, innovators, and global talent whose presence adds measurable value to Singapore’s economy. Together, these criteria determine which types of high-level work opportunities qualify for a specific pass within Singapore’s professional landscape.

1. The Employment Pass (EP)

The Employment Pass is the primary work authorisation for foreign professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs) in key roles at Singapore-based companies. It remains the most common type of work pass in Singapore for skilled professionals.

Eligibility Requirements

Employment Pass eligibility is assessed via a two-stage framework:

• Qualifying Salary: As of January 2026, the minimum qualifying salary is S$5,600 (S$6,200 for financial services). From January 2027, these thresholds will rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600, respectively.
• COMPASS Framework: Unless exempted, candidates must pass the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). Applicants must earn at least 40 points across four foundational criteria (salary, qualifications, diversity, and support for local employment) and two optional bonus criteria (shortage occupation list and strategic economic priorities). Candidates earning a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or above are exempt from COMPASS.

Key Features

• Validity: Up to two years for new applications; up to three years for renewals. A five-year EP may be granted to experienced tech professionals in shortage occupation roles earning at least S$10,500.
• Pathway: Holding an EP is a recognised route to permanent residency for those intending to settle in Singapore long-term.

What to Note

Salary benchmarks and COMPASS criteria are reviewed regularly by MOM. Employers and applicants should verify the most current requirements before submitting an application. Given frequent updates to eligibility criteria, Xignam can help you with your employment pass application and reduce the risk of delays or rejection.

2. The EntrePass for Innovators

The EntrePass is designed for foreign entrepreneurs, high-calibre innovators, and experienced investors who intend to operate a venture-backed or technology-driven private limited company in Singapore. Unlike the Employment Pass, the EntrePass assesses the business itself: its potential, its backing, and its value to the economy.

Eligibility Requirements

You must satisfy both of the following conditions to be eligible for this work pass:

• Company Status: You must have started or intend to start a private limited company registered with ACRA, and hold at least 30% of its shares if already incorporated.
• Innovation or Investment Criteria: At least one of the following must apply: raised at least S$ 100,000 from an accredited venture capitalist or business angel; backed by a government-supported incubator or accelerator; owns intellectual property or innovative technologies that provide a significant competitive advantage.

Note: If your registered company is more than 12 months old at the time of application, it will be assessed under renewal criteria rather than standard application criteria.

Key Features

• You may apply before or after registering your company.
• EntrePass holders may be eligible to sponsor Dependant’s Passes or Long-Term Visit Passes for family members, subject to meeting specific Annual Total Business Spending and local hiring requirements.

What to Note

A range of business activities is ineligible for this work pass, including coffee shops, hawker stalls, food courts, bars, nightclubs, employment agencies, and geomancy businesses.

Review MOM’s full exclusion list before proceeding.

3. The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

The Personalised Employment Pass is a premium, non-renewable work pass for high-earning foreign professionals who seek greater career flexibility in Singapore. Unlike the standard EP, it is not tied to a specific employer, allowing holders to switch jobs or sectors without having to apply for a new pass.

Eligibility Requirements

• Existing EP Holders: Must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500.
• Overseas Foreign Professionals: Last drawn fixed monthly salary (within the past six months) must be at least S$22,500.

Key Features

• Validity: Up to three years.
• Employer Portability: You may change jobs or sectors by notifying MOM.
• Unemployment Grace Period: You may remain in Singapore for up to six months between jobs.

What to Note

• Non-renewable: You must transition to another work pass before the PEP expires.
• Salary Maintenance: You must earn at least S$270,000 per calendar year to maintain the pass.
• Restrictions: The PEP does not permit freelancing, sole proprietorship, partnerships, or directorships with shareholding. Certain restricted occupations, such as those related to media or religion, are also excluded.

4. The Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass

Launched in January 2023, the ONE Pass is a personalised work pass for top-tier talent across all sectors, including business, arts and culture, sports, academia, and research. It is designed for individuals with a track record of high achievement and the potential to make significant contributions to Singapore’s economy and society.

Eligibility Requirements

Candidates must meet one of the following routes:

• Salary Route: A fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 with a current employer for the last 12 months, or S$30,000 under a prospective Singapore-based employer.
• Outstanding Achievements Route: Exceptional achievements in arts and culture, sports, science and technology, or academia and research, assessed by MOM.

Key Features

• Work Flexibility: You may work for multiple companies concurrently, start a business, or hold a directorship without separate work pass applications.
• Validity: Five years, renewable.
• Family Privileges: Spouses of ONE Pass holders are eligible to work in Singapore by obtaining a Letter of Consent (LOC).

What to Note

Supporting documentation on your professional contributions is important, particularly under the Outstanding Achievements route.

For renewal, you must demonstrate either:

• An average fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 over the past five years in Singapore, or
• Operate a Singapore-based company employing at least five locals earning a minimum of S$5,000 per month.

Due to the high bar for eligibility, a well-prepared ONE Pass application should clearly demonstrate exceptional achievements and sustained professional impact.

Pathways for Mid-Level and Skilled Personnel

This category addresses mid-level and semi-skilled employment, governed by employer-specific quotas and levy structures. These obligations must be integral to the hiring strategy from the outset. It’s important to understand the differences between the various work passes, which vary by skill level, industry, and duration.

5. The S Pass

The S Pass is for mid-level skilled foreign workers, such as associate professionals and technicians, who do not meet EP criteria. It is subject to strict quota and levy requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum Salary: At least S$3,300 per month (effective September 2025), benchmarked to the top one-third of local APT salaries by age.
• Job Offer: A confirmed job offer in Singapore is required.
• Employers are encouraged to use MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to verify eligibility before applying.

Key Features

• Employers must advertise the position on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly before making an offer.
• Employers are subject to industry-specific quota and levy requirements and must provide mandatory medical insurance.
• S Pass holders earning at least S$6,000 may be eligible to sponsor Dependant’s Passes and Long-Term Visit Passes for immediate family members.

What to Note

The number of S Pass holders a company may hire is limited by the Dependency Ratio Ceiling, which varies by sector. Employers pay a monthly foreign worker levy per holder. If the SAT indicates a candidate is ineligible, employers are advised not to proceed with the application.

6. The Work Permit Framework

The Work Permit allows semi-skilled migrant workers from approved source countries to work in specific sectors: construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process, or services. It also includes specific permits such as the Work Permit for Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) and the Training Work Permit. These types of roles are supported through regulated work arrangements, each permit designed to meet sector-specific demands within the labour framework.

Eligibility Requirements

• Eligibility is restricted to specific sectors, and workers must be from MOM-approved source countries relevant to their industry.
• An employer or employment agency must initiate the application.
• Employers must adhere to sector-specific foreign-worker quotas and pay a monthly levy per permit holder.

Key Features

• Employers are responsible for medical insurance, personal accident insurance, and, where applicable, a security bond.
• Valid for up to two years, contingent on passport validity and the security bond.
• Non-transferable: tied to a specific employer.

What to Note

Work Permits do not provide a pathway to permanent residency. Employers must strictly comply with MOM requirements, including making timely levy payments and notifying MOM of any changes in the worker’s status.

Provisions for Educational and Training Engagements

These work passes are not routes to long-term employment or residency. They serve a specific, time-limited purpose and come with clear boundaries that both employers and applicants need to plan around.

7. The Work Holiday Pass (under the Work Holiday Programme)

The Work Holiday Programme, often referred to as a work and holiday travel visa, allows eligible students and young graduates to work and holiday in Singapore for up to 6 months.

Eligibility Requirements

• Age: Between 18 and 25 years at the time of application.
• Must be a current full-time student or recent graduate from a university in an eligible country or region.
• Undergraduates must have been enrolled full-time for at least three months before application.
• The programme has a capacity of 2,000 pass holders at any one time and is processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Key Features

• Valid for up to six months; no job offer required to apply.
• Non-renewable.

What to Note

• This visa is intended for short-term work and holiday experiences and does not provide a pathway to long-term employment or residency.
• The “Work and Holiday Visa Programme” (for Australians and New Zealanders) is a separate program with different validity periods (up to 12 months).

8. The Training Employment Pass

The Training Employment Pass (TEP) is a work pass for foreign professionals or students undergoing structured, practical training with a Singapore-based organisation, primarily for short-term attachments or transfers from foreign offices for professional development.

Eligibility Requirements

• Student Trainees: The attachment must form part of their course of study. The candidate must be studying at an acceptable institution or earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000.
• Company Trainees: Must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,000.
• The training programme must be clearly defined, including an objective, the type of training, the location, and the duration.

Key Features

• Valid for up to three months; non-renewable.
• A candidate who has previously held a TEP is not eligible for another TEP for the same type of training.

What to Note

MOM may reject applications if a company has a disproportionately high number of TEP applications relative to similar firms in the industry. This work pass does not serve as a pathway to long-term employment or permanent residency.

9. The Training Work Permit

The Training Work Permit (TWP) is for semi-skilled or unskilled foreign trainees undergoing practical training in Singapore. This type covers employees from related overseas companies who are sent for training locally, as well as foreign students at Singapore institutions, where training is a mandatory course requirement.

Eligibility Requirements

As an employer, you may apply for a Training Work Permit for:

• Semi-skilled or unskilled employees from a related overseas company are undergoing structured training in Singapore.
• Foreign students enrolled in Singapore educational institutions, provided that the practical training is a mandatory component of their course requirements.

The training programme must be clearly defined and documented before the application is submitted.

Key Features

• Duration: Valid for up to six months; non-renewable.
• Quota and Levy: The number of trainees you may hire is subject to a quota, and a foreign worker levy may apply.
• Employer Obligations: Employers are responsible for maintaining a security bond, medical insurance, and personal accident insurance for each TWP holder.

What to Note

The Training Work Permit is intended strictly for practical training and does not serve as a route to standard employment or permanent residency in Singapore. Employers must retain all supporting documentation, including proof of the training programme’s structure and mandatory requirements, to remain compliant with MOM standards. Any continuation of engagement beyond the approved training period must be managed under a separate and appropriate pass category.

Relocation Frameworks for Family Members

Singapore’s work pass system extends to the families of qualifying pass holders. These categories are best assessed alongside your own pass planning, not left as a secondary consideration once everything else is in place.

10. The Dependant’s Pass

The Dependant’s Pass (DP) allows eligible work pass holders to bring their legally married spouses and unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted children) to reside in Singapore.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must hold a valid Employment Pass or S Pass.
• Must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000.
• EntrePass holders may also sponsor dependants, subject to specific annual business spending and local hiring requirements.

Key Feature

The DP’s validity is tied to the main work pass.

What to Note

DP holders are not automatically permitted to work. To work in Singapore, they must obtain a valid work pass issued by their employer. DP holders who are business owners may apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to operate their business, subject to specific criteria outlined below.

11. The Long-Term Visit Pass

The LTVP accommodates family members who do not qualify for the standard Dependant’s Pass. It is administered by MOM for families of EP/S Pass holders, or by ICA for families of Singapore Citizens and PRs.

Eligibility Requirements

• MOM-issued (EP/S Pass families): Covers common-law spouses, unmarried step-children under 21, and unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above. Minimum salary of S$6,000 for most dependants; S$12,000 to sponsor parents.
• ICA-issued (Citizens/PR families): Covers foreign spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of Singapore Citizens or PRs. Each application is assessed individually; parents-in-law are generally not eligible.

Key Features

• Relationship Coverage: Covers family relationships, such as common-law spouses or parents, not addressed by the standard Dependant’s Pass.
• Individual Assessment: Every application is considered on its own merits, based on the specific family-link category, the sponsor’s status, and the applicant’s profile.

What to Note

Always verify whether your application falls under ICA or MOM, as eligibility criteria and requirements differ significantly. LTVP holders are not automatically permitted to work and must obtain a separate valid work pass through an employer.

12. Business Ownership for Dependants’ Pass Holders

DP holders may own shares in a Singapore-registered company but cannot engage in active business operations without explicit authorisation from MOM.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to operate a business, the DP holder must be an owner of an ACRA-registered business and hold one of the following roles: sole proprietor, partner, or company director with at least 30% shareholding.

Key Features

• The registered business entity must submit the LOC application through MOM’s online portal.
• To renew an LOC, the business must demonstrate that it has hired at least one Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident earning at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary (currently S$1,600 per month) and that the employee has made CPF contributions for at least three consecutive months.

What to Note

The LOC is exclusively for operating the specified business. It does not permit the DP holder to be employed by other companies. The LOC ceases to be valid if the Dependant’s Pass is cancelled or expires.

13. Employment via ICA-Issued LTVP and LTVP+

ICA-issued LTVPs and LTVP+ are primarily for family members of Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a spouse or unmarried child of a Singapore Citizen or PR holding a valid ICA-issued LTVP or LTVP+.
• Must have a formal job offer from a Singapore employer.
• LTVP/LTVP+ must have at least three months’ validity remaining.

Key Features

• The employer applies for a Letter of Consent (LOC) on the holder’s behalf.
• LTVP/LTVP+ holders with an approved LOC are exempt from the employer’s foreign worker quota and levy.

What to Note

Every LOC requires a prospective employer to submit an application; there is no pre-approved LOC available for this category. Parents on LTVP typically require a Work Permit rather than an LOC.

Short-Term Engagements and Exemptions

14. The Miscellaneous Work Pass

The Miscellaneous Work Pass (MWP) is for foreigners on short-term work assignments, such as seminar speakers, religious workers, or journalists.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible if you are a foreigner directly involved in one of the following activities:

• Organising or conducting any seminar, conference, workshop or gathering that relates to religion, race, community, or political causes (as a speaker, moderator, facilitator, or trainer).
• A religious worker from another country who delivers talks that are directly or indirectly connected to any faith.
• A foreign journalist, reporter, or crew member who is not backed or sponsored by any Singapore government agency to report on an event or write a story in Singapore.

A Singapore-based organisation or society must sponsor you.

Key Features

• Valid for up to 60 days; non-renewable.
• MWP holders also require a valid Short-Term Visit Pass for their stay.

What to Note

If your activity falls outside the specified categories, you must apply for an Employment Pass, S Pass, or Work Permit instead.

Moving Forward with the Right Pass

Choosing the right work arrangement and corresponding pass is rarely just an administrative decision. It shapes how you enter Singapore, how your family settles in, and how your career or business takes root. Getting it right from the start makes every step that follows more straightforward.

At Xignam, we take the time to understand your full profile before advising on a pathway. Our approach is grounded in preparation and precise positioning, ensuring your application presents the strongest, most accurate representation of your case within the larger context of work passes and permits.

If you’re ready to move ahead with clear, step-by-step guidance, contact our team for personalised immigration services in Singapore. We can discuss your profile and find the best pathway for you.