One Pass / Tech Pass

In the post-COVID era, Singapore is more important than ever to remain competitive among all the other wealthy and highly-developed nations in the world. This can be achieved by maintaining a tight labour market, attracting more global investors, and increasing international business to drive Singapore’s economy, improving the global financial situation. To ensure Singapore’s position as a formidable Global Hub with a world-class talent pool, the Government recently revealed a new work pass application known as the Overseas Network and Expertise Pass (ONE Pass). 

This pass was introduced to attract more Top Talents to Singapore for all industries starting from 1st January 2023. It is targeted at high-earning and high-achieving talents to allow them to live in Singapore without the need to secure a job here first, unlike a regular Employment Pass (EP). Unlike other existing passes, such as the Tech Pass and Entrepass: applicants from any sector are welcome to submit their application, provided they can meet the ONE Pass requirements. 

Minister of Manpower (MOM) Dr Tan See Leng summarised Singapore’s new enhancements that are targeted to attract the top 2-5% of talents in the world: 

  • First, introducing the new ONE Pass for talent earning at least S$30,000 in fixed monthly salary. 
  • Second, a new benchmark associated with the top 10% of EP holders in existing MOM programs, i.e. Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) and COMPASS job posting requirements and exemption from Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) salary standards. 
  • Third, restoring the FCF job advertising duration from 28 days to 14 days, effective 1 September 2022, thereby improving the processing time of EP applications. 
  • Last, the option of a five-year EP to experienced professionals filling tech occupations on the COMPASS Shortage Occupation List. 

Dr Tan stated that he will implement safeguards on two levels to avoid potential abuse of the work pass. The first is to vet all applications, and the second is to engage with pass holders to assess their eligibility for pass renewal. This will help ease the visa rule for high-salaried expatriates and other exceptional talents, and the ONE Pass is the solution. 

ONE Pass Criteria & Benefits

Criteria:

  • ONE Pass is open to all sectors  
  • Greater flexibility, as there is no condition that the pass holder has six months to look for work (as compared to PEP, where the candidate would need to find employment within the span of 6 months) 
  • They can sponsor their dependents to join them in Singapore, and their spouses can work with a letter of consent. 
  • Valid for 5 years (EP – 2 years, PEP – 3 years) 
  • Not subjected to the COMPASS framework 

Benefits:

As a personalised pass, the new pass will not be contingent upon the applicant having a job in Singapore, unlike ordinary Eps, thus allowing the applicant greater employment flexibility. The applicant can also concurrently start, operate and work for multiple companies at any one time and will not need to reapply for a new pass if he/she changes jobs. 

Duration of pass:

Five years (for first-time candidates as well as for subsequent renewals) 

  • earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 or equivalent in foreign currency within the last 1 year; 

OR 

  • will earn S$30,000 under their future employer based in Singapore. 

OR 

Individuals with outstanding achievements in art and culture, sports, science and technology, and academia and research. 

Should you fulfil the above criteria for the One Pass or want to find out further information about it, do contact us at www.xignam.com! Our knowledgeable consultants will be there to assist you in your relevant work pass application every step of the way. 

Tech Pass

Tech Pass is another working visa that allows established tech entrepreneurs, leaders or technical experts worldwide to come to Singapore to perform frontier and disruptive innovations. The Tech Pass, however, focuses on the leaders in the technology sector compared to the ONE Pass or the other Passes. This pass is administered by the Singapore Economic Development Board. 

Criteria:

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

  1. Have a last drawn fixed monthly salary (in the last 1 year) of at least S$22,500. 
  2. 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. 
  3. Have at least five cumulative years of experience in a leading rolein developing a tech product with at least 100,000 monthly active users or at least US$100mil annual revenue. 

Benefits:

As an individualised pass, Tech.Pass holders can take on multiple roles concurrently in Singapore, such as: 

  1. Start and operate one or more tech companies; 
  2. Be an employee in one or more Singapore-based companies at any time;  
  3. Be a consultant or mentor, lecture in local institutions of higher learning, and/or 
  4. Be an investor or director in one or more Singapore-based companies. 

There is no need for Tech.Pass holders to apply for different passes as they transit between activities and are also eligible to sponsor stay for spouses, children, and parents in Singapore on either a Dependant’s Pass (DP) or a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) issued by MOM. 

Duration of pass:

The pass will be valid for 2 years in the first instance and can be renewed for another 2 years upon meeting renewal criteria.

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Other Services

Employment Pass / S Pass Application

Entre Pass

Personalised Employment Pass

Other Passes

Dependent Pass