Concept
When you incorporate a company in Singapore, the company director (or another key executive) can be issued an Employment Pass (EP) — Singapore's top-tier work-and-residence permit administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The EP is significantly faster than the Global Investor Programme PR route: it grants residence in 3–4 months from start of document collection, with no capital investment requirement beyond running an operational Singapore company.
The EP is the standard pathway for founder-CEOs, fund managers, family-office principals and senior executives who relocate to Asia — the main alternative for this profile is a Hong Kong work or investment visa. It pairs with Dependant's Passes for the spouse and children under 21, and after a couple of years opens the route to Permanent Resident (PR) status. The EP is one piece of a wider setup mapped out in our Singapore hub.
At a glance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Validity (first issuance) | Up to 2 years |
| Renewals | Up to 3 years per renewal |
| Minimum monthly salary (most sectors, from 1 Jan 2025) | S$5,600 |
| Minimum monthly salary (financial services, from 1 Jan 2025) | S$6,200 |
| Minimum salary scales with age | Yes — older candidates require higher salaries |
| Processing time after submission | 3 weeks (standard); ~10 working days (most cases) |
| Family eligibility | Dependent Pass for spouse + children under 21 (EP holders earning ≥S$6,000/month) |
| Path to PR | Available after typically 2+ years of EP, case-by-case |
| Capital investment required | None beyond ordinary company operations |
Minimum requirements
- Operational Singapore company — incorporated and active, with the EP candidate appointed as director or senior executive. See our Singapore company guide for incorporation mechanics.
- Qualifying monthly salary paid from the company's Singapore bank account to the candidate's personal account:
- S$5,600/month minimum (most sectors, from 1 January 2025);
- S$6,200/month minimum (financial services);
- higher minima for candidates aged 45+ on a sliding scale.
- EP COMPASS score of at least 40 points out of 80.
- Arrive in Singapore within 6 months of issuance to complete biometrics and collect the EP card.
EP COMPASS scoring (since 1 September 2023)
Each of the four core attributes scores 0, 10 or 20 points:
| Attribute | What it measures |
|---|---|
| C1 — Salary | Fixed monthly salary vs the local PMET (professional, managerial, executive, technical) salary distribution in the same sector |
| C2 — Qualifications | Top-tier universities (MOM's recognised list) score highest; lower-tier or unranked institutions score lower |
| C3 — Diversity | Whether the candidate's nationality improves the diversity of the firm's PMET workforce |
| C4 — Support for local employment | The firm's share of local PMETs vs sector average |
Two bonus criteria can add up to 30 further points on top of the 80 foundational:
- C5 — Skills bonus (+10 or +20): if the role sits on MOM's Shortage Occupation List (SOL). Selected infocomm-technology roles on the SOL can also carry a five-year EP instead of the usual two.
- C6 — Strategic Economic Priorities bonus (+10): if the firm runs EDB- or NTUC-recognised investment, innovation, internationalisation or workforce-transformation programmes.
Founder-director EPs in well-structured Singapore entities typically score 40–60 points without difficulty; thinly-staffed shell companies struggle on C3 and C4.
Required documents
All documents must be in English or with sworn translation. Apostille is not required for EP applications.
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | All pages, ≥6 months validity |
| Foreign residence permits, if any | Confirms current legal status outside home country |
| Proof of address | Recent utility bill or bank statement in English (≤3 months old) |
| Education diplomas | Higher-tier institutions score better on COMPASS C2; verification by an EDB-recognised provider may be required if not on MOM's list |
| CV | Marital status, year-by-year employment history with positions and monthly salary at the last 2 roles, education with dates, memberships, awards |
All submitted as scans.
Application stages
Stage 1 — Document collection (3–4 weeks)
- Provision of scans
- Education credential verification (if required) — 10–15 business days
Stage 2 — Submission to MOM
Filed online via the EP eService portal. Application fee S$105.
Stage 3 — Review (~3 weeks)
MOM processes the application; COMPASS scoring is computed automatically. Outcome: Approval-in-Principle (AIP), additional information request, or rejection.
Stage 4 — Travel to Singapore (~3 weeks)
- Schedule MOM ministry appointment — only bookable after arrival in Singapore
- Attend the appointment in person
- Collect the EP card
Receiving your EP card in Singapore
Before arrival
3 days before flying, complete the SG Arrival Card electronically (no paper version). Carry on the day of travel:
- Passport (the one the EP was tied to);
- Printed In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter;
- Printed or screenshot SG Arrival Card receipt.
On arrival
To book the MOM appointment online you will need:
- A Singapore mobile number (purchase a SIM in Singapore — Singtel, M1, StarHub or MyRepublic; annual prepaid recommended);
- A Singapore residential or hotel address (for card delivery);
- The DE number from the SG Arrival Card receipt.
Booking the appointment
Slots typically available within 3–5 business days of providing the above information. On confirmation you receive:
- A notification letter;
- An appointment letter.
MOM appointment
At the appointment you will:
- Provide fingerprints;
- Take a passport-style photograph;
- Complete Singpass registration (Singapore's digital ID — needed for most online government services and many banks).
Card delivery
The physical EP card is produced within 5–7 business days after biometrics and delivered to your Singapore address. If you plan to leave Singapore before the card arrives, overseas delivery can be arranged.
Personal banking
Once Singpass is registered, you can open a personal account with DBS Bank through their simplified remote workflow — the most common choice for new EP holders. Other options include OCBC, UOB, Citibank Singapore, HSBC Singapore and Standard Chartered Singapore.
Tax considerations
Holding an EP makes you a Singapore tax resident for any year in which you spend 183 days or more in the country. Singapore taxes individuals on a territorial basis: residents pay tax on Singapore-source employment and business income on a progressive scale (top rate 24% from YA 2024), while most foreign-source income received from outside Singapore is not taxed and there is no capital-gains tax. For how that fits a broader plan, see our Singapore wealth-planning note.
Other routes to consider
The EP is employer-tied and the natural default for someone running their own Singapore company, but three alternatives matter for this audience. The Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) suits very high earners — a fixed salary of at least S$30,000 a month over the past 12 months (verified at mom.gov.sg), or a standout track record — and, unlike the EP, is not tied to a single employer and lets the holder sit on several boards at once. EntrePass targets founders of venture-backed or genuinely innovative start-ups. The Global Investor Programme (GIP) leads straight to permanent residence in exchange for a substantial qualifying investment, but it is slower and capital-intensive. For most founders the EP stays the fastest and cheapest way in, with PR pursued a few years later.
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP): Flexibility Without an Employer
The PEP is the high-earner's answer to the EP's employer tie: it is not bound to any employer, so the holder can switch jobs without a new pass application. The price of admission is a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 — benchmarked to the top 10% of EP holders (MOM — verified 2026-08-19 at mom.gov.sg). For overseas foreign professionals applying from abroad, the last drawn fixed monthly salary must have been earned within 6 months before the application.
- Keeping the pass: continuous employment in Singapore — unemployment beyond 6 months at any point ends the pass — and a fixed salary of at least S$270,000 per calendar year regardless of months employed (S$144,000 for those who applied before 1 September 2023).
- What it is not: not for freelancers, sole proprietors, partners or shareholder-directors of ACRA-registered companies; no starting a business or entrepreneurial activity on a PEP (that is the EntrePass or ONE Pass territory); certain restricted occupations (e.g. media- and religion-related) are excluded. The pass is valid for 3 years and is not renewable — verify the current validity terms at mom.gov.sg.
Where it fits against the EP: the EP needs a sponsoring employer and a COMPASS score; the PEP needs only the salary — and freedom from a sponsor is exactly what it buys. For a founder running their own company the PEP is the wrong instrument (the shareholder-director exclusion); for a hired executive or fund professional above the threshold it is the flexible one.
Which Pass Fits a Founder Relocating with Family
The four founder-relevant passes compared on the axes that decide real cases:
| Pass | Best fit | Speed in | Family | PR path |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP | Default: director of own operating company | ~3–4 months end-to-end | Dependant's Pass from S$6,000/month | PTS after typically 2+ years — the standard founder route |
| EntrePass | Venture-backed or IP-driven startup founders | Comparable | Yes, on renewals meeting local-spend/hiring metrics | PTS; renewal conditions first |
| Tech.Pass | Established technology leaders | Comparable | Yes | PTS (Tech.Pass verified 2026-07-21: S$22,500/month fixed salary + 5 years in a leading role at a qualifying tech company; 2 years, renewable once for 2) |
| ONE Pass | Fixed salary ~S$30,000/month or standout track record | Comparable | Yes; holder may sit on several boards | PTS |
Fastest: the EP for most founders — it has the broadest eligibility and the best-mapped pipeline above. Cleanest PR path: EP → PTS is the standard sequence; the GIP leads directly to PR but requires a substantial qualifying investment and is slower and capital-intensive (verify EDB parameters at edb.gov.sg). All four passes feed the same ICA PTS channel, so choose on eligibility and business fit, not on PR strategy. Verified anchors: EP salary floors S$5,600 / S$6,200 (financial services), COMPASS 40 points, step-up to S$6,000 / S$6,600 from 1 January 2027; Tech.Pass (S$22,500/month fixed salary plus 5 years in a leading role at a tech company with ≥US$500m valuation/market cap, ≥US$30m funding, or ≥US$500m AUM VC backing; 2 years, renewable once for 2; renewal requires ≥S$270K assessable income) and ONE Pass (S$30,000/month fixed salary over the last 12 months, or established candidates at companies with ≥US$500m market cap or ≥US$200m annual revenue; 5 years) — verified 2026-07-21 at mom.gov.sg. Tax residence is a separate question decided by presence and ties — see Singapore Tax Residency.
The First-Year Budget for a Compliant Family Relocation
The pass layer is the cheap, verifiable part; life is the expensive, practice-priced part. A compliant first year for a founder family on the EP route prices in three layers:
- Pass costs (verified anchors). The EP itself carries an application fee of S$105 plus an issuance fee per pass (verify the current issuance fee at mom.gov.sg); the salary floor is the real price of admission — S$5,600/month general, S$6,200 financial services, age-banded upward (verified MOM), with family sponsorship (Dependant's Passes) unlocked from S$6,000/month and parents' LTVP from S$12,000/month (verified MOM). COMPASS scoring and the company's substance sit behind the numbers — see the sections above.
- Housing and school (practice ranges — verify per listing/school). A family-sized condo or apartment in the districts expatriate families actually use runs in the mid-four-to-five-figures SGD per month; international schooling per child per year sits in a similar order per year. These are market ranges, not rules — budget from current listings and school fee pages.
- Advisory and setup (practice ranges). Immigration and relocation support, tenancy and insurance setup, and first-year tax advice for the home-country exit and the Singapore arrival (see tax residency basics). Quotes vary by firm; treat any single number as a quote, not a rule.
A disciplined planning frame is total first-year cost = pass fees + (rent × 12) + (school × children) + advisory — computed on current listings and quotes at decision time, not on a cached figure from a guide. The numbers that are statutory (salary floors, family thresholds, application fee) are verified above; everything else is deliberately a range.
Pitfalls
- Underpaying salary against age-band minimum. Paying the absolute minimum salary is fine for a 28-year-old but fails for a 50-year-old whose age-adjusted minimum is materially higher.
- Thin Singapore company. A company with no local employees, no local lease and no operational substance scores poorly on COMPASS C3 and C4 and can be rejected even if the candidate's individual profile is strong.
- Treating EP as PR. EP is a renewable work pass tied to your Singapore role; PR is a separate application after typically 2+ years. Lose the EP role, lose the EP (with a grace period to wind down).
- Not registering Singpass at the MOM visit. Singpass is the gateway to most subsequent Singapore administration — banking, healthcare, tax filing. Skip it and you'll need to return for a separate appointment.
FAQs
What is the minimum salary for an Employment Pass in 2026?
S$5,600/month for most sectors and S$6,200/month for financial services, with higher minima for candidates aged 45+ on a sliding scale. The salary must be paid from the Singapore company's bank account to the candidate's personal account.
What is EP COMPASS?
A points-based scoring framework introduced by MOM on 1 September 2023. Candidates are scored on 4 core attributes (salary, qualifications, firm diversity, support for local employment) and 2 bonus criteria (shortage occupations, strategic economic priorities). Minimum 40 of 80 points required.
How long is an Employment Pass valid?
Up to 2 years on first issuance. Renewable for up to 3 years per renewal. Validity tied to the candidate remaining in the qualifying role at the qualifying salary.
Can family members come with me on EP?
Yes. EP holders earning ≥S$6,000/month can apply for Dependent Passes for a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21. EP holders earning ≥S$12,000/month can additionally apply for Long-Term Visit Passes for common-law spouses, step-children, handicapped adult children and parents.
Does EP lead to Singapore PR?
EP is a separate status from PR. PR applications can be made after typically 2+ years of EP holding; success depends on contribution to Singapore, family ties, length of stay and economic profile. Most EP holders apply for PR through ICA's standard PTS (Professional, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers) channel rather than GIP.
Do I need to be physically in Singapore to apply?
No for the application itself — submitted online by the sponsoring Singapore company. Yes for completing the process — biometric appointment at MOM requires physical presence in Singapore, with the appointment only bookable after you arrive.
What if my university is not on MOM's recognised list?
Plan for independent credential verification (DataFlow, WES or equivalent, ~S$200–500 and 10 business days) and rely more heavily on salary and experience to compensate for a lower COMPASS C2 score. Adding local PMET hires in the Singapore company before submission can raise C3/C4 and offset a weaker C2.
How fast is the EP process end-to-end?
Document collection 3–4 weeks; MOM review 3 weeks; Singapore arrival, biometrics and card delivery 3 weeks. Total typically 3–4 months from start to physical card in hand.
Does EP make me Singapore tax resident?
Tax residence is determined separately — generally by 183+ days physical presence in Singapore in a calendar year, plus centre of vital interests. Holding an EP does not automatically make you Singapore tax resident; conversely, you can be Singapore tax resident even on a short-term work pass if you cross the 183-day threshold.
Can I open a Singapore bank account remotely?
For corporate accounts and the EP-holder's personal account: usually only after arrival and Singpass registration. DBS offers a simplified workflow for personal accounts post-Singpass. Pre-arrival, a private banking relationship (DBS Private, UOB Privilege Reserve, OCBC Premier Banking) may sometimes be established remotely subject to wealth thresholds.
What is the EntrePass — Singapore's entrepreneur visa — and who qualifies?
A pass for founders of innovative companies under six months old, in three profiles: Entrepreneur (accredited VC backing), Innovator (registered IP or research partnership), Investor (venture track record). One year initially, with renewals tied to progressive local-spend and hiring metrics — it fits venture-backed founders, not ordinary operating businesses.
Which pass is fastest for a founder relocating with family — and which gives the cleanest PR path?
For most founders the Employment Pass is both: the fastest route in (typically 3–4 months end-to-end) and the cleanest PR path — two or more years on EP, then a standard PTS application to ICA. EntrePass fits venture-backed or IP-driven startups and renews on local-spend and hiring metrics; Tech.Pass targets established technology leaders; ONE Pass suits fixed salaries around S$30,000 a month or standout records and frees the holder from single-employer ties. All four lead to the same PTS channel; the GIP is the direct-to-PR route but capital-intensive. Tech.Pass (S$22,500/month fixed salary plus 5 years in a leading role at a tech company with ≥US$500m valuation/market cap, ≥US$30m funding, or ≥US$500m AUM VC backing; 2 years, renewable once for 2; renewal requires ≥S$270K assessable income) and ONE Pass (S$30,000/month fixed salary over the last 12 months, or established candidates at companies with ≥US$500m market cap or ≥US$200m annual revenue; 5 years) — verified 2026-07-21 at mom.gov.sg.
What salary qualifies for the PEP?
A fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 — benchmarked to the top 10% of EP holders. Applicants from overseas must have last drawn it within 6 months of applying. To keep the PEP: continuous employment (no gap beyond 6 months) and at least S$270,000 of fixed salary per calendar year (S$144,000 for pre-1-September-2023 applicants). Verified 2026-08-19 at mom.gov.sg.
Can a PEP holder switch employers freely?
Yes — that is the point of the pass: the PEP is not tied to an employer, so a job change does not require a new pass application or a fresh COMPASS score. The constraints are the keeping conditions (no unemployment stretch beyond 6 months; the S$270,000 annual salary floor) and the exclusions (no freelancing, no own business, no shareholder-director roles).
Visa, housing, school, tax advice — what is the realistic budget?
Split it before summing it. Verified layer: pass fees are small (S$105 application per EP; issuance fee — verify at mom.gov.sg); the binding statutory numbers are the salary floors — S$5,600/6,200 general/financial for the EP holder and S$6,000/month to bring family. Market layer: rent and international schooling dominate the first year and are quoted per listing and per school — collect three live quotes each and treat the sum as a range. Advisory layer: one-off, per-firm quotes for the exit-and-arrival tax work.
What does the pass layer itself cost?
Fees are minor against the salary requirement: S$105 application fee per EP application plus an issuance fee per pass (verify the current amount at mom.gov.sg); Dependant's Passes and LTVP carry their own modest fees (verify). The expensive part of the pass is proving the qualifying salary and COMPASS profile — a structuring question answered in the sections above, not a fee question.
Last reviewed: 21 May 2026
Reviewed: 2026-08-19 · Sources: Ministry of Manpower — Employment Pass eligibility and COMPASS, qualifying salaries and family thresholds (mom.gov.sg); pass fees verified, issuance/DP/LTVP fee amounts — verify at mom.gov.sg. Housing, school and advisory figures in the first-year budget section are practice ranges, not verified values.*
Cite as: wiki.private.law — "Singapore — residence permit for top management", https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-residence-permit (reviewed 2026-07-20).