The ONE Pass's long validity and multi-employer flexibility matter for senior professionals — do not default to the EP.
Singapore GuidesEmployment Pass
EMPLOYMENT PASS
EP, EntrePass or ONE Pass: which to choose
Short answer
Three passes suit three different people. EP: your company can pay you S$5,600+/month via the employment route — the mainstream choice. EntrePass: pre-revenue founders with recognised funding, IP or accelerator backing — no salary floor but venture criteria instead. ONE Pass: top talent earning S$30,000+/month or with outstanding achievements — COMPASS-exempt, multi-employer, 5-year validity. Choosing wrong wastes months.
Three passes compared
| EP | EntrePass | ONE Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Employed professionals | Venture-backed founders | Top earners / high achievers |
| Salary floor | From S$5,600 (fin S$6,200); new applications from 1 Jan 2027: S$6,000 (fin S$6,600), renewals for passes expiring from 1 Jan 2028 | None | S$30,000 |
| Other conditions | COMPASS 40 points | Any one of: at least S$100,000 raised in one round from a recognised investor; support from a government-recognised or internationally known incubator/accelerator; previously founded and sold a venture-backed or innovative tech business; IP registered with a recognised body; ongoing research collaboration with a Singapore university/research institution. Must also hold at least 30% of the company | Or outstanding achievement |
| Employer-tied | Single employer | Own company | Multiple employers, can run businesses |
| COMPASS | Required | N/A | Exempt |
| Validity | 2 yrs first / 3 renewal | Up to 1 year for the first application and first renewal, then up to 2 years per renewal (subject to MOM's business spending and local hiring requirements) | 5 years |
There is also the PEP: S$22,500/month, three years, non-renewable, no self-employment or running a business — for high-earning EP holders, or overseas foreign professionals with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 (last drawn within 6 months before applying). Applicants after 1 September 2023 must earn a fixed salary of at least S$270,000 each calendar year; the pass must be cancelled after more than 6 months without a job (Source: MOM, verified 2026-09).
Matching yourself to a pass
Can your company pay you S$5,600+? Take the EP through your own company — the cleanest route, with registration and pass planned as one. Most founders choose this.
Pre-revenue but funded or IP-backed? Consider EntrePass. No salary floor, but venture criteria instead — recognised funding (e.g. at least S$100,000 in one round from a recognised investor), IP or incubator/accelerator backing, and at least a 30% shareholding, with renewal milestones for real spending and local hiring that steepen over time.
Earning S$30,000+, or top of your field? The ONE Pass frees you from single-employer tying — rare among passes — suiting serial operators and executives. Two routes: salary and outstanding achievement. The salary route requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 over the 12 months before applying (or a future employer's offer at that level); pass holders already in Singapore must have worked for at least 1 year. MOM has also announced a ONE Pass (AI & Tech) track from January 2027, replacing the current Tech.Pass, which lets cash plus non-cash pay such as vested equity count toward the S$30,000 monthly salary (with fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500) (Source: MOM, verified 2026-09).
The cost of choosing wrong
No salary floor, but the venture criteria and renewal milestones are demanding — not an easier option.
The PEP is non-renewable, has an annual income requirement (fixed salary of at least S$270,000 per calendar year) and bars running a business — wrong context leaves you stuck.
How we handle it
We match you by salary, company stage, whether you are a founder, and any outstanding achievements — rather than defaulting everyone to the EP. On the EP route, we assess whether COMPASS can pass (see the EP complete guide). See EP and legal pathway assessment.
Frequently asked
Should a founder choose EP or EntrePass?
It depends. If your company can pay you S$5,600+, the EP through your own company is cleanest. Only if pre-revenue but funded/IP-backed consider EntrePass.
Biggest difference between ONE Pass and EP?
ONE Pass is COMPASS-exempt, allows multiple employers, and runs 5 years, but the floor is S$30,000; the EP is single-employer, needs COMPASS 40, from S$5,600.
Does EntrePass really have no salary floor?
Correct, but it substitutes venture criteria — recognised funding (e.g. at least S$100,000 in one round), IP or incubator/accelerator backing, and at least a 30% shareholding — plus renewal milestones for real spending and local hiring.
What is the PEP and who is it for?
Personalised Employment Pass: S$22,500/month, three years, non-renewable, no self-employment — for high-earning EP holders or overseas foreign professionals with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500; applicants after 1 September 2023 must earn at least S$270,000 fixed salary per calendar year.
Sources: MOM (EP, EntrePass, ONE Pass, PEP eligibility and thresholds). Verified September 2026; thresholds change — follow MOM's latest. General information, not immigration or legal advice.
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