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An overview of the various work passes for foreigners
Current rules: checked 7 September 2026
This article was originally published on 2021-12-30. The update below supersedes the original pass requirements and salary figures.
Employment Pass
Current EP salaries start at S$5,600 monthly, or S$6,200 in financial services, and increase with age. COMPASS requires 40 points unless exempted. New applications from 1 January 2027 use S$6,000 or S$6,600, with the new scale applying to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028. EPs have no foreign worker quota or levy. Read the current guide.
S Pass
Current S Pass salaries start at S$3,300 monthly, or S$3,800 in financial services, and increase with age. This scale applies to renewals of passes expiring from 1 September 2026. New applications from 1 January 2027 start at S$3,600 or S$4,000; the new scale applies to renewals expiring from 1 January 2028. The S Pass quota is 10% in services and 15% in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process. The monthly S Pass levy is S$650. Read the current guide.
Personalised Employment Pass
A new PEP requires at least S$22,500 fixed monthly salary. Overseas applicants must have drawn it within the preceding six months. The pass lasts up to three years, is issued only once and cannot be renewed. Holders must earn at least S$270,000 fixed salary per calendar year regardless of months worked, and cannot remain unemployed for more than six continuous months. Freelancing and entrepreneurial activity are not permitted. Read the current guide.
Work Permit
Work Permit eligibility depends on the sector, source country, occupation and quota. Applicants must be at least 18 and below 62; existing holders can work up to age 64, subject to the rules. There is no single general Work Permit minimum salary. Specific schemes have their own salary conditions. NTS Occupation List jobs require at least S$2,000 fixed monthly salary and an 8% sub-quota. Eight additional NTS occupations took effect on 1 September 2026, subject to sector licensing requirements. Mandatory annual medical insurance cover is at least S$60,000. Read the current guide.
Working on a Dependant’s Pass
A Dependant’s Pass alone does not authorise employment. Most holders need their own work pass. The business-owner LOC route is for eligible sole proprietors, partners, directors with at least 30% shareholding, or eligible members of a company limited by guarantee. Renewal requires at least one Singapore citizen or permanent resident earning the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary with CPF contributions for at least three months. The full-time LQS is S$1,800 from 1 July 2026. Read the current guide.
Sources: the linked current guides cite the relevant Ministry of Manpower eligibility and application pages.
Original article, retained for historical reference
Historical content: The original text below is not current application guidance. Use the dated update above.
If you are a foreigner and would like to work in Singapore, there are various work passes that are eligible to you. You will need to fulfil certain criteria to be eligible for these passes.
Employment Pass or EP
Who is this pass for?
This pass is available to professionals, managers, executives and specialists.
Eligibility criteria
– Young graduates from good institutions could qualify if they are offered a contract with a salary of at least SGD$4,500 (effective 1st September 2020) or at least SGD$5,000 in the financial sector (effective 1st December 2020.
– Older applicants would have to command higher salaries and have the relevant job experience and speciality skills to qualify for an EP.
– The applicant should possess acceptable qualifications from reputable institutions.
EntrePass
Who is this pass for?
This pass is for foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up new businesses in Singapore.
Eligibility criteria
– The company must be registered as a Private Company Limited by Shares with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.
– The company must not be registered for more than six months at the point of registration.
– The applicant must meet at least one of the following criteria
i) have funding from a government accredited venture capitalist (VC)
ii) holds an intellectual property
iii) holds significant business experience, has a strong business network and has a promising entrepreneurial track record
iv) has extensive experience and technical competency in the area of the proposed business or trade
v) has a good track record of investing in businesses and would like to grow new or existing businesses in Singapore
vi) is in research collaboration with A*STAR or a university
vii) is an incubatee at a government-supported incubator
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
Who is this pass for?
This pass is available to professionals, managers, executives and specialists.
Eligibility criteria
For overseas foreign professionals
– The last drawn monthly salary of the overseas foreign professional should be at least SGD$18,000. This last drawn salary should be no longer than six months from the time of the application.
For current Employment Pass (EP) holders
– The EP holder must earn at least SGD$12,000 a month.
S Pass
Who is this pass for?
This pass is for mid-level skilled workers
Eligibility criteria
– fixed monthly salary of at least SGD$2,500
– possesses the relevant educational qualifications
Note that there are hiring quotas for companies to employ foreigners on S Pass. There are levies that the companies may have to pay to the Ministry of Manpower.
Work Permit
Who is this pass for?
This pass is for semi or unskilled foreign workers in the construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process or services sector
Eligibility criteria
– only from approved source country or region designated by the Ministry of Manpower.
– minimum age of 18 years old.
If you have any company-related queries, you may email us at [email protected]. When in doubt, seek legal advice or consult an experienced licensed Employment Agency with the Ministry of Manpower.
Yours Sincerely,
The editorial team at Singapore Employment Agency
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Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd is a licensed Employment Agency with the Ministry of Manpower with license number 19C9790.
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