The EntrePass is Singapore’s work pass for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and operate a business here. Unlike the Employment Pass, which requires a job offer from an existing employer, the EntrePass allows founders to come to Singapore specifically to build their own company. However, it is also one of the most demanding work passes to obtain. MOM assesses each application against strict criteria around business quality, funding, and the founder’s track record. This guide walks through everything a founder needs to know about the EntrePass in 2026.
Whether you are a first-time founder, a serial entrepreneur, or a startup relocating from another city, this walkthrough covers eligibility, the application process, conditions of approval, and how to build the strongest possible application.
What Is the EntrePass?
The EntrePass is a work pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start, register, or operate a private limited company in Singapore. It is distinct from other work passes in several ways. First, the applicant sponsors themselves — there is no employer sponsor. Second, the business must be a genuine startup with growth potential, not a lifestyle business or freelancing vehicle. Third, MOM applies a qualitative assessment that goes beyond salary thresholds.
The EntrePass is renewable annually for the first two years and biennially thereafter, subject to business performance conditions. Additionally, holders can bring their families to Singapore on Dependant’s Passes, subject to meeting local hiring and annual business expenditure thresholds. This makes the EntrePass a viable long-term pathway for founders who intend to build and scale a business from Singapore.
Who Is Eligible for the EntrePass?
The Innovative Business Criterion
MOM requires that the business be innovative. Specifically, it must demonstrate at least one of the following:
- The company is venture-backed — it has received funding from a recognised venture capital firm, business angel, or incubator approved by a Singapore government agency (such as Enterprise Singapore, NRF, or EDB)
- The company holds or has applied for an intellectual property (IP) registered with a recognised body — this includes patents, trademarks, and registered designs
- The company has undertaken R&D in partnership with a recognised Singapore research institution such as A*STAR, an NUS or NTU research centre, or an Institute of Higher Learning
These three pathways reflect MOM’s intent: the EntrePass is not for business owners who want to replicate existing models. Instead, it is designed for founders who can demonstrate genuine innovation, technology, or proprietary advantage.
The Founder’s Track Record
Additionally, MOM assesses the founder’s individual credentials. Strong track record signals include:
- Prior successful exits or co-founding of funded companies
- Deep domain expertise relevant to the business — academic, industry, or technical credentials
- Published research, patents, or recognised awards in the relevant sector
- Membership of recognised entrepreneurial networks or accelerator programmes
- Strong management experience in a senior role at a comparable company
MOM does not publish a minimum qualifications threshold for EntrePass. However, in practice, applications from founders with no relevant track record and no external funding face a very high rejection rate. The stronger the founder’s credentials, the better the application.
Businesses That Do Not Qualify
MOM explicitly excludes certain business types from EntrePass eligibility. These include:
- Coffee shops, food courts, and hawker centres
- Bars, nightclubs, karaoke establishments, and massage parlours
- Employment agencies
- Moneylending and pawnbroking businesses
- Traditional businesses without innovation — such as retail shops, generic trading companies, and conventional service businesses without proprietary technology or IP
If your business falls into these categories, the EntrePass is not the right route. In that case, consider the Employment Pass if you can draw a salary from the business, or explore whether the Global Investor Programme (GIP) is relevant for investment-led models.
The Application Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Incorporate Your Company
Before applying for the EntrePass, you must incorporate a private limited company in Singapore through ACRA BizFile+. The company must be less than six months old at the time of application. Older companies do not qualify for a new EntrePass. Existing Singapore companies looking to bring in foreign founders should explore other structures instead.
Incorporation is fast. In fact, founders typically complete it in one to three business days. You will need at least one resident director in Singapore (a local director service can fill this role), a registered address, and a company secretary. Many founders use a corporate services provider for incorporation and the first year of corporate secretarial compliance.
Step 2: Prepare Your Business Plan
The business plan is the centrepiece of an EntrePass application. MOM reviewers assess it carefully. In particular, a strong business plan covers the following:
- Executive summary: the problem being solved, the solution, and the market opportunity
- Product or service description: what you have built or are building, and the proprietary elements
- Market analysis: total addressable market (TAM), competitive landscape, and differentiation
- Business model: how the company generates revenue
- Go-to-market strategy: how you will acquire customers in Singapore and the region
- Founding team: credentials, track record, and relevant expertise
- Financial projections: three-year projections with underlying assumptions
- Local hiring plan: how many Singapore citizens or PRs you intend to hire, and in what roles
The local hiring plan carries particular weight. MOM wants to know that the EntrePass holder will contribute to local employment. A plan that commits to hiring Singapore citizens and PRs within the first two years strengthens the application meaningfully. Therefore, founders should think through hiring intentions carefully and reflect them honestly in the plan.
Step 3: Gather Supporting Evidence
Supporting evidence is what distinguishes a strong application from a weak one. Indeed, MOM reviewers look for documentary proof of the claims in your business plan. Useful supporting documents include:
- Term sheets, investment agreements, or confirmation letters from venture capital firms or angel investors
- IP application receipts or certificates
- Partnership agreements with Singapore research institutions
- Letters of intent or pilot agreements from potential customers
- Press coverage, industry awards, or recognition
- The founder’s CV, with verification of prior roles and exits where possible
Step 4: Submit via myMOM Portal
The EntrePass application goes through the myMOM Portal. The applicant or an authorised representative submits the company details, the business plan, and all supporting documents. There is an application fee of SGD 105 per application (non-refundable).
Processing time is typically eight weeks. During this period, MOM may request additional information. Respond to any such requests promptly and thoroughly — incomplete or delayed responses can slow the process. Additionally, MOM may schedule an interview with the founder as part of the assessment.
Conditions of Approval and Renewal
Year 1 and Year 2 Conditions
MOM approves the EntrePass for one year initially. At Year 1 renewal, the founder must demonstrate that the business is progressing as planned. MOM looks at the following at the first renewal:
- Whether the business is operational (trading, generating revenue, or actively building product)
- Progress against the local hiring plan — MOM checks whether Singapore citizens or PRs have joined the team
- Business expenditure in Singapore (office costs, staff costs, vendor payments)
- Continued funding or revenue traction
A business that has not made meaningful progress in Year 1 risks non-renewal. Therefore, founders should track their metrics carefully and be prepared to present evidence of progress at renewal time.
Dependant’s Pass Entitlements
An EntrePass holder can bring a spouse and children to Singapore on Dependant’s Passes. However, MOM applies thresholds. The holder must employ at least three Singapore citizens or PRs full-time and spend at least SGD 100,000 annually in Singapore before Dependant’s Passes become available. These thresholds apply at renewal, not at initial approval. Consequently, families should plan for the possibility that Dependant’s Passes may not be available in the first year.
Common Reasons for EntrePass Rejection
MOM does not explain why applications are rejected. However, based on patterns, the most common reasons for rejection include the following.
First, a business plan that lacks credibility. Plans that contain generic market data, unrealistic financial projections, or vague product descriptions tend to fail. MOM reviewers have seen many plans — a weak plan stands out quickly. Second, no external validation. Applications without any form of funding, IP, or institutional partnership face a harder assessment. External validation is the clearest signal of business quality. Third, a weak founder profile. Founders with no relevant domain expertise, no track record, and no recognisable credentials present a difficult case. The business plan must carry the full weight of the application. Few plans are strong enough to do so without a credible founder behind them. Fourth, a non-qualifying business type. Founders who mischaracterise their business as innovative when it does not meet MOM’s criteria will not succeed.
EntrePass vs Employment Pass: Which Is Right for You?
Founders who can draw a salary from their Singapore company may have a choice between the EntrePass and the Employment Pass. The Employment Pass is significantly easier to obtain. It requires a job offer, a qualifying salary (SGD 5,600+ per month for most sectors in 2026), and COMPASS clearance. If your company can pay you a market-rate salary from day one, an Employment Pass sponsored by your own company is often the simpler route.
The EntrePass suits founders in an early, pre-revenue stage that cannot yet support a market-rate salary. It also suits cases where VC backing or IP provides a stronger qualification basis than salary. Furthermore, the EntrePass explicitly positions you as a founder, which may be relevant for investor relations and grant eligibility. However, founders who can qualify for an EP should evaluate both options carefully before committing.
Singapore as a Base for Founders: Why It Works
Singapore offers a compelling environment for tech and deep-tech founders. The corporate tax rate is 17% flat. The Start-Up Tax Exemption (SUTE) reduces effective tax to near-zero in the first three years. Enterprise Singapore, the National Research Foundation (NRF), and A*STAR offer grant co-funding for qualifying startups. The legal and IP framework is robust — Singapore consistently ranks among the world’s top jurisdictions for IP protection. Moreover, access to Southeast Asia’s 680 million consumer market is unmatched for companies building regional products. Additionally, Singapore boasts a strong pool of English-speaking technical and commercial talent. Combined with a world-class visa framework for foreign professionals, this makes team-building far simpler than in most Asian startup hubs.
LBEA handles EntrePass applications and renewals for foreign founders setting up in Singapore. We advise on eligibility, business plan structure, supporting document strategy, and the complete submission process. Contact us at Singapore Employment Agency to discuss your application. Context on the Singapore vs Hong Kong decision for founders is in our Singapore vs Hong Kong 2026 comparison. The full family relocation picture — schools, housing, healthcare and visa sequencing — is in our Relocating to Singapore: A Family’s Complete Guide. For company incorporation, accounting, and tax support in Singapore, speak with Raffles Corporate Services.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency