EntrePass — founder eligibility and renewal — Complete 2026 guide
The entrepass is the MOM work pass for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start and operate a Singapore-based business with innovation or growth potential. In 2026 the EntrePass remains tightly assessed against MOM’s Innovation, Funding or Investment criteria — and renewals depend on the business meeting local headcount and spending milestones at the one-year, two-year, three-year and five-year marks.
Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.
Who the EntrePass is for
The EntrePass is governed by the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and MOM’s EntrePass guidelines. It is intended
for foreign entrepreneurs who hold a substantial shareholding (≥30%) in a Singapore-incorporated company that has been
incorporated for less than six months at the time of application, or who intend to incorporate within six months of pass
issuance.
Related reading: our companion guide and incorporation companion piece.
Eligibility — the three qualification tracks
An applicant must satisfy at least one of:
- Innovative: holds intellectual property registered with an approved registry, OR has an ongoing
research collaboration with a recognised Singapore IHL/A*STAR centre, OR was an awardee of an IMDA, ESG or
A*STAR programme. - Funded: raised at least S$100,000 of funding from a recognised venture capital firm or
angel-investor scheme. - Incubated: currently incubated at a Singapore government-recognised incubator or accelerator.
Renewal milestones
EntrePass renewals are conditional on the business hitting cumulative milestones:
- Year 1: S$100,000 total business spending and 3 local employees.
- Year 2: S$200,000 total business spending and 6 local employees.
- Year 3: S$300,000 total business spending and 9 local employees.
- Year 5: S$500,000 total business spending and 15 local employees.
“Local employees” means Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents earning at least the Local Qualifying Salary,
currently S$1,600 per month in 2026.
Cost and timeline benchmarks
- EntrePass application fee: S$105.
- EntrePass issuance fee: S$225.
- Processing time: 8 weeks from a complete submission.
- Initial validity: 1 year; subsequent renewals 1–2 years.
See Can an EP Holder in Singapore Start a Business or Take a Directorship? (2026 Guide) for comparison with other founder-track pass options.
Application step-by-step
- Incorporate (or plan to incorporate) a Singapore Pte Ltd with ACRA.
- Collate evidence under one of the three eligibility tracks.
- Prepare a 10-page business plan including financial projections.
- Submit via MyMOM Portal.
- Receive IPA letter upon approval.
- Enter Singapore and complete pass issuance.
Common mistakes
The frequent rejections we see in 2026: (1) treating “self-funding” as “Funded” — MOM excludes founder capital from
the S$100,000 funding test; (2) applying after the 6-month-since-incorporation window has lapsed; and (3) failing to
plan ahead for the Year-1 hiring milestone, which is easy to under-budget and impossible to backfill.
Authoritative references
Primary sources are the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) EntrePass page, immigration arrangements at
Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), and ecosystem positioning context at the
Economic Development Board (EDB).
FAQs
Can the EntrePass holder bring family? Yes — dependants are eligible from Year 2 once the business
hits the S$100,000 / 3-local-employee milestone.
Is a minimum shareholding required? Yes — the founder must hold at least 30% of the issued shares
of the Singapore company throughout the pass period.
Can the EntrePass be converted to an Employment Pass? Yes, once the business reaches a stage where
the founder can be paid the EP-qualifying salary (currently S$5,600 per month, higher for finance sector).
Does the EntrePass count toward PR application? EntrePass holders are eligible to apply for PR
through standard ICA channels; time on EntrePass counts toward “duration of residence”.
What happens if I miss a renewal milestone? MOM will not renew the pass; the founder must wind down
operations or transition to another work pass type.
Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.