The EntrePass is Singapore’s work pass for entrepreneurs who want to start and run an innovative business here. Unlike the Employment Pass, which is issued to employees, the EntrePass is issued to founders — and its eligibility criteria reflect MOM’s focus on businesses that contribute innovation, intellectual property, or venture capital activity to Singapore’s economy.
This walkthrough covers every stage of the EntrePass Singapore 2026 application process: who qualifies, what documents to prepare, how the application is assessed, and what renewal requires. If you are a founder considering Singapore as your base, read this before you incorporate.
What Is the EntrePass and Who Is It For?
The EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) is issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start and operate a business in Singapore. It is not available to individuals who are employees of an existing company — you must be the founder and hold at least 30% equity in the Singapore-incorporated company you are applying under.
The EntrePass is specifically designed for:
- Venture-backed founders who have secured investment from recognised Singapore investors
- Tech founders with registered intellectual property or active R&D partnerships
- Experienced entrepreneurs with a track record of revenue or job creation in Singapore
Importantly, the company you apply under must be incorporated in Singapore for no more than six months at the point of application — or not yet incorporated. If your company is older than six months and already operating, you would need to meet the higher Entrepreneur track criteria (see below).
EntrePass Singapore 2026 Eligibility: The Three Tracks
MOM assesses EntrePass applications under one of three tracks. You only need to qualify under one.
Track 1: Venture-Backed
You must have received a committed investment of at least S$100,000 from a MOM-recognised venture capital (VC) firm or business angel. The investment must be specifically for your Singapore company, not a personal loan or family investment. MOM publishes a list of recognised investors on its website — check this list before assuming your backer qualifies.
This is typically the fastest path for founders who have already gone through an accelerator or raised a pre-seed round. The investment agreement and a letter from your investor confirming the terms are the core documents required.
Track 2: Innovative (Intellectual Property or R&D)
You must demonstrate that your business is built on innovation through one of the following:
- An intellectual property (patent, registered design, or trade mark) registered with IPOS (Intellectual Property Office of Singapore) or another recognised IP authority and licensed to your Singapore company
- A technology licensing agreement with a Singapore Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) or research institution
- An active R&D collaboration agreement with A*STAR or a Singapore IHL
This track suits deep tech founders, IP commercialisation ventures, and spin-offs from universities or research institutes. The key document is the IP ownership certificate or licensing agreement — it must name your Singapore company as the licensee, not you personally.
Track 3: Entrepreneur (Revenue and Headcount)
This track is for founders whose companies are already operating and can demonstrate business substance. MOM requires you to show that your company:
- Is registered and operating in a sector not on MOM’s restricted list
- Has generated annual revenue of at least S$100,000, OR hired at least three Singapore citizens or PRs as full-time employees
- You personally hold at least 30% equity
The restricted sector list includes coffee shops, hawker stalls, food courts, bars, nightclubs, KTV lounges, massage parlours, and employment agencies (note: Little Big Employment Agency operates as a licensed MOM agency under a different framework). If your business falls in a restricted sector, EntrePass is not available to you regardless of how strong your application is.
Minimum Salary and Financial Requirements
The EntrePass does not have the same salary threshold structure as the Employment Pass or S Pass. However, MOM expects the applicant to have sufficient financial resources to sustain the business and their own living costs. In practice, most approved applicants demonstrate personal funds or committed investor funds sufficient to cover at least 12 months of operations.
There is no formal minimum monthly salary stated for EntrePass holders (unlike the EP’s S$5,000 floor), but MOM’s overall assessment considers whether your business plan is financially viable and whether you can genuinely run the business without becoming a burden on public resources.
Application Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Incorporate Your Company
Your company must be registered with ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) as a Singapore private limited company. If you work with a corporate services firm — such as Raffles Corporate Services — incorporation typically takes one to two business days. You will need a registered office address, at least one local director (a nominee director can be used initially), and a constitution.
Step 2: Prepare Your Business Plan
MOM requires a detailed business plan with your EntrePass application. This should cover: executive summary, business model, target market and competitive landscape, revenue projections for three years, funding status, and your own background and experience. The business plan is a critical document — vague or generic plans are a common reason for rejection.
Step 3: Gather Supporting Documents
Core documents for all tracks:
- Completed EntrePass application form (via EP Online)
- Passport (biodata page)
- ACRA company profile or BizFile+ printout
- Business plan (detailed, as above)
- Personal CV / résumé
- Proof of educational qualifications
Track-specific additions:
- Venture-backed: Term sheet or investment agreement; letter from investor; investor’s MOM recognition letter
- Innovative: IP registration certificate or licensing agreement; R&D agreement if applicable
- Entrepreneur: Latest company financial statements; CPF records showing local employee headcount
Step 4: Submit via EP Online
Applications are submitted through MOM’s EP Online portal. You will need a Corppass login tied to your Singapore company’s UEN. Processing time is typically eight weeks from the date of submission, though complex cases may take longer. MOM may request additional information during assessment — respond promptly as delays can affect processing time.
Step 5: In-Principle Approval (IPA) and Card Collection
If approved, you receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter valid for six months. You must enter Singapore and complete formalities (medical examination, fingerprinting) to receive your EntrePass card. The card is typically valid for one year initially.
EntrePass Renewal: What MOM Checks
Renewal is not automatic. At each renewal point, MOM assesses whether your business has met specific milestones. The criteria vary by renewal stage:
| Renewal | Minimum Business Criteria |
|---|---|
| 1st Renewal (Year 1–2) | Annual business spending of S$100,000 OR hire 1 local employee |
| 2nd Renewal (Year 3–4) | Annual revenue S$100,000 OR hire 2 local employees; annual business spending S$100,000 |
| 3rd Renewal and beyond | Annual revenue S$200,000 OR hire 4 local employees; annual business spending S$100,000 |
Founders who do not meet the renewal criteria risk having their EntrePass cancelled. This means the business and personal situation both need to be actively tracked against these thresholds. Working with an employment agency familiar with MOM requirements can help you plan ahead.
Common Reasons for EntrePass Rejection
MOM does not publish rejection rates, but practitioners working with EntrePass applicants commonly identify these failure points:
Weak or Generic Business Plan
A business plan that reads like a template — with placeholder market size figures, vague competitive analysis, and no clear Singapore nexus — is the single most common rejection reason. MOM officers are experienced; they can tell when a plan was written to satisfy a checklist rather than to reflect a real business. Your plan must explain specifically why Singapore, what problem you are solving, and how your background makes you the right person to solve it.
Restricted Sector Application
Founders who apply for an EntrePass under a company in a restricted sector are rejected outright. Check MOM’s restricted sector list on the official EntrePass eligibility page before incorporating.
Investor Not Recognised by MOM
The venture-backed track requires the investor to appear on MOM’s recognised investor list. Family offices, personal loans, or informal angel agreements from individuals not on the list do not count. Confirm your investor’s recognition status before submitting.
Company Older Than Six Months at Application
If you incorporated your company more than six months before applying and you do not yet meet the Entrepreneur track criteria, your application will be rejected. Time your application — or meet the revenue and headcount benchmarks first.
EntrePass vs Employment Pass: Key Differences
A question we hear often at Little Big Employment Agency is whether a founder should apply for an EntrePass or an Employment Pass. The answer depends entirely on your role.
If you are joining a company as a senior employee — even as a co-founder in a salaried role — the Employment Pass is the appropriate route, and you would need to meet the current COMPASS scoring requirements under MOM’s points-based framework. If you are the entrepreneur building the company from scratch and hold significant equity, EntrePass is the right pass.
One notable difference: EntrePass holders cannot move to another employer without applying for a new EntrePass (because the pass is tied to your company). EP holders can transfer to a new employer by applying to transfer their EP. This distinction matters for your longer-term planning — including your path to Singapore Permanent Residency.
EntrePass and the PR Pathway
EntrePass holders are eligible to apply for Singapore Permanent Residency under ICA’s Professional/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme. The assessment is holistic — ICA considers your economic contributions, tax payments, and community ties, not just the type of work pass you hold.
In practice, EntrePass holders who have successfully grown their businesses (revenue, local employees, taxes paid) have a credible PR application. The business milestones that MOM tracks for renewal also serve as documentary evidence for an ICA PR application. Our team has written a comprehensive guide to improving your PR approval odds in Singapore that covers EntrePass holders specifically.
How Little Big Employment Agency Can Help
Little Big Employment Agency (MOM Licence 19C9790) works with founders navigating the Singapore work pass landscape. We do not prepare EntrePass applications directly — that falls within the scope of licensed corporate services — but we do assist with the employment side: hiring your first local employees, understanding CPF obligations, structuring employment contracts, and connecting you with specialists for ancillary needs such as incorporation, accounting, and payroll.
If you are building a team in Singapore alongside your EntrePass journey, speak with us about your hiring strategy. Meeting the local employee headcount requirements at each renewal stage is critical, and a structured hiring plan makes that far easier.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency