Singapore’s EntrePass Singapore 2026 is the work pass designed for one specific profile: a foreign founder, innovator or investor who wants to incorporate and actively run a business here. Unlike the Employment Pass — which requires an employer to sponsor you — the EntrePass is self-sponsored. You incorporate a company, hold at least 30% of its shares, and apply on the basis of your entrepreneurial track record and the company’s innovation credentials.
The EntrePass sits outside the COMPASS framework. There is no minimum salary requirement, no foreign worker quota dependency, and no levy. What it does require is evidence that your business is genuinely innovative — venture-backed, incubator-supported, IP-anchored, or research-linked. This guide walks through every stage of the process, from eligibility assessment to renewal, drawing on the Ministry of Manpower’s published criteria as at 25 June 2026.
EntrePass 2026 Eligibility: The Two-Layer Test
The EntrePass eligibility framework (per MOM, as at 25 June 2026) applies a two-layer test: one layer assesses the applicant, the other assesses the company.
Layer 1: Applicant requirements
- Must be a foreign national (Singapore citizens and permanent residents are not eligible).
- Must have started, or intend to start, a Singapore-incorporated private limited company.
- Must hold at least 30% of the company’s issued shares.
- If the company is already incorporated, it must be no more than 6 months old.
- Must be willing to play an active role in the company’s day-to-day operations as a director.
- Must have no adverse immigration or criminal record.
Layer 2: Company innovation criteria
The company must satisfy at least one of four criteria:
- Venture funding — The company has raised at least S$100,000 from a recognised venture capital or angel investor that is listed on Enterprise Singapore’s approved list.
- Incubator or accelerator support — The company is supported by a government-recognised or internationally renowned incubator or accelerator, including partners under Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG Accelerator or Startup SG Founder programmes.
- Intellectual property or deep expertise — The applicant holds registered IP that is relevant to the proposed business, has significant R&D expertise or specialised technical expertise, or has a demonstrable track record of bringing products or services to market.
- Research collaboration — The company has a formal research collaboration with a Singapore university or an A*STAR research institution.
Criterion 1 is the clearest path for founders who are already funded — a term sheet or investor agreement from a recognised VC suffices. Criterion 3 is the broadest but most subjective: MOM evaluates the depth and relevance of the claimed expertise, so a well-documented portfolio of prior ventures, patents, or technical publications materially strengthens the application.
How EntrePass Compares to the EP and ONE Pass
Founders often ask whether the EntrePass or a standard Employment Pass is the better route. The answer depends on the business structure. Our EP vs PEP vs ONE Pass career-stage guide covers the broader comparison, but for founders the key differences are:
| Feature | EntrePass | Employment Pass | ONE Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary | None | S$5,600 (most sectors) | S$30,000 |
| Sponsor required | Self (own company) | Employing company | Self or company |
| COMPASS scoring | No | Yes | No |
| Foreign worker levy/quota | No (for holder) | No (for holder) | No |
| Initial validity | 1 year | 2 years | 5 years |
| Multiple employers | No | No | Yes |
For an early-stage founder who cannot yet pay themselves S$5,600 per month, the EntrePass is often the only viable path. For a founder who can self-certify a S$30,000 fixed monthly salary from an established company, the ONE Pass is more powerful — it carries a 5-year validity and allows concurrent employment. For most seed-stage founders, the EntrePass is the natural starting point.
Application Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Incorporate or identify the company
If the company is not yet incorporated, register a Singapore private limited company with ACRA before applying. The company must be no more than 6 months old at the time of the EntrePass application. For incorporation support, Raffles Corporate Services provides full Singapore incorporation services and post-incorporation corporate secretarial support.
Step 2: Prepare documentation
The key documents required vary by the innovation criterion claimed:
- Venture funding (Criterion 1): Investment agreement, investor identification (showing the investor is on Enterprise Singapore’s approved list), cap table.
- Incubator/accelerator (Criterion 2): Acceptance or membership letter from the programme.
- IP or expertise (Criterion 3): Patent certificates, product launch documentation, media coverage, client reference letters, or a technology brief setting out the applicant’s area of specialisation.
- Research collaboration (Criterion 4): Formal MOU or collaboration agreement with a Singapore university or A*STAR entity.
All applicants must also submit a business plan covering the company’s concept, market, competitive landscape, financial projections and hiring plans.
Step 3: Submit via myMOM Portal
Applications are submitted through MOM’s myMOM Portal. The application fee is S$105 (payable via PayNow). MOM targets a processing time of eight weeks, after which the application is either approved, rejected, or referred for further information.
Step 4: In-Principle Approval and pass issuance
If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, valid for six months. During this window, the applicant must enter Singapore and complete the pass issuance formalities. The initial EntrePass is valid for 1 year.
EntrePass Renewal: What Founders Need to Know
Renewal is where many EntrePass holders face difficulty. MOM assesses renewal on business performance — not the original innovation criteria that were used for the initial grant. The renewal framework evaluates whether the company has gained meaningful traction in Singapore.
Renewal validity periods
- 1st renewal: 12 months
- 2nd renewal: 24 months
- 3rd and 4th renewals: 24 months each
What MOM looks for at renewal
MOM’s renewal assessment focuses on: business revenue and client traction; local employment created (hiring resident staff at qualifying salaries strengthens a renewal application significantly); investment raised since the initial grant; product launches or patents filed; and the applicant’s continued active involvement in the business. A company that has incorporated but generated little commercial activity is at high risk of renewal rejection.
Founders who also have Dependant’s Pass holders accompanying them to Singapore should be aware that renewal of the EntrePass directly affects the Dependant’s Pass status. See our complete guide to the Dependant’s Pass and LTVP in Singapore 2026 for details.
EntrePass and PR: The Long-Term Pathway
Many EntrePass holders ultimately seek Singapore Permanent Residency. The EntrePass does not fast-track PR, but it does establish a record of economic contribution — business revenue, taxes paid, local employees hired — that is relevant to ICA’s holistic PR assessment.
EntrePass holders applying for PR under the Professionals, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme should document their business performance thoroughly: audited financial statements, payroll records for local staff, IRAS assessments, and evidence of client or investor traction. See our Singapore PR Pathway Guide 2026 for the full framework.
Common EntrePass Application Mistakes
Singapore Employment Agency’s advisors see the following errors most frequently:
- Claiming Criterion 3 without sufficient evidence. “Significant expertise” must be demonstrable through documentation, not assertions. Vague claims of “extensive industry experience” without supporting evidence are typically insufficient.
- Business plan that reads like a template. MOM evaluates the Singapore-market rationale, competitive differentiation and financial viability of the plan. A generic template will not pass muster.
- Company that has been trading for over 6 months. Applications from companies older than 6 months at the date of application are rejected on procedural grounds.
- Relying on a single criterion when two are available. Where multiple criteria are met, documenting all of them reduces the risk that MOM determines one is insufficient.
Conclusion
The EntrePass founder walkthrough process is more rigorous than many applicants expect, but it is structured and predictable once you understand the two-layer eligibility test, the documentation requirements, and the renewal framework. For founders in the pre-seed or seed stage who cannot yet meet EP salary thresholds, the EntrePass is often the only viable Singapore work pass — and it comes with the significant advantage of full ownership and control of your own company.
For end-to-end EntrePass application support — from company incorporation through to pass issuance — Singapore Employment Agency is a MOM-licensed employment agency offering immigration and pass advisory services. For Singapore company incorporation, Raffles Corporate Services handles the full ACRA registration and secretarial process.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency