Singapore’s single family office (SFO) sector has expanded rapidly — MAS estimates suggest over 1,500 family offices are now based in Singapore, up from fewer than 400 in 2020. With that growth has come a more complex hiring environment. Family office hiring in Singapore in 2026 is shaped by three overlapping frameworks that do not interact as cleanly as principals might expect: the Ministry of Manpower’s work pass system (which governs who can work in Singapore), the MAS revised SFO licensing framework (which took effect on 15 June 2026, governing what activities the office can conduct without a capital markets licence), and MAS’s employment eligibility requirements for Appointed Representatives (ARs) of licensed entities.
This guide is written for family principals and family office chief operating officers navigating those frameworks — specifically, which work passes are appropriate for which roles, what restrictions apply to investment professionals in SFOs, and how the ONE Pass and PEP compare to a standard Employment Pass for senior family office staff.
For an overview of the tax incentive structures (Section 13O and 13U) that govern Singapore family office fund vehicles, see our article on Singapore family office tax incentives: Section 13O vs 13U compared.
Family Office Hiring in Singapore 2026: The MAS SFO Framework and Employment Implications
From 15 June 2026, MAS replaced the previous bespoke exemption framework for single family offices with a dedicated class exemption — the Revised SFO Framework. Under this framework, a qualifying SFO that manages assets of a single family is exempt from holding a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence for fund management, provided it meets specified conditions including:
- It manages assets exclusively on behalf of one family (broadly defined to include descendants, siblings, spouses, and associated trusts and entities).
- It registers with MAS as an Exempt Fund Manager.
- It maintains a Singapore business presence with genuine operations — not a letterbox entity.
- Its staff conducting regulated activities (portfolio management, dealing) are “fit and proper” persons per MAS guidelines.
The critical hiring implication: investment professionals employed by the SFO who perform regulated activities (managing client funds, placing orders in capital markets) must still meet MAS’s fit-and-proper criteria. This does not require them to be licensed as Appointed Representatives — the exemption removes that requirement — but it does mean MAS may review individual qualifications and track records during audits or inspections. As a practical matter, principals should ensure investment staff hold recognised finance qualifications (CFA, CAIA, CIMA, or equivalent) and have clean compliance records.
Which Work Pass for Which Family Office Role
Investment Professionals (CIOs, Portfolio Managers, Analysts)
The standard path for a hired investment professional is an Employment Pass (EP) in the Financial Services sector. The qualifying salary is SGD 6,200 per month for new applications as at January 2026, per the Ministry of Manpower. These professionals must also score at least 40 out of 100 on the COMPASS framework — which, for a senior hire with strong qualifications and a competitive salary, is typically achievable. For our full breakdown of COMPASS scoring, see our COMPASS framework guide for Employment Pass applications.
Where the investment professional earns SGD 30,000 or more per month (fixed salary component at least SGD 22,500 for ONE Pass AI & Tech track, or SGD 30,000 fixed for the broader ONE Pass), the ONE Pass may be appropriate. The ONE Pass’s key advantage for family office use is its multi-employer flexibility: the pass holder can simultaneously serve multiple family entities, hold directorships across related investment vehicles, and participate in an advisory capacity for the family group — without requiring separate EP applications for each engagement. See our comparison of EP, PEP and ONE Pass for a full breakdown.
Family Principals Who Are Also Active Managers
Family principals who are hands-on in the day-to-day management of the SFO’s investments may hold an Employment Pass in their capacity as an employee or director of the SFO entity. However, principals who are also significant shareholders of the SFO entity (which is common — most SFOs are wholly owned by the family) should note that the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is not available to sole proprietors, partners, or persons with substantial shareholding who are also directors. A principal with controlling ownership of the SFO will need to hold a standard EP, a ONE Pass, or alternatively the EntrePass (if they are operating the SFO as an entrepreneurial entity).
The ONE Pass is typically the most appropriate pass for high-earning principals: it is not tied to a single employer, it is valid for five years (renewable), and it allows simultaneous engagement across the full family structure without the administrative overhead of multiple EP applications. MOM requires that the ONE Pass holder earn at least SGD 30,000 per month, with the fixed salary component (excluding equity and bonus) being at least SGD 22,500 for those applying under the AI and Tech track (from January 2027), or SGD 30,000 fixed for the existing ONE Pass track.
Chief Operating Officers and Legal/Compliance Staff
COOs, general counsels, compliance heads, and family office administrators follow the standard EP pathway in the Financial Services sector. For these roles, COMPASS scoring typically poses no difficulties: qualifications in law, accounting, or compliance are well-recognised, and the salary levels for senior operational staff in family offices (commonly SGD 8,000–18,000 per month) comfortably exceed the qualifying floor. The main hiring constraint for these roles is the DRC (Dependency Ratio Ceiling) and Fair Consideration Framework obligation — even small family offices with 10 or more employees must advertise roles on MyCareersFuture.sg for 14 days before applying for an EP.
Domestic and Household Staff
Family principals who also maintain a Singapore residence typically hire a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) under a separate Work Permit — this is entirely distinct from the SFO’s employment headcount. For guidance on FDW hiring, see our guide to hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker in Singapore 2026.
Restrictions on Roles Unique to Singapore Family Offices
Singapore family offices that are exempt fund managers under the Revised SFO Framework face one significant employment restriction that is commonly misunderstood: the SFO’s exemption covers only the management of the single family’s own assets. If the principal wishes to co-invest alongside external investors — a common arrangement in direct deals and club investments — the investment vehicle doing so may need a CMS licence, and the individuals managing that vehicle may need to be licensed Appointed Representatives. Principals who want to co-invest with external parties should take MAS licensing advice before staffing up for that function, as the employment of unlicensed persons to perform regulated activities on behalf of external investors is a criminal offence under the Securities and Futures Act.
Section 13O and 13U Employment Conditions
Singapore’s two main family office tax incentives — Section 13O (formerly Section 13R) and Section 13U (formerly Section 13X) — both impose employment conditions that affect hiring:
- Section 13O: requires at least two investment professionals, of whom at least one must be a non-family member (i.e. a genuinely hired professional, not just the principal and their spouse). AUM must be at least SGD 20 million. Local hiring conditions apply: the office must demonstrate that Singapore-resident professionals have been meaningfully considered.
- Section 13U: requires at least three investment professionals, with at least one non-family member. AUM must be at least SGD 50 million. The same local hiring obligation applies.
Both incentives also require that the investment professionals spend at least 50% of their working time on the family office’s Singapore-resident managed funds. Principals who are considering a 13O or 13U structure should plan their Singapore hiring around these conditions before applying for the incentive — a staffing arrangement that does not meet the conditions will result in incentive withdrawal.
PR Applications for Family Office Professionals
Senior investment professionals hired by Singapore family offices are strong PR candidates: they typically earn well above sector salary benchmarks, work in a priority sector (financial services), and spend extended periods in Singapore. The ICA’s holistic assessment treats high-earning financial services professionals favourably, particularly those with five or more years of continuous Singapore residency and a settled family profile. For the strategic timing and positioning guide, see our Singapore PR application strategy for the 2026 quota window.
Conclusion
Family office hiring in Singapore in 2026 requires navigating three interlocking frameworks simultaneously: MOM’s work pass requirements (which determine who can work), MAS’s revised SFO licensing framework (which determines what activities the office can conduct without a licence), and the 13O/13U employment conditions (which determine what the tax-incentivised fund vehicle requires). Getting any one of these wrong has compliance consequences at the entity level.
For Employment Pass applications, ONE Pass applications, and licensed employment agency services, Singapore Employment Agency (Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd, MOM Licence 19C9790) handles work pass applications for family office hires. For incorporation of the SFO entity, Section 13O/13U applications, and variable capital company (VCC) structures, Raffles Corporate Services provides specialist support across the full family office setup.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency