Indonesia to Singapore Relocation: What Jakarta Professionals Should Check First

Short answer: Indonesia to Singapore relocation for work usually runs on an Employment Pass. Per MOM, new applications from 1 January 2027 need a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 (more with age) and enough COMPASS points. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 can follow on Dependant’s Passes if you earn at least S$6,000 a month.

This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. For matters needing legal advice, we work with a panel of experienced Singapore law firms.

How does Indonesia to Singapore relocation work for a working professional?

You cannot simply move and look for work. A Singapore employer applies for your work pass, and you relocate once the pass is approved. For most Indonesian professionals the pass is an Employment Pass, with the S Pass as the option for mid-skilled roles.

People moving from Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan or Bandung tend to ask three questions: which pass to aim for, whether the family can come, and how income will be taxed. This guide answers the first two with figures checked against MOM and ICA pages on 9 November 2026. On tax, it says plainly what we could not confirm.

The pass rules are the same for every nationality, so our Thailand to Singapore relocation guide and Vietnam to Singapore relocation guide are useful too. Nationality matters in one place: COMPASS, the points test for the Employment Pass, scores how common your nationality is among the employer’s professional staff.

Which work pass fits an Indonesian professional?

The Employment Pass suits managers, executives and specialists who meet the salary line and pass COMPASS. The S Pass suits mid-skilled staff at a lower salary line. Both let the holder sponsor family passes once fixed monthly salary reaches S$6,000.

Pass	Who it is for	Salary line (per MOM, as at 9 November 2026)	Family passes
Employment Pass	Professionals, managers and executives	S$5,600 now; S$6,000 for new applications from 1 January 2027 (age 23 or below; higher with age)	Dependant’s Pass if fixed monthly salary is at least S$6,000
S Pass	Mid-skilled technicians and specialists	S$3,300 now; S$3,600 for new applications from 1 January 2027 (age 23 or below; higher with age)	Dependant’s Pass if fixed monthly salary is at least S$6,000

Source: MOM Employment Pass and S Pass eligibility pages, opened on 9 November 2026. The Employment Pass page was last updated on 28 April 2026 and the S Pass page on 1 September 2026. Work Permits are not covered here.

Founders and investors have separate passes that we have not covered here. If you plan to start a company rather than join one, speak to us first.

Do Indonesians need a visa to enter Singapore?

Based on ICA’s visa guidelines page, last updated 28 October 2026, Indonesia is not on the list of countries and places that require a visa to enter Singapore. That concerns entry as a visitor only. It does not let you work, and it does not replace the work pass.

Confirm the position for your own passport type close to your departure date. Arrival formalities also changed recently, and we cover them in our guide to the Enhanced SG Arrival Card on MyICA.

Do not start work while on a visit. Ask MOM or your employer to confirm that the pass is approved and issued before you begin employment.

What salary does an Employment Pass need in 2026 and 2027?

For new applications before 1 January 2027, the minimum is S$5,600 a month for most sectors, rising with age to S$10,700 at 45. For new applications from 1 January 2027, it is S$6,000, rising to S$11,500 at 45 and above. Financial services have higher lines.

Sector and age	New applications before 1 January 2027	New applications from 1 January 2027
All sectors except financial services, age 23 or below	S$5,600	S$6,000
All sectors except financial services, age 30	S$7,223	S$7,750
All sectors except financial services, age 35	S$8,382	S$9,000
All sectors except financial services, age 45 or above	S$10,700	S$11,500
Financial services, age 23 or below	S$6,200	S$6,600
Financial services, age 35	S$9,255	S$9,927
Financial services, age 45 or above	S$11,800	S$12,700

Source: MOM Employment Pass eligibility page, as at 9 November 2026. MOM states that the higher lines also apply to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028. Your own age line is on the MOM page, and our EP salary by age tables show it for each year of age.

The salary that counts is your fixed monthly salary, as MOM defines it. Ask your employer how the offer will be declared, because pay that is not fixed may not count towards the line. If the application could be submitted either side of 1 January 2027, ask the employer which line will apply to you.

How does COMPASS affect an Indonesian candidate?

COMPASS is the second stage after the salary line. An application needs 40 points unless it is exempt, and the salary line must be met first regardless of points. Nationality enters through the Diversity criterion, which looks at the employer’s staff, not at you alone.

MOM’s page sets out four foundation criteria, each worth up to 20 points, plus two bonus criteria:

1. Salary: 20 points at the 90th percentile or above of local professional salaries for your age and sector, 10 points from the 65th to below the 90th percentile, otherwise 0.
2. Qualifications: 20 points for a degree-equivalent qualification from a listed top-tier institution, 10 points for other degree-equivalent qualifications, 0 otherwise.
3. Diversity: if the employer has fewer than 25 PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians), the application scores 10 by default. With 25 or more, it scores 20 if your nationality is under 5 percent of the PMETs, 10 if it is 5 percent to below 25 percent, and 0 at 25 percent or more.
4. Support for local employment: 10 points by default for employers with fewer than 25 PMETs, and otherwise based on the employer’s local PMET share against its sector.
5. Bonus: 10 or 20 points for a job on the Shortage Occupation List, and 10 points for a Strategic Economic Priorities programme.

Candidates are exempt from COMPASS if their fixed monthly salary is at least S$22,500, if they are overseas intra-corporate transferees, or if they fill the role for one month or less. Employers can test a candidate on MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool before applying, and must meet the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement before submitting a new EP application, per the same MOM page.

At an employer with fewer than 25 PMETs, Diversity and Support for local employment both score 10 by default, whatever your nationality. At a larger employer with many Indonesian professionals, Diversity may score lower, so the employer’s staff mix matters as much as your CV.

Can my family move with me from Indonesia?

Yes, if you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass and earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000, your legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify for Dependant’s Passes. The salary test is yours alone, not your household income.

MOM’s Dependant’s Pass page, last updated 14 March 2024, adds that the sponsor must be an established, Singapore-registered company, usually your employer. Family members who do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass may qualify for a Long-Term Visit Pass instead. For who can bring a spouse, see our guide on which work passes allow a spouse to join you.

Parents are not covered by the Dependant’s Pass. Our guide to the Long-Term Visit Pass for parents of EP holders explains that route.

On schooling, MOM’s FAQ for children of EP and S Pass holders on a Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass directs readers to ICA’s website for the prevailing policy on studying in Singapore without a Student’s Pass. Check that policy for each child before you choose a school or a start date.

How will my income be taxed after I move from Indonesia?

That depends on your tax residency in Singapore and on how Indonesia treats you, and we could not confirm the treaty terms from IRAS pages for this article. Do not rely on a general answer. Check IRAS before you sign, and get written advice if the amounts are large.

IRAS publishes the residency tests and rates, and a list of tax treaties formally called Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs). The IRAS pages we opened on 9 November 2026 did not display a readable entry for Indonesia, so we have left out treaty terms and Singapore tax rates rather than guess.

For how expats prove residency, read our guide to the Certificate of Residence for individuals in Singapore. If you still have Indonesian tax obligations, such as a tax number, a filing or assets there, speak to an Indonesian adviser as well. We do not advise on Indonesian tax.

What is the step-by-step plan for the move?

Start with the job offer, because everything else depends on the pass. Then sequence the family passes, your arrival and your first month. The order below is practical, and each step should be confirmed with your employer.

1. Confirm the offer and the fixed monthly salary against the line for your age and sector, noting whether the application will be submitted before or after 1 January 2027.
2. Ask the employer to check COMPASS on MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool before applying.
3. Have the employer submit the Employment Pass application, and the Dependant’s Pass applications at the same time or later if you qualify.
4. Wait for approval before you resign, ship goods or sign a lease that you cannot exit.
5. Travel to Singapore and complete the arrival card and pass formalities your employer advises.
6. Open a bank account, using our guide to opening a bank account as an EP holder.
7. Settle housing and schools, then keep your records for your first tax return.

If an employer or recruiter promises approval, treat that with care. MOM decides each application, and a pass can be refused.

How should I plan housing, banking and schools?

Plan these after you have an approved pass, not before. We have not verified current rental or school fee figures against a primary source for this article, so we give none.

For banking, follow the sequence in our EP bank account guide above. For housing, avoid paying large deposits before you hold a pass. For schools, confirm each child’s pass status and ICA’s policy first.

Frequently asked questions

Can an Indonesian citizen get an Employment Pass in Singapore?

Yes. MOM’s Employment Pass eligibility page applies to all nationalities. The candidate must have a job offer, meet the qualifying salary and, unless exempt, pass COMPASS.

What is the minimum Employment Pass salary for new applications from 1 January 2027?

Per MOM, as at 9 November 2026, it is S$6,000 a month for most sectors at age 23 or below and S$6,600 in financial services, rising with age to S$11,500 and S$12,700 at 45 and above.

Can my spouse and children come on Dependant’s Passes?

If you earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000, a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 may qualify. Other family members may qualify for a Long-Term Visit Pass.

Do I need a visa to visit Singapore from Indonesia before my pass is approved?

ICA’s visa guidelines, last updated 28 October 2026, do not list Indonesia among the countries and places that require a visa. A visit does not allow you to work, so check ICA before travelling.

Is there a tax treaty between Singapore and Indonesia that affects my salary?

We could not confirm treaty terms from IRAS for this article. Check IRAS’s list of tax treaties and take advice on both sides of the border before you rely on any treaty relief.

Planning an Indonesia to Singapore relocation? Contact Little Big Employment Agency for pass, PR and citizenship applications. Email [email protected] or Call/SMS/WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. Official sources used: MOM Employment Pass eligibility, MOM Dependant’s Pass eligibility and ICA visa guidelines.

Last reviewed: 9 November 2026. The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency.