What Is the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) Track?
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower announced at the Committee of Supply 2026 debate that a new ONE Pass track for artificial intelligence and technology professionals will open for applications on 1 January 2027. The track will operate under the existing Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass framework but with eligibility criteria specifically calibrated for founders, C-suite leaders, and senior technical contributors in high-growth technology sectors.
Crucially, the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track will replace the Tech.Pass, which has been the primary route for established technology leaders since 2021. Tech.Pass will close to new applications once the new track opens; existing Tech.Pass holders will receive a transition period before their passes must be converted or renewed under the new framework.
For companies recruiting global AI talent — and for professionals weighing Singapore against competing hubs — the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track represents a material improvement: five-year validity, the ability to count equity compensation toward the salary threshold, and the same multi-employer flexibility that already distinguishes the broader ONE Pass from the standard Employment Pass.
Why MOM Is Sunsetting Tech.Pass
The Tech.Pass was designed for the 2020 moment when Singapore needed a fast lane for established technology leaders. Its defining feature — no employer sponsor required — was radical for its time. But its two-year validity cycle and narrow salary-only income test made it a poor fit for the next generation of AI founders and deep-tech specialists, who are frequently compensated through equity rather than salary alone.
Per MOM, the new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track addresses three shortfalls of the Tech.Pass:
- Validity: Tech.Pass was issued for two years, renewable. The new track carries a five-year initial validity, aligned with the broader ONE Pass, reducing administrative burden for both the pass holder and their employer.
- Income counting: Tech.Pass required applicants to demonstrate a last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 20,000 (or annual income of at least SGD 240,000). The new track raises the headline to SGD 30,000 per month but allows vested non-cash components — employee stock options (ESOP) and employee share ownership (ESOW) — to count toward the threshold, subject to MOM’s assessment of the vesting schedule.
- Company coverage: Tech.Pass required the applicant’s employer to meet specific thresholds. The new track broadens coverage to include technology ventures that have raised at least USD 30 million in funding, capturing earlier-stage but well-capitalised startups that the Tech.Pass tended to exclude.
For a deeper look at how Tech.Pass criteria worked, see our earlier guide: Tech.Pass Singapore 2026: Five Criteria Reality Check.
ONE Pass (AI and Tech) Eligibility Criteria
Per MOM’s Committee of Supply 2026 factsheet, applicants for the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track must satisfy all three of the following criteria:
Criterion 1: Monthly Income of at Least SGD 30,000
Applicants must have earned or be earning at least SGD 30,000 per month for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application. Unlike the standard ONE Pass — where all SGD 30,000 must come from fixed salary — the AI and Tech track allows the threshold to be met by combining:
- A last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500, plus
- Vested non-cash components (ESOP / ESOW) that bring the total to SGD 30,000, subject to MOM’s assessment of vesting schedules and documentation.
This equity-counting provision is specifically designed to reflect compensation norms in AI and deep-tech startups, where top contributors may receive below-market cash salaries offset by meaningful equity stakes.
Criterion 2: At Least Five Years’ Relevant Experience
Applicants must have accumulated at least five cumulative years within the past 10 years in one of the following roles:
- A founder or C-suite position (CEO, CTO, CPO, VP of Engineering, Head of AI, or equivalent) at a qualifying technology company; or
- A senior technical position such as principal engineer, research scientist, or senior software engineer at a qualifying technology company.
Criterion 3: Current or Most Recent Employment at a Qualifying Company
The applicant’s current or most recent employer must meet at least one of the following thresholds:
- Valuation or market capitalisation of at least USD 500 million; or
- Annual revenue of at least USD 200 million; or
- Assets under management of at least USD 500 million (for technology venture capital firms); or
- At least USD 30 million raised in funding (a new lower threshold not available under Tech.Pass).
The USD 30 million funding threshold is the most significant broadening of the company requirement. Series B and late Series A startups in the AI space — which routinely raise at or above this level — will now be qualifying employers, making the track accessible to their senior technical staff in a way that Tech.Pass never was.
How the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) Compares to the Current ONE Pass and the EP
Foreign professionals — and the HR teams advising them — will want to understand where the new track sits relative to the passes already in market. The table below summarises the key differences as at 16 May 2026, ahead of the 1 January 2027 launch date:
| Feature | Employment Pass (EP) | ONE Pass (Standard) | ONE Pass (AI and Tech, from Jan 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary | SGD 5,600/month (most sectors); SGD 6,200 (Financial Services); rising to SGD 6,000 / SGD 6,600 from 1 Jan 2027 | SGD 30,000 fixed monthly salary | SGD 22,500 fixed + equity to reach SGD 30,000 |
| Validity | 1–2 years | 5 years, renewable | 5 years, renewable |
| COMPASS required? | Yes (unless exempt) | No | No |
| Multiple employers | No | Yes | Yes |
| Sponsor required | Yes | No | No |
| Equity counts toward salary? | No | No | Yes (ESOP/ESOW, assessed by MOM) |
For a broader comparison of all pass options available to high-earning foreign professionals, see our guide: ONE Pass Singapore: Who Actually Qualifies in 2026.
The Transition Timeline for Current Tech.Pass Holders
MOM has indicated that Tech.Pass will close to new applications when the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track opens in January 2027. Current Tech.Pass holders will not be immediately affected — their existing passes remain valid until expiry — but they should plan for the renewal window in advance.
Practically, current Tech.Pass holders should:
- Assess eligibility now. The income and experience criteria are somewhat different. Verify whether your equity compensation can be documented sufficiently to meet MOM’s assessment standards.
- Compile vesting records. MOM will assess ESOP and ESOW contributions based on actual vesting schedules. Have your company’s equity plan documents, grant agreements, and vesting statements in order before your renewal window opens.
- Plan for the five-year cycle. A successful renewal under the new track gives you five years of stability — a significant improvement over Tech.Pass’s two-year cycle.
Strategic Implications for Singapore Companies Recruiting AI Talent
The ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track has meaningful implications for how Singapore companies — and multinationals with Singapore operations — approach senior AI hiring.
Startups that have raised USD 30 million or more now have a direct, employer-agnostic route for senior technical hires who exceed the EP salary range. Previously, such candidates often had to choose between the Tech.Pass (which had no local-employer sponsor requirement but a narrower income test) and the EP (which required a single sponsor and COMPASS assessment). The new track eliminates that friction.
Family offices and technology venture capital firms with AUM above USD 500 million can also use the track for investment professionals with deep AI and technology specialisms — a natural extension given Singapore’s growing family office ecosystem.
For companies that rely on the standard Singapore Employment Pass for most of their foreign hires, the new track sits above the EP in both salary and flexibility. The COMPASS framework that governs EP applications does not apply. There are no quota implications for the employer. For senior AI researchers earning above SGD 22,500 fixed monthly, the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track — rather than the EP — is likely to become the default route from January 2027 onward.
For a detailed review of how COMPASS scoring affects standard EP applications, see: COMPASS Framework Explained: Earning Your 40 Points for a Singapore EP (2026).
Dependants and Family Arrangements
ONE Pass (AI and Tech) holders receive the same dependant entitlements as standard ONE Pass holders:
- Spouse — eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+), which carries a Letter of Consent (LOC) allowing the spouse to work for any Singapore employer without a separate work pass.
- Children — eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
- Parents — eligible to apply for an LTVP, subject to ICA’s assessment.
For a comprehensive overview of what dependants are entitled to under the various pass schemes, see our guide: Dependant’s Pass Singapore 2026: DP, LTVP and LOC Guide.
Working with LBEA to Prepare Your Application
The ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track will open in January 2027, but the preparation work — particularly around ESOP and ESOW documentation, company eligibility verification, and career-history packaging — should begin well before that window. MOM’s income assessment for equity-based components is new territory, and getting the evidentiary package right will be critical for borderline applicants.
Singapore Employment Agency, the consumer brand of Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd (Licence No. 19C9790), assists founders, senior technical professionals, and their HR teams with ONE Pass, EP, and all other MOM work pass applications. For incorporation, corporate secretarial, and relocation services alongside your pass application, our related company Raffles Corporate Services provides end-to-end support.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency