On 3 March 2026, Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng announced that a new ONE Pass AI and Tech track will be available from January 2027, replacing the existing Tech.Pass entirely. The announcement, made during the Committee of Supply debates, signals Singapore’s intent to compete more aggressively for frontier technology talent — particularly in artificial intelligence and quantum computing — at a time when global competition for senior tech professionals is intensifying. For employers and candidates currently on the Tech.Pass or considering applying, the transition timeline and eligibility changes require immediate attention.
This article unpacks what MOM has announced, how the new track differs from the current Tech.Pass and the broader ONE Pass, and what technology employers and senior tech professionals should do between now and January 2027.
Why Singapore Is Replacing the Tech.Pass
The Tech.Pass has operated since 2021 as a separate pass for technology founders, operators, and investors meeting specific criteria around revenue, valuation, or senior technical leadership. It has always been a small, curated programme — typically issuing well under 200 passes per year — and its criteria have remained largely unchanged since launch.
Two structural problems prompted the change. First, the Tech.Pass’s fixed monthly salary criterion of SGD 22,500 — which requires that amount to come from fixed cash compensation, excluding equity — systematically screens out early-stage founders and senior engineers at pre-IPO companies whose compensation is predominantly in equity. At the frontier of AI development, equity-heavy packages are the norm rather than the exception. Second, the Tech.Pass sits outside the ONE Pass framework, creating an inconsistency in the premium tier of Singapore’s work-pass architecture.
By absorbing Tech.Pass into the ONE Pass framework as a dedicated AI and Tech track, MOM aligns the pass structure, extends the validity period, and — critically — allows equity-based compensation to count toward the salary threshold for the first time. For an understanding of the broader ONE Pass landscape before the AI/Tech track launches, see our guide on who currently qualifies for the ONE Pass in 2026.
ONE Pass AI and Tech Track: What Has Been Announced
MOM has released the headline parameters of the new track. Full implementation details, including the application form and complete eligibility guidance, are expected to be published ahead of the January 2027 launch date.
Salary Threshold and the Equity Concession
The salary threshold for the ONE Pass AI and Tech track may be met by combining a last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500 with vested non-cash compensation — specifically employee stock option plans (ESOP) or employee share ownership (ESOW) — subject to MOM assessment. This is a meaningful departure from both the current Tech.Pass (which requires SGD 22,500 in fixed cash) and the broader ONE Pass (which requires a last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 30,000 with no equity concession).
The practical effect is that a principal engineer at a Series C AI startup earning SGD 14,000 in fixed salary plus SGD 10,000 in monthly-equivalent vested RSUs could potentially qualify, where they would currently fail both the Tech.Pass fixed-salary test and the ONE Pass SGD 30,000 floor. MOM has not published the exact calculation methodology for vesting — whether it is based on grant-date fair value, vesting-date market value, or a trailing average — and this will be a critical detail to watch when full guidance is released.
Five-Year Validity
The ONE Pass AI and Tech track will carry the same five-year initial validity as the broader ONE Pass, with the option of further five-year renewals. This compares favourably to the current Tech.Pass, which carries a two-year validity and requires a full reapplication rather than a streamlined renewal. For technology founders and senior practitioners who plan to be in Singapore for the long term, the five-year validity eliminates a significant administrative burden and provides greater stability when making decisions about housing, schooling, and investment.
Target Applicant Profile
MOM has described the new track as targeting “leading AI and technology innovators” in “critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing.” Based on the current Tech.Pass eligibility criteria (which required the applicant to satisfy at least two of three criteria — fixed salary, company value, or team leadership at a technology firm) and the broader ONE Pass outstanding-achievement pathway, the AI and Tech track is likely to be assessed through a similar qualitative lens, with the equity concession opening the door to a wider range of candidates from startups and pre-IPO companies.
Senior practitioners currently exploring the Tech.Pass route should also review the Tech.Pass five-criteria reality check to understand the current benchmark before the new track parameters are fully published.
Comparison: ONE Pass (AI and Tech) vs Current Tech.Pass vs Broader ONE Pass
| Feature | ONE Pass AI & Tech (from Jan 2027) | Tech.Pass (current) | ONE Pass (current) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary threshold | SGD 22,500 fixed + vested equity (combined) | SGD 22,500 fixed (cash only) | SGD 30,000 fixed cash |
| Validity period | 5 years (renewable for further 5 years) | 2 years (reapplication required) | 5 years (renewable) |
| Equity counts toward threshold | Yes (ESOP/ESOW, subject to MOM assessment) | No | No |
| Focus | AI, deep tech, quantum computing innovators | Technology founders, operators, investors | Top global talent across all sectors |
| Administering body | MOM / EDB (expected) | EDB | MOM |
Transition Timeline for Current Tech.Pass Holders
MOM has not published a mandatory migration date for current Tech.Pass holders. Based on the January 2027 launch of the new track, Tech.Pass holders whose passes expire after that date will likely be given the option to apply for the ONE Pass AI and Tech track at renewal rather than reapplying for a Tech.Pass.
Current Tech.Pass holders whose passes expire before January 2027 have two options: renew on the existing Tech.Pass criteria (which remains available through the transition period), or wait and assess whether the new track will be more favourable to their compensation profile. Given that the equity concession under the new track is a meaningful relaxation, candidates with significant vested equity should model their compensation carefully before deciding.
MOM is expected to publish transition guidance when it releases the full implementation details for the new track. Employers sponsoring Tech.Pass holders should ensure they are monitoring MOM’s official announcements at mom.gov.sg.
Strategic Implications for Tech Employers
For technology companies hiring in Singapore, the ONE Pass AI and Tech track changes the calculus for senior hires in two important ways.
First, the equity concession makes Singapore competitive for pre-IPO startup hires in a way it has not been before. A candidate who would previously have been told “your fixed salary doesn’t qualify for any premium pass” can now be assessed on a blended compensation basis. This matters particularly for AI and deep-tech startups that are competing for talent against US and European firms offering substantial equity packages.
Second, the five-year validity reduces the pass-renewal overhead that has made Singapore less attractive than some competitor jurisdictions for multi-year technology projects. A principal engineer on a five-year AI infrastructure project no longer needs to manage a pass renewal mid-project.
Technology companies should also note that the broader Employment Pass with COMPASS remains the primary route for the vast majority of tech hires. The ONE Pass AI and Tech track, like its predecessors, will remain a curated programme for pinnacle talent rather than a volume hiring tool. For most roles, an EP scored through COMPASS — with attention to the Diversity Bonus and Shortage Occupation List — remains the right answer. A comparison of pass options by career stage is worth reviewing when planning your 2027 hiring pipeline.
What to Do Now
MOM has committed to publishing full eligibility criteria and application guidance ahead of the January 2027 launch. Until those details are released, the most useful preparation steps are:
- Audit your current Tech.Pass holders’ compensation packages to understand how much of their total compensation is fixed versus vested equity, so you can assess eligibility for the new track quickly once criteria are published.
- If you are a Tech.Pass applicant currently in the pipeline, check whether your application is likely to complete before or after January 2027, and consider whether the new track might be more favourable.
- Engage with EDB’s Contact Singapore or a licensed employment agency to stay abreast of implementation details as they are released.
Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd (Licence No. 19C9790) monitors MOM and EDB policy updates as a matter of course. For guidance on technology talent immigration strategy — whether for the current Tech.Pass, the ONE Pass, or the incoming AI and Tech track — contact the team at Singapore Employment Agency. If your technology company is also incorporating or restructuring in Singapore as part of your talent strategy, Raffles Corporate Services can assist with the corporate and secretarial side.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency