Singapore’s technology immigration landscape is about to undergo its most significant structural change in years. In March 2026, the Ministry of Manpower announced at the Committee of Supply debate that the Tech.Pass will be replaced by a new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track from January 2027, sitting under the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass framework. For founders, senior engineers, and AI specialists considering Singapore, the implications are substantial — and the window to position now is short.
This article explains exactly what changes, who qualifies, how equity compensation is treated, and what current Tech.Pass holders need to do before January 2027.
Why MOM Is Sunsetting Tech.Pass
The Tech.Pass was introduced in 2021 to attract established technology leaders who could not be accommodated under the Employment Pass framework — founders without an employer, or senior engineers with complex compensation structures. It served its purpose well, bringing in a cohort of talent that helped seed Singapore’s start-up and deep-tech ecosystem.
However, the pass had structural limitations. Its two-year validity (renewable once for a further two years) created uncertainty for long-horizon projects such as AI research programmes or quantum computing ventures. The salary criterion — a last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 20,000 — also excluded equity-rich, salary-light profiles common in early-stage AI companies and Singapore-domiciled start-ups.
The new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track addresses both shortcomings directly. By merging the tech-talent pathway into the ONE Pass framework, MOM aligns the pass with its established five-year validity cycle and introduces equity counting for the first time in Singapore’s work pass system.
For context on how the broader ONE Pass works today, including its current SGD 30,000 fixed monthly salary criterion and multi-employment flexibility, see our guide on ONE Pass Singapore: who actually qualifies in 2026. The new AI and Tech track builds directly on that foundation.
ONE Pass (AI and Tech Track): Key Features
Validity and Flexibility
The ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track will be issued for an initial five years, with the option of further five-year renewals — replacing the Tech.Pass’s two-year cycle entirely. Like the broader ONE Pass, it is issued to the individual rather than tied to a specific employer, meaning holders can take on concurrent roles in employment, entrepreneurship, and advisory capacity simultaneously. This is particularly significant for AI researchers who may be employed at a university while advising a portfolio company or co-founding a spin-off.
The Salary Criterion: Cash Plus Equity
This is the headline change. Under the new track, applicants may meet the ONE Pass salary threshold — SGD 30,000 per month — through a combination of cash and non-cash components, specifically Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) and Employee Share Ownership (ESOW) arrangements.
The specific split, as signalled by MOM, is a minimum fixed monthly cash salary of SGD 22,500, with the remaining SGD 7,500 (or more) met through vested equity components subject to MOM’s assessment methodology. Per the Ministry of Manpower’s COS 2026 announcement, full eligibility details — including how equity will be valued and over what period — will be published before January 2027.
This matters enormously for Singapore-based start-ups that compensate senior AI engineers and technical co-founders heavily in equity, and for MNCs whose regional AI leads receive a large portion of remuneration as RSUs or performance shares. Under Tech.Pass rules, these profiles were often ineligible despite commanding total packages well above SGD 360,000 per year. The new track closes that gap.
Eligibility: Who Qualifies
Applicants under the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track must demonstrate:
- A fixed monthly cash salary of at least SGD 22,500 for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application (with equity topping up to SGD 30,000), or a total compensation meeting MOM’s assessment; and
- At least five cumulative years of experience within the past 10 years in one of the following roles: a founder or co-founder, a C-suite executive, or a senior technical specialist (e.g. principal or staff software engineer, research scientist, head of AI) at a qualifying organisation; and
- Employment at, or intent to join or establish, a qualifying organisation in the technology sector — defined as a technology company, an in-house technology team of a non-tech firm, or a technology-focused venture capital firm meeting one of three benchmarks: a valuation or market capitalisation of at least USD 500 million, or total funding raised of at least USD 30 million.
Applicants intending to establish a new company in Singapore are also eligible under the entrepreneurship pathway, subject to the same experience and compensation requirements.
The five-year experience criterion overlaps with — but is more permissive than — the current Tech.Pass, which required a last drawn fixed salary of SGD 20,000 or a cumulative funding track record above USD 65 million as a founder. Under the new track, a well-compensated staff engineer at a mid-size Singapore unicorn may qualify where they previously could not.
Comparison: ONE Pass (AI and Tech) vs Current Tech.Pass vs Standard EP
Understanding the differences between the three instruments helps employers and candidates choose the right vehicle. The table below reflects the state as at 17 May 2026 for Tech.Pass, and the announced parameters for the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) launching January 2027.
| Feature | Employment Pass | Tech.Pass (until Jan 2027) | ONE Pass (AI and Tech, from Jan 2027) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary | SGD 5,600/mth (SGD 6,200 for FS) | SGD 20,000/mth (fixed cash) | SGD 22,500 cash + equity to SGD 30,000 |
| Validity | 2 years (1st), 3 years (renewal) | 2 years (1 renewal possible) | 5 years (5-year renewals) |
| Employer-tied? | Yes | No | No |
| COMPASS assessment | Yes | No | No |
| Equity counts toward salary? | No | No | Yes (ESOP/ESOW) |
| Concurrent roles allowed? | No | Yes (up to 2 concurrent employers) | Yes (unlimited concurrent roles) |
What Current Tech.Pass Holders Should Do Now
The new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) criteria apply to new applications beginning 1 January 2027 and to renewals beginning 1 January 2028. This means:
- Existing Tech.Pass holders can continue on their current pass until expiry and then renew under the new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) framework from 1 January 2028 at the latest.
- Holders whose passes expire before January 2028 will need to assess whether they meet the new criteria or should consider converting to a standard EP (which does admit COMPASS scoring overhead but has a lower cash threshold at SGD 5,600/month).
- Holders who meet the SGD 22,500+ cash plus equity criteria should begin assembling their equity compensation documentation now — vesting schedules, board resolutions authorising ESOP grants, and valuation records — as MOM will likely require these at the time of application.
For candidates not sure whether the EP or ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track is the better route, see our detailed breakdown of Tech.Pass Singapore 2026: the five selection criteria and compare against your profile before MOM publishes the final ONE Pass (AI and Tech) application checklist.
Strategic Implications for Singapore Employers and Start-Ups
For companies building AI or deep-tech teams in Singapore, the new track resolves a genuine structural problem. The Singapore Employment Pass requires COMPASS scoring, which for a foreign-heavy tech team — common in early AI ventures — can be punishing at the diversity and local-hire indicators. The ONE Pass bypasses COMPASS entirely and carries no levy, making it the preferred vehicle for the most senior hires.
Equally important: because the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) will count ESOP and ESOW toward the threshold, start-ups with thin cash runways can now structure senior compensation packages more competitively, competing with Silicon Valley-style equity grants for the first time under Singapore immigration rules.
That said, the SGD 22,500 cash floor remains high relative to early-stage compensation realities. Employers funding seed and pre-Series A rounds should build financial models around this constraint early, or consider whether a standard EP with COMPASS workarounds is more pragmatic for roles below the threshold. Our guide on the true cost of hiring a foreigner in Singapore 2026 provides a full cost-of-hire model across EP, S Pass, and ONE Pass pathways that helps frame this decision.
For the broader context on Singapore’s 2026–2028 work pass roadmap, including the Local Qualifying Salary increase from 1 July 2026 and S Pass salary step-up from January 2027, see our overview of major 2026 CPF, tax and employment policy changes.
Implementation Timeline
- January 2027: ONE Pass (AI and Tech) opens for new applications. Tech.Pass closes to new applications.
- January 2028: New ONE Pass (AI and Tech) criteria apply to Tech.Pass renewals. Existing Tech.Pass holders renewing after this date must meet the new threshold.
- By end 2026: MOM expected to publish full eligibility criteria, equity valuation methodology, and application checklist.
LBEA will update this guide as MOM releases additional implementation guidance. Bookmark this page and follow MOM’s official ONE Pass page for updates.
Conclusion
The ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track is a well-targeted policy response to the gap that existed between the EP (accessible but COMPASS-constrained) and the Tech.Pass (flexible but cash-salary-dependent). By counting equity, extending validity to five years, and maintaining the employer-independent structure, MOM is creating a vehicle that can genuinely compete for the top tier of global AI and deep-tech talent — the kind that currently has credible options in San Francisco, London, and Zurich.
If you are a founder, senior engineer, or AI specialist evaluating Singapore as your next base — or an HR leader planning your 2027 talent pipeline — Singapore Employment Agency (Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd, MOM Licence 19C9790) can assess your profile against the new criteria and structure an application that is positioned from day one. For company setup, incorporation, and relocation support to complement the pass application, contact Raffles Corporate Services.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency