Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) , Eligibility and requirements checklist

The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is a work pass tied to the individual rather than an employer, giving high-earning professionals the freedom to change jobs without reapplying. As at 2026 it requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, is issued once for a non-renewable three-year term, and requires annual earnings of at least S$144,000.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

What the Personalised Employment Pass is

The Personalised Employment Pass is a premium work pass for established professionals. Its defining feature is that it is not tied to a single employer: the holder may work for, or change between, employers without cancelling and reapplying for a pass, and may remain in Singapore for a limited period between jobs. This flexibility makes it attractive to senior executives and specialists who move between roles.

Salary threshold and validity

Since 1 September 2023 the PEP has had a single, unified qualifying threshold: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500. This figure applies equally to existing Employment Pass holders switching to a PEP and to overseas professionals applying from abroad. The PEP is issued once for a non-renewable three-year term. To retain the pass across that term, the holder must earn at least S$144,000 in each calendar year.

Because the PEP cannot be renewed, holders approaching the end of the three years typically move back to an employer-sponsored Employment Pass. Planning that transition early avoids a gap in immigration status. For the corporate and tax context that senior hires care about, see Carrying Forward Unutilised Tax Losses in Singapore: The Shareholding .

Eligibility and requirements checklist

• A fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 (existing EP holders) or a last-drawn salary that meets the threshold (overseas applicants).
• The candidate is not a sole proprietor, partner or company director in a business they manage.
• Annual earnings of at least S$144,000 maintained throughout the pass.
• The holder does not remain unemployed in Singapore beyond the permitted period between jobs.
• Notification to MOM of key changes, including employment and periods without work.

Cost, timeline and processing benchmarks

The core numbers to plan around:

• Qualifying fixed monthly salary: S$22,500.
• Minimum annual income to keep the pass: S$144,000.
• Validity: three years, non-renewable.
• Processing time: professional pass applications of this type are commonly assessed within around eight weeks, subject to verification.

Holders who intend to stay long term should map the move to an Employment Pass before year three ends; our related guidance in London to Singapore: A Finance Professional’s Complete Relocatio and the structuring view in Selling or Buying a Singapore Business: Share Sale vs Asset Sale Expla set out the options.

Who should not use the PEP

The PEP is unsuitable for founders and business owners, because holders cannot be directors of, or run, their own company on this pass; the EntrePass or an Employment Pass fits those cases. It is also a poor fit for professionals whose income is highly variable, since falling below S$144,000 in a calendar year can lead to cancellation.

Common mistakes and gotchas

The two errors that most often cost holders their pass are missing the S$144,000 annual income floor and overstaying the permitted unemployment window between jobs. A third is assuming the pass can be renewed; it cannot, and the transition to an employer-sponsored pass must be planned. The Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 governs the conditions of the pass, and its framework of work-pass conditions is administered by MOM. Section 5 of that Act requires a valid pass before a foreign professional may work. Authoritative details are published by www.mom.gov.sg and immigration processes by www.ica.gov.sg.

FAQs

What is the PEP salary threshold in 2026?
A fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, unified since 1 September 2023 for both existing EP holders and overseas applicants.

Can the Personalised Employment Pass be renewed?
No. It is issued once for a non-renewable three-year term, after which holders typically move to an employer-sponsored Employment Pass.

What annual income must a PEP holder maintain?
At least S$144,000 in each calendar year; falling below this can lead to cancellation.

Can a company director hold a PEP?
No. The PEP is not available to sole proprietors, partners or directors running their own business; founders should consider the EntrePass or an Employment Pass.

Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.