Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) — Step-by-step walkthrough
The Personalised Employment Pass is a Singapore work pass for high-earning professionals that is not tied to a single employer, offering greater job flexibility. This walkthrough explains who the PEP is for, the 2026 qualifying salary, the validity period and conditions, and the step-by-step application process and costs.
What the Personalised Employment Pass is
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to high-earning foreign professionals and is not attached to any one employer. A PEP holder may change jobs without re-applying, and may remain in Singapore for a limited period while between roles. It is aimed at senior talent who value mobility, and it carries stricter salary and conduct conditions than the standard Employment Pass.
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.
Who the PEP is for
The PEP suits established overseas professionals and existing Employment Pass holders earning at the upper end of the market who want freedom to move between employers. It is not available to the self-employed, business owners, or those who wish to start a business, and it cannot be used to set up or run a company.
Salary thresholds and conditions
From 2023 the PEP requires a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 for new applicants, and overseas foreign professionals must have last drawn a comparable fixed monthly salary within the six months before applying. A PEP holder must earn a fixed annual salary of at least S$270,000 each calendar year to keep the pass. Section 5 of the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 establishes the requirement to hold a valid work pass, and the conditions of the PEP are set out in the work-pass conditions issued by MOM.
Validity, cost and timeline — the numbers
The PEP is granted for up to 3 years and is non-renewable. A holder may be unemployed in Singapore for up to 6 months at a time while seeking a new role. The application fee is S$105 and the issuance fee is S$225. MOM processing typically takes about 8 weeks. The holder must notify MOM of employment changes and declare annual salary.
Step-by-step application walkthrough
First, confirm you meet the salary threshold and are not seeking to run a business. Second, prepare evidence of last-drawn salary and qualifications. Third, submit the PEP application through MOM, either as an existing Employment Pass holder or an overseas professional. Fourth, on approval, complete issuance formalities and obtain the pass. Fifth, track the annual salary requirement and report job changes within the required timeframe.
Senior hires often coincide with group tax planning, so review our cross-site guide to Singapore corporate tax rates and exemptions and, for foreign founders, opening a Singapore corporate bank account. For benchmarking pay against pass strategy, read our on-site guide on Singapore salary benchmarks and work-pass strategy.
Common mistakes and gotchas
Applicants commonly forget the PEP cannot be used to run a business, miss the high annual salary floor that must be met every calendar year, or assume the pass can be renewed when it cannot. Failing to report a job change or a period of unemployment beyond six months can lead to cancellation. Confirm the current rules on the MOM website and entry requirements on the ICA website.
How the PEP differs from a standard Employment Pass
The defining feature of the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is that it is not tied to an employer. A standard Employment Pass is sponsored by a specific company and becomes invalid when the holder leaves; a PEP holder can change jobs without re-applying and may remain in Singapore for a limited period while between roles. This flexibility comes at a price: the salary thresholds are far higher, the pass is granted for a maximum of three years and cannot be renewed, and it cannot be used to start or run a business. For senior professionals who move between employers or who want to explore the market, the trade-off can be worthwhile; for someone settled in a single long-term role, a standard Employment Pass is usually the better fit.
Meeting and keeping the salary thresholds
New PEP applicants must command a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, and overseas applicants must have drawn a comparable fixed monthly salary within the six months before applying. Crucially, the obligation does not end at issuance: a PEP holder must earn a fixed annual salary of at least S$270,000 in each calendar year to retain the pass. A holder who falls short in any year risks cancellation. Because the threshold is assessed on fixed salary rather than variable bonuses, holders should ensure their remuneration structure delivers the required fixed component rather than relying on discretionary payments.
Conditions, reporting and unemployment periods
A PEP holder must notify the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of any change of employer and must declare annual salary as required. The pass permits up to six months of unemployment in Singapore at a time while seeking a new role; exceeding that period without securing employment leads to cancellation. The holder cannot be self-employed, run a business, or act as the key personnel of a business under the PEP. These conditions make the PEP unsuitable for entrepreneurs, who should instead consider the EntrePass or an Employment Pass sponsored by their own company once it is established.
Application process, fees and practical timing
The PEP application is submitted to MOM with evidence of last-drawn salary, qualifications and passport particulars, either by an existing Employment Pass holder or by an overseas professional. The application fee is S$105 and the issuance fee is S$225, and processing typically takes about eight weeks. Applicants should time the application carefully, particularly overseas professionals relying on a recent salary, because the six-month look-back means a long gap since the last role can disqualify an otherwise strong candidate. Once granted, the holder should diarise the annual salary requirement and the rules on reporting job changes to avoid inadvertent breach.
FAQs
What salary does the PEP require in 2026?
New applicants need a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, and holders must earn at least S$270,000 in fixed annual salary each calendar year to keep the pass.
Can I run a business on a PEP?
No. The PEP cannot be used to start or operate a business, and it is not available to the self-employed or business owners.
How long is the PEP valid?
Up to three years, and it is non-renewable. A holder may be unemployed in Singapore for up to six months at a time.
Is the PEP tied to an employer?
No. The PEP is not tied to a single employer, so the holder can change jobs without re-applying, subject to reporting requirements.
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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.