Last updated: 2 July 2026 · Author: SBC Team
A foreign founder relocating to Singapore has more than one way in. The Employment Pass (EP) is the workhorse most people know. Our guide shows how to apply for an Employment Pass. Above it sit two premium passes — the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) and the Technology.Pass (Tech.Pass) — built for high earners and senior technology talent who want more flexibility than a standard EP allows. Choosing the right one depends on your salary, your track record, and how you plan to work once you arrive.
This guide sets out the three passes, who each is for, and the eligibility test that separates them. The EP and ONE Pass are administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM); the Tech.Pass is run by MOM with the Economic Development Board (EDB).
The Three Passes in One Sentence Each
- Employment Pass (EP) — the standard professional pass, tied to a single employer, subject to a minimum salary and the COMPASS points test.
- ONE Pass — a personalised, employer-agnostic pass for top earners and standout achievers, allowing you to work across multiple companies at once.
- Tech.Pass — a flexible pass for established technology leaders and founders, letting you start, invest in, and operate businesses without being tied to one employer.
Employment Pass: The Default
The EP is the pass most foreign founders and professionals use. It is issued to a specific company that sponsors the applicant — for a founder, that is usually their own newly incorporated Singapore company.
- Minimum salary (2026): S$5,600 per month for general sectors; S$6,200 per month for the financial services sector. Older and more experienced applicants must clear higher salary bars, and MOM has announced a rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600 respectively from 1 January 2027.
- COMPASS: applications must score at least 40 points under the Complementarity Assessment Framework, which weighs salary, qualifications, workforce diversity, and local employment, alongside two bonus criteria.
- Validity: up to two years on first issue, up to three years on renewal.
- Tied to employer: the pass belongs to the sponsoring company. Changing employer requires a new EP application.
- Family: a Dependant Pass is available where the EP holder earns at least S$6,000 per month.
Before submission, most EP applications also require a 14-day job advertisement on MyCareersFuture under the Fair Consideration Framework, with an exemption for roles paying a fixed monthly salary at or above S$22,500. The government fees are modest — S$105 to apply and S$225 on issuance — with the larger cost being the professional handling of the application itself.
ONE Pass: For Top Earners and Standout Achievers
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass is Singapore’s most flexible work pass. Unlike the EP, it is not tied to any single employer — a holder can work for, or run, several companies at the same time.
Eligibility runs on a high salary threshold or an exceptional-achievement route:
- Salary route: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 within the last year (with a comparable benchmark for those moving to or already in Singapore), from a single employer.
- Achievement route: outstanding achievement in arts and culture, sports, or academia and research can qualify an applicant who does not meet the salary threshold.
- Validity: five years — longer than any EP term — and renewable.
- Flexibility: concurrent employment across multiple companies; the holder is not re-tied to a new pass when they change or add roles.
The ONE Pass suits a senior executive, serial founder, or high earner who wants to operate across several ventures without a fresh application each time.
Tech.Pass: For Established Technology Leaders
The Tech.Pass targets experienced technology professionals, founders, and leaders who want to build and operate businesses in Singapore’s tech ecosystem with maximum flexibility. It is not tied to a sponsoring employer, and a holder can start a company, be an employee, mentor, invest, and lecture — all under the one pass.
Eligibility requires both of the following:
- A last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 in the last year.
- At least five cumulative years of experience in a leading role in a technology company with a valuation or market capitalisation of at least US$500 million or at least US$30 million of funding raised, or in a technology venture capital firm with at least US$500 million in assets under management.
The Tech.Pass is issued for two years and can be renewed once, for another two years, subject to meeting the renewal conditions. It is being phased out: from 28 January 2027 MOM and EDB will no longer accept new or renewal Tech.Pass applications, and a new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track replaces it. It is the natural fit for a technology founder who wants to build in Singapore without committing to a single corporate structure on day one.
The Decision Matrix
| Factor | Employment Pass | ONE Pass | Tech.Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Professionals and founders, standard route | Top earners; standout achievers | Established tech leaders and founders |
| Salary threshold | From S$5,600/mo (S$6,200 financial services) | S$30,000/mo (salary route) | S$22,500/mo (required, with leadership experience) |
| Tied to employer | Yes — single sponsor | No — concurrent employers allowed | No — start, invest, operate freely |
| Points test (COMPASS) | Yes — ≥ 40 points | No | No |
| Validity | Up to 2 years (3 on renewal) | 5 years | 2 years (renewable) |
| Best-fit founder | First-time founder relocating with a new SG company | Senior operator running multiple ventures | Experienced tech founder wanting flexibility |
Matching the Pass to the Founder
Three profiles cover most cases:
- The relocating founder. You are incorporating a Singapore company and moving to run it. The EP is almost always the right pass — it is designed for exactly this, and your own company sponsors it. Aim to clear the salary floor comfortably and score well on COMPASS.
- The multi-venture operator. You earn well above the ONE Pass threshold and want to work across several companies — your own and others’ — without a new pass each time. The ONE Pass buys that flexibility and a five-year term.
- The seasoned tech leader. You have led a well-funded or widely-used technology product and want to build in Singapore without tying yourself to one employer from the start. The Tech.Pass fits, provided you meet both of its criteria and apply before it closes to new applications on 28 January 2027.
For a founder who is unsure, the EP is the pragmatic starting point: it is the most established route, and the premium passes remain available later if your profile and plans grow into them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sponsor my own Employment Pass through my Singapore company?
Yes. A founder’s newly incorporated Singapore company can sponsor the founder’s EP, provided the salary meets the minimum and the application scores at least 40 points under COMPASS.
What is the difference between the ONE Pass and the Tech.Pass?
Both are employer-agnostic and allow flexible working. The ONE Pass is a broad top-tier pass for high earners and standout achievers across many fields, valid five years. The Tech.Pass is specific to established technology leaders and founders, valid two years and renewable once, with eligibility requiring both the salary and the tech-leadership criteria. It closes to new and renewal applications from 28 January 2027, when the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track replaces it.
Do the ONE Pass and Tech.Pass require COMPASS?
No. COMPASS applies to the Employment Pass. The ONE Pass and Tech.Pass have their own eligibility tests and are not subject to the COMPASS points framework.
Which pass lets me bring my family?
An EP holder earning at least S$6,000 a month can apply for a Dependant Pass for eligible family members. ONE Pass and Tech.Pass holders also have routes to bring family; the specific conditions differ by pass.
How long does an Employment Pass take to process?
MOM processes or gives an update on most online applications within 10 business days, followed by In-Principle Approval and pass issuance. The 14-day MyCareersFuture advertisement, where required, happens before submission.
Not sure which pass fits your relocation? We handle work pass applications alongside incorporation, so your company and your pass move together. Explore our Employment Pass service or Singapore incorporation, and book a free consultation to check your eligibility.
