Singapore Employment Pass
Singapore
Residency
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See if you're a match →This is a Singapore work-residence route for foreign professionals sponsored by an employer. It generally requires a qualifying job, acceptable salary, and credentials that fit the role.
- Type
- Work residence
- Job fit
- People with a qualifying job or employer in Singapore
- Core requirements
- Job offer, employer documents, and work authorization rules
- Renewal / path
- Renewal depends on continued employment and may count toward long-term residence.
Summary
The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore's principal work pass for foreign professionals, managers, and executives. It's employer-sponsored through the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore's labor and work-pass agency, and tied to a specific job at a specific company — changing jobs means a new application. As of the 2025 reforms, the minimum qualifying salary is SGD 5,600/month for most sectors and SGD 6,200/month for financial services, rising progressively with age and experience.
The EP also runs through the COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) points-based scoring system, which evaluates salary benchmarks, diversity of the employer's workforce, educational qualifications, and strategic skills. An applicant needs at least 40 points to qualify. EPs are issued for up to 2 years on first grant and up to 3 years on renewal. EP holders can later apply for Permanent Residence through the Professionals/Technical Personnel/Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme, Singapore's main PR route for working professionals, though approval is discretionary.
Eligibility
You may qualify for an EP if all of the following are true:
- You have a firm job offer from a Singapore-registered employer willing to sponsor you.
- Your fixed monthly salary meets the threshold for your age, experience, and sector (minimum SGD 5,600/month, or SGD 6,200 in financial services; higher for candidates in their 40s and 50s).
- You hold a recognized university degree, specialist qualifications, or equivalent senior experience.
- You meet the COMPASS framework with at least 40 points across salary, skills, qualifications, diversity, and strategic priority factors.
- Your employer has first posted the role on the MyCareersFuture jobs portal for at least 14 days (for roles below a certain salary tier).
COMPASS in plain terms
COMPASS awards points on four foundational criteria and two bonus criteria:
- C1 — Salary: 20 points if your salary is at the top of your sector's local benchmarks; 10 points if it meets the median.
- C2 — Qualifications: 20 points for a top-tier university; 10 for a recognized degree.
- C3 — Diversity: 20 points if your nationality is underrepresented at the employer (<5% of workforce); 10 if between 5–25%.
- C4 — Support for local employment: 20 points if the employer's local PMET (professional) share exceeds the industry median.
- Bonus 1 — Skills bonus: 20 points if your occupation is on the Shortage Occupation List; 10 for other skilled roles.
- Bonus 2 — Strategic Economic Priorities: 10 points for contributions to innovation, internationalization, or training commitments.
You need 40+ total points. Salaries at the 90th percentile of local PMETs in your sector auto-qualify without scoring on some criteria.
Fair Consideration Framework
Employers for most roles must advertise the position on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 days before applying for an EP, demonstrating they considered Singaporean candidates. Exemptions apply for roles paying above a high salary threshold or at small firms.
Dependants
EP holders earning at least SGD 6,000/month can sponsor their spouse and unmarried children under 21 via a Dependant's Pass (DP). Those earning at least SGD 12,000/month can also sponsor parents via a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
Path to Permanent Residence
After holding an EP and building a Singapore employment and tax record, you can apply for PR under the PTS scheme. Approval is discretionary — income, tax contributions, employer sponsorship, family ties, and length of stay all factor. After at least 2 years of PR, you become eligible to apply for citizenship.
What This Route Allows
If approved, this route gives you work residence in Singapore. Renewal or longer-term path: Requires continued qualifying employment; any later long-term residence filing is separate and should be supported with continuous lawful stay, payroll, tax, address, and permit-history records.
What This Route Is Not
This is not a guarantee of approval. Immigration authorities can still review documents, admissibility, background, funds, and whether the facts match the pathway rules.
Next Steps
- Secure a qualifying job offer. The EP is employer-sponsored — find a Singapore employer willing to run the application. Roles in tech, finance, and legal frequently clear the salary and COMPASS bars.
- Verify salary and COMPASS score. Use MOM's Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) and the COMPASS calculator to test your eligibility before your employer applies.
- Employer files through EP Online. The employer submits on your behalf.
- Attend biometrics in Singapore. On approval, you collect your EP card after an in-person visit to the ICA Employment Pass Services Centre. ICA is Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.
- Apply for dependants if eligible. DPs and LTVPs are filed separately after your EP is issued.
- Track renewal early. Renewal happens up to 3 months before expiry. Salary, COMPASS, and local hiring benchmarks can shift between issuance and renewal.
- Plan for PR. After 2+ years of steady employment and tax contributions, evaluate PR under the PTS scheme. PR is the gateway to eventual citizenship.