SingaporeWork residence permit

Work visa for professionals in Singapore

The Employment Pass is a work pass issued by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower for foreign professionals, managers, executives and technical specialists with a job offer from a Singapore company. The pass is not subject to sector quotas, but the holder works only for the sponsoring employer, which files the application on their behalf.

Visa term

Up to 2 years initially; renewal for up to 3 years

Processing time

About 3 weeks (local employer), up to ~8 weeks (overseas employer)

Work

Work only for the sponsoring employer

Residence

No explicit minimum number of days

Source: mom.gov.sg — Employment Pass

Who can obtain an Employment Pass

The application is filed by the employer or by an employment agency it has appointed — the candidate does not apply personally.

Basic requirements

A job offer from a company registered in Singapore, or from an employment agency it has engaged
The occupation is that of a professional, manager, executive or technical specialist
A minimum salary of $5,600 a month (from $6,200 in the financial sector); the threshold rises with the candidate's age

COMPASS (Stage 2)

At least 40 points are needed across five criteria: salary relative to the market, qualifications, nationality diversity in the workforce, share of local employees in PMET roles, and shortage occupations
Candidates with a fixed salary of at least $22,500 a month are exempt from COMPASS

Special conditions

Experienced tech specialists with shortage skills may receive an EP for 5 years straight away — the scheme has been in place since September 2023
The employer must advertise the vacancy on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 days if it has 10 or more employees and the salary for the role is below $22,500 a month

What it costs

Application fee	105 SGD
Pass issuance (per pass)	225 SGD
Multiple Journey Visa, if one is needed	+30 SGD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Multiple Journey Visa, if one is needed” adds 30 SGD.	330–360 SGD

Documents to gather

The basic package plus sector documents for particular occupations:

The personal particulars page of the candidate's passport
A letter of explanation and supporting documents if the name in the passport differs from that in other documents (for example, a change-of-name certificate)
Proof of the candidate's qualifications (degree certificates), if applicable
The employer's latest business profile registered with ACRA
Documents not in English — with an official translation, uploaded together with the original in a single file
For healthcare professionals, lawyers, footballers and coaches — supporting documents from the relevant regulators (Singapore Medical Council, Legal Services Regulatory Authority and others)
For staff of food and beverage outlets — a copy of a valid Singapore Food Agency licence, or the application for one in the case of new outlets

How the process runs

The route from advertising the vacancy to issuing the pass:

1
Advertising the vacancy on MyCareersFuture
at least 14 days
The employer advertises the job on the MyCareersFuture portal and considers all candidates fairly — mandatory if it has 10 or more employees, the salary for the role is below $22,500 a month and the role lasts at least a month.
2
Filing the application through the EP eService
The employer or an appointed employment agency files the application online, attaches the documents and the candidate's written consent to the application.
3
Assessment of the application
about 10 working days for companies registered in Singapore; up to 6 weeks for overseas companies without an office in the country
MOM processes the application or gives an interim reply within that period.
4
In-Principle Approval letter
valid for 6 months
While the IPA is valid, the candidate must enter Singapore and have the pass issued.
5
Issuing the pass
the card is ready 5 working days after registration or document verification
If required, the candidate registers their biometric data within 2 weeks of the pass being issued, and then receives the card.

Who you can bring with you

Which relatives may relocate with an EP holder:

Legally married spouse and children under 21, including adopted children

Dependant's Pass; the EP holder must earn at least $6,000 a month

Common-law spouse, stepchildren under 21, disabled children over 21

Long-Term Visit Pass; the same threshold — at least $6,000 a month

Parents of the EP holder

Long-Term Visit Pass; available only where the EP holder's salary is at least $12,000 a month

Renewal and the grace period

A renewal application may be filed no earlier than 6 months before the current pass expires and no later than its expiry date. The candidate must still meet the minimum qualifying salary and, unless exempt on income grounds, score the passing mark on COMPASS. Through the myMOM Portal an application is processed or answered in about 10 working days; for overseas employers without an office in Singapore it usually takes up to 6 weeks. The pass is renewed for up to 3 years; issuing the new pass costs $225, plus $30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if one is needed.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Work visa for professionals	ONE Pass for top professionals	visa for startup entrepreneurs
Visa term	Up to 2 years initially; renewal for up to 3 years	5 years; renewable for 5 years if the income is maintained or a company with ≥5 local employees is run	Usually 1 year, renewable for 1-2 years if the targets are met
Grounds	Professionals/managers	High income	Technology startups
Money	Minimum salary 5,600 SGD/month (6,200 in the financial sector), higher for older candidates	Fixed salary ≥30,000 SGD/month; the employer is a large company	No personal minimum; on renewal — target business spending and hiring of local staff
Work	Work only for the sponsoring employer	Work for several employers, own business	Work in and run your own company
Residence	No explicit minimum number of days	No strict minimum number of days	Actively running the business

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

A PR application usually after ≥1 year of work

Route to citizenship

PR first, then citizenship

Frequently asked questions about Work visa for professionals

Who can obtain an Employment Pass and how much do you need to earn?

The Employment Pass is issued to foreign professionals, managers, executives and technical specialists with a job offer from a Singapore company. The minimum qualifying salary starts at $5,600 a month for candidates aged 23 and below and rises with age: about $10,700 a month for candidates aged 45 and above, for example. Thresholds in the financial sector are higher — from $6,200 a month for the youngest age group.

What is COMPASS and is passing it mandatory?

COMPASS is the second stage of assessment: points are awarded for the candidate's salary relative to the market, their qualifications, nationality diversity in the company's workforce, the share of local employees in PMET roles and work in a shortage occupation. At least 40 points are needed to pass. Candidates with a fixed salary of at least $22,500 a month are exempt from COMPASS.

How much does an Employment Pass cost and how long is the application assessed?

The application costs $105, issuing the pass itself costs $225, plus $30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if one is needed. For companies registered in Singapore the application is processed or given an interim reply within 10 working days; for overseas companies without an office in Singapore it usually takes up to 6 weeks.

Can you bring your family with you?

An EP holder earning at least $6,000 a month may obtain a Dependant's Pass for a legally married spouse and children under 21, or a Long-Term Visit Pass for a common-law spouse, stepchildren under 21 and disabled children over 21. Parents may be brought over only where the EP holder's salary is at least $12,000 a month — also on a Long-Term Visit Pass.

When and how is an Employment Pass renewed?

A renewal application may be filed no earlier than 6 months before the current pass expires and no later than its expiry date. The pass is renewed for up to 3 years; the candidate must still meet the qualifying salary and, unless exempt on income grounds, the COMPASS passing score.

Does the employer have to pay a quota or a levy for a foreign worker on an EP?

No. The Employment Pass requires neither a quota nor the monthly foreign worker levy that applies to some other work passes in Singapore.

Other ways to move to Singapore

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Singapore.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.