SingaporeBusiness / startup residence permit

visa for startup entrepreneurs in Singapore

The EntrePass is a Singapore work pass for foreign entrepreneurs who are setting up or already running a private company in the country backed by venture funding or innovative technology. The pass holder runs their own business rather than working as an employee, and confirms the company's standing afresh at every renewal.

Visa term

Usually 1 year, renewable for 1-2 years if the targets are met

Threshold

No personal minimum; on renewal — target business spending and hiring of local staff

Processing time

Usually ~8 weeks because of the business assessment

Work

Work in and run your own company

Source: mom.gov.sg — EntrePass

Who can obtain one and on what conditions

Requirements for the company

A private company registered with ACRA
The applicant owns at least 30% of the registered company
The company is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies

One of five innovator criteria

Funding raised from an investor in a single round
Support from a government-recognised or international incubator or accelerator
A venture-backed or technology business previously founded and sold
Registered intellectual property with a clear competitive advantage
An ongoing research collaboration with a Singapore university or research institution

Who applies

The applicant's citizenship or nationality is irrelevant
The application is filed by the candidate personally
No minimum salary is set

What it costs

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

Documents to gather

For the initial application you need to provide:

The passport page with personal particulars
A business plan in English of no more than 10 pages: product and services, market analysis, operating plan, profile of the management team
Supporting documents — licensing agreements, product certificates, patents
Documents on the type and activity of the applicant's previous businesses
A CV and references from previous places of work
The company's latest business profile or Bizfile extract
The latest financial statements, if the company has been registered with ACRA for more than 12 months
Additional documents for the chosen innovator criterion — investment agreements, shareholder certificates, an incubation agreement, IP registration or a research collaboration agreement
Documents not in English — together with an English translation in a single file

How the process runs

The route from filing the application to receiving the pass card:

1
Filing the application
assessment up to 6 weeks
The candidate files the application online and pays the assessment fee. The outcome is an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter or a refusal.
2
Preparing to enter
the IPA is valid for 6 months
The IPA works as a single-entry visa for Singapore; the candidate must comply with the entry requirements in force.
3
Having the pass issued
usually immediately on application
The candidate, a company representative or an employment agency arranges issuance of the pass and pays the issuance fee — within 6 months of the IPA.
4
Registering fingerprints and a photograph
within 2 weeks of the pass being issued
Required if stated in the notification letter; carried out at the Employment Pass Services Centre.
5
Receiving the pass card
5 working days
The card is delivered to the address given within 5 working days of fingerprint registration or document verification.

Who you can bring with you

An EntrePass holder may bring family members once the business targets are met:

Spouse, including a common-law spouse, and children under 21

One of the following: annual business spending of at least SGD 100,000 and at least 1 local employee on the payroll; or 2 or more venture-backed or technology companies sold; or more than SGD 2 million of funding raised; or 2 or more registered deep-tech patents

Parents

Annual business spending of at least SGD 200,000 and at least 2 local employees on the payroll

Type of pass for relatives

A legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 (including adopted children) receive a Dependant's Pass; a common-law spouse, unmarried disabled children over 21, stepchildren under 21 and parents receive a Long-Term Visit Pass

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Actively running the business

The renewal application is filed 3 months before the pass expires and assessment takes up to 8 weeks. The first renewal is valid for up to 1 year, subsequent ones for up to 2 years. The holder must retain at least 30% of the company, create a profile on the Startup SG Network, confirm the venture-backed or innovative standing of the business through current activity and financial statements, and meet the annual business spending and local employee targets for their renewal cycle — from SGD 100,000 of spending and 1 employee in the second cycle to SGD 1,150,000 of spending and 10 employees in the eleventh. Issuing the renewed pass costs SGD 225, and a Multiple Journey Visa a further SGD 30.

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.

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

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

A PR application later under the entrepreneur schemes

Route to citizenship

PR first, then citizenship

Frequently asked questions about visa for startup entrepreneurs

Who can apply for an EntrePass?

Applications come from entrepreneurs of any nationality who own at least 30% of a private company registered with ACRA that is venture-backed or has innovative technologies, and who additionally meet one of the criteria: investment of at least SGD 100,000 raised in a single round, support from a recognised incubator or accelerator, a technology business sold previously, registered intellectual property with a competitive advantage, or a research collaboration with a Singapore university or research institution.

How much does an EntrePass cost and how long does it take?

The application costs SGD 105 and assessment takes up to 6 weeks. After approval, issuing the pass costs SGD 225, plus SGD 30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if one is needed.

Can you bring your family on an EntrePass?

Yes, once the business targets are met. For a spouse and children under 21 — one of the criteria: annual business spending of at least SGD 100,000 and 1 local employee on the payroll, 2 or more venture-backed companies sold, more than SGD 2 million of investment raised, or 2 or more deep-tech patents. For parents — spending of at least SGD 200,000 and at least 2 local employees.

How is an EntrePass renewed and what are the renewal criteria?

The renewal application is filed 3 months before the pass expires and assessment takes up to 8 weeks. The holder must retain a stake of at least 30% in the company and, with each renewal cycle, increase annual business spending and the number of local employees — from SGD 100,000 of spending and 1 employee in the second cycle to SGD 1,150,000 of spending and 10 employees in the eleventh.

How long is the EntrePass valid?

A new pass and the first renewal are issued for up to 1 year; subsequent renewals for up to 2 years.

How does the EntrePass differ from the Tech.Pass?

The EntrePass is intended for entrepreneurs setting up a venture-backed or technologically innovative business in Singapore in which they own at least 30%. If the candidate has already led a large technology company or created a technology product with mass adoption, they should consider the Tech.Pass instead of the EntrePass.

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.