SingaporeWork residence permit

Mid-level work pass in Singapore

The S Pass is a work pass issued by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for foreign mid-level associate professionals and technicians. The pass is arranged by an employer registered in Singapore, the holder works only for that employer, and the number of such passes in a company's workforce is capped by a sector quota.

Visa term

Usually up to 2 years initially; renewal subject to quotas

Threshold

Minimum salary about 3,000 SGD/month; quotas and levies for the employer

Processing time

Several weeks (about 3)

Work

Work only for the sponsor; a change means a new pass

Source: mom.gov.sg — S Pass

Who can obtain one

Requirements for the candidate

A job offer from a company registered in Singapore
A fixed salary of at least 3,300 SGD a month in the general sectors or 3,800 SGD in the financial sector — the threshold rises with the candidate's age
Any nationality — there are no nationality restrictions
Declaring a qualification is not compulsory; if you do declare one, it must be from an accredited institution

Requirements for the employer

The company is registered in Singapore and has an account with the Central Provident Fund Board
Before applying, the vacancy must be advertised on MyCareersFuture and all candidates considered fairly
The number of S Pass holders in the workforce is capped: up to 10% in services, up to 15% in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process sectors
The employer pays a monthly levy for each pass holder

What it costs

Application (fee)	105 SGD
Pass issuance (fee)	100 SGD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	205 SGD

Documents to gather

The employer or an appointed employment agency files the documents through the EP eService.

The personal particulars page of the candidate's passport
The candidate's written consent to the application
A completed candidate's form with details of qualifications and the position
The company's latest business profile registered with ACRA
For particular occupations (medicine, law, football, food and beverage) — supporting documents from the relevant regulator
Documents not in English — together with an official translation

How the process runs

The application is filed through the EP eService.

1
Advertising the vacancy and filing the application
processing up to 10 working days
The employer advertises the vacancy on MyCareersFuture, considers all candidates fairly, obtains the candidate's written consent and files the application through the EP eService, paying the 105 SGD fee.
2
In-Principle Approval (IPA)
60 days to enter
Once approved, the employer receives an In-Principle Approval letter — a ready single-entry visa for Singapore; within 60 days of the approval date the candidate must enter and have the pass issued.
3
Preparing for the candidate's arrival
The employer buys the candidate medical insurance and, where required, a Primary Care Plan policy for those living in dormitories with 7 or more residents or working in the CMP sectors.
4
Issuing the pass
the card within 5 working days
The candidate arrives in Singapore, the employer pays the 100 SGD pass issuance fee, and if required the candidate registers fingerprints and a photograph; the pass card is delivered within 5 working days of registration.

Who you can bring with you

Spouse and children

An S Pass holder with a fixed salary of at least 6,000 SGD a month may obtain a Dependant's Pass for them.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Employment in Singapore

The renewal is filed by the employer or an appointed employment agency through the EP eService, from 6 months before the current pass expires up to its expiry date. The renewed pass is valid for up to 3 years — the period is further limited by the validity of the passport. The fee for issuing the renewed pass is 100 SGD and processing takes up to 10 working days.

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.

	Mid-level work pass	ONE Pass for top professionals	visa for startup entrepreneurs
Visa term	Usually up to 2 years initially; renewal subject to quotas	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	Mid-skilled staff	High income	Technology startups
Money	Minimum salary about 3,000 SGD/month; quotas and levies for the employer	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 sponsor; a change means a new pass	Work for several employers, own business	Work in and run your own company
Residence	Employment in Singapore	No strict minimum number of days	Actively running the business

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

A PR application is possible, but chances are lower than with an EP

Route to citizenship

PR first, then citizenship

Frequently asked questions about Mid-level work pass

Who can obtain an S Pass?

The S Pass is issued to foreign workers with a job offer in Singapore whose fixed salary is at least 3,300 SGD a month in the general sectors or 3,800 SGD a month in the financial sector — the threshold rises with the candidate's age. Declaring a qualification is not compulsory, but if you do declare one it must be from an accredited institution.

How much does it cost to hire someone on an S Pass?

In addition to the application and pass issuance fees, the employer pays a monthly levy for each S Pass holder. From 1 September 2025 the levy rate is the same for all sectors and tiers — 650 SGD a month; for an incomplete calendar month of work the levy is calculated at a daily rate of 21.37 SGD.

How many S Pass holders can one company hire?

The number is capped by a quota (the dependency ratio ceiling): in services — no more than 10% of the company's workforce; in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process sectors — no more than 15%. The overall DRC (Work Permit plus S Pass combined) ranges from 35% in services to 83.3% in the construction and process sectors.

Can an S Pass holder bring their family?

Yes, if their fixed salary is at least 6,000 SGD a month — they may then obtain a Dependant's Pass for a spouse and children.

How is an S Pass renewed?

The renewal is filed by the employer or an employment agency through the EP eService, from 6 months before the current pass expires. The renewed pass is valid for up to 3 years, the issuance fee is 100 SGD, and processing takes up to 10 working days.

How does the S Pass differ from the Employment Pass?

The S Pass is intended for skilled mid-level associate professionals and technicians who may not meet the higher criteria of the Employment Pass. Unlike the EP, the number of S Passes in a company's workforce is capped by a sector quota.

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.