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EMPLOYMENT PASS

EP, EntrePass or ONE Pass: which to choose

Last updated: July 2026

Short answer

Three passes suit three different people. EP: your company can pay you S$5,600+/month via the employment route — the mainstream choice. EntrePass: pre-revenue founders with recognised funding, IP or accelerator backing — no salary floor but venture criteria instead. ONE Pass: top talent earning S$30,000+/month or with outstanding achievements — COMPASS-exempt, multi-employer, 5-year validity. Choosing wrong wastes months.

Three passes compared

EPEntrePassONE Pass
Who it suitsEmployed professionalsVenture-backed foundersTop earners / high achievers
Salary floorFrom S$5,600 (fin S$6,200)NoneS$30,000
Other conditionsCOMPASS 40 pointsFunding / IP / acceleratorOr outstanding achievement
Employer-tiedSingle employerOwn companyMultiple employers, can run businesses
COMPASSRequiredN/AExempt
Validity2 yrs first / 3 renewalMilestone-based renewal5 years

There is also the PEP: S$22,500/month, three years, non-renewable, no self-employment or running a business — for high earners already on an EP.

Matching yourself to a pass

Can your company pay you S$5,600+? Take the EP through your own company — the cleanest route, with registration and pass planned as one. Most founders choose this.

Pre-revenue but funded or IP-backed? Consider EntrePass. No salary floor, but venture criteria instead — recognised funding, IP or accelerator backing, with renewal milestones for real spending and local hiring that steepen over time.

Earning S$30,000+, or top of your field? The ONE Pass frees you from single-employer tying — rare among passes — suiting serial operators and executives. Two routes: salary and outstanding achievement.

The cost of choosing wrong

Applying for EP when ONE Pass fits

The ONE Pass's long validity and multi-employer flexibility matter for senior professionals — do not default to the EP.

Treating EntrePass as a "no-threshold EP"

No salary floor, but the venture criteria and renewal milestones are demanding — not an easier option.

Ignoring the PEP income test

The PEP is non-renewable, has an annual income requirement and bars running a business — wrong context leaves you stuck.

How we handle it

We match you by salary, company stage, whether you are a founder, and any outstanding achievements — rather than defaulting everyone to the EP. On the EP route, we assess whether COMPASS can pass (see the EP complete guide). See EP and legal pathway assessment.

Frequently asked

Should a founder choose EP or EntrePass?

It depends. If your company can pay you S$5,600+, the EP through your own company is cleanest. Only if pre-revenue but funded/IP-backed consider EntrePass.

Biggest difference between ONE Pass and EP?

ONE Pass is COMPASS-exempt, allows multiple employers, and runs 5 years, but the floor is S$30,000; the EP is single-employer, needs COMPASS 40, from S$5,600.

Does EntrePass really have no salary floor?

Correct, but it substitutes venture criteria — recognised funding, IP or accelerator backing — plus renewal milestones for real spending and local hiring.

What is the PEP and who is it for?

Personalised Employment Pass: S$22,500/month, three years, non-renewable, no self-employment — for high earners already on an EP.

Sources: MOM (EP, EntrePass, ONE Pass, PEP eligibility and thresholds). Verified July 2026; thresholds change — follow MOM's latest. General information, not immigration or legal advice.

Unsure which pass fits you?

Salary, company stage and whether you're a founder decide the best route. Tell us your situation and we match you, avoiding a wrong choice that wastes months.

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