Can I Move to Singapore as a Teacher? Work Pass Options 2026

Short answer: It depends

Yes, with a school that hires you and applies for your work pass, usually the Employment Pass. Teaching in MOE schools asks for a professional teaching qualification, and the official pages do not set out a separate route for foreign applicants, so plan around international and private schools.

The programmes that apply to teachers in Singapore

Fees, salary floors and processing times below come from the official sources in Transita's visa database. Processing is an estimate from the published figure, not a promise.

Programme	Fee	Salary floor	Processing	Job offer	PR after
Employment Pass	$254	SGD 5,600/mo (≈ $52,564/yr)	0–1 months	Yes	2 years
S Pass	$158	SGD 3,300/mo (≈ $30,975/yr)	0–1 months	Yes	2 years

Employment Pass headline floor: youngest age band, all sectors except financial services; MOM raises it with age to S$10,700 at 45 and above.

S Pass headline floor: benchmarked to the top third of local associate professional and technician salaries; rises with age, and again for new applications from 1 January 2027.

Employment Pass alternative floor: SGD 128,400/yr (applicants aged 45 or over).

Employment Pass alternative floor: SGD 74,400/yr (financial services).

Employment Pass alternative floor: SGD 72,000/yr (new applications from 1 January 2027).

Employment Pass alternative floor: SGD 79,200/yr (financial services, new applications from 1 January 2027).

S Pass alternative floor: SGD 57,600/yr (applicants aged 45 or over).

Employment Pass: The pass for qualified teachers at international and private schools whose salary clears the floor for their age.
S Pass: For teaching assistant and associate roles below the EP floor, subject to quotas and levies on the school.

MOE schools versus international schools

MOE's recruitment page for trained teachers asks for a professional teaching qualification, such as the NIE postgraduate diploma or an equivalent. International and private schools apply for your work pass as the employer, like any other company.

Does a teaching salary clear the EP floor?

The Employment Pass floor starts at SGD 5,600/mo (≈ $52,564/yr) for the youngest age band and rises with age. Other floors in our data: SGD 128,400/yr (applicants aged 45 or over); SGD 74,400/yr (financial services); SGD 72,000/yr (new applications from 1 January 2027); SGD 79,200/yr (financial services, new applications from 1 January 2027). Teaching offers vary widely, so compare yours with the floor for your age before you resign anywhere.

After salary, the application is scored under COMPASS, stage two of EP eligibility, and the school must advertise the job on MyCareersFuture before it applies.

Fees and timing

The EP fee is $254, the decision takes about 0–1 months and the first pass runs for up to 2 years. The EP guide for software engineers covers the same process in more detail.

Who sponsors teachers in Singapore

Transita does not hold a Singapore sponsor register. The school is the employer that applies, so ask during interviews whether it has hired teachers on Employment Passes before and when it plans to advertise the post.

The Transita sponsor register collects the official sponsor lists we hold, so you can check an employer before you apply.

Frequently asked questions

Can foreigners teach in Singapore?

Yes, mostly at international and private schools that hire you and apply for an Employment Pass or S Pass on your behalf.

What qualification do I need to teach in an MOE school?

MOE asks trained teachers for a professional teaching qualification, such as the NIE postgraduate diploma or an equivalent.

What salary does a teacher need for a Singapore Employment Pass?

The floor starts at SGD 5,600/mo (≈ $52,564/yr) and rises with age. Other floors: SGD 128,400/yr (applicants aged 45 or over); SGD 74,400/yr (financial services); SGD 72,000/yr (new applications from 1 January 2027); SGD 79,200/yr (financial services, new applications from 1 January 2027).

How long does an Employment Pass take for a teacher?

About 0–1 months as an estimate, after the school has advertised the role on MyCareersFuture.

Related guides

Check your school's offer against the EP floor

Transita compares your age and salary with the Employment Pass and S Pass floors and lists what you and the school each need to file. Answer 8 questions and your routes, documents and dates are set up for you. Free.

Build my workspace

official sources: EP · mom.gov.sg·S Pass · mom.gov.sg