The passes side by side
| Visa | Government fee | Processing (official wording, else typical) | Published income floor | Who can apply | First permit | Permanent residence | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore: Employment Pass | SGD 330 (≈ US$258) | Within 10 business days (mom.gov.sg) | SGD 5,600/mo (≈ $52,564/yr) | Salary floor SGD 5,600/mo (≈ $52,564/yr) (youngest age band, all sectors except financial services; MOM raises it with age to S$10,700 at 45 and above); Employer applies | 2 yrs | Eligible to apply for PR; approval is discretionary | mom.gov.sg, checked 26 October 2026 |
| Singapore: S Pass | ≈ US$158 | typical processing (0–1 months) | SGD 3,300/mo (≈ $30,975/yr) | Salary floor SGD 3,300/mo (≈ $30,975/yr) (benchmarked to the top third of local associate professional and technician salaries; rises with age, and again for new applications from 1 January 2027); Employer applies | 2 yrs | Eligible to apply for PR; approval is discretionary | mom.gov.sg, checked 18 September 2026 |
| Singapore: Personalised Employment Pass | SGD 330 (≈ US$258) | typical processing (1–2 months) | SGD 22,500/mo (≈ $211,194/yr) | Salary floor SGD 22,500/mo (≈ $211,194/yr) (fixed monthly salary to apply; the pass is kept only while fixed salary stays at or above S$270,000 per calendar year); No employer sponsor needed | 3 yrs | Not stated on the source page | mom.gov.sg, checked 18 September 2026 |
| Singapore: Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass | SGD 330 (≈ US$258) | Within 4 weeks for most cases (mom.gov.sg) | SGD 30,000/mo (≈ $281,592/yr) | Salary floor SGD 30,000/mo (≈ $281,592/yr) (fixed monthly salary from a single employer for the 12 months before applying; an achievements route waives the salary bar entirely); No employer sponsor needed | 5 yrs | Not stated on the source page | mom.gov.sg, checked 26 October 2026 |
- Employment Pass: requirements and how to apply (fee SGD 330 (≈ US$258)).
- S Pass: requirements and how to apply (fee ≈ US$158).
- Personalised Employment Pass: requirements and how to apply (fee SGD 330 (≈ US$258)).
- Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass: requirements and how to apply (fee SGD 330 (≈ US$258)).
Frequently asked questions
- How do the Singapore work passes differ?
- Employment Pass (EP): Singapore's main work pass for foreign professionals, managers and executives. The candidate needs a job offer at or above the qualifying salary and, unless exempt, 40 points under the COMPASS framework. S Pass: For mid-level skilled technical staff and associate professionals, subject to quota and levy. Personalised Employment Pass (PEP): A premium, flexible work pass for high-earning professionals that is not tied to a specific employer. Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass): A personalised pass for top talent across business, arts, sports, academia, and research that allows working for multiple companies at once.
- Which Singapore work pass has the lowest salary requirement?
- Employment Pass (EP): SGD 5,600/mo (≈ $52,564/yr) (youngest age band, all sectors except financial services; MOM raises it with age to S$10,700 at 45 and above); S Pass: SGD 3,300/mo (≈ $30,975/yr) (benchmarked to the top third of local associate professional and technician salaries; rises with age, and again for new applications from 1 January 2027); Personalised Employment Pass (PEP): SGD 22,500/mo (≈ $211,194/yr) (fixed monthly salary to apply; the pass is kept only while fixed salary stays at or above S$270,000 per calendar year); Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass): SGD 30,000/mo (≈ $281,592/yr) (fixed monthly salary from a single employer for the 12 months before applying; an achievements route waives the salary bar entirely).
- Which Singapore work passes need an employer?
- EP: the employer applies; S Pass: the employer applies; PEP: not tied to one employer; ONE Pass: not tied to one employer.
- Which Singapore work pass lets me work for more than one employer?
- Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) and Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) are not tied to a single employer.
- How do fees and processing compare across the Singapore work passes?
- EP: SGD 330 (≈ US$258), Within 10 business days (mom.gov.sg); S Pass: ≈ US$158, typical processing (0–1 months); PEP: SGD 330 (≈ US$258), typical processing (1–2 months); ONE Pass: SGD 330 (≈ US$258), Within 4 weeks for most cases (mom.gov.sg).
- Can Singapore work passes lead to permanent residence?
- EP: Eligible to apply for PR; approval is discretionary; S Pass: Eligible to apply for PR; approval is discretionary; PEP: Not stated on the source page; ONE Pass: Not stated on the source page.
Keep reading
- Every visa route to Singapore
- Can I Move to Singapore as a Software Engineer? EP 2026
- Can I Move to Singapore as an Accountant? Passes 2026
- Singapore Digital Nomad Visa 2026: What Exists Instead
official sources: EP · mom.gov.sg·S Pass · mom.gov.sg·PEP · mom.gov.sg·ONE Pass · mom.gov.sg