Employment Pass vs S Pass vs EntrePass: Which Singapore Work Pass Is Right for You in 2026?
Singapore’s three main work passes for foreign professionals — the Employment Pass (EP), the S Pass, and the EntrePass — each serve a different type of worker and employer, with different salary thresholds, eligibility criteria, and compliance obligations. The right choice depends on your role, salary level, qualifications, and whether you are an employee or a founder.
Here are the 2026 figures you need to know, confirmed from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Quick Comparison Table (2026)
Feature |
Employment Pass (EP) |
S Pass |
EntrePass |
| Target group | Professionals, managers, executives | Mid-skilled associate professionals and technicians | Entrepreneurs starting a business in Singapore |
| Min. salary (general) | S$5,600/month | S$3,300/month | No fixed salary (must draw from company) |
| Min. salary (financial services) | S$6,200/month | S$3,800/month | N/A |
| Quota | None | 10% of workforce (services) / 15% (other sectors) | None |
| Levy | None | S$650/month (harmonised Sept 2025) | None |
| Assessment framework | COMPASS (points-based) | Age-progressive salary matrix | Business viability assessment |
| Processing time | 3–8 weeks | ~10 business days | 8 weeks |
| Validity (first issue) | Up to 2 years | Up to 2 years | 1 year (renewable) |
| Family privileges | DP eligible if salary ≥ S$6,000/month | DP eligible if salary ≥ S$6,000/month | Limited |
Employment Pass (EP)
The EP is Singapore’s primary pass for foreign professionals in managerial, executive, and specialist roles. It is quota-free and levy-free, making it the preferred option for most skilled hires.
2026 Minimum Salary Requirements: – General sectors: S$5,600/month – Financial services: S$6,200/month – These thresholds scale upward with age — a candidate in their mid-40s may need S$10,700–S$11,800 to qualify
Upcoming Changes (plan ahead now): From January 1, 2027 (new applications) and January 1, 2028 (renewals): – General sectors: S$6,000/month – Financial services: S$6,600/month
If you are budgeting for an EP hire or renewal in late 2026 or early 2027, plan compensation against the 2027 thresholds now.
COMPASS Assessment
Since September 2023, all EP applications must pass COMPASS — a points-based framework where applicants need at least 40 points across four criteria:
- Salary (relative to local PMET benchmarks in the same sector and age group)
- Qualifications (degree from top institutions earns 20 points; updated institution list effective January 2026)
- Diversity (does the hire improve workforce nationality mix?)
- Support for local employment (does the employer’s workforce meet local PMET ratios?)
Plus two bonus criteria: the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) and Strategic Economic Priorities bonus.
Employers must also advertise the position on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 days before applying.
S Pass
The S Pass is designed for mid-skilled associate professionals and technicians. Unlike the EP, it is subject to both a company quota and a monthly government levy paid by the employer.
2026 Minimum Salary Requirements: – General sectors: S$3,300/month (for candidates aged 23 and below; rises progressively with age to S$4,800 for those aged 45+) – Financial services: S$3,800/month (rising to S$5,650 for those aged 45+)
Upcoming Changes (plan ahead now): From July 1, 2026 (new applications) and September 1, 2026 (renewals): – General sectors: S$3,600/month – Financial services: S$4,000/month
From January 1, 2027 (new) and January 1, 2028 (renewals): – General sectors: S$3,600/month – Financial services: S$4,000/month (further rounds expected)
Quota: – Services sector: Maximum 10% of total workforce – All other sectors (manufacturing, construction, etc.): Maximum 15%
Levy: S$650/month per S Pass holder (harmonised across all sectors since September 2025)
Local Qualifying Salary (LQS): From July 1, 2026, the LQS rises from S$1,600 to S$1,800/month. Local employees earning below this threshold may no longer be counted (or counted only at 0.5) toward your S Pass/Work Permit quota. Employers should review local salaries now.
EntrePass
The EntrePass is for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and operate a business in Singapore. Unlike the EP and S Pass, it is not tied to employment with an established company — the applicant must own and actively operate the company they are starting.
Key Eligibility Criteria: – The company must be incorporated with ACRA (or intend to be) with the applicant as a shareholder – The business must be innovative, scalable, or venture-backed (backed by a government-recognised VC, IHL, or incubator, or has qualifying IP) – Not eligible for businesses in sectors like hawker centres, massage parlours, employment agencies, etc.
The EntrePass is renewable each year subject to business milestones (revenue, local employment, investment raised). It is the standard route for foreign founders who want to be personally operational in Singapore before or alongside their EP application.
Common Reasons for Rejection and How HeySara Reduces Risk
The most common rejection reasons across all three pass types are:
- Salary below the age-progressive threshold (especially for S Pass)
- Weak COMPASS score for EP (commonly from low C3 Diversity or C4 Local Employment Support)
- Employer with low paid-up capital or limited business activity relative to declared salary
- Incomplete or unverified qualifications
- Job posting on MyCareersFuture was less than 14 days (for EP)
HeySara’s work pass team pre-assesses every application against the current COMPASS framework and MOM salary benchmarks before submission, significantly reducing rejection risk.
