If you are an executive, founder or specialist planning a move to Singapore, you may want flexibility beyond a single job. Singapore’s ONE Pass lets you work for several companies and build your own business alongside your career.
With a validity of up to five years, it gives you time to develop those plans. To qualify, you need to meet MOM’s salary requirements or demonstrate outstanding achievements in an eligible field.
In this article, we will walk you through ONE Pass eligibility, applications and renewal. We will also cover family passes, starting a company and the AI and Tech track opening on 28 January 2027.
What the ONE Pass Allows
The ONE Pass gives you flexibility to take on several professional roles without applying for a new pass whenever you change employers. You can also establish a company alongside an existing role, provided you observe your employment contract and any professional or business licensing requirements.
| Feature | ONE Pass |
|---|---|
| Initial validity | Up to five years |
| Renewal | Up to five years at a time, if renewal requirements are met |
| Employment | Can work for several companies concurrently |
| Business ownership and operations | Can start and operate businesses |
| Changing jobs | No new pass application needed |
| Secondary directorships | No Letter of Consent required |
| Family | Passes available for eligible family members |
| Spouse’s employment | Can apply for a Letter of Consent |
| Foreign worker quota and levy | Neither applies to the ONE Pass itself |
| Annual reporting | Professional activities and income must be reported to MOM by 31 January of the following year |
For example, you could hold an executive position while advising another business and developing your own company. The pass provides immigration permission for these activities, but regulated professions and businesses still need their separate registrations or licenses.
ONE Pass Singapore Eligibility
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) assesses applications individually. Your application route determines whether you need to prove past earnings, a future Singapore salary, outstanding achievements or technology-sector experience.
| Application route | Main requirement |
|---|---|
| Current or last-held employment in Singapore | Fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the preceding 12 consecutive months, together with the Singapore work-history requirement |
| Current or last-held employment overseas | Fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the preceding 12 consecutive months and employment with an established overseas company |
| Prospective employment in Singapore | An offer of at least S$30,000 fixed monthly salary from an established Singapore-based company |
| Outstanding achievements | An exceptional record in sports, arts and culture, or academia and research |
| AI and Tech, from 28 January 2027 | Compensation, experience and employer requirements tailored to technology professionals |
Existing work pass holders need to have worked in Singapore for at least one year. If you are applying based on prospective employment, submit the application only when the role will start within six months.
What counts toward the salary requirement
Fixed monthly salary includes your basic salary and fixed monthly allowances. A fixed housing allowance, for example, can count toward the S$30,000 requirement.
Bonuses, commissions, variable allowances, reimbursements and other excluded payments do not count as fixed monthly salary. A S$27,000 basic salary plus a S$3,000 fixed monthly allowance can therefore meet the threshold, while an annual performance bonus does not fill the same gap.
For the ordinary salary route, the qualifying S$30,000 must come from one employer. Combining S$20,000 from one employer with S$10,000 from another does not meet that requirement, although MOM may assess other income sources case by case.
What counts as an established company
MOM applies the established-company test to overseas employment and prospective Singapore employers. The company must meet at least one of these thresholds:
- Market capitalization of at least US$500 million
- Annual revenue of at least US$200 million
MOM may consider combined figures from a global group on a case-by-case basis. The employer’s financial information needs to support the threshold being relied on.
Incorporating a new Singapore company and offering yourself S$30,000 a month does not automatically satisfy the prospective-employment route. The company must also meet the established-company requirement.
Applying through outstanding achievements
Applicants with outstanding achievements in sports, arts and culture, or academia and research can apply without meeting the salary criterion. MOM reviews their record with the relevant government agencies.
The application needs evidence of the achievements being relied on. Academic and research applicants also provide significant publications, patents or technology disclosures from the preceding five years, together with supporting documentation from a local host institution.
ONE Pass AI and Tech Track From January 2027
Applications under the AI and Tech track open on 28 January 2027. The route recognizes that senior technology professionals may receive part of their compensation through equity rather than fixed cash salary.
The criteria cover the wider technology sector, including technology companies, technology divisions and technology venture capital firms. Working directly in artificial intelligence is not the only way to qualify.
| Criterion | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Monthly compensation | At least S$30,000 for the preceding 12 consecutive months |
| Fixed monthly salary | At least S$22,500 |
| Non-cash compensation | The remainder may include assessed vested components, such as employee share options or share ownership |
| Experience | At least five cumulative years in founder, C-suite or technical roles within the preceding 10 years |
| Current or last employer | A technology company, technology division or technology venture capital firm |
| Employer credentials | At least US$500 million valuation or market capitalization, US$200 million annual revenue, or US$500 million assets under management; technology start-ups can alternatively meet the US$30 million funds-raised test |
The equity component needs supporting evidence and remains subject to MOM’s assessment. A proposed future equity award should not be treated as equivalent to assessed vested compensation.
What happens to Tech.Pass
EDB will stop accepting new and renewal Tech.Pass applications from 28 January 2027. Applications submitted before the cutoff continue under the existing framework, and current holders retain their approved pass validity.
There is no automatic conversion to the new ONE Pass track. Existing Tech.Pass holders will need to qualify for the AI and Tech route or another suitable pass before their current permission expires.
Documents Required for a ONE Pass
The documents need to support the application route you choose. Every applicant provides the passport particulars page, including amendments, while employment and financial evidence differ by category.
| Application route | Main supporting documents |
|---|---|
| Singapore employment | 12 consecutive months of payslips, latest IRAS Notice of Assessment or the permitted alternative, and evidence of other income where relevant |
| Overseas employment | 12 consecutive months of payslips, employment verification from a background screening company, and recent employer financial information |
| Prospective Singapore employment | Signed employment contract or offer letter and recent employer financial information |
| Outstanding achievements | CV highlighting achievements, latest payslip and other supporting evidence |
| Academia and research | Publications, patents and technology disclosures, plus a recommendation, endorsement or documentation of a potential position from a local host institution |
| AI and Tech | Payslips, compensation evidence, CV or employment letters establishing experience, and recent employer financial information |
Where required, employer financial information must have been obtained within the preceding three months. If published information is unavailable, MOM accepts the company’s latest profit and loss statements audited by a third party; management-signed statements are not accepted as a substitute.
Check that the compensation evidence covers the non-cash amount being assessed. Payslips may establish cash salary, while an equity-based application also needs records supporting the vested component.
How to Apply for a ONE Pass
You can apply directly, or an employer or authorized representative can submit on your behalf. MOM permits only one open work pass application per candidate at a time.
1. Prepare and submit the application
Select the application route and gather the supporting documents. Submit the application through MOM’s online form and pay the application fee.
Check that salary records, employment dates and employer information are consistent. Requests for clarification can extend the processing time.
2. Wait for the outcome
MOM’s published processing time is four weeks for most cases. Applications involving outstanding achievements can take longer if other agencies need to assess the record.
If approved, you receive an in-principle approval letter. This gives you six months to enter Singapore and obtain pass issuance, and states whether a medical examination is required.
3. Have the pass issued in Singapore
You must be in Singapore for issuance and pay the issuance fee, together with any required multiple-journey visa fee.
Once the pass is issued, the notification letter allows you to begin work while waiting for the card. Approval of the application alone is not the same as pass issuance.
4. Complete registration and receive the card
If fingerprints and a photograph are required, complete registration within two weeks of issuance. MOM normally delivers the card within five working days after registration or document verification.
If you already hold a Singapore work pass, coordinate the change carefully. Canceling your existing permission too early can create a period when you are not authorized to work.
ONE Pass Fees and Processing Time
Government fees are separate from professional assistance, document verification and applications for family members. For the principal applicant, the main charges are:
| Item | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Application | S$105 |
| Issuance | S$225 |
| Multiple-journey visa, if required | S$30 |
| Total application and issuance fees | S$330, or S$360 with the visa fee |
Allow four weeks for most application decisions, followed by any arrangements needed for travel, medical checks and issuance. Requests for additional documents or assessment by other agencies can extend the process.
ONE Pass Renewal and Annual Reporting
The ONE Pass is renewable for up to five years at a time. MOM uses information about your professional activities and income to assess your contribution during the pass period.
Under the published renewal criteria, you must meet one of these routes:
- Earn an average fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 over the preceding five years in Singapore.
- Start and operate a Singapore-based company employing at least five locals, each earning a gross monthly salary at least equal to the prevailing Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary.
Renewal applications can be submitted up to six months before expiry. The AI and Tech track’s further renewal details should be checked against MOM’s published requirements rather than assuming its initial equity treatment will apply unchanged.
Annual notification and periods without employment
You must notify MOM of your professional activities and annual income by 31 January of the following year. Keeping employment, business and income records throughout the year makes that submission easier.
Losing a job does not mean you must immediately leave Singapore. However, extended unemployment without a valid reason can affect your pass status.
Family Passes for ONE Pass Holders
Eligible family members can apply to join you in Singapore. Their pass validity is tied to the main holder’s pass, with renewal dependent on continued eligibility.
| Family member | Pass |
|---|---|
| Legally married spouse | Dependant’s Pass |
| Unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children | Dependant’s Pass |
| Common-law spouse | Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Unmarried stepchildren under 21 | Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Unmarried children aged 21 and above with disabilities | Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Parents | Long-Term Visit Pass |
MOM recommends applying for family passes after the ONE Pass is approved. Concurrent applications are possible, but the family application fees may be lost if the principal application is rejected.
A legally married or common-law spouse on the relevant family pass can apply for a Letter of Consent to work. The spouse can hold one Letter of Consent at a time and work for one employer, including their own company where that arrangement applies.
ONE Pass vs Employment Pass and Personalised Employment Pass
The main choice is between an employer-sponsored role and broader flexibility to change jobs or operate businesses. Salary is one part of that decision, but the permitted activities differ significantly.
| Feature | ONE Pass | Employment Pass | Personalised Employment Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main salary requirement | S$30,000 fixed monthly salary under the ordinary route; alternative achievement and AI and Tech routes exist | From S$5,600, or S$6,200 in financial services, increasing with age | S$22,500 fixed monthly salary |
| Employer relationship | Not tied to one employer; concurrent roles permitted | Tied to the sponsoring employer | Can change jobs without a new pass application |
| Operating a business | Permitted within the pass conditions | Limited to the sponsoring employer; secondary directorships require MOM approval | Entrepreneurial activity is not permitted |
| COMPASS | Exempt | Required unless an exemption applies | Not assessed under COMPASS |
| Initial validity | Up to five years | Usually up to two years | Up to three years |
| Renewal | Up to five years at a time | Usually up to three years; longer validity exists for certain technology professionals | Not renewable |
From 1 January 2027, the minimum Employment Pass salary rises to S$6,000, or S$6,600 in financial services, for new applications. The new thresholds apply to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028 and continue to increase with age.
Employment Pass candidates earning at least S$22,500 fixed monthly salary are exempt from the Complementarity Assessment Framework, known as COMPASS. Other exemption categories also exist.
For someone planning a business, the Personalised Employment Pass does not offer the ONE Pass’s entrepreneurial flexibility. MOM expressly prohibits starting a business or conducting entrepreneurial activity on that pass.
Starting a Company in Singapore on a ONE Pass
A ONE Pass lets you establish and operate a business alongside other professional roles. A holder who meets ACRA’s local residency requirements can also serve as the company’s resident director.
The company still needs to complete the normal Singapore company registration process. That includes selecting an available company name, preparing its ownership and management structure, and registering with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority.
Within six months of incorporation, it must appoint an eligible company secretary. It also needs a Singapore registered office and must maintain its statutory records, annual filings and tax submissions.
Emerhub can handle incorporation, the company secretary appointment and ongoing corporate filings. These obligations remain separate from your personal pass requirements.
Your ONE Pass does not extend work permission to employees you hire. Each foreign employee needs the appropriate pass, and the company must meet the requirements for those applications.
If you plan to use the business-based ONE Pass renewal route, include the local hiring requirements in your operating plan. Incorporation alone does not meet that renewal test.
Setting Up Your Singapore Company With Emerhub
Emerhub helps ONE Pass holders establish their companies and manage ongoing corporate obligations. Our team can support you with:
- Company incorporation and ACRA registration
- Company secretary and registered office services
- Bookkeeping and annual corporate filings
- Corporate tax returns
- Coordination of work pass requirements for employees
Once the company is operating, accounting and tax support helps keep its financial records and reporting organized.
Contact our Singapore team to discuss your company structure and setup requirements.
Frequently asked questions
What is the salary requirement for the ONE Pass?
Under the ordinary salary route, the requirement is at least S$30,000 in fixed monthly salary. Depending on the route, this must be supported by the preceding 12 consecutive months of earnings or a qualifying prospective Singapore role.
Fixed monthly allowances count, but bonuses and variable payments do not. The overseas and prospective-employment routes also have established-company requirements.
Can I apply without a job offer in Singapore?
You can apply based on qualifying current or last-held employment overseas without first securing a Singapore job offer.
You must still meet the salary, employer and supporting-document requirements for that route. Outstanding-achievement applicants follow a separate assessment.
How long does a ONE Pass application take?
MOM publishes a four-week processing timeframe for most cases. Applications involving outstanding achievements or requests for additional information can take longer.
After approval, you must complete issuance in Singapore within the period stated in the approval letter.
Can a ONE Pass holder start a business?
The pass allows you to start, operate and work for several companies concurrently, within its conditions.
The business still needs registration and any sector licenses. Your employment contract may also restrict outside activities.