Singapore Employment Pass (EP) is a key work visa program established by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) of Singapore to attract global professionals, managers, executives, and specialists to work and live in Singapore.
The program is designed for highly qualified individuals with strong professional backgrounds, international experience, and recognized academic credentials. Applicants must have a confirmed job offer from a Singapore-registered company and meet the minimum salary and qualification criteria set by MOM.
Holders of the Employment Pass are allowed to live and work in Singapore long-term, and may bring their spouse and children under dependent passes, enjoying a safe, modern, and internationally connected living environment.
1、Applicant must be 21 years or older
2、Must register and establish a company in Singapore
3、Applicant holds a senior executive-level position within their own company
4、Eligible to submit an Employment Pass (EP) application upon achieving 40 points on the COMPASS scoring system
5、No mandatory degree requirement; if the applicant does not hold a bachelor’s degree, the COMPASS score can be met by increasing salary (monthly salary of SGD 22,500 or above waives scoring requirement)
1.Sign Agreement & Gather Documents → Documents are simple: passport + ID, EP application form, degree certification (if required)
(Preparation can be completed in as fast as 1 day)
2.Register a Singapore Company → After company registration, apply for a Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) account
(Approximately 2-3 weeks)
3.Submit EP Application → Wait for approval
(Approximately 1-2 weeks)
4.EP Approval → Upon approval, an in-principle approval letter is issued and the applicant’s entry to Singapore is arranged
(The applicant must enter Singapore within 6 months to complete fingerprints and photos; card issuance takes 5 working days, and the EP card can be mailed to the applicant)
5.Submit DP Application (if needed) → After EP approval, dependents (spouse and children under 21) can apply for Dependant Passes
6.Open Singapore personal & company bank accounts → After completing fingerprint registration in Singapore, the applicant can open bank accounts; startup operating funds can then be transferred
Overall timeline: From signing to EP approval, approximately 1-1.5 months