EP and S Pass: what they are for
The Employment Pass (EP) is for foreign professionals, managers and executives. Applicants must meet the EP eligibility requirements.
The S Pass is for qualified skilled technicians (Associate Professionals and Technicians, APT). Applicants must meet the S Pass eligibility requirements.
Employers, or an employment agency they appoint, submit applications on the candidate’s behalf. Employers must consider all candidates before applying and meet the relevant hiring requirements.
EP eligibility key points
The EP uses a two-stage framework:
- Stage 1: Meet the EP qualifying salary. Salary thresholds are tiered by age and split into two sectors: general and financial services. Current thresholds, and those for new applications from January 2027 (and renewals from January 2028), are set out on the official website.
- Stage 2: Except where exempt, pass the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). Applicants who fail Stage 1 are not eligible for an EP.
COMPASS exemptions apply where the fixed monthly salary is S$22,500 (in line with the current Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) exemption level), the application is for an overseas intra-corporate transferee, or the intended employment period is one month or less.
COMPASS is scored on salary (C1), qualifications (C2), diversification of candidate nationalities (C3), support for local employment (C4), plus Shortage Occupation List (SOL) bonus (C5) and Strategic Economic Priorities bonus (C6). Detailed scoring and calculations are on the official website.
Employers can use the EP Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to make a preliminary check of a candidate’s eligibility before applying.
S Pass eligibility key points
S Pass applicants need a job offer in Singapore and must meet an age-tiered qualifying salary. Salary thresholds are again split into general and financial services sectors. The official website lists current thresholds, and those for new applications from January 2027 and renewals from January 2028.
Employers can use the SAT to check a candidate’s eligibility.
The S Pass is subject to quota and levy requirements. Employers must calculate the number they can hire against the foreign worker quota (Dependency Ratio Ceiling, DRC) for their sector, and pay the monthly S Pass levy.
Pass duration, dependants and related arrangements
An EP is first granted for up to 2 years and renewed for up to 3 years. Experienced professionals in technology who meet specific criteria may qualify for a longer 5-year arrangement.
An S Pass is first granted for up to 2 years and renewed for up to 3 years. Validity is capped by passport expiry: the pass cannot run beyond one month before the passport expires.
EP and S Pass holders earning at least S$6,000 a month may apply for the relevant passes for eligible family members:
- Married spouses and unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted children) can apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP).
- Unmarried cohabiting partners, unmarried disabled children aged 21 and above, and unmarried stepchildren under 21 can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
- Parents: only EP or S Pass holders earning at least S$12,000 a month may apply for an LTVP.
Application, issuance and post-issuance overview
Per the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website, the general EP and S Pass process covers: hiring considerations, confirming eligibility, preparing documents, submitting the application, the outcome (In-Principle Approval, IPA), entry (where applicable), pass issuance, and subsequent steps such as notification, renewal, card replacement or cancellation.
For details such as the document checklist, how to apply, and post-issuance arrangements, refer to the respective pass pages.