ONE Pass

ONE Pass: S$30,000 for 12 months and employer size test

Checks ONE Pass salary bar of S$30,000 for 12 months, employer size, exceptions, Dependant's Pass and steps, against the Employment Pass requirements.

Pass & Permit Desk 6 min read

Salary: 12 consecutive months, not a single month meeting the bar

Apply on the basis of your current or most recent job, and your fixed monthly salary must have been at least S$30,000 for 12 consecutive months before the date you apply, in equivalent foreign currency if applicable; for the same period you must also have worked for an established overseas company (where relevant). Apply on the basis of a future Singapore employer, and your fixed monthly salary from that role must be at least S$30,000, and employment must begin within six months of application.

What counts as “fixed monthly salary” is defined separately by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The official eligibility page carries a specific note on this term; check the current wording on the website before applying.

Employer size: US$500 million market value or US$200 million annual revenue

For an established company, only two tests apply, and meeting either is enough: market value of at least US$500 million, or annual revenue of at least US$200 million. Amounts across offices worldwide may be combined for consideration, assessed case by case. Both your current overseas employer and your future Singapore employer are measured against these two tests.

Routes exist even if the salary is not met

Those with outstanding achievement in sport, arts and culture, or academia and research may not need to meet the S$30,000 salary threshold. MOM will work with MCCY, the Ministry of Education (MOE), NRF and A*STAR, among other agencies, to assess the applicant’s prior work and key achievements comprehensively. The official page does not publish specific criteria for this route; outcomes are decided case by case.

The AI and Tech track opens for applications from 28 January 2027.

How it differs from the Employment Pass

ONE Pass is exempt from COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) scoring and from the job advertisement requirement under the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF). An EP applicant must clear two hurdles: first meet the qualifying salary, which rises with age, then score 40 points under COMPASS. Current EP qualifying salary starts at S$5,600 and is S$10,700 at age 45 and above; for financial services it starts at S$6,200 and caps at S$11,800. For new applications submitted from 1 January 2027, the former rises to start at S$6,000 and caps at S$11,500, and the latter rises to start at S$6,600 and caps at S$12,700. An EP is first issued for up to two years and renewed for up to three; ONE Pass is issued and renewed for up to five years each. Neither pass requires the foreign worker levy or is subject to quota.

Obligations while holding the pass

You may work for multiple companies at the same time, subject to the terms of your employment contracts. You do not need to reapply for the pass when changing jobs. By 31 January each year, report your professional activities and annual income to MOM, and notify it of changes to personal information such as your address. Your spouse may apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to work in Singapore.

Dependant’s Pass has its own separate conditions

The Dependant’s Pass (DP) conditions for ONE Pass holders are published separately by MOM and differ from the EP; check the relevant page before applying. The current EP thresholds serve as a reference: your own monthly salary must be at least S$6,000 to apply for a Dependant’s Pass for your spouse and unmarried children under 21; to bring parents to Singapore you need a monthly salary of at least S$12,000, applying for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). The monthly salary is assessed on your own income, not combined household income.

Application process

  1. First check that you meet both the salary and employer-size requirements.
  2. Review the official document checklist and prepare each item accordingly.
  3. You, your employer, or an appointed employment agent may submit the application. At any one time, each person may submit only one work pass application.
  4. Wait for the outcome. On approval you receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter.
  5. Travel to Singapore in line with the latest entry requirements.
  6. After arrival, complete pass issuance and, as notified, book an appointment to register your fingerprints and photograph.
  7. Collect the pass card within five working days after registration or document verification.
  8. Afterwards, if your details change or your pass nears expiry, notify MOM promptly and renew.

The official page does not publish ONE Pass processing time; this article offers no estimate.

Before planning for permanent residence

The categories listed on the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) page as eligible include Employment Pass or S Pass holders; the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass is not listed. Assessment considers family ties, economic contribution, qualifications, age, family profile and length of residence; the official page publishes no weights or quotas for each factor. Submission costs S$100; on approval, separate fees apply: S$20 for the entry permit, S$50 for a five-year Re-Entry Permit (REP), and S$50 for the identity card, none refundable. With complete documents, the official page states processing within six months; some applications take longer. ICA states it has no affiliation with any external commercial immigration agency and does not endorse self-promoted immigration advisory services.

Official pages this article relies on

Briefs filed under the same topic.