Singapore’s Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) has two published eligibility routes. One is a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000. The other is outstanding achievements in sports, arts and culture, academia or research. MOM assesses candidates case by case. This guide restates only what the current MOM eligibility and key-facts pages say, and flags where the official pages stay silent.
Choose one category, then meet all of it
You must meet every criterion inside the category you choose. MOM states this directly: you will apply either on current or last held employment, on prospective employment in Singapore, or on outstanding achievements. The pages do not blend the routes. A partial salary showing plus a partial achievements record does not combine into eligibility.
Route 1: fixed monthly salary of S$30,000
Under current or last held employment, you must have earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000, or its equivalent in foreign currency, for the 12 consecutive months leading up to the date of application. Where it applies to you, you must also have worked for an established company overseas for those same 12 consecutive months.
“Established” has two published tests, and meeting either one is enough:
- Market capitalisation of at least US$500 million
- Annual revenue of at least US$200 million
Combined amounts from the entire global office can also be considered, assessed case by case.
The prospective-employment route runs on the same numbers. You will earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 under an established company based in Singapore, with the same US$500 million market capitalisation or US$200 million annual revenue test. One condition is specific: submit this application only when your employment will start within 6 months.
The eligibility page links to MOM’s own definition of fixed monthly salary. It does not itself list which documents prove the figure. The documents page sits in the pass map under “before applying”.
Our suggestion, not an official rule: check your own 12-month window against your planned application date first, then check the employer against the two thresholds. Most wasted applications start with the wrong window.
Route 2: outstanding achievements
You may apply without meeting the salary criteria if you have outstanding achievements in at least one of three areas: sports, arts and culture, or academia and research.
MOM reviews these applications holistically. Agencies such as MCCY, MOE, NRF and A*STAR take part, and the review is based on the work and key achievements each applicant has accomplished. The published page gives no score, no weightings, no list of qualifying awards, and no minimum count of achievements. Treat any checklist that claims those numbers as unofficial.
A separate MOM page lists the documents required for outstanding achievements.
What the official pages do not publish
Approval rates, refusal rates, median processing times, and the number of places available do not appear on these two MOM pages. The detailed standard for how achievements are judged is not published either. The pages also do not say whether fixed salary from more than one employer can be added together to reach S$30,000. If your pay comes from several sources, do not assume it counts. Check with MOM before you build an application on that assumption.
Pass facts
First-time candidates receive up to 5 years. Subsequent renewals run up to 5 years each, and the pass is renewable on meeting the renewal criteria on the eligibility page. No foreign worker levy applies. No quota applies.
The pass carries three structural exemptions worth knowing before you compare it with other work passes:
- Exemption from the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS)
- Exemption from Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirements
- No need to reapply for a pass when you change jobs
Holders may concurrently start, operate and work for multiple companies at one time, subject to employment contract terms where relevant. Eligible family members can hold passes, and a spouse may apply to work on a Letter of Consent. Income tax may apply.
Applications under the AI and Tech track open from 28 January 2027.
Who applies, and how many applications at once
Candidates can apply. Appointed employment agencies and employers can apply on behalf of a candidate. The limit is strict: one work pass application per candidate at a time. You cannot run a ONE Pass application and an Employment Pass application for the same candidate simultaneously.
Experienced founders building a next venture are pointed to EDB’s Global Founder Programme, which carries its own support package including manpower and visa facilitation.
The sequence MOM publishes
Before applying. Confirm eligibility. Then gather the documents MOM lists.
Before arrival. Apply and wait for the outcome. If approved, you receive an in-principle approval letter. Comply with ICA’s current travel requirements.
Upon arrival. Get the pass issued. Your notification letter states whether registration is required. If it is, book an appointment for fingerprint and photo registration. Receive the pass card at the address you provided 5 working days after registration or document verification.
Ongoing duties. Notify MOM of your professional activities and annual income by 31 January of the next year. Notify MOM of changes to your residential address or personal information. Apply for a replacement if the card is lost, stolen or damaged. Cancel the pass if you no longer need it.
FAQ
Does the S$30,000 have to hold for the whole 12-month window?
The requirement as written covers the 12 consecutive months leading up to the date of application. Read it that way when you plan your timing.
Can I combine two employers to reach S$30,000?
The published pages do not address this. Treat it as unresolved rather than permitted, and confirm with MOM before relying on it.
What counts as an outstanding achievement?
The pages name the three areas and describe a holistic review. They do not publish thresholds. The documents page specifies what to submit.
When can I apply on a job that has not started?
Only when your employment will start within 6 months.