Registering a company in Singapore does not bring you a work pass. Company registration is handled by ACRA, while work passes are approved by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — two separate processes. If you want to move to Singapore to run the business yourself, you still need a work pass. The two common routes are applying for an EntrePass yourself, or, as a Dependant’s Pass (DP) holder, applying for a Letter of Consent (LOC) after registering the business. The key difference: EntrePass is applied for directly by the candidate, and the factsheet states it sets no minimum salary. The Employment Pass (EP) assessment details are outside this factsheet and must follow the MOM page.
Registering a company and a work pass are separate processes
Foreigners must engage a Corporate Service Provider (CSP) to reserve a name and register a business structure; they cannot do this themselves. The minimum age to register a business is 18. ACRA states that carrying on an unregistered business is an offence under section 35 of the Business Names Registration Act 2014, punishable by a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment of up to two years.
Every business must have at least one local resident. This can be a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident (PR), or a holder of a valid Employment Pass (EP), Personalised Employment Pass, or ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass). A foreign founder must therefore either obtain one of these passes first, or partner with a qualifying local resident.
ACRA also warns that an unregistered business is not just a fine risk — it may also struggle to enforce contracts or protect its rights.
Eligibility for the EntrePass
The EntrePass is for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to operate a venture-backed or innovative-technology business in Singapore, and is open to all nationalities. An applicant must meet both conditions: having incorporated or intending to incorporate a private limited company registered with ACRA, and holding at least 30% of that company’s shares; and the business being venture-backed or innovative-technology based.
In addition, at least one of the following must be met.
| Condition | Key points stated in the factsheet |
|---|---|
| Single-round funding | Any past or current business that raised at least S$100,000 in a single round from investors |
| Incubator or accelerator | Supported by a government-recognised or internationally renowned incubator or accelerator |
| Founded and sold a company | Previously founded and sold a venture-backed or innovative-technology company |
| Intellectual property | Holds IP registered with a recognised national intellectual property office, and hard to replicate |
| Research collaboration | An ongoing relevant collaboration with a Singapore Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) or Research Institute (RI) |
Examples of qualifying investors for the funding criterion include SEEDS Capital, Vertex Ventures, Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG Equity (SSGE) programme partners, and internationally renowned venture capital, corporate and angel investors. Examples for the incubator criterion include Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG Accelerator (SSGA) and Startup SG Founder (SSGF) partners, as well as Y-Combinator, MassChallenge and Alchemist Accelerator.
To use the “founded and sold a company” criterion, three types of documents are required: company registration documents proving you founded the business, or a letter signed by the current management team; a business plan showing the business is or was venture-backed or innovative-technology based; and a sale-and-purchase agreement showing the company was sold during your management, bearing your name and details.
The intellectual property criterion requires the IP to give the business a significant competitive advantage that is hard to easily replicate. The research collaboration criterion requires your personal involvement, relevance to the business, and verification by a contact person at the institution. Qualifying institutions include the Institutes of Higher Learning listed by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), research institutes under A*STAR, and universities and institutions under CREATE.
Businesses not eligible for the EntrePass
The following businesses are not eligible for the EntrePass: coffee shops, hawker centres, food courts; bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges; foot reflexology, massage parlours; acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal dispensing; employment agencies; and feng shui businesses.
Approved applicants are encouraged to give back to the local startup ecosystem — for example by hosting or joining talks and webinars, organising matchmaking or networking events, and mentoring other startups. Enterprise Singapore assesses EntrePass applications together with MOM, and may contact pass holders periodically for communication and audit purposes.
EntrePass duration, renewal and dependants
The EntrePass is applied for directly by the candidate, and the factsheet states it sets no minimum salary. A new pass and the first renewal are each valid for up to 1 year; later renewals are valid for up to 2 years, renewable as long as renewal conditions are met.
The pass has three key features: flexibility to set up and run a business in Singapore; the ability to apply for the relevant passes for eligible family members; and no foreign worker levy or quota requirement. The relevant legislation is the Conditions of Work Pass and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
The Employment Pass (EP) route: what is confirmed and what is not
MOM states in its FAQ that Employment Pass (EP) holders may hold shares in a Singapore-registered company. This answers the “shareholding” question, not the “work pass” question.
ACRA goes further: a Foreign Identification Number (FIN) holder should confirm with the pass-issuing agency before registering a business name or taking up an appointment — for example, an Employment Pass (EP) holder must first obtain a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM. In other words, obtaining an LOC is a prerequisite for an EP holder who wants to register a business or take up a company appointment.
Another scenario is the non-resident director. MOM states that a foreigner not residing in Singapore (for example, a social visit pass holder) who serves as a registered director of a Singapore company does not need to apply for an Employment Pass (EP). This is the distinction between “being on the register of directors” and “working in Singapore”.
The EP’s salary threshold, scoring and assessment details are outside this factsheet. This site does not state any figures not in the factsheet; for specifics, refer to the MOM Employment Pass page.
Other pass holders who want to run a business
The route for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) holder is: register the business first, then apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC). Other FIN holders should confirm with the pass-issuing agency (such as MOM or the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)) whether they can register or run a business. ACRA reminds that MOM’s rules may change, and eligibility depends on your pass type and personal circumstances.
If considering the S Pass, the factsheet states that it is used by employers to hire skilled workers (APTs) who may not qualify for an EP, is subject to quota, requires new candidates to earn at least S$3,300 a month, and requires the job to be advertised on MyCareersFuture with fair consideration given to all candidates before application. The factsheet does not state whether the S Pass applies to the founder personally.
The four routes at a glance
| Route | Who applies | Key parameters stated in the factsheet |
|---|---|---|
| EntrePass | The candidate applies directly | At least 30% shareholding; no minimum salary set; new pass and first renewal up to 1 year |
| Employment Pass (EP) | Per the MOM page | May hold shares in a Singapore-registered company; must obtain a Letter of Consent (LOC) before registering a business or taking up an appointment |
| S Pass | Applied for by the employer | Subject to quota; new candidates at least S$3,300 a month; must advertise on MyCareersFuture first |
| Dependant’s Pass (DP) holder | The holder | Register the business first, then apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) |
Mandatory company structure requirements
Under the Companies Act, a company director must ordinarily reside in Singapore, be at least 18 years old, be of sound mind and able to make decisions, and be a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident (PR) or a person meeting the local residency rules, and must not be disqualified or removed as a director (for example, an undischarged bankrupt).
A director cannot be a “non-active director”, “nominee director” or “dormant director” — liability applies regardless of actual involvement. A director who fails in their duties may be fined up to S$5,000, imprisoned for up to two years, or barred from acting as a director for five years.
The company secretary must be a natural person who is a Singapore citizen, a permanent resident (PR) or a person meeting the local residency rules, and cannot be the same person as the sole director. Unless exempted, the company must appoint an auditor within three months of incorporation. Changes to company officers must be filed via Bizfile within 14 days of the change.
What order to proceed in
Below is the sequence drawn from the pass processes in the factsheet, one action per line.
- Check whether your business falls within the EntrePass eligible scope, and compare against the excluded-industries list.
- If taking the EntrePass route, apply before company incorporation, or at the latest within six months after incorporation.
- Engage a Corporate Service Provider (CSP) to reserve the company name and register the company structure.
- Prepare the application documents and submit the EntrePass application to MOM, then await the outcome.
- Upon approval, collect the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter and comply with the latest entry requirements.
- After arriving in Singapore, collect the pass and check the notification letter for any registration requirement.
- If registration is required, book an appointment to have fingerprints and photo taken.
- Within 5 working days after registration or document verification, the pass card will be received at the address provided.
- If you are already an Employment Pass (EP) holder and intend to register a business or take up an appointment, apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM first, then proceed with registration.
- Apply for renewal before the pass expires; notify MOM of any change to company or personal information.
What to read next
- Which Singapore work visas exist: how Employment Pass, S Pass and Work Permit differ — First review the positioning and division of labour among the work passes, then decide which route fits you.
- The complete guide to Singapore immigration: the routes, their conditions and rough costs — Compare the work, family and investment routes side by side.
- Singapore immigration conditions 2026: by work, family, investment and study routes — Conditions for each status route, organised by year.
- Singapore PR conditions and application approach: who can apply, documents and processing time — Once you have a pass, look at how to pursue permanent resident (PR) status.
- Singapore investment immigration conditions: choosing between the Global Investor Programme (GIP) and family office — Those taking the investment rather than entrepreneurship route can compare the two paths here.
- Employment Pass section — A central place to view Employment Pass (EP) articles and updates.
Official sources
- EntrePass main page — MOM — Pass overview, key facts, dependants, and application and renewal entry points.
- EntrePass eligibility — MOM — 30% shareholding, the five innovation/funding criteria, and the ineligible-industries list.
- EntrePass key facts — MOM — Applicant eligibility, validity, renewal, legislation and pass features.
- Can an Employment Pass holder hold shares in a Singapore-registered company — MOM FAQ — MOM’s answer on EP holders holding shares.
- Must a non-resident director apply for an Employment Pass — MOM FAQ — MOM’s answer on non-resident directors.
- Foreigners registering a business in Singapore: local residency requirements — ACRA — CSP requirements, local residency requirements, and how various pass holders proceed.
- Appointing directors, company secretary and key personnel — ACRA — Director and secretary eligibility, duties, penalties and filing deadlines.
- S Pass main page — MOM — The S Pass’s target users, quota, monthly salary threshold and recruitment requirements.
Factsheet capture date: 2026-10-07. Rules change, so confirm on the agency’s page before proceeding. This site is not an immigration agency, does not file applications on your behalf, does not represent anyone, provides general information only, and is not immigration or legal advice.
