Renewal is treated as a fresh application in law. The employer or appointed agent must submit on the candidate’s behalf. The pass is valid for up to 2 years on first issue and up to 3 years on renewal, and cannot run beyond one month before the passport expires.
Legal Status and Validity of Renewal
S Pass renewal is assessed afresh against current eligibility criteria. The approved validity is up to 3 years, but it is capped by passport validity: the pass can be issued only up to one month before the passport expires. The employer or appointed employment agency must apply on the holder’s behalf. When a holder changes employer, the new employer must make a fresh application.
Salary Threshold: Tiered Criteria and the 2027 Change
The minimum qualifying salary is tiered by sector and age. For all sectors except financial services, the current threshold is S$3,300 (under 23), rising with age to S$4,800 at 45 and above. For financial services, the current threshold is S$3,800, rising to S$5,650 at 45 and above. From 1 January 2027, new applications submitted and renewals expiring from 1 January 2028 will see thresholds raised to a starting point of S$3,600 and S$4,000 respectively, with all age tiers adjusted in step. Salary means fixed monthly pay, excluding variable allowances. Qualification declaration is optional; if declared, the employer must ensure the qualification is genuine and the awarding institution is on the dropdown list. Use the self-assessment tool first: candidates shown as eligible have about a 90% approval rate.
Quota and Levy: Sector Caps and Sub-Caps
The Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) is set by sector: 83.3% for construction and process, 75% for marine shipyard, 60% for manufacturing and 35% for services. S Pass also carries a sub-cap: 10% of total employees for services, and 15% for construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process. Quota is derived from the average number of local employees, calculated from the company’s CPF contribution records over the last 3 months; the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) determines how many local employees count. The levy has been uniform at S$650 per month since 1 September 2025 across all sectors and tiers; for partial months it is S$21.37 per day. The levy liability runs from the date of issuance to cancellation or expiry, and must be paid by GIRO.
Dependant’s Pass: Salary Thresholds for DP and LTVP
A holder with a fixed monthly salary of S$6,000 may apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted children). At the same salary threshold, a cohabiting spouse, unmarried disabled children above 21, and unmarried stepchildren under 21 may apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). Parents require a salary of S$12,000 to qualify for an LTVP. The sponsoring company must be an established entity incorporated in Singapore. The LTVP follows the main pass’s validity, and is not subject to quota or levy.
Employer Medical Insurance and PCP Obligations
Employers must buy medical insurance for every S Pass holder. If workers are housed in dormitories of 7 or more, or are in the construction, marine shipyard or process (CMP) sectors, the employer must purchase the Primary Care Plan (PCP) after receiving the In-Principle Approval or renewal letter and before issuance, and declare it on the myMOM Portal.
Official Process Steps Before and After Renewal
Before submission: Advertise the vacancy on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly; confirm eligibility and salary meet the criteria; work out the remaining quota; first-time applicants must first declare business activities; prepare the required documents.
After approval: Obtain the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter; those subject to PCP must complete purchase and declaration; arrange entry in line with ICA entry requirements.
After entry: Buy medical insurance and submit policy details online; the pass is issued and a notification letter is received; book an appointment to register fingerprints and photo as notified; the card is delivered to the specified address within 4 working days after registration or verification.
During the pass period: Notify MOM of any change in company or holder information; apply for renewal before expiry; replace a lost or damaged card; cancel the pass when the employee leaves.