EP vs EntrePass vs ONE Pass: Which Singapore Work Pass Should a Founder Choose?

Published: 22 July 2026 · Last reviewed: 17 September 2026 · Reviewed by Ray Tay, Co-Founder & Managing Director, VIVOS PTE. LTD. (ACRA Filing Agent FA20240323 · MOM EA Licence 24S2425)

By Ray Tay, Co-Founder & Managing Director at VIVOS Pte. Ltd. — ACRA Registered Filing Agent FA20240323 · MOM Employment Agency Licence 24S2425 · Last reviewed: 17 September 2026

Most founders take the Employment Pass sponsored by their own Singapore company, with a qualifying salary from S$5,600/month in 2026. EntrePass suits venture-backed or IP-rich startups that cannot yet pay an EP salary. The ONE Pass is for top-tier talent earning S$30,000+/month — employer-flexible, but out of reach for most.

Side-by-side comparison

How to decide in three questions

Can your company pay you S$5,600+ a month? Take the EP through your own company — it is the cleanest route, and the company’s setup and the pass can run as one process. See the 2026–2027 salary thresholds.

Pre-revenue but funded or IP-backed? EntrePass removes the salary floor but replaces it with venture criteria — recognised funding, IP, or accelerator backing — and its renewals demand real spending and local hiring milestones that get steeper over time. Read our EntrePass eligibility guide.

Already earning S$30,000+ a month? The ONE Pass frees you from single-employer sponsorship entirely — rare among work passes — and suits serial operators and senior executives.

Key Takeaways

• The Employment Pass (EP) is the default route for most founders: it requires a qualifying salary from S$5,600/month (S$6,200/month in financial services), rising with age, plus at least 40 points under MOM’s COMPASS framework.
• EntrePass suits founders whose company cannot yet pay an EP-level salary — it requires at least S$50,000 in paid-up capital, 30%+ shareholding, and at least one MOM-recognised innovation, funding or track-record criterion.
• ONE Pass targets top-tier talent earning S$30,000+/month (or with outstanding achievement) and offers five-year validity with no employer lock-in — holders can work for multiple companies, sit on boards, or start businesses without a new pass each time.
• EntrePass renewal criteria escalate over time on business spending and local hires, so founders should plan an exit to EP or another pass well before a milestone they cannot meet.
• Dependant’s Pass eligibility for a spouse and children under 21 applies across EP, EntrePass and ONE Pass once the holder earns at least S$6,000/month.
• All figures in this guide are MOM 2026 thresholds and are scheduled to rise again from 1 January 2027 — always confirm current numbers before filing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I switch from EntrePass to EP later?

Yes — many founders move to an EP from their own company once it pays a qualifying salary.

Which pass leads to PR fastest?

None has a formal fast lane — PR outcomes track salary, tenure, economic contribution and family ties. The direct investment route is the Global Investor Programme.

Do all three passes allow me to own 100% of my company?

Ownership is not restricted by pass type — the pass governs your right to work in Singapore, not your shareholding. See foreign ownership rules.

What if my company can’t yet afford the Employment Pass salary?

If a Singapore company cannot yet pay the EP qualifying salary, which starts from S$5,600/month for most sectors and S$6,200/month for financial services and rises with age under MOM’s 2026 schedule, the EntrePass is usually the practical bridge. It lets a founder hold a work pass while building revenue and headcount, provided the company meets at least one of MOM’s innovation, funding or track-record criteria. Once the business can sustainably pay the EP qualifying salary and the applicant scores at least 40 points under COMPASS, switching to an EP becomes possible.

Can my spouse and children join me on an EP, EntrePass or ONE Pass?

Yes. Holders of an Employment Pass, EntrePass or ONE Pass earning a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 can sponsor a Dependant’s Pass for their legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children. Common-law spouses, step-children, parents and handicapped children are not eligible for a Dependant’s Pass, though they may qualify for a Long-Term Visit Pass instead. EntrePass holders generally need to have met their local-hiring and minimum business-spending renewal requirements before MOM approves dependant sponsorship.

What do I need to hit when my EntrePass comes up for renewal?

EntrePass renewal requirements escalate over time and are assessed on total business spending and local employees on payroll — Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents earning at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary, currently S$1,600/month. The first renewal, around year 1, is light-touch with no fixed bar. From the second renewal onward MOM raises the bar each cycle: broadly S$100,000 in spending and one local employee at the second renewal, S$200,000 and two employees at the third, and S$300,000 and three employees at the fourth, rising further after that. Founders who cannot meet the milestones should plan an exit or transition to another pass well before the renewal deadline.

How does the ONE Pass’s flexibility compare to an EP or EntrePass?

The ONE Pass is issued for five years — longer than a typical Employment Pass (up to two years on a first application, up to three years on renewal) or EntrePass (one year for the first pass, one year at first renewal, two years thereafter). It is also not tied to a single employer, so a holder can work for multiple companies, sit on boards, take on advisory roles, or start a new business without applying for a fresh work pass each time their situation changes. EP and EntrePass holders remain tied to the sponsoring company and generally need a new application or must keep meeting renewal milestones to continue working in Singapore.

How This Guide Was Verified

This guide was checked against MOM’s official published sources. Sources: MOM Employment Pass eligibility page, MOM COMPASS framework page, MOM EntrePass eligibility page, MOM EntrePass renewal-criteria page, MOM Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass eligibility page, and MOM Dependant’s Pass eligibility page. Figures reflect the qualifying-salary and COMPASS updates effective for new Employment Pass applications from 1 January 2026 (renewals from 1 July 2026); thresholds are scheduled to change again from 1 January 2027. Last verified: 17 September 2026.

Speak With VIVOS’s Licensed Pass Specialists

Choosing between an Employment Pass, EntrePass and ONE Pass affects your salary structure, your company’s hiring plan, and how soon your family can join you — getting it right the first time matters. VIVOS Pte. Ltd. is an ACRA Registered Filing Agent (FA20240323) and MOM-licensed Employment Agency (Licence 24S2425); our team handles incorporation, work pass applications and ongoing compliance under one roof.

Talk to a specialist: WhatsApp +65 9366 9399 or contact@vivos.com.sg — incorporation, passes and compliance handled by one licensed team.