Singapore EntrePass 2026: Eligibility, Application Guide & Requirements

If you are a foreign entrepreneur looking to start a business in Singapore and manage it personally, the EntrePass is designed for you. Unlike the Employment Pass (EP), which requires a sponsoring employer, the EntrePass allows you to incorporate your own company, hold equity in it, and obtain a work pass to manage it directly. It is Singapore’s pathway for serial entrepreneurs, high-calibre innovators, and experienced investors who want to build businesses in one of Asia’s most dynamic economies.

This guide covers everything you need to know about the Singapore EntrePass in 2026: who qualifies, what documents are required, how the application process works, and what happens after approval.

What Is the Singapore EntrePass?

The EntrePass (Entrepreneur Pass) is a work pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that allows foreign nationals to start and operate a qualifying business in Singapore. It is intended for entrepreneurs whose businesses are innovative, venture-backed, or involve significant intellectual property — not for routine commercial ventures.

Unlike most other Singapore work passes, the EntrePass does not use the COMPASS framework. Instead, MOM evaluates each application holistically, assessing the business’s innovation credentials, the applicant’s track record, and the potential for the venture to grow and create local employment.

Who Qualifies for the EntrePass in 2026?

To be eligible, an applicant must:

• Have registered or intend to incorporate a private limited company in Singapore (incorporated no more than six months ago if already registered).
• Hold at least 30% shareholding in the company.
• Meet at least one of seven qualifying criteria set by MOM.

The Seven Qualifying Criteria

MOM requires applicants to satisfy at least one of the following:

1. Venture capital funding: The company has received funding from a MOM-recognised venture capital or private equity firm.
2. Intellectual property: The applicant holds a patent registered with an approved IP office in Singapore, the US, UK, Japan, or equivalent jurisdiction.
3. Research collaboration: The company has a formal research collaboration with a Singapore university, polytechnic, or research institution under A*STAR.
4. Incubatee status: The company has been accepted by a MOM-recognised incubator or accelerator programme.
5. Government grant: The company has received a business development grant from an approved Singapore government agency (e.g., Enterprise Singapore, EDB, A*STAR).
6. Outstanding track record: The applicant has founded or co-founded a highly successful business elsewhere (typically evidenced by significant revenue, funding raised, or acquisition).
7. Domain expertise: The applicant possesses exceptional domain expertise — typically requiring significant industry awards, published research, or recognised leadership at the forefront of their sector.

Criteria 6 and 7 give MOM considerable discretion, and the bar is high. Simply being a successful SME owner in your home country is unlikely to satisfy criterion 6 — you will generally need evidence of a venture-backed or high-growth company with demonstrable outcomes.

EntrePass vs Employment Pass: Key Differences

Note that unlike the ONE Pass, which allows concurrent employment with multiple employers, the EntrePass ties the holder to their own company. If you intend to work for another company simultaneously, you will need a separate pass arrangement.

Company Requirements

The company must be a Singapore-incorporated private limited company. Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and foreign branch offices do not qualify. The company must also:

• Be newly incorporated (no more than six months old at the time of application); or
• Not yet be incorporated (in which case you apply first and incorporate upon approval).

The business must operate in an innovation-oriented sector. MOM will look unfavourably on applications in sectors it considers saturated or low-innovation — food and beverage, retail, cleaning services, and similar — unless there is a genuinely differentiated technology angle.

For general guidance on incorporating a company in Singapore, see our guide on How to Set Up a Singapore Company: A Guide for Foreigners.

Application Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Prepare Your Business Plan

The business plan is the centrepiece of an EntrePass application. It should cover:

• The problem you are solving and the market opportunity.
• Your product or service and its innovation credentials.
• Your target customers and revenue model.
• How you will create local employment in Singapore.
• Your own qualifications, track record, and why you are the right person to execute this.

MOM evaluators are experienced and have seen many business plans. Generic plans that recycle standard language will not succeed. The plan should be specific, evidence-based, and show a credible path to commercial viability.

Step 2: Gather Supporting Documents

Key documents include:

• Valid passport and any existing pass documents.
• ACRA business profile or incorporation documents.
• Evidence of qualifying criteria (VC term sheets, patent certificates, grant award letters, incubator acceptance letters, etc.).
• Résumé/CV showing the applicant’s track record.
• Educational certificates.
• Financial projections and/or existing financial statements.

Step 3: Submit via MOM’s EP Online (EPOL)

Applications are submitted through MOM’s EP Online (EPOL) portal. The application fee is S$105 (non-refundable). Processing typically takes six to eight weeks, though complex cases may take longer.

Step 4: In-Principle Approval (IPA)

If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) valid for six months. You must incorporate your company (if not already done) and complete the issuance process within this window.

Step 5: EntrePass Issuance

To complete issuance, you must provide evidence that you have taken up your shareholding (at least 30%), pay the issuance fee (S$225), and enrol for a medical examination if required. The EntrePass is then issued for one year.

Renewal: What MOM Looks For

EntrePass renewal is more demanding than initial application. By the time of renewal, MOM expects to see:

• Business activity: Revenue, customers, or other evidence that the business is genuinely operating.
• Local employment: Ideally, at least one local (Singapore citizen or PR) employee by the second renewal.
• Compliance: All ACRA filings, tax obligations, and CPF contributions up to date. See our Singapore Company Compliance Calendar 2026 for key deadlines.
• Business plan update: An updated plan showing progress against original projections.

Holders who have not demonstrated meaningful business progress at renewal are likely to have their applications rejected. MOM has been known to decline renewals for companies with zero or very low revenue and no local employment, regardless of the original innovation credentials.

Dependant Passes and Long-Term Visit Passes

EntrePass holders may sponsor Dependant’s Passes (DP) for their spouse and children under 21, subject to meeting a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$6,000. Long-Term Visit Passes (LTVP) are available for other dependants (e.g., unmarried handicapped children above 21, parents) at MOM’s discretion.

Common Reasons for Rejection

• Business plan too generic or insufficiently innovative.
• No verifiable evidence of the qualifying criteria claimed.
• Applicant’s track record insufficient for criteria 6 or 7.
• Business in a saturated sector with no differentiating technology angle.
• Company already more than six months old at the time of application.
• Equity stake below 30% at issuance.

Conclusion

The Singapore EntrePass is a powerful pathway for the right applicant — someone with a genuinely innovative business concept, supporting credentials, and a credible plan to build a significant company in Singapore. It is not the right pass for a typical SME owner relocating their existing business. If you are uncertain whether your profile qualifies, or you need help structuring your business plan and documentation, the team at Raffles Corporate Services can guide you through the EntrePass application process from start to finish.

— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services