The S Pass is Singapore’s mid-skilled foreign worker pass — sitting between the Employment Pass (for professionals and managers) and the Work Permit (for lower-skilled workers). For thousands of Singapore employers in services, manufacturing, healthcare, and retail, the S Pass is the key instrument for hiring qualified foreign technicians, associate professionals, and skilled workers who do not yet meet the EP salary threshold.
2026 has brought meaningful changes to the S Pass framework. The Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) rose to S$1,800 per month on 1 July 2026, directly affecting how employers calculate their S Pass quota. The S Pass minimum salary is also set to rise again from January 2027. This guide covers everything an employer needs to know about the S Pass in 2026 — current rules, July 2026 changes, and what to watch for in the year ahead.
What Is the S Pass?
The S Pass is issued under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 and is administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It is designed for mid-skilled foreign workers who have relevant technical qualifications and work experience. Unlike the Employment Pass, the S Pass does not use the COMPASS points framework — it is assessed on a pass/fail basis against salary and qualification thresholds.
Employers can only hire S Pass holders up to a quota limit based on their workforce composition. They must also pay a monthly Foreign Worker Levy for each S Pass holder they employ.
S Pass Eligibility: Who Qualifies?
To qualify for an S Pass in 2026, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria.
Minimum Monthly Salary
The current minimum fixed monthly salary for an S Pass holder is S$3,300 for most sectors, with a higher threshold of S$3,650 for the financial services sector. These figures apply to entry-level candidates; the minimum salary increases progressively with the candidate’s age:
| Age of Candidate | Minimum Monthly Salary (Most Sectors) | Minimum Monthly Salary (Financial Services) |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | S$3,300 | S$3,650 |
| 30 to 34 | S$3,700 | S$4,050 |
| 35 to 39 | S$4,100 | S$4,600 |
| 40 and above | S$4,650 | S$5,100 |
Note: From January 2027, the base minimum salary for S Pass will rise from S$3,300 to S$3,600, and age-linked thresholds will increase proportionally. Employers planning renewals straddling the year-end should budget for the 2027 increase now.
Qualifications and Experience
The candidate must hold a degree, diploma, or relevant technical certificate. In practice, MOM focuses less on paper qualifications and more on whether the candidate’s combination of education and work experience is commensurate with the salary offered. A candidate with a vocational diploma and 8 years of relevant experience is generally more favourably viewed than one with a degree and minimal experience.
S Pass Quota: How Many Can You Hire?
Employers can only hire S Pass holders up to a Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) — a percentage of the company’s total workforce. The DRC varies by sector:
| Sector | S Pass Quota (as % of total workforce) |
|---|---|
| Services | 10% |
| Manufacturing | 20% |
| Construction, marine shipyard, process | 25% (Work Permit DRC applies separately) |
July 2026 Change: LQS Rise to S$1,800 Affects Quota Count
From 1 July 2026, the Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) — the minimum monthly salary a local employee must earn to be counted as a full unit in your workforce for foreign worker quota purposes — has risen from S$1,600 to S$1,800 per month.
This change can reduce your effective S Pass quota if you have local employees earning between S$1,600 and S$1,799 per month. Under the old framework, these employees counted as one full unit each. Under the new framework from 1 July 2026, they count as 0.5 units each.
Example: A services company has 20 local employees. Before 1 July 2026, all 20 counted as full units, giving an S Pass entitlement of 2 (10% of 20). After 1 July 2026, if 6 of those local employees earn between S$1,600 and S$1,799, those 6 now count as 0.5 each — reducing the effective local headcount to 17 and the S Pass entitlement to 1.
Employers should audit their local payroll immediately to identify employees earning below S$1,800 and consider whether salary adjustments are appropriate. Companies that raise local salaries to S$1,800 may qualify for government co-funding support under the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme. See our Progressive Wage Model guide for 2026 for sector-specific rates and obligations.
S Pass Levy: What Employers Pay
Employers must pay a monthly Foreign Worker Levy for each S Pass holder. The levy is a non-negotiable employer cost — it cannot be deducted from the S Pass holder’s salary or passed to the employee.
As at 2026, the S Pass levy has been harmonised by MOM to a flat rate of S$650 per month per S Pass holder across most sectors. This represents the “basic tier” levy. Employers whose S Pass headcount approaches the DRC ceiling may find MOM applying higher tiered levies — check your MOM advisory letter for tier-specific rates applicable to your company.
The levy is paid via GIRO to the CPF Board by the 14th of the following month. Failure to pay on time results in penalties and can affect the company’s ability to renew or apply for new passes.
How to Apply for an S Pass
Employers apply for the S Pass through the EP Online portal on the MOM website. The process is as follows:
- Check quota availability: Confirm your company’s current S Pass headroom on MOM’s EP Online before applying. Submitting an application without quota headroom will result in rejection.
- Prepare supporting documents: Educational certificates and transcripts, employment history documentation, a copy of the employment offer letter, and the candidate’s passport and photo.
- Submit via EP Online: The employer or an authorised Employment Agency submits the application. Processing typically takes 3 weeks, though complex cases may take longer.
- In-Principle Approval (IPA): If approved, MOM issues an IPA letter valid for 6 months. The candidate must enter Singapore on the IPA and complete issuance formalities (medical examination at an approved clinic, thumbprint registration).
- Pass Issuance: The S Pass card is issued and mailed to the employer’s registered address within approximately 4 working days of the candidate completing the issuance process.
For end-to-end assistance with S Pass applications, our associated licensed employment agency handles the full submission process with MOM, including documentation review and quota checks.
S Pass Renewal
S Passes are typically issued for up to 2 years and may be renewed for up to 3 years per renewal. At each renewal, MOM reassesses the candidate’s salary against the prevailing age-based minimum salary thresholds. If the candidate’s salary has not kept pace with age-linked increases, the renewal may be refused.
Employers should begin the renewal process at least 6 weeks before the pass expiry to allow sufficient processing time. MOM allows renewal applications to be submitted up to 6 months before the expiry date.
S Pass vs Employment Pass: Key Differences
The S Pass and Employment Pass are distinct passes targeting different skill levels. The key differences are:
| S Pass | Employment Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum salary (2026) | S$3,300/month (most sectors) | S$5,600/month (most sectors) |
| Assessment framework | Pass/fail: salary + qualifications | COMPASS points system |
| Quota applicable? | Yes — DRC applies | No quota for EP |
| Levy payable? | Yes — S$650/month | No levy |
| Dependant’s Pass eligibility | Must earn S$6,000+ to bring dependants | No minimum for Dependant’s Pass |
For a full comparison of Singapore work passes including the ONE Pass and Personalised Employment Pass, see our EP vs ONE Pass vs PEP comparison guide. For an overview of all work passes, see our Singapore Work Pass guide.
What Employers Should Do Now
- Audit your local payroll for employees earning between S$1,600 and S$1,799 per month and model the impact of the LQS change on your S Pass quota from 1 July 2026.
- Review upcoming S Pass renewals and confirm that each S Pass holder’s salary meets the current age-based minimum threshold.
- Budget for the January 2027 salary increase — the S Pass base minimum rises to S$3,600 from 1 January 2027.
- Check your company’s levy payment records — any outstanding levy or late payment interest must be cleared before new pass applications are processed.
- Engage a licensed employment agency for complex applications or quota calculations. An experienced licensed employment agency can review your quota position and advise on the strongest application package.
For the latest Singapore workforce and employment news, employers can stay updated on MOM’s ongoing policy announcements. For businesses considering broader investment and business planning, understanding workforce costs is an important input to financial modelling.
To speak with the team at Raffles Corporate Services, you can email [email protected] or call, SMS, or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133. We are happy to assist with any queries.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services
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