The Employment Pass (EP) is the work pass most foreign professionals reach for, but for founders building a venture-backed or IP-led business in Singapore, the EntrePass is often the better fit — and in some cases the only fit. Unlike the EP, the EntrePass is awarded based on the merits of the business itself, not [...]
If you are a foreign professional considering a move to Singapore, or a multinational employer planning a Singapore posting, you will quickly come across three different work pass options that are often confused: the standard Employment Pass (EP), the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass), and the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). All three allow [...]
If you are a foreign entrepreneur looking to start an innovative or venture-backed business in Singapore, the EntrePass is one of the few work pass routes available to you. Unlike the Employment Pass — which requires you to be sponsored by an existing employer — the EntrePass allows you to be the founder, the shareholder, [...]
For foreign professionals, executives and entrepreneurs eyeing a move to Singapore in 2026, the work-pass landscape has narrowed to three serious contenders: the Employment Pass (EP), the ONE Pass, and the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). Each has a different sponsor model, salary floor and validity period, and choosing the wrong one can cost you months [...]
Since September 2023, the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) has been the gateway test for almost every Employment Pass (EP) application in Singapore. From 1 January 2026, MOM has refreshed both the qualifying salary thresholds and the institution lists used in scoring — meaning many employers and candidates who passed COMPASS comfortably in 2025 will need [...]
Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) framework changed fundamentally on 1 September 2023 when the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) took effect. The shift from a flat qualifying salary test to a points-based system has caught out countless employers and candidates — particularly those whose applications would have sailed through under the old rules. The good news is [...]
A comprehensive guide to Singapore's COMPASS framework for Employment Pass applications in 2026. Covers salary thresholds, all six scoring criteria (C1–C6), the Shortage Occupation List updates, Fair Consideration Framework requirements, and practical tips for employers.
For senior executives, founders and globally recognised specialists, the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) is Singapore's most prestigious work pass. Launched in January 2023 to draw "top-tier" talent into the Republic, it is the only pass that lets a single individual work for multiple employers concurrently, start their own Singapore company, and even [...]
Introduction Singapore has long been recognised as one of the best places in the world to start a business. With its stable political environment, transparent regulatory framework, and pro-business policies, it continues to attract entrepreneurs from around the globe. For foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start and operate an innovative business in Singapore, the EntrePass [...]
What Is the COMPASS Framework? The Complementarity Assessment Framework, commonly known as COMPASS, is Singapore’s points-based system for evaluating Employment Pass (EP) applications. Introduced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 1 September 2023, COMPASS is designed to ensure that foreign professionals hired in Singapore genuinely complement the local workforce rather than displace it. Under [...]