The Singapore EntrePass is the work pass designed for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start a new, innovative, scalable business in Singapore. It was extensively redesigned in 2020 to attract genuine deep-tech founders rather than retail or trading entrepreneurs, and the bar has remained high ever since. In 2026, the EntrePass sits alongside the Employment Pass (EP), the ONE Pass and the Tech.Pass as one of Singapore’s “founder-friendly” routes — though it is by far the most narrowly targeted of the four.
This 2026 guide walks through who actually qualifies for an EntrePass, how the eligibility criteria differ from a standard EP, the COMPASS-style scoring framework that now sits behind MOM’s assessment, the application process, renewal thresholds, and the realistic alternatives if EntrePass is not the right route.
What is the EntrePass?
The EntrePass is a work pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to foreign entrepreneurs who want to operate a privately-held company that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies. It is distinct from the Employment Pass in two key ways:
- The EntrePass holder must be a shareholder (at least 30%) and key business decision-maker in the Singapore company, not an employee of someone else’s company;
- The eligibility criteria are tied to innovation, funding, IP or accelerator backing — they are not driven by salary alone, unlike the EP.
If you’re employed by an existing Singapore company as a senior professional, you want the EP — see our COMPASS EP Framework Singapore (2026) guide. The EntrePass is for the entrepreneur who is the founder, not an employee of one.
Who qualifies — the four entrepreneur tracks
The EntrePass eligibility framework has four innovation-criteria tracks. An applicant needs to meet at least one:
Track 1 — Funded entrepreneur
The applicant has raised at least S$100,000 in committed funding from a recognised Singapore-based VC or angel investor (a member of MAS’s regulated angel networks, EnterpriseSG-recognised funds, or other approved investors). Self-funding, family-and-friends rounds and informal loans do not count.
Track 2 — Founder of a tech business
The applicant holds or has applied for patentable IP, or has substantial experience in a deep-tech area that is the basis of the business. Acceptable evidence includes: granted patents, accepted patent applications, prior employment as a recognised researcher in the same domain, or a track record of publications in indexed journals.
Track 3 — Backed by an EnterpriseSG-recognised incubator or accelerator
The applicant has been accepted into a Singapore-government-recognised incubator or accelerator programme (the EnterpriseSG-listed schemes). The acceptance is treated as third-party validation of the business idea.
Track 4 — Significant business network or experience
The applicant has been the founder or senior executive of a high-growth business overseas, with documented revenue, headcount or fundraising traction in their home jurisdiction. This track is relatively narrow and reserved for serial entrepreneurs with provable past success.
The full list of recognised investors, incubators and accelerators is maintained by MOM and updated periodically. Always check the current list at mom.gov.sg before applying.
What the business itself must be
The Singapore entity must be (or will be) incorporated as a Private Limited Company with ACRA, registered for not more than 6 months at the date of application, with the EntrePass applicant holding at least 30% of the shares. The business must operate in an innovative or scalable industry. Excluded businesses include:
- Coffee shops, hawker centres, food courts, restaurants and similar F&B operations (a long-standing exclusion);
- Bars and nightclubs;
- Karaoke lounges;
- Massage parlours;
- Acupuncture and TCM clinics;
- Employment agencies (unless MOM-licensed in their own right);
- Geomancy services and feng shui consultancies.
The exclusion list is a strong signal: EntrePass is for tech, biotech, advanced manufacturing, fintech, climate-tech, healthcare innovation and similar. Conventional retail and services should look at other routes.
EntrePass vs EP vs ONE Pass vs Tech.Pass — which one fits?
| Pass | For | Eligibility headline | Renewal driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| EntrePass | Founder of new innovative SG company | Funded / IP / incubator / past founder | Business milestones (revenue, headcount, jobs created) |
| EP | Senior professional employed by SG company | Salary ≥ S$5,000 base + COMPASS 40 points | Continued employment + COMPASS |
| ONE Pass | Top-tier talent | Salary ≥ S$30,000/month or eminent achievement | Continued ONE Pass-qualifying status |
| Tech.Pass | Established tech leader | Top-tier company background + tech founders track | Continued tech leadership |
Most founders we work with end up choosing between EntrePass (if they qualify and want a founder-specific signal) and an EP (where the founder is also paid a salary above the EP threshold by the Singapore company). The EP is easier for first-pass approval if the salary supports it. The EntrePass is the right pick if there’s no salary yet and the funding / IP / incubator backing is genuine.
The COMPASS framework for EntrePass
While the COMPASS points framework is best known for the EP (see our COMPASS EP Framework guide), MOM applies a parallel assessment lens for EntrePass — looking at:
- Quality of the business proposition: innovation, scalability, market potential;
- Strength of the founding team: background, prior experience, complementary skills;
- Funding credibility: who has committed, on what terms, and whether the funding is at arm’s length;
- Local economic contribution: jobs to be created in Singapore, anchor functions in Singapore vs offshore.
The application includes a structured Business Plan template (revenue projections, headcount plans, R&D investment, milestones). Treat this document seriously — MOM officers read it carefully, and inconsistencies between the business plan and the funding evidence are a common rejection trigger.
Application process step by step
Step 1 — Incorporate the Singapore company (or be within 6 months of incorporation)
You can apply before or after incorporating, but the company must be ACRA-registered or in the process of being registered. Most founders incorporate first using a corporate-secretarial provider that handles the EntrePass application alongside.
Step 2 — Compile the supporting evidence
Depending on which track you’re applying under, the documentary requirements vary:
| Track | Key documents |
|---|---|
| Funded | Signed term sheet / SAFE / SHA, transfer evidence, investor’s regulatory status proof |
| IP / tech | Patent filings, academic publications, prior employer letters, technical specifications |
| Incubator | Acceptance letter from EnterpriseSG-recognised programme |
| Past founder | Company financials of past venture, fundraising history, headcount evidence |
All evidence in non-English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
Step 3 — Submit via MOM’s online portal
EntrePass is submitted via MOM’s EP Online portal. The application fee is S$105. The applicant must hold a valid travel document and disclose any prior immigration or criminal history.
Step 4 — Processing
EntrePass processing typically takes 8–12 weeks. MOM may issue an RFI (Request for Information) requesting clarifications — respond quickly, the clock pauses while RFI is outstanding.
Step 5 — IPA and entry
If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter valid for 6 months. The applicant uses the IPA to enter Singapore and complete formalities — medical examination (where required), biometrics and pass card issuance. The EntrePass is initially issued for 1 year.
Renewal — and why so many EntrePasses don’t get past the first renewal
The first renewal happens at the end of Year 1. After that, renewals are typically for 2 years at a time. Renewal is conditional on the Singapore company having met certain business milestones — not just on the founder continuing to draw a salary.
| Milestone category | Indicative threshold |
|---|---|
| Total Business Spending (TBS) | S$100,000+ in operating expenses per renewal cycle |
| Local employment | 2+ local employees (Singapore Citizens or PRs) |
| Innovation activities | Patents filed, R&D spending, products launched |
| Funding raised | Additional follow-on rounds |
If milestones are not met, MOM declines renewal. Many EntrePass holders pivot to an EP at first renewal, once the business is generating revenue and the founder can be paid a salary above the EP threshold.
Dependants and family
EntrePass holders can sponsor a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for their spouse and unmarried children under 21, and a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for parents — see our Singapore Dependant’s Pass & LTVP guide. Dependant sponsorship is conditional on the EntrePass holder meeting fixed monthly salary thresholds, typically S$6,000 per month from the Singapore company.
EntrePass and PR application
EntrePass holders are eligible to apply for Singapore PR under the Professional, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers Scheme (PTS) after a period of continuous EntrePass employment. The PR application is assessed on the same factors as for EP holders — economic contribution, family ties, time in Singapore, age, sector fit. See our PR application coverage on the site.
Common reasons EntrePass applications fail
- The business falls within the excluded categories (F&B, retail, traditional services);
- Funding evidence is not from a recognised investor (informal loans, family money);
- The IP claim is weak — applied-for patents that are essentially design or trademark filings, not real technology;
- The accelerator/incubator is not on MOM’s recognised list;
- The business plan is generic and not tailored to the founder’s actual venture;
- The applicant’s role looks like a job rather than a founder role (e.g. proposed equity is too low);
- The applicant has a poor immigration history elsewhere.
If EntrePass isn’t the right route
The realistic alternatives for foreign entrepreneurs are:
- Employment Pass (EP): if the Singapore company can pay the founder a base salary at or above the EP threshold (currently S$5,600 base + COMPASS 40 points; higher for financial services). For many seed-stage founders, this is simpler than EntrePass once a seed round closes;
- Tech.Pass: for senior tech executives — see our Singapore Tech.Pass 2026 guide;
- ONE Pass: for top earners (S$30,000+/month or eminent achievement);
- Global Investor Programme (GIP): for HNW founders willing to commit S$10m+ to a Singapore business or fund — see our GIP Singapore 2026 guide.
How RCS supports EntrePass applicants
Raffles Corporate Services regularly handles the corporate side of EntrePass cases — incorporating the Singapore Pte Ltd, preparing the business plan to MOM’s expected standard, coordinating with the founder’s legal counsel on the equity and funding structure, and supporting the EntrePass submission through our affiliated MOM-licensed employment agency. We do not handle the immigration submission ourselves; the licensed employment agency partner does that, while we own the company-side documentation that MOM needs to see.
Conclusion
The EntrePass is a sharp tool — narrowly designed for genuinely innovative founders backed by recognised investors, holding real IP, in accelerators, or with provable past entrepreneurial success. For founders who genuinely fit one of the four tracks, it is a strong signal of credibility and the right vehicle. For everyone else — particularly founders in conventional services or retail — the EP, Tech.Pass or GIP routes are usually faster and better matched. Choose the right pass for your actual situation, not for what sounds most “founder-like”.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services