If you are a foreign professional, manager, or senior executive thinking about working in Singapore, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) gives you three premium pass options to choose from in 2026: the Employment Pass (EP), the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), and the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass. They look similar on paper, but each is calibrated for a very different stage of your career — and picking the wrong one can mean a denied application, an unnecessary tie to a single employer, or thousands of dollars in fees that could have been avoided.
This guide breaks down all three passes side by side: salary thresholds, validity, COMPASS exposure, employer flexibility, and the realistic candidate profile each one is designed for. By the end you will know exactly which pass to apply for, and what to do if you sit between two categories.
The Big Picture: Three Passes, Three Audiences
All three passes let a foreign professional live and work in Singapore, but they target very different groups:
- EP is MOM’s workhorse for mid-career to senior professionals sponsored by a Singapore employer.
- PEP is for established mid-to-senior professionals who want to switch jobs freely without re-applying for a new pass each time.
- ONE Pass is for top-tier global talent — earners and proven leaders — whom Singapore is actively recruiting to build hubs in finance, technology, science, the arts and sport.
The differences cascade from there: minimum salary, who sponsors the application, validity period, dependant privileges, and exposure to the COMPASS points framework.
Side-by-Side Comparison (2026)
| Feature | Employment Pass (EP) | Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) | ONE Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum fixed monthly salary | S$5,600 (S$6,200 for financial services); rises with age | S$22,500 | S$30,000 (or proven equivalent abroad) |
| Annual income floor (continuing) | n/a (assessed at application/renewal) | S$270,000 fixed annual salary every calendar year | Averaged over the 5-year validity |
| Validity (first issue) | Up to 2 years (3 for renewals) | 3 years, non-renewable | 5 years, renewable |
| Tied to one employer? | Yes — sponsored by employer | No — work for any Singapore employer | No — work for multiple employers concurrently; can start a business |
| Subject to COMPASS? | Yes (exempt if salary ≥ S$22,500) | No | No |
| Sponsoring employer needed? | Yes | No (self-sponsored) | No (self-sponsored) |
| Dependant Pass entitlement | If you earn ≥ S$6,000 | Yes | Yes |
| Unemployment cap in Singapore | n/a (must hold a job) | 6 continuous months | No fixed cap; assessed on renewal |
Employment Pass (EP): The Default Route
The EP is the most common work pass in Singapore. Your employer applies through MOM’s EP Online portal after confirming you meet the qualifying salary and pass the COMPASS framework.
Salary thresholds in 2026
The qualifying minimum is S$5,600 per month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services. The benchmark is age-progressive: a candidate in their mid-40s typically needs S$10,500 or more to clear MOM’s expected market rate for that age. For renewals from 1 July 2026, the latest COMPASS uplift applies.
COMPASS — the points test that decides EP cases
COMPASS scores an application across four core attributes (salary, qualifications, diversity, and support for local employment) plus two bonus attributes (skills shortage list and strategic economic priorities). The pass mark is 40 points. Candidates earning S$22,500 or more per month are exempt from COMPASS entirely. We covered the calculator and scoring logic in our COMPASS Points Calculator article.
Best for
Mid-career professionals who already have a Singapore job offer, candidates moving from another country specifically to take up a defined role, and any foreign hire whose salary sits in the S$5,600–S$22,500 band.
Personalised Employment Pass (PEP): The Job-Mobility Pass
PEP is the bridge between an EP and a ONE Pass. It is built for established professionals who want to switch employers freely while keeping a single, stable work pass.
Who qualifies
- Existing EP holders earning a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, or
- Overseas candidates with a comparable last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500.
How it differs from EP
PEP is self-sponsored — you keep the pass even when you change jobs. The trade-off: it has a three-year, non-renewable validity. You must also earn a fixed annual salary of at least S$270,000 each calendar year, and cannot be unemployed in Singapore for more than six continuous months. Our full PEP application guide walks through the documentation in detail.
Best for
Senior managers and consultants who anticipate multiple Singapore engagements, professionals between roles who want a buffer to job-hunt locally, and high earners not yet at ONE Pass thresholds.
ONE Pass: The Premium Talent Pass
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass is Singapore’s flagship for global top talent. Introduced in 2023, it has rapidly become the visa of choice for senior executives, founders, fund managers and recognised leaders in science, technology, the arts and sport.
Two qualifying paths
- Salary track: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 in the last year, with a current or past employer of repute. The role must currently be active or have ended within the last six months.
- Achievements track: exceptional achievements in arts, culture, sport, science, technology, research or academia — even without hitting the salary threshold. Examples include Olympic medallists, recognised research leads, founders of unicorns, or principal investigators with major grants.
What makes ONE Pass different
It is valid for five years and is renewable. Renewal requires either maintaining a S$30,000+ average salary over the five-year term or running a Singapore-based business employing five or more locals earning at least S$5,000 each. The holder may work for multiple employers concurrently and even start a business — something an EP holder cannot do without a separate EntrePass. The spouse can work in Singapore on a Letter of Consent.
Best for
C-suite executives, fund managers, founders relocating their family office, and recognised global talent who want maximum flexibility and a long runway. Read our standalone ONE Pass 2026 guide for the full application playbook.
How to Decide: A Quick Decision Framework
Ask the questions in this order:
- Do you have a Singapore employer ready to sponsor you? If yes, and your salary is between S$5,600 and around S$22,000, start with the EP.
- Will you earn S$22,500 or more in fixed monthly salary? If yes, you can choose between PEP and a high-salary EP. PEP is better if you anticipate switching jobs.
- Will you earn S$30,000 or more, or do you have global standout credentials? If yes, ONE Pass beats both EP and PEP on flexibility, validity and family privileges.
- Do you want to run a business while working? Only the ONE Pass permits this. An EP holder needs a separate EntrePass or must convert to a Tech.Pass.
For a deeper view of how COMPASS interacts with salary thresholds at different ages, see our COMPASS Points Calculator. If you are weighing immigration alongside long-term residency, our HNW relocation guide maps the full ladder from work pass to PR.
Common Mistakes Foreign Professionals Make
- Applying for an EP when salary is below S$5,600. The pass will be rejected. S Pass or Work Permit may be appropriate but those are not professional-level passes.
- Treating PEP as a renewable pass. It is non-renewable. Once it expires, you must apply for an EP, ONE Pass, or leave.
- Assuming ONE Pass is granted on salary alone. MOM assesses the employer of record and the candidate’s overall profile. A short stint with a no-name entity at S$30,000 may not be enough.
- Forgetting the S$270,000 annual floor for PEP. The figure is checked every calendar year and reportable to MOM.
- Missing the COMPASS skills shortage list. The list is updated periodically — your role may qualify for bonus points you did not realise existed.
Costs and Timeline
EP: S$105 application fee + S$225 issuance fee per pass; approval typically within 10 business days for straightforward cases. PEP: S$105 + S$225, approval within 8 weeks. ONE Pass: S$105 + S$225, approval within 4–8 weeks for clear-cut salary track applications and longer for achievements track.
All three passes are processed via MOM’s EP Online portal or the equivalent ONE Pass module.
How Raffles Corporate Services Can Help
We help foreign professionals and Singapore employers navigate the EP, PEP and ONE Pass route end to end — preparing the COMPASS scoring sheet, drafting the application narrative, coordinating with our affiliated MOM-licensed employment agency, and bundling the pass application with company incorporation where you are also setting up a Singapore entity. If you are unsure which pass to target, send us your CV and last 12 months’ payslips and we will recommend the best route.
For more on the workforce ecosystem, see our guides to EntrePass, the COMPASS framework explainer, and Singapore Employment Agency.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services