Singapore has quietly become the default landing pad for Asia’s wealthy families. The reasons are familiar — political stability, the rule of law, deep capital markets, English as a working language, an integrated air hub, world-class private banking and a tax regime that rewards long-term residency. Less familiar, particularly to first-time movers, is the actual menu of legal pathways. There is no single “investor visa” in Singapore. There are several distinct routes, each calibrated to a different profile of wealth, business activity and lifestyle preference.
This guide walks through every pathway a high net worth (HNW) or ultra-high net worth (UHNW) individual realistically uses to move to Singapore in 2026, with the threshold conditions, processing times and trade-offs of each. It is written for principals making the call themselves and for the advisers who run point on the move.
The Five Realistic Pathways
HNW relocation in Singapore breaks down into five practical tracks:
- Global Investor Programme (GIP) — direct route to Permanent Residence by qualifying investment.
- Family Office (13O / 13U) + Employment Pass — set up a Single Family Office and self-sponsor an EP.
- Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) — a five-year work pass for top earners and exceptional achievers.
- EntrePass — for foreign founders building a venture-backable Singapore business.
- Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) — for high-earning professionals who want to detach from a single employer.
Each route leads, eventually, to the same set of options — long-term residency, Permanent Residence and ultimately citizenship — but the entry point, costs and lifestyle implications differ significantly.
Pathway 1: Global Investor Programme (GIP)
The Global Investor Programme is administered by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and is the only pathway in the Singapore system that grants Permanent Residence directly. It is designed for highly successful business owners and serious investors with verifiable operating track records.
Three investment options are available under GIP:
- Option A: Invest at least S$10 million in a new or existing Singapore-based business entity, with a credible plan to grow employment in Singapore.
- Option B: Invest at least S$25 million in a GIP-approved fund that invests in Singapore-based companies.
- Option C: Establish or invest at least S$50 million in a Single Family Office in Singapore with at least S$200 million in AUM, deploying at least 50% of the GIP investment amount into EDB-approved categories within Singapore, and employing at least five investment professionals (at least three of whom are Singapore Citizens or PRs).
Beyond the capital, applicants must demonstrate a substantive business track record — typically three or more years as the founder, CEO, MD or major shareholder of a company with annual turnover of at least S$200 million in the most recent year (or S$500 million average over the last three).
The result, on approval, is a 5-year Re-Entry Permit (REP) for the principal and immediate family — that is Permanent Residence with the obligation to demonstrate continued economic substance to renew. Our deeper guide on GIP requirements, process and common mistakes sets out the documentation and timeline in detail.
Pathway 2: Single Family Office + Employment Pass
For families whose wealth sits below the GIP threshold, or who want a more flexible structure than direct PR, setting up a Single Family Office (SFO) and self-sponsoring an Employment Pass (EP) is the pathway of choice. The SFO is incorporated in Singapore as a private limited company, applies to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for either the Section 13O or Section 13U fund tax incentive, and once approved sponsors EPs for the principal(s) and key staff.
The choice between Section 13O and Section 13U is essentially a function of family AUM and structural preference. Our companion article, Section 13O vs 13U, walks through the detailed differences. In short:
- 13O: Minimum S$20 million AUM. Two investment professionals. Local business spend tiered from S$200,000/year. Fund must be Singapore tax resident.
- 13U: Minimum S$50 million AUM. Three investment professionals (one non-family). Local business spend tiered from S$500,000/year. Onshore or offshore fund.
The principal applies for an EP via the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and is assessed under the COMPASS framework — a points-based system covering salary, qualifications, firm-level diversity and local PMET hiring. Self-sponsored EPs through SFOs face the same COMPASS scoring as any other EP, so getting the salary and corporate setup right is essential. Our COMPASS points calculator guide works through the thresholds.
Once on EP, the principal can apply for Permanent Residence after a typical 1–3 year work history. Many family principals consciously sit at EP-level for the first 18–24 months to demonstrate operating substance before going for PR.
Pathway 3: Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass)
The ONE Pass is the highest-tier work pass in the MOM stable. It is a five-year, employer-flexible pass aimed at top-tier professionals, investors and founders who do not fit neatly into employer-sponsored EP or PEP categories.
To qualify under the salary track, an applicant must demonstrate a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 within the last year, working for an established company (or have a comparable salary offer in Singapore). An achievement track also exists for individuals with outstanding accomplishments in arts, sports, science, technology, research or academia, even where the salary criterion is not directly met.
The ONE Pass is renewable, allows the holder to start, operate and concurrently work in multiple companies, and is one of the cleanest options for HNW individuals who want to relocate quickly without committing capital to a regulated structure. Spouses can work on a Letter of Consent without securing their own EP.
Pathway 4: EntrePass
The EntrePass is designed for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and operate a new business in Singapore. It is administered by MOM and Enterprise Singapore. The applicant must be a foreign founder of a private limited company that is no more than six months old (or yet to be incorporated) at the time of application, and must satisfy at least one of a defined set of innovation criteria — venture funding, intellectual property, recognised research collaborations or being an incubatee at a recognised Singapore incubator.
EntrePass holders must continuously meet renewal criteria including spend on Singapore-based business, local hires and revenue milestones. It is a useful pathway for HNW individuals whose primary identity is “founder” rather than “investor”, but it is more demanding on operating substance than the SFO route. Our EntrePass guide for 2026 covers the criteria in depth.
Pathway 5: Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)
The PEP is a niche but useful pass for HNW individuals who already hold a senior corporate role and want flexibility to work across employers without re-applying for an EP each time. PEP holders are not tied to a specific employer and may switch jobs without re-application. The pass is non-renewable, valid for three years, and applicants must meet a minimum fixed monthly salary threshold (currently S$22,500 for new applications).
For an HNW individual with multiple board roles or fractional executive engagements, PEP can be the cleanest fit. Our PEP page covers the eligibility detail.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Pathway | Capital / Salary | Result | Time to Issue | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIP | S$10m business / S$25m fund / S$50m SFO with S$200m AUM | Permanent Residence (5-yr REP) | 9–18 months | Established business owners |
| SFO + EP (13O) | S$20m AUM | EP, then PR via standard track | 4–8 months | Families wanting flexibility |
| SFO + EP (13U) | S$50m AUM | EP, then PR via standard track | 5–9 months | Larger families with cross-border holdings |
| ONE Pass | S$30k/month salary | 5-year flexible work pass | 2–4 months | Top earners, founders, achievers |
| EntrePass | Innovation criteria | 1–2 year work pass, renewable | 2–4 months | Venture-backable founders |
| PEP | S$22.5k/month salary | 3-year non-renewable pass | 2–3 months | Multi-role professionals |
Authoritative guidance is published by MOM, the EDB and MAS — and statutory provisions sit in the Income Tax Act 1947 and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990 on Singapore Statutes Online.
Tax Considerations
Whichever pathway you choose, Singapore tax residency matters. An individual is generally Singapore tax resident if they are physically present or work in Singapore for at least 183 days in a calendar year (or, in some cases, across a continuous period spanning two years). Singapore-source employment income is taxed at progressive rates up to 24%, with attractive concessions for individuals on Not Ordinarily Resident schemes.
Crucially, Singapore does not tax foreign-source income received by individual residents (with limited exceptions), which is the central reason families with substantial overseas wealth find the move attractive. There is no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax and no wealth tax on individuals as such. Property taxes apply to residential real estate, with Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty for foreign individuals at currently 60% for residential purchases.
For families running an SFO, the fund-vehicle tax exemption under Section 13O / 13U is the standout feature. For ONE Pass / PEP holders, the personal income tax position needs careful structuring — including whether to keep certain income streams offshore.
Family, Schools and Property
Most HNW pathways extend pass eligibility to immediate family. Spouses qualify for a Dependant’s Pass (DP), and children for a DP / Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) depending on age. Spouses on DP can apply for a Letter of Consent to work in Singapore.
International schools have a multi-month waitlist for the most popular institutions, and admission is typically driven by a combination of academic record and the timing of the family’s relocation. Begin the school search 9–12 months ahead of move-in if school choice is a binding constraint.
On property, foreign individuals can buy a non-landed private apartment, but landed residential property requires special approval. Renting is the default initial move; purchasing typically follows once PR is in place.
Picking the Right Pathway
The choice generally falls out of three questions:
1. How fast do you need to move?
ONE Pass and PEP are the fastest. SFO + EP comes next. GIP is the slowest and the most documentation-intensive.
2. How much capital do you want to anchor in Singapore?
If the answer is “as little as possible while still relocating” the work pass routes (ONE Pass, PEP, EntrePass) are the right starting point. If the answer is “we will commit S$50m+ to a structured platform anyway” then SFO routes and GIP both make sense.
3. Do you want PR immediately?
Only GIP grants PR directly on approval. Every other pathway requires a stint on a work pass before applying for PR through the standard PR application process.
Conclusion
There is no single “correct” pathway for moving to Singapore as a high net worth individual — only the right pathway for a specific family’s wealth profile, business activity, time horizon and lifestyle priorities. Most HNW families end up at GIP or the SFO+EP route. ONE Pass works for a meaningful subset who want speed and flexibility without anchoring capital.
If you are mapping out a Singapore move and want a second look at which pathway fits, the team at Raffles Corporate Services works alongside private banks, family office advisers and immigration counsel on the corporate, fund administration, tax and compliance components of the move. We are happy to walk through your facts.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services