EntrePass vs Employment Pass in Singapore: Which Visa Should Founders Apply For in 2026?

Two paths let foreign founders legally live and work in Singapore while running their own company. Both the EntrePass and the Employment Pass give you the right to operate your Singapore business in person - but they have completely different eligibility criteria, processes, and long-term implications. The right choice depends on where you are in your startup journey. This guide compares them head-to-head so you can make the call with confidence.

What Is the Employment Pass?

The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore's primary work visa for professionals, managers, and executives. It is the most widely held work pass in Singapore - used by everyone from MNC executives to founders running their own companies.

Key parameters as of January 2026 (updated by MOM):

How a founder uses an EP: Your Singapore Pte Ltd acts as the sponsoring employer. The company submits the EP application through MOM's myMOM portal on your behalf. There is no rule against a founder-director being sponsored by their own company - this arrangement is common and fully permitted. Once the EP is issued, you become the locally resident director of your own company, and any nominee director arrangement you had in place can be wound down.

The EP does not require you to be the company's founder. Any qualifying employee meeting the salary and COMPASS thresholds can hold one. But for founders, the self-sponsored arrangement is the relevant scenario.

What Is the EntrePass?

The EntrePass is MOM's entrepreneur visa - designed specifically for founders who want to start and operate an innovative business in Singapore. Unlike the EP, the EntrePass does not require a minimum salary at the point of application. This makes it accessible to pre-revenue founders who cannot yet draw a market-rate salary from their company.

Core requirements:

• You must be a founder-shareholder of the Singapore company (you cannot hold an EntrePass for a company where you are merely an employee)
• The Singapore company must have a minimum paid-up capital of S$50,000
• The company must be "innovative" as defined by MOM

What counts as "innovative" under MOM's criteria:

• The company is funded by a recognised venture capital or private equity firm, or an incubator on MOM's approved list
• The company holds a registered patent or intellectual property with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
• The company has received the Startup SG Founder grant from Enterprise Singapore
• The company has received qualifying recognition from an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL), the Economic Development Board (EDB), or Singapore's national research and innovation agency (NRF/SG Innovate)

EntrePass validity and renewal conditions:

The EntrePass is initially issued for 1 year. It is renewable in 1-year or 2-year increments. Renewal is not automatic - MOM assesses whether the business has met its conditions at each renewal point.

Renewal conditions (from Year 2 onwards):

• Minimum S$100,000 annual revenue (the company must be generating real revenue)
• At least 2 local full-time employees per EntrePass holder on the payroll
• S$50,000 paid-up capital maintained

Side-by-Side Comparison: EP vs EntrePass

The COMPASS Framework: How EP Applications Are Scored

COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) was introduced by MOM in September 2023 and applies to all new EP applications. It scores applicants across multiple criteria - a pass requires at least 40 points out of a possible 100.

COMPASS has five scoring criteria, each contributing up to 20 points:

A shortfall in one criterion can be offset by strength in another. A very high salary relative to local benchmarks, combined with top-ranked qualifications, can produce a passing score even with a weaker diversity or local employment ratio.

Worked example - founder applying for a self-sponsored EP:

MOM provides a Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) on the myMOM portal that gives an indicative COMPASS score before you submit a formal application. Use it before committing to the EP route.

Which Visa Is Right for You? A Decision Framework

Use this framework to determine which pass suits your current situation:

Many founders start with the EntrePass (pre-revenue) and switch to an EP when the company starts generating enough to pay a qualifying salary. The transition is clean: your company applies for an EP while the EntrePass is still active, MOM processes the EP, and once issued you cancel the EntrePass. There is no gap in legal status and no requirement to exit Singapore between passes.

Special considerations:

• If you already hold an EP from a previous employer and want to move into your own startup, the cleanest path is to have your new company apply for a fresh EP for you. No EntrePass required.
• If your startup is not "innovative" under MOM's definition - no VC, no IP, no qualifying grants - the EntrePass is not available to you regardless of your preference. The EP is your only self-relocation option until you can meet MOM's innovation bar.
• If you are in a regulated sector (financial services, healthcare), discuss your specific profile with a specialist before applying - sector-specific thresholds and COMPASS calibrations apply.

How to Apply for an Employment Pass

The EP application is submitted by your Singapore company (the employer) through MOM's myMOM portal. As a founder, your company applies for you.

1. Run the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) - Log into myMOM and use the SAT to get an indicative COMPASS score. This is not binding but gives you a sense of whether the application is likely to succeed before paying fees.
2. Prepare supporting documents - You will need:
   • Educational certificates (degree transcripts and certificates)
   • Employment history (resume and previous employment records)
   • Offer letter or employment contract from your Singapore company
   • Company documents (ACRA BizFile+ profile, company constitution)
   • Passport copy
3. Submit via myMOM portal - The company submits the application online. You do not need to be in Singapore during this stage.
4. Processing - Standard processing is 3-8 weeks. MOM may request additional documents (an In-Principle Approval letter is issued first, followed by the actual EP card after you arrive in Singapore and complete biometrics).
5. If rejected - MOM provides a reason. You can appeal once within 3 months of the rejection. Common grounds for appeal include submitting additional evidence of qualifications, salary adjustments, or COMPASS-strengthening actions (e.g. hiring a local employee before reapplying).

Fees: S$105 application fee (paid when submitting); S$225 issuance fee (paid after approval).

How to Apply for an EntrePass

Unlike the EP, you apply for the EntrePass yourself (not through your company). The application goes through MOM's myMOM portal as an individual entrepreneur.

1. Incorporate your Singapore Pte Ltd with a minimum paid-up capital of S$50,000. The company must be incorporated before you apply - MOM will verify the company registration.
2. Establish your innovation credentials. Obtain one of the following:
   • A letter of funding or support from a VC or incubator on MOM's approved list
   • A certificate of IP registration from IPOS (patent, trademark, or registered design)
   • A grant award letter from Enterprise Singapore's Startup SG Founder programme
   • Recognition letters from qualifying IHLs, EDB, or SG Innovate
3. Prepare your business plan. MOM requires a business plan covering your market, product or service, competitive landscape, financial projections, and how your startup contributes to Singapore's economy.
4. Submit via myMOM portal. Required documents include: business plan, proof of innovation (VC letter or IP certificate or grant letter), passport, educational certificates, company incorporation documents, and proof of S$50,000 paid-up capital (typically the company bank statement or share allotment records).
5. Processing time - 4-8 weeks. MOM may interview applicants whose business plans require clarification.

Fees: S$70 application fee; S$225 issuance fee after approval.

Renewal - what MOM checks at each EntrePass renewal:

The PR Pathway: Which Visa Leads More Reliably to Permanent Residency?

Both the EP and the EntrePass can lead to Singapore permanent residence (PR) - but the EP provides the more straightforward and well-established pathway.

Employment Pass holders: The EP is by far the most common route to Singapore PR. ICA (Immigration and Checkpoints Authority) typically expects applicants to have held an EP for at least 2-4 years before applying. Assessment is holistic: income level and tax contributions, CPF contributions (employers must contribute CPF for Singapore citizens and PRs; EP holders are not on CPF, but voluntary self-contributions demonstrate integration), family ties to Singapore, community involvement, and length of residence. High-earning EP holders in strategic sectors with clean compliance records typically have the clearest PR pathways.

EntrePass holders: PR is possible but the bar is higher. ICA wants to see a meaningful business contribution - turnover, number of local employees created, IP or investment attracted, and the company's role in the Singapore economy. An EntrePass holder who has built a genuine S$1M+ revenue business with 10+ local employees is a strong PR candidate. An EntrePass holder who barely cleared the renewal minimums will face a harder assessment.

Tips for both routes:

• File your taxes on time and accurately every year - ICA cross-references IRAS records
• Pay yourself a competitive salary and document it consistently
• Make voluntary CPF contributions as a self-employed person - this demonstrates commitment to the Singapore system even before you are required to contribute
• Keep ACRA filings (annual returns) up to date - late filings signal poor compliance and will be noted in a PR assessment

Updated May 2026: Key MOM Changes to Know