Singapore visaWork in SingaporeSingapore Employment Pass and S Pass for Indian professionals
The Employment Pass is Singapore's work pass for professionals, managers and executives earning at least SGD 5,600 a month in 2026 (SGD 6,200 in financial services, rising with age) who also score 40 points on the COMPASS framework. The S Pass covers mid-skilled roles from SGD 3,300 (SGD 3,800 in finance) under a quota and a SGD 650 monthly levy. The employer applies on MOM's portal, pays SGD 105 on application and SGD 225 on issuance (SGD 100 for the S Pass), and most Employment Pass decisions arrive within 10 business days. From 1 January 2027 the floors rise to SGD 6,000 and SGD 3,600.
6 min read Verified 29 October 2026 against ica.gov.sg · How we verify
Singapore employment pass and s pass: quick answers
- Who qualifies for an Employment Pass or S Pass?
- Employment Pass: a job offer from a Singapore employer at SGD 5,600 or more (SGD 6,200 in financial services), rising to about SGD 10,700 at age 45, plus 40 COMPASS points from salary benchmarks, qualifications, firm diversity and local employment share; a degree is not mandatory but weighs heavily. S Pass: a diploma or technical qualification and SGD 3,300 or more (SGD 3,800 in finance), within the employer's quota of 10% in services and 15% elsewhere.
- What does it cost?
- Employment Pass: SGD 105 application and SGD 225 issuance, paid by the employer, with a SGD 30 multiple-journey visa where applicable. S Pass: SGD 105 application and SGD 100 issuance, plus the SGD 650 monthly foreign worker levy and medical insurance. Employers may not pass these costs to the worker. There is no personal income tax withholding at entry; Singapore tax is filed annually.
- How long does it take from India?
- MOM processes most online Employment Pass applications within 10 business days and S Pass applications within three weeks; cases needing more review take longer. Add the 14-day Fair Consideration Framework advertisement on MyCareersFuture before the employer can apply (waived above SGD 22,500 or for firms with fewer than 10 staff), so plan four to eight weeks from offer to In-Principle Approval.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pass type | Employment Pass (up to 2 years, 3 on renewal) or S Pass (up to 2 years) |
| Government fee | EP SGD 105 + 225; S Pass SGD 105 + 100; employer-paid |
| Salary 2026 | EP SGD 5,600 (6,200 finance); S Pass SGD 3,300 (3,800 finance); age-scaled |
| COMPASS | 40 points from salary, qualifications, diversity and local share; EP only |
| Processing | EP within 10 business days; S Pass about 3 weeks |
| Where to apply | Employer on MOM's EP Online or myMOM portal |
| Family | Dependant's Pass at SGD 6,000; parents' LTVP at SGD 12,000 |
| Verified | 29 Oct 2026 against mom.gov.sg |
Which pass fits, and what changed for 2026 and 2027
| Pass | Minimum salary 2026 | Extra test | Quota or levy | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | SGD 5,600; SGD 6,200 financial services; rises with age to about SGD 10,700 at 45 | COMPASS 40 points | None | Engineers, IT, finance, managers |
| S Pass | SGD 3,300; SGD 3,800 financial services; rises with age to SGD 4,800 | Diploma or technical qualification | 10% (services) or 15% quota; SGD 650 monthly levy | Technicians, supervisors, nurses |
| Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass | SGD 30,000 fixed monthly salary, or outstanding achievement | None | None; 5 years, multiple employers | Senior leaders and top talent |
| Personalised Employment Pass | SGD 22,500 fixed monthly salary (or SGD 18,000 as an existing EP holder) | None; not tied to one employer, 3 years, no renewal | None | Experienced professionals who change jobs often |
| Tech.Pass | SGD 22,500 and tech leadership track record | EDB approval | None | Founders and tech leaders |
COMPASS scores an Employment Pass candidate on four foundational criteria, 20 points each: salary against local PMET benchmarks for the sector and age; qualifications (top-tier institutions score highest); the firm's nationality diversity; and the firm's share of local PMETs. Bonus points come from shortage occupations and strategic economic priority programmes. Forty points pass; candidates earning SGD 22,500 or more are exempt from COMPASS.
The MOM factsheet of 3 March 2026 confirmed that from 1 January 2027 the Employment Pass floor rises to SGD 6,000 (SGD 6,600 in financial services) and the S Pass floor to SGD 3,600 (SGD 4,000 in finance) for new applications, with renewals following a year later. Offers close to the 2026 line should be checked against the date the application is lodged. Indian degrees are routinely verified through a background screening company at the employer's cost.
Fees and who pays them
| Item | SGD | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass application | 105 | Employer |
| Employment Pass issuance | 225 | Employer |
| S Pass application | 105 | Employer |
| S Pass issuance | 100 | Employer |
| Multiple-journey visa (if applicable) | 30 | Employer |
| S Pass foreign worker levy | 650 a month | Employer |
| Degree verification | About 100 to 300 | Employer |
| Medical examination (S Pass and some EP cases) | About 50 to 100 | Employer |
Employers cannot recover pass fees or the levy from workers under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act. Vistolane shows the SGD 330 Employment Pass fees on the price card at the official rate; employers using Vistolane for business pay them through the workspace.
How the application runs, step by step
- 1
Fair Consideration Framework advertisement
The employer posts the job on MyCareersFuture for 14 days unless exempt (salary SGD 22,500 or more, firms under 10 staff, or intra-company transfers).
- 2
Self-assessment and COMPASS check
The employer runs MOM's Self-Assessment Tool for salary and COMPASS points; Indian degrees are verified by a screening provider.
- 3
Application on MOM's portal
The employer submits passport details, qualifications, the offer and company information, pays SGD 105 and receives a decision within about 10 business days (S Pass about three weeks).
- 4
In-Principle Approval and entry
The IPA letter, valid six months, acts as the entry visa; travel, complete any medical examination and the employer requests issuance (SGD 225).
- 5
Card registration
Register fingerprints and photo at the Employment Pass Services Centre within two weeks of issuance; the pass card is delivered in about five working days.
Timeline for an Indian applicant
| Stage | Typical time | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| FCF advertisement | 14 days | Employer posts on MyCareersFuture |
| Degree verification | 1 to 2 weeks | Screening provider contacts the university |
| MOM decision | EP about 10 business days; S Pass about 3 weeks | Employer tracks on the portal |
| IPA to issuance | Within 6 months | Travel, medical, issuance request |
| Card registration | Within 2 weeks of issuance | EPSC appointment |
Plan four to eight weeks from signed offer to first day for an Employment Pass, and six to ten weeks for an S Pass needing quota and medical steps. There is no lottery, no cap on Employment Passes and no annual window.
Changing jobs, family and settlement
Passes are tied to the employer: a new employer applies for a fresh pass, which can be done while you are in Singapore, and the old pass is cancelled on the start date. Employment Pass holders earning SGD 6,000 sponsor a spouse and children under 21 on Dependant's Passes and parents on Long-Term Visit Passes at SGD 12,000; S Pass holders can sponsor dependants only at SGD 6,000 too. Dependants need their own work pass or Letter of Consent to work.
Permanent residence under the Professionals, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers scheme is open after six months or more of employment, costs SGD 100 and takes about six months to decide; the Singapore PR route page explains the factors. Income tax is filed with IRAS each April at resident rates once you spend 183 days in a year; CPF contributions start only after PR.
Document checklist: identity and offer
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Passport bio page | Valid 6 months |
| Signed offer or contract with fixed monthly salary | Allowances count only if fixed |
| Employer's Corppass and company details | Employer submits |
Qualification
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| Degree certificate and transcripts | Verified by a screening provider for Indian institutions |
| Diploma or technical certificate (S Pass) | Plus relevant experience |
| Professional registration | Doctors, nurses, lawyers, architects and engineers: Singapore registration |
Arrival
| Document | Standard the officer applies |
|---|---|
| In-Principle Approval letter | Entry visa for 6 months |
| Medical examination report (if required) | HIV and TB |
| EPSC card registration appointment | Within 2 weeks of issuance |
Why applications on this route get refused, and the fix
Salary below the floor or COMPASS below 40
The offer was under SGD 5,600 (or the age-adjusted figure), or the firm's diversity and local-share scores pulled the total below 40.
The fix. Raise the salary or rely on shortage occupation bonus points; S Pass may fit a mid-level role.
Fair Consideration Framework not met
The job was not advertised for 14 days or the employer is on MOM's watchlist.
The fix. Complete the advertisement or document an exemption; watchlisted firms face longer scrutiny.
Qualification not verified
The screening provider could not confirm the degree, or the institution is not accredited.
The fix. Provide transcripts and the university's registrar contact; unverifiable degrees score zero on COMPASS.
Quota or levy (S Pass)
The employer's S Pass quota is full.
The fix. Wait for quota to free up, or reclassify the role to an Employment Pass if the salary allows.
Adverse record
Previous pass cancellation for breach, overstay or a criminal record.
The fix. Disclose and explain with documents; some cases are referred for additional review.
Official sources
Singapore employment pass and s pass questions
Other Singapore routes
Visit Singapore
Visitor e-Visa
SGD 30 per person
Read the route
Study in Singapore
Student's Pass
SGD 105 (SGD 45 processing + SGD 60 issuance)
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Join family in Singapore
Dependant's Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass
SGD 330 per dependant (SGD 105 + SGD 225)
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Settle in Singapore
Permanent residence (PTS scheme)
SGD 100 per applicant
Read the route