S Pass

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Singapore S Pass
Purpose	Skilled foreign employee work
Who applies	Employer or appointed agent
Eligibility	Job offer and qualifying salary
Salary threshold	From $3,300; age-adjusted
Stay	Up to 2 years initially
Renewal	Up to 3 years
Application cost	$105 per application
Issuance cost	$100 per pass
Employer levy	$650 monthly
Work rights	Work for sponsoring employer
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Medical insurance	Employer-funded; minimum $60,000 yearly
Travel facility	IPA single-entry; notification letter travel
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Dependant’s Pass from $6,000 salary
Visa record	Digital work pass available
Job advertising	Usually 14 consecutive days
Processing	Update within 10 business days

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Purpose

The S Pass allows eligible foreign skilled workers, including Associate Professionals and Technicians, to work in Singapore.

The employer or an appointed employment agent must apply. A new employer must apply for a new S Pass if the holder changes jobs.

Eligibility

Candidates of all nationalities or citizenships must:

• Have a job offer in Singapore.
• Meet the applicable age-based fixed monthly salary threshold.
• Be within the employer’s S Pass quota.

Qualifying salary

For new applications submitted from 1 September 2025, and renewals expiring from 1 September 2026:

Sector	Age 23 or below	Age 45 or above
All except financial services	$3,300	$4,800
Financial services	$3,800	$5,650

Salary requirements increase progressively by age.

From 1 January 2027, minimum qualifying salaries rise to:

Sector	Age 23 or below	Age 45 or above
All except financial services	$3,600	$5,100
Financial services	$4,000	$5,650

Use the Self-Assessment Tool before applying. MOM states that an application should not be made if the tool finds the candidate ineligible.

Qualifications

Declaring qualifications is optional. If declared, the qualification must:

• Be authentic.
• Be awarded by an accredited institution listed in the application form.

Fair Hiring and Job Advertising

Employers must consider candidates fairly and must not discriminate based on non-job-related characteristics, including age, sex, nationality or race.

Unless exempt, employers must advertise the vacancy on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days before submitting the S Pass application.

The employer should not make a job offer during the mandatory advertising period.

The advertisement must:

• Accurately state the job requirements and salary.
• Match the occupation in the S Pass application.
• Be submitted by the same employer applying for the S Pass.
• Show a specific salary range; the maximum cannot exceed twice the minimum.
• Include the salary offered to the S Pass candidate.
• Have enough vacancies for the total S Pass applications using it.

A new 14-day advertisement is required if the employer changes the hiring entity, occupation, salary or number of vacancies. Advertisements closed or expired for over three months cannot be used.

Advertising exemptions

Advertising is not required where any of the following applies:

• The company has fewer than 10 employees.
• Fixed monthly salary is at least $22,500.
• The vacancy is for no more than one month.
• The role is filled by a local transferee.

Fair hiring requirements still apply.

Stay and Renewal

• First-time S Pass: up to two years.
• Renewal: up to three years.
• The pass cannot be valid beyond one month before passport expiry.
• The candidate’s passport must be valid for at least seven months when applying.

The S Pass is renewable.

Quota and Levy

Employers are subject to a foreign-worker quota and must pay a levy for each S Pass holder.

S Pass quota cap

Sector	Maximum S Pass holders
Services	10% of total workforce
Construction	15% of total workforce
Manufacturing	15% of total workforce
Marine shipyard	15% of total workforce
Process	15% of total workforce

The quota is based on the employer’s local workforce, calculated using CPF information and the average number of local employees over the past three months.

First-time Work Permit or S Pass employers must declare their business activity.

Levy

• Monthly levy: $650 across sectors and levy tiers since 1 September 2025.
• Daily levy for partial months: $21.37.
• Levy liability starts when the S Pass is issued and ends on cancellation or expiry.
• Employers should pay levy by GIRO.

Employers may apply for levy waivers in limited circumstances, including qualifying overseas leave, hospitalisation leave, police or embassy custody, death, specified vessel work, and Malaysian national service.

Medical Insurance and Health Requirements

Before issuing or renewing an S Pass, the employer must buy and maintain medical insurance for each S Pass holder.

The employer cannot pass the insurance cost to the worker.

Insurance must cover:

• Inpatient care.
• Day surgery.
• Non-work-related medical conditions.
• At least $60,000 in annual claims per holder.

Each insurance sub-limit must also meet the $60,000 minimum claim limit.

A worker medical-bill co-payment arrangement is permitted only where all of the following apply:

• It is reasonable and no more than 10% of fixed monthly salary.
• It lasts no more than six months in every two years of employment.
• It is expressly included in the employment contract or collective agreement.
• The worker gives full consent.

Employers must also buy work injury compensation insurance where applicable.

Primary Care Plan

The employer must buy a Primary Care Plan (PCP) after in-principle approval or renewal for workers who:

• Stay in dormitories accommodating seven or more workers; or
• Work in construction, marine shipyard or process sectors.

The PCP purchase must be declared before the S Pass can be issued or renewed.

Salary Obligations

Employers must:

• Pay S Pass salaries electronically.
• Start electronic salary payments within three months of issuance.
• Keep salary-payment records.

Permitted methods include GIRO, internet transfers, ATM transfers, standing orders and bank-counter transfers.

Electronic payment is not required for:

• Passes issued for three months or less.
• The worker’s final month of employment.
• Overtime wages.

Non-compliance may result in fines, prosecution, and adverse consideration of future work-pass applications.

Family Provisions

An S Pass holder with a fixed monthly salary of at least $6,000 may be eligible for a Dependant’s Pass for their spouse and children.

The employer may apply for family passes with the S Pass application or later. If submitted together and the main S Pass is rejected, family-pass application fees are not refunded.

Required Documents

Upload:

• Candidate passport personal-particulars page.
• Employer’s latest ACRA business profile or instant information.

If names differ across documents, upload an explanation letter and supporting evidence, such as a deed poll.

For non-English documents, upload the original and English translation together as one file.

MOM may request additional documents.

Occupation-specific evidence

Additional supporting documents from relevant professional bodies are required for certain occupations, including healthcare professionals, lawyers, football players and coaches.

Food establishments

Employers must provide either:

• The online page accessed through the foodshop licence QR code, showing licence validity; or
• For a new establishment, the Singapore Food Agency “Application for Foodshop Licence” letter.

How to Apply

1. Prepare

Before applying:

1. Advertise on MyCareersFuture where required.
2. Check quota availability.
3. Obtain the candidate’s written consent.
4. Complete the candidate form.
5. Ensure the employer’s turnover information for the past three years is updated.

Candidates do not need to be in Singapore when the application is submitted.

2. Submit application

Submit online through EP eService.

• Application fee: $105.
• Payment methods: GIRO, Visa, Mastercard or Amex.
• Standard processing: processed or updated within 10 business days.
• Overseas companies without a Singapore-registered company: most cases within eight weeks.

MOM may request additional documents, which can extend processing.

3. Receive in-principle approval

If approved, print the in-principle approval (IPA) letter and send the pass-holder copy to the candidate.

The IPA:

• Is a pre-approved single-entry visa.
• Allows 60 days to enter Singapore and issue the pass.
• States whether a medical examination is required after arrival.

Do not bring the candidate to Singapore before approval, as MOM will not extend their visit pass.

4. Issue the pass

Issue the pass within 60 days of IPA.

The candidate must be in Singapore. The employer or agent must provide:

• Passport and Singapore contact details.
• Medical insurance details.
• Medical examination or declaration form.
• PCP details where required.
• Work injury compensation insurance details, where applicable.
• Current immigration-pass details.
• Singapore residential address meeting housing requirements.
• Card delivery address and up to three authorised recipients.

Pay the $100 issuance fee.

The notification letter is valid for one month. It allows the holder to start work and travel into and out of Singapore while awaiting the pass card.

5. Register fingerprints and photograph

If required by the notification letter, the candidate must register fingerprints and photograph within one week after issuance.

Bring:

• Original passport.
• Appointment letter.
• Notification letter.
• Mobile phone with a local number.
• Singpass and SGWorkPass apps.

6. Set up digital work pass and receive card

After Singpass registration, the holder should log into the SGWorkPass app to view their digital work pass and employment information.

The physical card is delivered within five working days after registration or document verification.

Ongoing Obligations

Employers must:

• Maintain required medical insurance.
• Pay the levy.
• Pay salaries electronically as required.
• Keep salary-payment records.
• Notify MOM when company or pass-holder information changes.
• Renew the pass before expiry.
• Cancel the pass when the holder no longer works for the employer.
• Apply for replacement if the pass card is lost, stolen or damaged.

Pass holders may be required to pay Singapore income tax.