The Personalised Employment Pass: a pass tied to you, not your employer.
The PEP is Singapore's pass for top earners. It is not tied to any one company, so you can change jobs without re-applying. But it carries a high salary bar and one rule that catches founders out: you cannot use it to run your own business.
By Travis Tay, Immigration Expert · Updated June 2026. Thresholds change; we confirm the current figures for your case before applying.
The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is held by the individual, not sponsored by an employer, and is issued once for a three-year, non-renewable term. To qualify in 2026 you need a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500, whether you already hold an Employment Pass here or are applying from overseas. PEP holders must earn at least SGD 144,000 in fixed salary each calendar year and cannot be unemployed for more than six months. One rule matters most for founders: a PEP holder cannot run their own business, so a founder sponsoring their own company uses an Employment Pass, not a PEP.
What makes the PEP different
An ordinary Employment Pass is sponsored by, and tied to, one company. Change employer and you apply for a new EP. The Personalised Employment Pass flips that: it belongs to you, the professional, so you can move between jobs in Singapore without re-applying each time. It is aimed at high earners whose track record stands on its own, and unlike the EP it is not scored under the COMPASS framework, because it qualifies on salary alone. The trade-off is that it is granted once, lasts three years, and cannot be renewed.
| Personalised Employment Pass | Employment Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Tied to an employer | No, held by you | Yes, sponsored by the company |
| Changing jobs | Freely, no re-application | A new EP is needed for each employer |
| Qualifying salary (2026) | SGD 22,500 a month | From SGD 5,600 a month, rising with age; higher in financial services |
| COMPASS points test | Exempt, salary-based | Scored, you need at least 40 points |
| Run your own company | Not allowed | Yes, this is the founder's route |
| Validity | 3 years, one-time, non-renewable | Up to 2 years (new), up to 3 (renewal) |
| Family on a Dependant's Pass | Yes, if salary qualifies | Yes, if salary qualifies |
Who qualifies in 2026
The bar is deliberately high. The PEP is benchmarked to roughly the top ten percent of Employment Pass holders, which puts the entry point at a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500. The same figure applies whether you are already working in Singapore on an EP or applying from abroad. If you apply from overseas, that salary must have been earned within the six months before your application.
Once granted, the PEP comes with ongoing conditions that the Ministry of Manpower enforces:
- You must earn at least SGD 144,000 in fixed salary in each calendar year, regardless of how many months you worked
- You cannot be without a job for more than six continuous months, or the pass is cancelled
- You must notify MOM of any change of employment, and of periods without work, within the required time
The catch for founders
This is the part most people miss. A PEP holder cannot be a business owner running their own company, cannot be a sole proprietor or partner, and cannot freelance. The pass is for employed professionals. So if your plan is to set up a Singapore company and work in it as the owner, the PEP is not your route, the Employment Pass is, sponsored by your own company. We see founders chase the PEP because it sounds like a premium pass, then discover it rules out the very thing they came to do.
Who the PEP actually suits
The PEP fits a specific profile: a senior executive or highly paid professional who will be employed, not self-employed, and who values the freedom to change roles. It suits someone relocating into a leadership role, an executive who expects to move between companies, or a high earner taking time between roles who does not want a pass to lapse the moment they leave an employer. For an investor or founder, it is usually a poor fit, because the moment you run your own company you fall outside its rules. We tell you plainly which pass matches your plan, rather than selling the one that sounds grandest.
How it fits the longer plan
A high, stable income and time in Singapore both help a later permanent residence application. But the PEP's three-year, non-renewable limit means you cannot lean on it indefinitely, so it works best as a bridge while you are between roles or establishing yourself, with a clear plan for what follows, whether that is an Employment Pass tied to a company or a move toward PR. We map that sequence with you from the start. For the full picture of the standard route, see the complete Employment Pass guide.
Questions people ask
What salary do I need for a PEP in 2026? +
A fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500, which is the same whether you already hold an Employment Pass in Singapore or apply from overseas. If you apply from abroad, that salary must have been earned in the six months before your application. PEP holders must also earn at least SGD 144,000 in fixed salary each calendar year.
Can I run my own company on a PEP? +
No. A PEP holder cannot be a business owner, sole proprietor, partner or freelancer. The pass is for employed professionals. If you want to set up and run your own Singapore company, you use an Employment Pass sponsored by that company, not a PEP.
How long does a PEP last? +
Three years. It is granted once and cannot be renewed, so it works best as a bridge with a clear plan for what comes after, such as an Employment Pass or a path toward permanent residence.
Is the PEP scored under COMPASS? +
No. The PEP qualifies on salary alone and is exempt from the COMPASS points framework that applies to the Employment Pass. That is one reason its salary bar is set so high.
Can I bring my family on a PEP? +
Yes. As with the Employment Pass, a PEP holder whose salary qualifies can sponsor a spouse and children on a Dependant's Pass. The family rules follow the same salary thresholds.
Not sure which pass fits your plan?
Book a consultation and we will tell you plainly whether a PEP, an Employment Pass or another route matches what you are setting out to do.