The Singapore Employment Pass: a complete guide for founders.
Everything a foreign founder needs in one place: who qualifies, how salary and COMPASS work in 2026, what documents you need, how long it takes, and what happens at renewal or if you are refused.
By Travis Tay, Immigration Expert · Updated June 2026. Thresholds change; we confirm the current figures for your case before filing.
To get an Employment Pass as a founder in 2026 you need three things: a fixed monthly salary that clears the qualifying floor for your sector and age (from SGD 5,600 in most sectors, SGD 6,200 in financial services), at least 40 points on the COMPASS framework, and a company with real substance behind the application. Incorporation takes days; the Employment Pass is the part that takes real substance and careful preparation, usually one to one and a half months when the case is clean.
Who the Employment Pass is for
The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore's work pass for foreign professionals, managers and executives, including founders who employ themselves through their own Singapore company. As a foreign founder you can own 100 percent of a Singapore private limited company, but to work in it and live here you need a pass. For most founders that pass is the EP, sponsored by their own company. The alternative, the EntrePass, suits a narrower, innovation-led profile; we compare them in EP vs EntrePass.
The salary requirement
There are two salary hurdles. First, a qualifying-salary floor that makes you eligible. Second, your salary must score well under COMPASS, where it is compared against local professionals in your sector. Meeting the floor makes you eligible; scoring well needs a salary that is credible and competitive for your industry.
| Age | Most sectors | Financial services |
|---|---|---|
| 23 and below | SGD 5,600 | SGD 6,200 |
| Around 30 | ~SGD 6,800 | ~SGD 7,600 |
| Around 40 | ~SGD 9,000 | ~SGD 10,500 |
| 45 and above | SGD 10,700 | SGD 11,800 |
A candidate on a fixed salary of about SGD 22,500 a month or more is exempt from COMPASS and qualifies on salary alone. For everyone else the points decide it. Paying yourself an unrealistically high salary to clear the bar can backfire, because it has to look genuine for your sector and your company's finances; see EP salary benchmarks by sector.
COMPASS, in brief
COMPASS scores your application out of 90 points, and you need 40 to pass. Four foundation criteria award 0, 10 or 20 points each: salary (C1), qualifications (C2), the nationality diversity of your firm (C3), and its support for local employment (C4). Two bonus criteria add more: up to 20 for a role on the Shortage Occupation List (C5), revised on 1 January 2026, and up to 10 for strategic economic priorities (C6). The full breakdown, with the 2026 list and worked examples, is in COMPASS explained.
The documents you will need
- Your passport (a photo is not required)
- Educational certificates, with third-party verification, which is now compulsory for first-time applicants
- A detailed CV and, for founders, your role and responsibilities in the company
- The company's business profile (ACRA), constitution and shareholding
- Evidence of real activity: business plan, contracts or pipeline, office tenancy
- Financials or paid-up capital appropriate to the business
If the Ministry of Manpower wants more assurance it can ask for additional documents, which is where many thin applications stall. We cover what triggers this in why MOM reviews EP applications.
The process and timeline
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Company incorporation | A few days once documents and name are ready |
| EP preparation and submission | 1 to 2 weeks to assemble a strong case |
| MOM assessment (clean case) | About 1 to 1.5 months |
| If further documents are requested | Can extend to 3 to 6 months |
In plain terms: registration is fast, the Employment Pass is where the time and the scrutiny sit. A well-documented, substantive case is what keeps you in the shorter timeline.
Renewal
An EP is usually issued for two years, sometimes three, and certain Shortage Occupation List technology roles can receive five. A first Employment Pass is sometimes issued for only one year rather than two, when MOM wants to assess whether the business is real before committing to a longer pass. From 1 January 2026 the revised salary floors and COMPASS apply to renewals as well as new applications, so a pass that was comfortable a few years ago should be re-scored before renewal. Renewals also look harder at substance: company financials, often the last 12 months of bank statements, and CPF contributions for any local staff. We unpack this in EP renewal: what MOM checks.
If your application is refused
A refusal is not the end. You can appeal, generally up to two times, with stronger documentation each time, before a fresh reapplication makes more sense. The key is to fix the underlying weakness, usually salary, COMPASS points or company substance, rather than resubmit the same case. A clear-eyed review before you appeal saves months.
Your family
If your fixed salary is at least SGD 6,000 a month you can sponsor your spouse and children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass. At higher salaries you may also bring parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass. A Dependant's Pass holder can work only with their own valid work pass. The detail is in the Dependant's Pass guide.
How we approach the Employment Pass
We do not file hopeful applications. We assess your COMPASS profile rigorously, set a salary that is credible for your sector, build real substance into the company, and prepare for the questions before they are asked. If MOM requests further documents we handle the response, and the appeals if needed, at no extra professional fee. We never promise an approval, because that decision rests with the authorities. We promise it is done right. See our Employment Pass service.
Questions people ask
Can I sponsor my own Employment Pass through my company? +
Yes. As a foreign founder you can own 100 percent of a Singapore company and have it sponsor your Employment Pass. You still need to meet the qualifying salary, pass COMPASS, and show the company is a genuine business, not a shell created only to hold the pass.
What is the minimum Employment Pass salary in 2026? +
The qualifying-salary floor is SGD 5,600 a month for most sectors and SGD 6,200 for financial services, rising with age to about SGD 10,700 and SGD 11,800 at age 45 and above. From 1 January 2027 the floor rises to SGD 6,000 and SGD 6,600, with renewals assessed against the new floors from 1 January 2028. The floor is only eligibility; COMPASS then decides whether you score.
How long does the Employment Pass take? +
For a clean first-time case, roughly one to one and a half months from submission once incorporation and documents are ready. If MOM asks for further documents it can run to three to six months. A genuine, well-prepared case is what keeps you in the shorter range.
What if I do not have a degree? +
You can still qualify, but you score zero on the COMPASS qualifications criterion, so you must make up the points elsewhere, usually with a higher salary, a Shortage Occupation List role, or by upgrading your qualification.
Can I bring my family on an Employment Pass? +
Yes, if your fixed monthly salary is at least SGD 6,000 you can sponsor your spouse and children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass, and at higher salaries you may bring parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass.
Why was my Employment Pass only issued for one year? +
A first Employment Pass is sometimes granted for only one year instead of two, because MOM wants to assess whether the business is real before committing to a longer pass. A company that genuinely trades and hires over that year is well placed for a longer renewal.
Related services
Apply with a case that is built to pass.
We give your profile a frank assessment and prepare an Employment Pass application around your real strengths.