🇸🇬 Singapore visa and immigration options

Employment Pass (EP)

Singapore's main work pass for foreign professionals, managers and executives. Requires a job offer meeting an age-banded qualifying salary (roughly SGD 5,800/month at age 23 in 2026 (SGD 5,600 in 2025; about SGD 6,000 reported for 2027) up to about SGD 10,700/month at age 45+ in 2025 figures (older bands are higher again in 2026-2027) for general sectors…

Processing time

Online applications are commonly processed within about 3 weeks.

Typical costs

Roughly SGD 330 in direct government fees; no fixed investment requirement, since this is an employer-sponsored work pass.

Government fees

qualifying salary minimums are scheduled to rise again from 1 January 2027 (e.g. to SGD 6,000-11,500/month for general sectors) — confirm the figure in force when you apply.

Work and study rights

Tied to the sponsoring employer and the specific role; a new pass is needed when changing employers.

Family

EP holders earning at least SGD 6,000/month can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass.

Important: qualifying salary thresholds are age-banded and sector-specific, and are scheduled to increase again from 1 January 2027 — do not rely on a single cached figure. COMPASS scoring also depends on your specific employer's workforce composition (nationality diversity and local PMET share), which an applicant can't fully control alone.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Ministry of Manpower - Employment Pass eligibility', 'url': 'https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility'}, {'title': 'Ministry of Manpower - COMPASS framework', 'url': 'https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/compass'}

S Pass

For mid-skilled foreign workers, typically with a diploma or relevant experience, earning less than the Employment Pass threshold. Requires a job offer meeting an age-banded qualifying salary (roughly SGD 3,300/month at age 23 or below, up to SGD 4,800/month at age 45+ for most sectors; higher for financial services), and is subject to employer-level quota…

Processing time

Online applications are commonly processed within a few weeks.

Typical costs

Roughly SGD 330 in direct government fees; the employer also pays an ongoing monthly levy per S Pass holder, which isn't the applicant's own cost but affects employer willingness to sponsor.

Government fees

qualifying salary minimums are scheduled to rise again from 1 January 2027 (e.g. to SGD 3,600-5,100/month for most sectors) — confirm the figure in force when you apply. The employer-side quota and levy can also change independently of the applicant's own…

Work and study rights

Tied to the sponsoring employer and the specific role; subject to the employer's S Pass quota ceiling, which can constrain hiring independent of your own qualifications.

Family

S Pass holders earning at least SGD 6,000/month can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass; those earning less generally cannot sponsor dependants.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Ministry of Manpower - S Pass eligibility', 'url': 'https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/eligibility'}, {'title': 'Ministry of Manpower - S Pass quota and levy', 'url': 'https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/s-pass/quota-and-levy'}

Student's Pass

For foreign nationals accepted onto an approved full-time course in Singapore, from kindergartens through institutes of higher learning. Part-time, evening and weekend courses do not qualify.

Processing time

Varies by institution type; most applications are submitted through the institution's SOLAR system well ahead of the course start date.

Typical costs

Government fees are modest; the dominant cost is the institution's own tuition, which varies widely by school and programme.

Government fees

ICA's published guidance for this pass does not list a single fixed fee across all institution types — confirm the current fee schedule and application channel (SOLAR portal, generally via your institution) with your specific school.

Work and study rights

Full-time students at approved institutions of higher learning are generally permitted limited term-time work and are not restricted during official school vacation periods, subject to institution-specific rules; younger students and those at other…

Family

A Student's Pass does not itself carry dependant-sponsorship rights; family members would generally need their own basis for a pass.

Sources reviewed: {'title': "Immigration & Checkpoints Authority - Becoming a Student's Pass holder", 'url': 'https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/STP/apply'}

EntrePass

For foreign entrepreneurs establishing an innovative business in Singapore. Requires registering (or intending to register, within 6 months before applying) a Singapore private limited company with at least 30% of your own shareholding, and meeting one of several innovation criteria: securing at least SGD 100,000 in a single funding round from a recognised…

Processing time

Officially around 6 weeks, though 8-12 weeks is a more realistic expectation; an approved In-Principle Approval is valid for 6 months, with a biometrics appointment (up to 14 days' wait) and card issuance (about 4 working days after biometrics) to follow.

Typical costs

No fixed minimum investment is mandated by the pass itself, but the realistic bar is substantial — commonly SGD 100,000+ in funding, IP, or accelerator backing to meet the innovation criteria credibly.

Government fees

Confirm current EntrePass application fees with the Ministry of Manpower; figures vary by source and this is worth checking directly before applying.

Work and study rights

Authorises running the specific innovative business described in the application; EntrePass holders can also apply for PR via the PTS scheme using their EntrePass employment history.

Family

EntrePass holders meeting the income bar can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass.

Important: assessment is qualitative, not points-based — business plan viability, entrepreneurial track record and the strength of your innovation evidence all weigh into Enterprise Singapore/MOM's decision, so there's no fixed numeric bar guaranteeing approval beyond the underlying eligibility criteria.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Ministry of Manpower - EntrePass', 'url': 'https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/entrepass'}

Dependant's Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass

The Dependant's Pass (DP) covers a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an Employment Pass or S Pass holder earning at least SGD 6,000/month. The Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) covers relationships the DP doesn't — common-law spouses, step-children, handicapped children, and parents — with a materially higher income expectation in practice…

Processing time

Commonly within about 3 weeks for EP/S Pass sponsors' DP dependants; LTVP and other sponsor types can take around 6 weeks.

Typical costs

Roughly SGD 330 per pass in direct government fees for the DP; LTVP fees follow a broadly similar structure.

Government fees

LTVP validity (commonly 1-2 years, renewable) is handled separately from DP, which is tied to the sponsor's own work-pass validity.

Work and study rights

DP and LTVP holders can apply separately for their own Letter of Consent or work pass to work in Singapore; the family pass itself doesn't automatically confer work rights.

Family

This program is itself the family route — the DP/LTVP IS the dependant's status, based on the qualifying relationship to the sponsor.

Sources reviewed: {'title': "Ministry of Manpower - Dependant's Pass", 'url': 'https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/dependants-pass'}, {'title': 'Immigration & Checkpoints Authority - Long-Term Visit Pass', 'url': 'https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/LTVP/introduction'}

Permanent Residence via the Professional, Technical & Skilled Workers (PTS) Scheme

The main PR route for foreign professionals already working in Singapore on an Employment Pass, S Pass, EntrePass or similar. ICA assesses applications holistically rather than through a fixed points system — weighing salary relative to sector benchmarks, multi-year tax contribution history, employment stability, industry relevance to Singapore's economic…

Processing time

Typically 6-12 months, though some cases resolve in as little as about 4 months.

Typical costs

Modest direct fees (SGD 100 per applicant); the real cost is the years of stable, well-documented employment and tax history needed to build a competitive case.

Government fees

Roughly 40,000 PR approvals are planned across Singapore for 2026, but assessment remains selective and individualised — meeting the general profile doesn't guarantee approval.

Work and study rights

PR removes the need for an employer-sponsored work pass and allows working for any employer or self-employment.

Family

A Singapore PR holder can subsequently sponsor family members under the Family Sponsorship route once PR is granted.

Important: ICA does not publish a fixed points formula or guaranteed minimum waiting period — approval is discretionary and based on a holistic review of your economic contribution, stability and integration, so outcomes can vary even between similar-looking applicants.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Immigration & Checkpoints Authority - Permanent Residence', 'url': 'https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/PR/introduction'}

Singapore citizenship by registration/naturalization

The standard route requires holding Singapore PR for at least 2 years and being aged 21 or above, with approval resting on a holistic assessment of stable employment, tax contributions, and community integration — meeting the minimum makes you eligible to apply, but doesn't guarantee approval. Family-based routes exist for spouses of citizens (generally…

Processing time

Varies by case given the holistic, discretionary nature of the assessment.

Typical costs

Modest direct government fees; the substantive requirement is the PR track record and the discretionary approval process, not cost.

Government fees

Confirm current application fees with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority; figures weren't consistently published across sources at time of writing.

Work and study rights

Citizenship adds a Singapore passport and removes PR-linked restrictions.

Family

Each applicant applies individually based on their own PR history and relationship category, though family-based routes can shorten the path for spouses, children, and parents of existing citizens.

Important: Singapore generally does not permit dual citizenship for adults — naturalizing typically requires renouncing other nationalities. The mandatory Singapore Citizenship Journey applies to applicants aged 16-60, and male citizens take on National Service liability.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Immigration & Checkpoints Authority - Singapore Citizenship', 'url': 'https://www.ica.gov.sg/reside/SC/introduction'}

Visit Singapore (visa-exempt entry or eVisa)

Singapore allows many nationalities to enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 or 90 days depending on passport, while other nationalities must obtain an eVisa in advance. Visa-exempt or eVisa entry doesn't itself guarantee admission — immigration officers can still request proof of onward travel and sufficient funds on arrival.

Processing time

Immediate for visa-exempt entry; eVisas are commonly processed within a few business days.

Typical costs

Free for visa-exempt nationalities; a modest eVisa fee for those requiring one.

Government fees

whether you're visa-exempt, need an eVisa, or need to apply at a Singapore mission depends entirely on your nationality — always check ICA's current visa-requirement list for your exact passport before booking travel.

Work and study rights

Does not permit employment or long-term study.

Family

Each traveller, including children, needs their own visa-exempt entry or eVisa.

Important: visa-exemption duration (commonly 30 or 90 days) varies by nationality, and some passports require an eVisa obtained in advance rather than visa-free entry — confirm your specific requirement before travel.

Sources reviewed: {'title': 'Immigration & Checkpoints Authority - Visa requirements', 'url': 'https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-depart/entry_requirements'}