By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 29 September 2026
To work in Singapore you need a work pass, and your employer applies for it. Professionals, managers and executives need an Employment Pass (EP): in 2026 that means a fixed salary of at least S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age, plus at least 40 points on MOM’s COMPASS test. Mid-skilled staff need an S Pass, from S$3,300. Both thresholds rise for new applications from 1 January 2027.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) runs the whole system. The pass is tied to your job and your employer, so it is worth understanding before you sign an offer: the salary on your contract decides which pass you can hold, and whether your family can come with you.
Singapore work passes at a glance
| Pass | For | Minimum fixed monthly salary (new applications, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | Professionals, managers and executives | S$5,600 (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age to S$10,700 (S$11,800) at 45 and above; plus 40 COMPASS points |
| S Pass | Mid-skilled staff (associate professionals and technicians) | S$3,300 (S$3,800 in financial services), rising with age to S$4,800 (S$5,650) at 45 and above |
| Work Permit | Semi-skilled workers in set sectors, and domestic workers | No qualifying salary; quotas and levies apply to employers |
| ONE Pass | Top talent across fields | A high salary threshold set by MOM, or outstanding achievements; not tied to one employer |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Who applies | Your employer, not you. |
| What decides it | Your fixed monthly salary, your age, your sector and, for the EP, COMPASS points. |
| The catch | Meeting the minimum salary is not enough on its own; the EP also needs 40 points. |
| Worth checking | MOM’s free Self-Assessment Tool, before you accept an offer. |
| Watch for | The 2027 increases, which apply when your pass is renewed. |
The Employment Pass
The EP is for professionals, managers and executives. MOM assesses it in two stages. First, your fixed monthly salary must meet the qualifying salary for your age and sector: S$5,600 for younger candidates in most sectors and S$6,200 in financial services, rising progressively with age to S$10,700 and S$11,800 at 45 and above. Second, the application must score at least 40 points on COMPASS, the Complementarity Assessment Framework. Candidates earning S$22,500 a month or more are exempt from COMPASS.
COMPASS scores four foundational criteria (your salary against local benchmarks, your qualifications, the diversity of nationalities at the firm, and the firm’s support for local employment) and two bonuses, for roles on the Shortage Occupation List and for firms in strategic economic priorities. Each criterion scores 0, 10 or 20 points. A salary that only just meets the minimum usually scores nothing on the salary criterion, so most successful applications earn their points elsewhere.
The S Pass
The S Pass is for mid-skilled staff. From 1 September 2025, new applications need a fixed monthly salary of at least S$3,300, or S$3,800 in financial services, rising with age. Employers also pay a monthly levy and must stay within a quota, and they must buy medical insurance for every S Pass holder.
What changes in 2027
For new applications from 1 January 2027, the EP qualifying salary rises to S$6,000 (S$6,600 in financial services) and the S Pass to S$3,600 (S$4,000 in financial services), each rising with age. Existing passes meet the new levels when they are renewed; for the S Pass, that applies to passes expiring from 1 January 2028. If your salary only just clears today’s floor, raise it with your employer before renewal.
Work Permits and the ONE Pass
The Work Permit covers semi-skilled workers in sectors such as construction, manufacturing and services, and migrant domestic workers; it has no qualifying salary but comes with quotas, levies and stricter conditions. The Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass is for top talent in business, the arts, sports, academia and research; it is not tied to a single employer. Check MOM’s page for its current criteria.
Work passes: FAQ
What is the minimum salary for an Employment Pass in 2026?
S$5,600 a month in most sectors and S$6,200 in financial services, rising with age. From 1 January 2027 it rises to S$6,000 and S$6,600 for new applications.
What is COMPASS?
MOM’s points-based assessment for the Employment Pass. Applications need at least 40 points across salary, qualifications, workforce diversity and local employment, plus possible bonuses.
Can I apply for a work pass myself?
No. Your employer applies for the Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit. The ONE Pass is the exception, as it is not tied to an employer.
Can I change jobs on an Employment Pass?
Your pass is tied to your employer, so a new employer must apply for a new pass. A later guide in this series covers changing jobs.
Read next
This page belongs to Moving to Singapore. Bringing a spouse or children? Read the Dependant’s Pass guide. Business travellers who are not moving here need no work pass for meetings; see business travel.
Sources checked 29 September 2026: MOM, Employment Pass eligibility; MOM, S Pass eligibility and 2027 qualifying salaries; MOM, when the S Pass changes apply; Aniday on the EP age scale, checked against MOM, 12 August 2026; Terra Advisory on the 2027 EP salaries announced at Budget 2026. General information, not immigration advice. Last updated 29 September 2026.
