Classifications of Singapore Work Visas – Work in Singapore

Singapore is still a global hub for trade, professional talent, and new ideas. The “Little Red Dot” is the best place for many people to build a successful career in the middle of Asia. If you want to move here, the first thing you’ll notice is that Singapore’s immigration system is very structured, precise, and based on data.

Singapore no longer offers a universal work visa. In 2026, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) uses a tiered system to group workers based on their salary, skill level, and economic importance. There is a specific path for you, whether you are a C-suite executive, a mid-level technician, or a budding entrepreneur. However, the rules are strict.

This guide will demystify the different classifications of Singapore work visas, explain the latest 2026 salary thresholds, and help you determine which “Pass” aligns with your professional background.

The Hierarchy of Singapore Work Passes

Singapore divides its work visas into groups based on the type of work and the applicant’s level of professional standing. To make it easier to understand, picture the system as a pyramid. The top level has passes for world leaders, the middle level has skilled professionals and technicians, and the bottom level has semi-skilled workers in important fields.

The first step to a successful application is knowing where you fit in this hierarchy. If you apply for the wrong category, Singapore will likely reject your application, even if you are highly qualified.

1. High-Tier Passes: For Top Global Talent

Singapore offers premium visas that give people at the top of their careers the most freedom. These passes often let people work for more than one employer, which is different from regular passes.

Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass

The ONE Pass is a personalised 5-year visa that was created to attract “the best of the best”. It is meant for the best people in business, the arts, culture, sports, or school.

• Key Benefit: You can start, run, and work for more than one business at the same time. If you change jobs, you don’t have to apply for a new pass.
• 2026 Salary Requirement: You must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) from a single employer.

Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

The PEP is for professionals who make a lot of money and want more freedom than a regular Employment Pass gives them. It is valid for three years, but it can’t be renewed.

• The Flexibility: You can stay in Singapore for up to 6 months between jobs without having your visa cancelled.
• 2026 Salary Requirement: Both existing EP holders and overseas applicants must meet a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500.

2. The Professional Tier: The Employment Pass (EP)

Most managers, executives, and specialists use the Employment Pass to get to work. This is probably your goal if you have a degree and a job offer in a professional field.

Getting an EP in 2026 isn’t just about the money; it’s also about “Complementarity.”

The COMPASS Framework

Every EP applicant (unless earning over S$22,500) must pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). This is a points-based system where you need at least 40 points to qualify.

Points are awarded based on:

• C1. Salary: How your pay compares to local peers in your sector.
• C2. Qualifications: Points for degrees from “top-tier” colleges (20 points) or degrees that are widely accepted as equivalent (10 points).
• C3. Diversity: Whether your nationality adds to the diversity of your hiring company.
• C4. Support for Local Employment: Whether your employer hires a high percentage of local Singaporeans.

Why this matters: You might need to earn “Bonus Points” by filling a role on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) even if you have a high salary, your company already has “too many” people of your nationality, or your university isn’t highly ranked.

2026 EP Salary Thresholds:

• General Sectors: Minimum S$5,600 (increases with age, up to S$10,700 for those 45+).
• Financial Services: Minimum S$6,200 (increases with age, up to S$11,800 for those 45+).

3. The Skilled Tier: The S Pass

The S Pass is for people with mid-level skills, like technicians, junior executives, or associate professionals.

The S Pass has a quota (the company can only hire a certain number of foreign workers) and a levy (a monthly fee the employer pays the government). The EP does not have these things.

2026 S Pass Requirements:

• Salary: Minimum S$3,300 (or S$3,800 for Financial Services). Like the EP, this scales up significantly with age and experience.
• Qualifications: It usually requires a degree, diploma, or specialised technical certificate.
• Levy: Since late 2025, the levy has been standardised at approximately S$650 per month for most sectors.

4. Essential & Semi-Skilled: The Work Permit

The Work Permit (WP) is for semi-skilled migrant workers from approved source countries. These roles are sector-specific, primarily in:

• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Marine Shipyard
• Process Sector
• Services (e.g., F&B, hospitality)

As of July 2025, the government got rid of the “maximum employment period” for Work Permit holders. This means that experienced workers can stay longer if they follow the rules and their employers need them. This is a big change meant to keep skilled manual workers.

5. Entrepreneurial Pathways: EntrePass

The EntrePass is your way to create jobs if you don’t want to work. It caters to individuals seeking to launch an investor-backed or innovative business in Singapore.

You don’t have to have a minimum salary, but you do have to meet certain “innovative criteria”, like

• You must obtain funding from a government-recognised Venture Capital (VC) or Business Angel.
• You must also possess intellectual property (IP) that is registered in Singapore.
• We are collaborating with a local research organisation, such as A*STAR or a university.

Family Privileges: Can You Bring Your Loved Ones?

Singapore knows that talented people go where families can do well. Most holders of high-tier and professional passes (ONE Pass, PEP, EP, and S Pass) can bring family members as long as they meet a certain income requirement.

The number that matters is S$6,000. The main pass holder must make at least S$6,000 a month to be able to sponsor a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for a spouse or child under 21 who is not married.

• Spouses: DP holders usually can’t work “automatically,”, but spouses of ONE Pass holders can get a Letter of Consent (LOC) to work, which is a big plus.
• Parents: To bring parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), you generally need to be an EP or S Pass holder earning at least S$12,000 per month.

Important Precautions for Applicants

The Ministry of Manpower in Singapore is very careful about making sure documents are real.

• Verification Requirement: 
• A background screening company that is approved by MOM must check all of the educational qualifications for EP applications.
• The “No-Job, No-Visa” Rule: You can’t apply for the visa yourself for most passes, except PEP and ONE Pass. After that, your employer in Singapore must submit the application on your behalf. giving you a job.
• Fair Consideration: Most employers have to post the job on the government website MyCareersFuture for at least 14 days before hiring someone from another country. This ensures equitable treatment for local candidates.

Conclusion: Finding Your Path

The work visa system in Singapore in 2026 is meant to help both sides: it brings in the best talent from around the world and keeps the local workforce competitive. It can be challenging to figure this out, but if you focus on the three “S” factors—Salary, Skill level, and Sector—the right classification usually becomes clear.

If you are a highly specialised professional, the Employment Pass via the COMPASS framework’s Employment Pass is probably the best way for you to get a job. The S Pass is a stable path for technicians in the middle of their careers. If you’re a top expert, the ONE Pass gives you the most freedom to innovate.

Even though the job market is competitive, Singapore offers a work environment that is truly one of a kind for those who meet the requirements.