Singapore · Temporary Residence
Living in Singapore on an EntrePass
For a founder, the EntrePass is also the residence permit. It is granted for up to one year at first and up to two years later, and each renewal tests the company's spending, local hiring and progress.
- Startup route
- EntrePass
- Minimum capital
- None set; one track needs SGD 100,000 raised in one round
- Permanent residence
- No fixed period; ICA decides case by case
- Citizenship
- 2 years as a PR, aged 21 or over
EntrePass (renewal)
Renewing an EntrePass means showing that the business is growing in Singapore, not only that it exists. The holder must still own at least 30% of the company, keep an individual profile on the Startup SG Network with the company profile claimed, and file the latest financial statements. From the renewal cycles that carry numeric targets, MOM checks annual total business spending and a local workforce figure, both of which rise over time. Counted employees must be on the company's direct payroll with at least 3 months of CPF contributions, and professional hires must meet a minimum basic monthly salary set in the renewal table. The new pass and first renewal run for up to 1 year; later renewals run for up to 2 years.
- First pass and renewal
- Up to 1 year each
- Later renewals
- Up to 2 years each
- Starting targets
- SGD 100,000 annual spending and 1 local workforce unit
- Workforce formula
- Professional staff + (lower-qualified staff / 3), max 12 counted
- Renewal fee
- SGD 225 to issue the pass; SGD 30 per Multiple Journey Visa
- Spouse and children
- Dependant's Pass (married spouse, unmarried children under 21)
- Parents
- Long-Term Visit Pass at SGD 200,000 spending and 2 local units
Requirements
- Keep at least 30% ownership of the ACRA-registered private limited company.
- Maintain an individual Startup SG Network profile and claim the company profile.
- Show ongoing business activity and progress, and submit the latest financial statements.
- Meet the annual total business spending and local workforce targets for the renewal cycle.
- Keep counted employees on the direct payroll with at least 3 months of CPF contributions.
How to apply
- Check the renewal table for the target spending and local workforce figure that applies to the next cycle.
- Update the Startup SG Network profile and prepare financial statements and CPF records.
- Submit the renewal through MOM's EP eService before the current pass expires.
- Pay the SGD 225 issuance fee once the renewal is approved.
Tech.Pass
Status: No new or renewal applications accepted from 28 January 2027
Tech.Pass is a personal pass for established technology leaders that needs no employer sponsorship. It is valid for 2 years in the first instance and can be renewed for another 2 years if the renewal criteria are met. EDB has announced that the pass is closing: from 28 January 2027 neither new nor renewal applications will be accepted, and a ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track announced by MOM is set to replace it from January 2027. Existing holders may remain on their pass until it expires. Founders who qualify now should weigh how little time remains for a renewal.
- Validity
- 2 years, renewable for 2 more if criteria are met
- Salary test
- Last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500
- Experience test
- 5 cumulative years in a leading role within the past 10 years
- Closing date
- No new or renewal applications from 28 January 2027
- Replacement
- ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track announced from January 2027
Requirements
- Have earned a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500 within the last year.
- Have at least five cumulative years in a leading role at a tech company valued at USD 500 million or more, or that raised USD 30 million.
- Alternatively, the leading role can be at a tech venture capital firm with at least USD 500 million under management.
- The qualifying experience must fall within the 10 years before the application date.
How to apply
- Confirm eligibility against EDB's salary and experience criteria before the 2027 closure.
- Submit the Tech.Pass application with salary evidence and proof of the qualifying roles.
- Have the pass issued in Singapore within the validity of the in-principle approval.
How renewal targets shape a founder's stay
The EntrePass is generous at entry and strict at renewal. MOM's renewal table raises the annual total business spending figure and the number of local workforce units in each later cycle, and it also lifts the minimum basic monthly salary that a professional hire must earn to be counted. A founder who arrives alone can therefore expect to become an employer within the first few years if the stay is to continue. Spending on staff, rent and operations in Singapore all feed into the total business spending figure, so founders who run most of their costs offshore may struggle to meet it.
Family plans follow the same arithmetic. A spouse and children qualify for a Dependant's Pass when the business reaches SGD 100,000 in annual spending with one local workforce unit, or when the founder meets an alternative such as having raised more than SGD 2 million. Common-law spouses, stepchildren and parents receive a Long-Term Visit Pass instead, and parents need the higher threshold of SGD 200,000 in spending and two local workforce units. Founders weighing a family move should time it against the company's hiring plan.
Questions and answers
How does MOM count local workforce for an EntrePass renewal?
MOM uses a formula: the number of professional, managerial and executive employees plus one third of the number of lower-qualified employees, with no more than 12 lower-qualified staff counted. Every counted employee must be on the company's direct payroll and must have received CPF contributions for at least 3 months, so short-term contractors and agency staff do not help a renewal.
What paperwork does an EntrePass renewal need beyond hiring records?
MOM expects the founder to keep an individual profile on the Startup SG Network and to have claimed the company profile there. The company must also show ongoing business activity and progress and submit its latest financial statements. Ownership must remain at 30% or more, and the business must still be venture-backed or own innovative technologies.
Is there a residence-by-investment permit in Singapore short of permanent residence?
Singapore's investor route, the Global Investor Programme, grants permanent residence directly rather than a temporary investor permit. For founders who do not meet its large business and investment thresholds, the practical residence options are work passes such as the EntrePass, with permanent residence considered later on a discretionary basis by ICA.
What happens to Tech.Pass holders after the January 2027 closure?
EDB says existing Tech.Pass holders can remain on their pass until its expiry date. Because no renewal applications will be accepted from 28 January 2027, holders whose passes expire after that date will need another route, such as the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track that MOM has announced or another work pass.
Official sources
- Renew an EntrePasswww.mom.gov.sg
- EntrePass key factswww.mom.gov.sg
- Passes for family of EntrePass holderswww.mom.gov.sg
- Tech.Passwww.edb.gov.sg
Reviewed October 2026. Immigration rules change often. Confirm the current requirements with the official authority or a licensed adviser before applying.
Your path in Singapore.
Startup visa
EntrePass for a 30%-owned, venture-backed or innovative company
02Temporary residence
EntrePass renewals tied to business spending and local workforce
03Permanent residence
Discretionary ICA application, or the GIP for large investors
04Citizenship
Apply after 2 years as a PR; other citizenships must be given up