If you want to work in Singapore as a foreigner, you will usually need to secure a job before you can obtain an Employment Pass or S Pass. Your employer then applies for the relevant work pass on your behalf. The type of pass you may qualify for depends on factors including your job, salary, age and, for many Employment Pass applications, your COMPASS score.
Understanding these requirements before you start applying for jobs can help you focus on roles where a work pass is realistically available.
Can foreigners work in Singapore?
Yes. Singapore employs foreign professionals and skilled workers through several work pass schemes.
For professionals, managers and executives, the main route is the Singapore Employment Pass, usually called the EP. Skilled workers in associate professional, technical and similar roles may instead qualify for an S Pass.
There is an important point to understand before you start your job search: you generally cannot obtain an EP or S Pass first and then use it to find employment.
You need a job offer. Your prospective employer, or an employment agent appointed by that employer, then submits the application to Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
You do not need to be physically in Singapore when the application is submitted.
Employment Pass or S Pass: which might apply to you?
The EP is intended for foreign professionals, managers and executives.
For applications submitted during 2026, the minimum qualifying monthly salary starts at S$5,600 for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services. The actual salary required increases with age.
For example, outside financial services, a 30-year-old applicant needs a fixed monthly salary of at least S$7,223. Someone aged 45 or above needs at least S$10,700.
These figures matter when you are searching for jobs. A salary above S$5,600 does not automatically make every candidate eligible for a Singapore Employment Pass.
The S Pass has a lower starting salary threshold and is intended for skilled workers. In 2026, the qualifying salary starts at S$3,300 per month outside financial services and S$3,800 in financial services, again increasing with age.
S Pass applications are also affected by the employer’s foreign worker quota. This means eligibility depends partly on the company hiring you, rather than your personal circumstances alone.
If you are applying for roles that could fall within this category, RMI’s S Pass salary and eligibility guide explains the current requirements in more detail.
What is COMPASS?
Salary is only the first stage of most EP applications.
Most candidates must also pass Singapore’s Complementarity Assessment Framework, known as COMPASS. The system assesses the candidate and employer against a set of criteria, with an application generally requiring at least 40 points.
Factors can include your salary and qualifications, as well as characteristics of the company employing you. Candidates earning at least S$22,500 in fixed monthly salary are among those who may be exempt from COMPASS.
This is worth knowing while you are looking for work. Your qualifications can affect how straightforward an eventual EP application may be.
RMI’s 2026 Employment Pass guide explains how qualification checks fit into the process.
Should you prepare your qualifications before finding a job?
It is sensible to locate your academic documents before you begin applying for roles in Singapore, particularly if your degree or other qualifications may later be used for COMPASS.
Depending on how your qualification is declared in the application, MOM may require proof that it is genuine and was awarded by an accredited institution.
Useful documents to have available can include your degree certificate, transcripts and details of the institution that awarded the qualification.
You can read RMI’s guide to documents needed for MOM educational verification for a closer look at what may be required.
Preparing these records early does not guarantee that you will qualify for a pass. It can, however, reduce avoidable delays once an employer is ready to proceed.
What happens after you receive a job offer?
Once a Singapore employer decides to hire you, it will determine which work pass is appropriate and check whether you meet the relevant criteria.
For a Singapore Employment Pass, this normally means checking the salary requirement and COMPASS score before submitting the application. Employers are also generally required to advertise applicable vacancies on MyCareersFuture and consider candidates fairly before applying.
Your employer will need information and documents from you and must obtain your written consent to submit the application.
You can remain overseas while MOM considers it.
If the application is approved, you will receive an In-Principle Approval, or IPA. For an EP, the IPA normally gives you six months to enter Singapore and have the pass issued.
Only once the required pass arrangements are in place should you plan your move around starting the new role.
How long does an Employment Pass application take?
MOM states that an online EP application submitted by an employer or employment agent will generally be processed or receive an update within 10 business days.
An S Pass application has the same stated processing period.
Some applications take longer where MOM asks for additional information or supporting documents.
If you are considering a move to Singapore, it therefore makes sense to allow time between accepting an offer and expecting to start work.
How much does an Employment Pass cost?
The official MOM fees for an EP in 2026 are:
- S$105 when the application is submitted
- S$225 when an approved pass is issued
- An additional S$30 where a Multiple Journey Visa is required
That means the basic government cost for an approved EP is S$330, excluding any additional visa charge or costs associated with verification and professional services.
For an S Pass, the application fee is S$105 and the issuance fee is S$100.
These fees are part of the employer-led application process rather than a fee you pay to secure the right to search for work.
What can you do before you have a Singapore job offer?
Start by looking at the salary requirements for your age and sector. There is little value in targeting a role at a salary level that is clearly below the threshold for the pass you would need.
You should also check your academic records. Make sure names, dates and qualification details are consistent across your CV and supporting documents.
If you expect your qualifications to be used as part of a future Singapore Employment Pass application, you can also find out what verification may be required.
RMI is recognised by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower to provide educational qualification verification for work pass applications. Its verification service is available to individuals as well as employers, with RMI currently stating an average turnaround of around 7 to 10 working days.
You can start your MOM qualification verification with RMI if you want to prepare your academic records for the work pass process.
Finding the right job remains the first major step. Once an employer is ready to hire you, having your documents in order can make the Singapore Employment Pass process considerably easier to manage.