Singapore ONE Pass: Who Qualifies and How It Works

The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) is Singapore’s work pass for top talent. Unlike the Employment Pass, it is personalised — it belongs to you, not to one employer — and it is designed for high earners and people with standout records in their field. Here is who qualifies and how it works, with the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) current rules.

Who can get a ONE Pass

MOM assesses each candidate case by case, and you must meet one of the following routes:

• Earnings route (current or last job): a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 — or the equivalent in foreign currency — for the 12 consecutive months leading up to your application.
• Earnings route (future job in Singapore): you will earn at least S$30,000 a month under an established, Singapore-based employer. Apply only when the job will start within six months.
• Outstanding achievements: you may apply without meeting the salary figure if you have a standout record in sports, arts and culture, or academia and research. MOM reviews these with agencies such as MCCY, MOE, NRF and A*STAR.

If you have worked for an overseas company, it must be established — meaning a market capitalisation of at least US$500 million or annual revenue of at least US$200 million (global figures can be combined and are assessed case by case).

An AI and Tech route from 2027

MOM has announced a dedicated route opening on 28 January 2027 for AI and tech talent. On that route you still need to have earned at least S$30,000 a month over 12 months, but only S$22,500 of it must be fixed monthly salary — the remainder can be vested share awards (ESOP/ESOW), subject to assessment. You will also need at least five cumulative years in the past ten in a founder or C-suite role at a tech firm, or a technical role such as a senior software engineer.

What makes the ONE Pass different

The ONE Pass carries freedoms that ordinary work passes do not:

How the ONE Pass compares with a standard work pass.

• It is valid for five years (renewable for five years at a time).
• It is exempt from COMPASS and from the Fair Consideration Framework job-advertising rules that apply to the Employment Pass.
• You can concurrently start, operate and work for multiple companies, subject to your contracts.
• You do not reapply for a pass when you change jobs — the pass is yours.
• Only one work pass application per candidate at a time: you cannot have a ONE Pass and an Employment Pass application running together.

Bringing your family

ONE Pass holders can sponsor family members to join them:

• A legally married spouse on a Dependant’s Pass, who can then apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to work or run a business — at no cost.
• A common-law spouse on a Long-Term Visit Pass, who can also apply for an LOC to work.
• Unmarried children under 21.

MOM suggests applying for family passes after your ONE Pass is approved, as Dependant’s Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass applications take about four weeks and the fees are lost if the main application is rejected.

Renewing a ONE Pass

You can apply to renew up to six months before the pass expires. To qualify for renewal you must meet one of these:

• Earned an average fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 over the past five years in Singapore; or
• Started and run a Singapore-based company that employs at least five locals, each earning at least the prevailing Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary.

The second route recognises founders who build a local business rather than draw a large salary.

Staying compliant

One duty is easy to miss: you must notify MOM of your professional activities and annual income by 31 January each year, and update any change to your residential address or personal details. Keep your passport valid, and remember a ONE Pass holder can also apply to become a permanent resident in the usual way.

What this means for your move

• Check which route fits you — the S$30,000 earnings test, or the achievement test — before assuming you need the salary.
• If you are relying on a future Singapore job, time the application to within six months of the start date.
• If a working spouse is part of the plan, the ONE Pass gives them the easier Letter of Consent route.

Weighing your options? Compare the Employment Pass eligibility rules and, if family will join you, read who can come and who can work. If Singapore is a long-term move, see applying for permanent residence.

General information only, from MOM, with the date each figure was checked. We are not an immigration agent; the final decision on any pass rests with MOM. Confirm the current rules on the official MOM page for your own case.