Singapore Employment Pass Vs. EntrePass Comparison
The Singapore Employment Pass is the best option for an expat hoping to work for a company in Singapore, but the Singapore EntrePass is the best option for an expat who wants to start their own business there. Both types of passes help expats qualify for permanent resident status in Singapore.
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Are you hoping to live and work in Singapore? Perhaps you aren’t sure what type of pass is the best fit for you.
Keep reading to find out whether an Employment Pass or EntrePass is the type of work pass you want in Singapore. We’ll compare the eligibility requirements and benefits of each type so you can make an informed decision.
If you need a more comprehensive list of the visas available to Americans who want to live in Singapore, check out our Singapore Visa Guide for US Citizens.
Similarities Between Singapore Employment Pass And EntrePass
The Singapore Employment Pass and EntrePass are work passes that allow expats to work in Singapore as foreign nationals. A work pass in Singapore is like a work visa or work permit. Both of these work passes lead to eligibility for permanent residence in Singapore.
Here’s a summary of the other important similarities between the Singapore Employment Pass and the EntrePass:
- Both the Employment Pass and the EntrePass have stringent eligibility requirements in Singapore
- Both passes have allowances for immediate family members to obtain passes of their own
- You can become a permanent resident of Singapore with either the Employment Pass or an EntrePass
Main Differences Between Singapore Employment Pass And EntrePass
The Singapore Employment Pass is for expats who have been offered a job by a company in Singapore. The Singapore EntrePass is for expats who want to start a company or business in Singapore. Both passes have different eligibility requirements.
Here’s a brief list of the biggest differences between the Employment Pass and EntrePass:
- The Singapore Employment Pass and the EntrePass have different eligibility criteria
- The Employment Pass and the Entrepreneurial Pass have different criteria for family members to obtain dependent passes
- Expats with an EntrePass may become eligible for the Global Investor Programme.
Singapore Employment Pass Vs. EntrePass: Eligibility Requirements
Both the Singapore Employment Pass and the Entrepreneur Pass require the applicant to demonstrate talents or assets that will benefit Singapore. For the Employment Pass, you’ll have to prove your expertise and qualifications for a job. For EntrePass, you and your business will be evaluated.
Singapore Employment Pass Eligibility Requirements include
- A job offer–US Citizens who want an Employment Pass must have a valid job offer from a firm in Singapore
- Have a career as a professional, manager, executive, or technician (PMET)
- Minimum Salary– Employment Pass applicants must have a minimum monthly salary of SGD $5,000 to SGD $10,500 depending on the applicant’s age (SGD $5,500 for the financial sector)
- After September 1, 2023, new Employment Pass applications must go through an evaluation tool known as the Complementarity Assessment Framework (Compass)
Note: After the Employment Pass update on 4 March 2024, the new minimum qualifying salaries are SGD $5,600 and SGD $6,200 for financial services. The new policy will apply to new applicants from 1 January 2025, and will subsequently apply for renewals from 1 January 2026.
Singapore Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) Eligibility Requirements include
- Have started or are planning to start a business registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
- Your business registered with Singapore’s ACRA must be less than six months old, or you may register the business after the application acceptance
- The applicant must meet the criteria for one of the following roles: Entrepreneur, Innovator, or Investor
- Entrepreneur: Meet any one of the following criteria to be classified as an Entrepreneur:
You have at least SGD $100,000 from a government investment vehicle, venture capitalist, or business angel with recognition from the Singapore government.
The registered company is currently in an incubator or accelerator program in Singapore.
Or you have a positive entrepreneurial track record.
- Innovator: Meet any one of the following criteria to be classified as an Innovator:
You own innovative intellectual property that’s registered with an internationally recognized IP entity.
You collaborated on research with an Institute of Higher Learning (IHL) or an institution recognized by the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), and you meet all of these additional requirements.
Or you have extraordinary achievements in the field of your proposed business. Your skills must be relevant to the business and internationally recognized.
- Investor: You have an established investment track record
- Businesses that are ineligible for an EntrePass include coffee shops, food courts, hawker centers, night clubs, karaoke lounges, bars, foot reflexology, massage parlors, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, herbal dispensing businesses, geomancy businesses, and employment agencies.
Singapore Employment Pass Vs. EntrePass: Family Passes
The Singapore Employment Pass and the Entrepreneurial Pass both allow pass holders to get passes for their dependents. Dependents include spouses and unmarried children under age 21 but may also include stepchildren, common-law spouses, and parents. Eligibility for dependent passes is different.
Family members of both types of work pass holders obtain either a Dependents Pass or a Long Term Visit Pass. The type of pass that your family member receives depends on their relation to the EntrePass or Employment Pass (EP) holder.
Dependent Passes are available for:
- Legally married spouses of EP and EntrePass holders
- Biological or legally adopted, unmarried children under age 21 of EP and EntrePass holders
Long Term Visit Passes (LTVP) are available for:
- Common-law spouses of EP or EntrePass holders
- Unmarried stepchildren under age 21 of EP or EntrePass holders
- Disabled children over the age of 21 of EP or EntrePass holders
- Parents of EP and EntrePass holders
Although the type of pass available to the family members is the same for both the EntrePass and the Employment Pass in Singapore, the eligibility requirements are specific to the type of pass.
Singapore Family Passes for Dependents of Employment Pass Holders
If you’re an employment pass holder, you may obtain passes for your spouses, unmarried children or stepchildren under age 21, and disabled children over age 21 when you make at least SGD $6,000 per month.
You may obtain passes for your parents to join you in Singapore when you make at least SGD $12,000 per month.
Singapore Family Passes for Dependents of Entrepreneurial Pass Holders
If you’re a Singapore EntrePass holder, you may obtain passes for your spouse and children in Singapore by meeting the eligibility requirements for the business you started in Singapore. You may also get passes for your parents if your business meets a higher set of criteria.
For passes for spouses and children, your business must spend at least SGD $100,000 annually and employ at least three employees at the local qualifying salary (LQS) or employ one professional, manager, executive, or technician (PMET).
For passes for your parents, your business must spend at least SGD $200,000 annually and employ at least 6 LQS or 3 PMETs.
For even more information about Singapore’s passes for dependents, check out Singapore’s Dependent Pass Scheme for Family Members.
Employment Pass Vs. EntrePass: Permanent Resident Application
Singapore Entrepreneurial Pass holders and Employment Pass holders are eligible to apply for permanent residence in Singapore. There are different programs depending on the pass you hold. Once you are a permanent resident (PR), your immediate family members may apply to become PRs too.
Singapore EntrePass holders apply for permanent residence through the Global Investor Programme.
Employment Pass holders, their immediate family members, and the family members of investor PRs in Singapore apply for permanent residence through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.
Singapore Employment Pass Vs. EntrePass: Healthcare Benefits
To obtain healthcare benefits in Singapore as an Employment Pass holder or as an Entrepreneurial Pass holder, you must be a permanent resident. Permanent residents are eligible for MediShield, a government-subsidized healthcare plan. Non-PRs must keep private medical insurance.
Private medical insurance with international coverage in Singapore is a good idea for both non-PRs without MediShield and PRs because MediShield does not cover all medical expenses.
If you have questions about international health insurance plans, speak to an insurance expert today. You’ll be able to ask questions and get a free insurance quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an Entrepreneurial Pass and an Employment Pass in Singapore?
In Singapore, the Entrepreneurial Pass (EntrePass) and Employment Passes (EP) are for different types of expat workers. An EntrePass is for entrepreneurs, innovators, or investors who want to start a new business in Singapore. An Employment Pass is for expats with a professional job offer.
Can expats work in Singapore without a work visa?
Expats (non-citizens) of Singapore cannot work in Singapore without a work visa. Work visas in Singapore are called Work Passes, and they’re usually overseen by the Ministry of Manpower. Some types of work passes include the Employment Pass, the S Pass, and the EntrePass.
What is the minimum salary for an Employment Pass in Singapore?
The minimum salary for an Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore is SGD $5,000 to SGD $10,500 monthly depending on the age of the applicant. In order to bring dependents to Singapore with you, the minimum monthly salary is SGD $6,000.
Is it hard to find a job as an expat in Singapore?
Singapore has a rigorous work visa application process with specific criteria, so expats may find it challenging to locate work unless they’re in an occupation with a shortage of labor in Singapore. Singapore has a process to encourage companies to try hiring citizens of the country before expats.
Conclusion
Whether you want an Employment Pass or an EntrePass in Singapore depends on whether you want to start your own business or work for someone else’s business. Both passes can help you meet the criteria for becoming a permanent resident in Singapore.
For additional information about the Employment Pass in Singapore, read Pacific Prime’s Guide to Singapore Employment Pass (EP) Scheme.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business, you can consult our guide to Singapore Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) Scheme.
Start planning your adventure in Singapore today! Pacific Prime is happy to help expatriates find reliable information about living abroad.
Check out our Guide to Living Abroad in Singapore for a cost of living comparison between the United States and Singapore as well as other helpful information.
Don’t know where you want to live in Singapore yet? We’ve got you covered there too. Explore our article on the Best Places for Expats to Live in Singapore.
Serena earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, Canada. As such, she is an avid advocate of mental health and is fascinated by all things psychology (especially if it’s cognitive psychology!).
Her previous work experience includes teaching toddlers to read, writing for a travel/wellness online magazine, and then a business news blog. These combined experiences give her the skills and insights she needs to explain complex ideas in a succinct way. Being the daughter of an immigrant and a traveler herself, she is passionate about educating expats and digital nomads on travel and international health insurance.
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What are the best resources for finding housing and accommodation suitable for expats in Singapore? How can expats navigate the local healthcare system in Singapore, and what are some recommended health insurance options?
To find suitable housing in Singapore, expats can explore resources such as PropertyGuru, 99.co, and iProperty, which provide detailed listings and neighborhood insights. Engaging a local real estate agent who specializes in expat accommodations is also recommended for navigating rental agreements and legal requirements. For navigating Singapore’s healthcare system, expats should register with a general practitioner or use private hospitals for faster service, and ensure they have international health insurance, with options like Cigna, Bupa Global, and AXA offering comprehensive coverage tailored for expats.
If you’d like help comparing health insurance plans or advice on expat living in Singapore, visit the Pacific Prime Contact Us page to speak with an expert today!
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