Singapore EntrePass vs Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)
A factual side-by-side comparison of two residency programmes. All figures are drawn from the canonical program pages — follow either link in the table header for sources and the full profile.
Key Differences at a Glance
- ›Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) is faster: 1 months vs 2 months for Singapore EntrePass.
Singapore EntrePass Singapore · entrepreneur | Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) Singapore · skilled worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Singapore | Singapore |
| Category | Entrepreneur | Skilled Worker |
| Application Fee | $150 | $110 |
| Minimum Income | — | $22,000 /mo |
| Minimum Investment | — | — |
| Processing Time | 2 months | 1 months |
| Family Included | Dependant's Pass available for spouse and children under 21; Long-Term Visit Pass available for parents and parents-in-law. | Dependant's Pass for spouse and children; spouse may work in Singapore without needing a separate work pass. |
| Path to PR | Yes — 2 years | Yes — 2 years |
| Path to Citizenship | Yes — 8 years | Yes — 8 years |
| Physical Presence | Must actively manage the business in Singapore; substantial physical presence required for renewal. | Must live in Singapore for the majority of the 5-year pass period; renewal requires demonstrating continued engagement with Singapore. |
| Dual Citizenship | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax Impact | Singapore taxes income sourced in Singapore; foreign-sourced income remitted to Singapore may also be taxable. No capital gains tax. | Holders are Singapore tax residents subject to Singapore income tax on locally sourced income. The territory's flat and progressive rates are among the most competitive in Asia. |
| Tax Residency Trigger | 183 days/yr | 183 days/yr |
| Worldwide Taxation | Territorial | Territorial |
| Renewal Cost | $150 | $110 |
About Singapore EntrePass
The Singapore EntrePass is an entrepreneur route for founders launching innovative, scalable Singapore companies. Its defining eligibility: the business must be venture-backed (by a MOM-recognised, MAS-licensed investor), incubator-supported, or IP-driven, and the applicant must incorporate a private limited company and hold at least 30% shareholding; hawker, food-court, and employment-agency businesses are excluded. There is no minimum salary, though personal financial viability is assessed. The application fee is about SGD 105 (~USD 150), with realistic first-year costs of SGD 10,000–20,000, and MOM targets eight-week processing. Spouse and children under 21 receive Dependant's Passes and may work. Permanent residency can be sought after two years and citizenship around eight years—but PR is discretionary, and Singapore does NOT allow dual citizenship, so naturalisation requires full renunciation. Renewal is not automatic and demands demonstrable business progress. Singapore taxes on a territorial basis (no capital gains tax), and a Startup Tax Exemption gives 75% relief on the first SGD 100,000 of income for three years.
Full Singapore EntrePass profile →About Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)
The Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) is a five-year pass for top talent that, unlike the Employment Pass, is not tied to a single employer. Applicants must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 30,000 (about $22,000 USD) in their current or most recent role, or demonstrate outstanding achievement in arts, culture, sport, academia or research; bonuses, RSUs and equity do not count toward the salary figure. It is filed directly with MOM without employer sponsorship, usually within 4–8 weeks. A Dependant's Pass covers the spouse and children, and the spouse may work without a separate pass. Permanent residency can be sought after about two years — favourably assessed at this income tier, with no language test — while citizenship follows roughly two years after PR but requires renouncing prior nationality, as Singapore bars dual citizenship. Holders are taxed only on Singapore-sourced income (progressive 0–22%), with unremitted foreign income generally exempt. Holders must still work for a Singapore entity or run a Singapore business to justify their stay.
Full Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) profile →Gotchas to Watch For
Singapore EntrePass
- ⚠The "VC funding" qualifier must be from a MOM-recognised, MAS-licensed investor — a term sheet from an unrecognised angel or family investment will be rejected
- ⚠EntrePass renewal is NOT automatic — MOM expects demonstrable business progress at each renewal. No progress = no pass
- ⚠Singapore does NOT allow dual citizenship — naturalisation requires full renunciation
- ⚠There is no minimum salary requirement for EntrePass (unlike Employment Pass) — but personal financial viability is assessed
- ⚠EntrePass holders do NOT qualify for CPF contributions (personal) — no CPF for your own retirement unless hiring Singapore citizens/PRs
- ⚠Business plan must show Singapore-specific operations; companies that simply "relocate" without local activity are rejected
- ⚠Spouse/children on Dependant's Pass can work in Singapore (spouse may apply for Letter of Consent to work without separate EP)
Singapore ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)
- ⚠SGD 30,000/month is the firm fixed-salary threshold — bonuses, RSUs, variable pay, and equity do not count toward this figure
- ⚠ONE Pass is employer-flexible but NOT employer-independent entirely — you still need to be working for a Singapore entity or operating a Singapore business to justify your presence
- ⚠Singapore does NOT allow dual citizenship — renunciation required if naturalising
- ⚠At SGD 360,000/year, Singapore income tax is approximately SGD 60,000-70,000/year — still lower than most Western countries but substantial
- ⚠COMPASS framework does NOT apply to ONE Pass — unlike the standard EP, no points system is used; it is salary or achievement only
- ⚠Spouse of ONE Pass holder can work in Singapore without a separate work pass — a major practical benefit not available on standard EP at lower salary tiers
- ⚠Achievement track is opaque — MOM does not publish specific criteria; rejections with no explanation are possible
Neutral reference — we don't recommend one programme over another. Programmes change: always verify each detail against the official source linked on the individual program pages.