Singapore EntrePass 2026: Eligibility Criteria, Documents, Application Process and the Complete Renewal Threshold Table
By Jenga Anderson Corporate Services Team | Published: July 2026 | Singapore Work Pass & Entity Setup
Singapore’s EntrePass is the Ministry of Manpower’s work pass for foreign entrepreneurs who intend to register and actively operate a company in Singapore. Unlike most work passes, there is no employer sponsor — the applicant holds equity in and manages their own company. Assessment is based on the company’s innovation profile or venture-backed status, not on salary level or academic qualifications.
This article provides a complete, practitioner-level guide to the EntrePass as it stands in 2026: what it is, who qualifies, what documents are required, how the application and issuance process works, and — critically — the full TBS/LWF renewal threshold table through all 11 renewal cycles that determines whether the pass can be renewed. Every figure cited is sourced from the MOM official website.
1. EntrePass vs Other Singapore Work Passes: The Key Differences
Compared with the Employment Pass — Singapore’s mainstream work pass for employed professionals — the EntrePass has four distinct characteristics:
| Dimension | EntrePass | Employment Pass (EP) |
| Employer sponsor required? | No — applicant holds equity and manages own company | Yes — employer must sponsor |
| Minimum capital requirement? | None — qualifying under one of five innovation criteria is sufficient | N/A (salary-based) |
| Monthly salary threshold? | None for application — company can have zero revenue at application stage | Minimum salary thresholds apply (revised 2025) |
| Foreign Worker Levy? | Exempt | Not applicable for EP holder personally |
| Identity tied to? | Shareholding in own company — basis for future PR application | Employment relationship with sponsor company |
| Assessed by? | MOM (process) + Enterprise Singapore (innovation assessment) | MOM only |
Source: MOM official EntrePass page, verified July 2026
Note: MOM encourages EntrePass holders to contribute to Singapore’s startup ecosystem — for example by hosting or participating in industry talks, organising networking and deal-flow events, or providing mentorship to other early-stage companies.
| Also worth knowing: If your company was registered more than 12 months before the application date, MOM will assess it directly against renewal standards rather than treating it as a new application. This is a meaningful threshold to be aware of before timing your application. |
2. Eligibility: Two Baseline Conditions and Five Innovation Criteria
2.1 Two Baseline Conditions (Both Required)
- The applicant must have registered, or intend to register, a Singapore private limited company (Pte. Ltd.) under ACRA, with a minimum shareholding of 30%
- The company’s business must be either venture-backed or involve genuine innovative technology. Conventional trade and standard service businesses do not qualify.
2.2 Five Innovation Criteria: Meet Any One
MOM requires the applicant to satisfy at least one of the following five criteria. Each is independently sufficient — you do not need to meet multiple criteria simultaneously.
Criterion 1 — Fundraising from an Investor
- A minimum of SGD 100,000 raised from a single funding round, from an investor (past or current business)
MOM’s listed examples of qualifying investors include: SEEDS Capital, Vertex Ventures, Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG Equity (SSGE) programme partners, internationally recognised venture capital firms, corporate investors, and angel investors.
Criterion 2 — Recognised Incubator or Accelerator Support
- The company has received or will receive support from a government-recognised or internationally known incubator or accelerator
MOM’s listed examples include: Enterprise Singapore’s Startup SG Accelerator (SSGA) or Startup SG Founder (SSGF) programme partners; and internationally recognised programmes such as Y Combinator, MassChallenge, and Alchemist Accelerator.
Criterion 3 — Founded and Exited a Technology Company
All three of the following must be demonstrated simultaneously:
| What Must Be Demonstrated | MOM-Accepted Supporting Evidence (Examples) |
| You founded the company | Company incorporation documents; signed letter from current management team |
| The company was venture-backed or had innovative technology | The company’s business plan |
| The company was sold under your management | Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) naming you as a party |
Criterion 4 — Intellectual Property Ownership
- The applicant’s registered (or to-be-registered) company holds IP registered with an authoritative national IP authority
- The IP must provide the company with a significant competitive advantage that is difficult to replicate
Criterion 5 — Active Research Collaboration in Singapore
- The company has an active, ongoing research collaboration with at least one of: a higher education institution (IHL), or a research institution (RI)
MOM’s listed qualifying institutions include: ICA-recognised higher education institutions; A*STAR research institutes; universities and institutions under the Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE).
The collaboration must meet all four of the following conditions:
- The applicant is personally and substantively involved
- The collaboration is relevant to the business being applied for
- It is verifiable by an institutional contact person
- Service contracts do not qualify as research collaborations
| Note on an outdated route: Earlier guides frequently referenced an independent “investor” track based solely on senior executive experience. This track no longer appears in MOM’s current published eligibility standards. |
2.3 Industry Types Not Eligible
MOM explicitly excludes the following from EntrePass consideration regardless of other criteria:
| Excluded Industry Types |
| Coffeeshops, food centres and hawker stalls |
| Bars, nightclubs, karaoke establishments |
| Foot reflexology and massage parlours |
| Acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese medicinal dispensing |
| Employment agencies |
| Geomancy and fortune-telling consultancy |
| Alternative to consider — Tech.Pass: If you have founded or led a technology company of meaningful scale, or have developed a technology product with large-scale adoption, Tech.Pass may be a more appropriate route than the EntrePass. The two passes serve different applicant profiles. |
3. Documents Required: Complete Checklist
3.1 Documents Required from All Applicants
- Passport biographical data page
- Business plan (in English, maximum 10 pages), covering: product or service description, market analysis, operational plan, management team introduction, and supporting materials such as licence agreements, product certifications, patent endorsements
- Documents describing the nature and activities of past entrepreneurial ventures
- CV and employment verification documents (where applicable), covering professional background, awards and recognitions
- Latest company profile or ACRA BizFile instant information (if company is already registered)
- Latest financial statements (if the company has been registered with ACRA for 12 months or more)
- Other supplementary materials supporting the application
MOM may request additional documents during the review process. Jenga Anderson assists clients in preparing and packaging all application materials to the standard required.
3.2 Criterion-Specific Supporting Documents
| Criterion Selected | Additional Documents Required |
| Fundraising from an investor | Investment agreement; shareholder documentation |
| Incubator / accelerator support | Incubation or partnership agreement evidencing the support relationship |
| Founded and exited a technology company | Three documents per the table in Section 2.2 above |
| Intellectual property ownership | IP registration certificate(s) |
| Active research collaboration | Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) |
| Non-English documents: The original document and its certified English translation must be merged and uploaded as a single combined file. Translation may be completed by a professional services firm. Most common reason for rejection or delayed processing: A business plan that is too generic, or supporting documents that are incomplete — even when the underlying business model itself is sound. Document quality is a primary assessment variable. |
4. Application Process and Fees
4.1 Fees
| Stage | Fee |
| Submission of application | SGD 105 per application |
| Issuance upon approval | SGD 225 per pass; + SGD 30 if multiple-entry visa is required |
4.2 Step-by-Step Process
Step 1 — Prepare documents: Assemble all required materials per the checklists in Section 3.
Step 2 — Submit online via myMOM portal: Pay the SGD 105 application fee (Visa, Mastercard and Amex accepted).
Step 3 — Await assessment: Official processing time is 6 weeks. If additional documents are requested, the timeline extends accordingly. Applicants may check status from 2 weeks after submission.
Step 4 — Receive outcome: If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. The IPA functions as a pre-approved single-entry visa with a 6-month validity. The applicant must enter Singapore within this window to complete issuance. The IPA letter also states whether a medical examination is required upon arrival.
Step 5 — Enter Singapore and complete issuance: Present the IPA to immigration upon arrival. Complete the medical examination if required. Process pass issuance at EP eService or the Employment Pass Services Centre, paying the SGD 225 issuance fee. A notification letter (valid for 1 month) will be issued.
Step 6 — Register fingerprints and photograph: If required by the notification letter, this must be completed within 2 weeks of issuance.
Step 7 — Receive pass card: The physical pass card is mailed out within 5 working days of fingerprint registration or document verification completion.
| If your application is rejected: An appeal may be submitted after receiving the rejection letter. The appeal must include new evidence that directly addresses the specific reasons stated in the rejection — resubmitting the same materials without new substantiation will not be effective. |
Important: Approval of the EntrePass does not automatically result in ACRA company registration or sector-specific licences. These must be applied for separately through the respective agencies.
5. Renewal Rules: The Complete TBS/LWF Threshold Table
Holding the EntrePass is the beginning of the process. Renewal requires the company to demonstrate real, substantive business activity in Singapore — and the thresholds rise with each renewal cycle.
5.1 Renewal Basics
| Item | Detail |
| When to apply | Up to 3 months before expiry |
| First renewal validity | Up to 1 year |
| Subsequent renewal validity | Up to 2 years per renewal |
| Renewal fee | SGD 225 issuance fee; + SGD 30 if multiple-entry visa required |
| Processing time | Typically within 8 weeks |
5.2 Renewal Conditions: All of the Following Must Be Met
For the pass holder: (1) holds at least 30% of the company; (2) has created and maintains a personal profile and claimed the company profile on Startup SG Network (SSN).
For the company: (1) remains registered as a private limited company under ACRA; (2) can demonstrate it is venture-backed or has innovative technology; (3) can demonstrate ongoing business activity and progress; (4) has submitted the latest financial statements; (5) meets the Total Business Spending (TBS) and Local Workforce Factor (LWF) requirements for the relevant renewal cycle.
5.3 The Complete TBS / LWF Renewal Threshold Table (Official MOM Data)
This is the definitive table for renewal planning. Both TBS and LWF must be met simultaneously for each renewal cycle.
| Renewal No. | Annual Total Business Spending (TBS) | Local Workforce Factor (LWF) | PME Monthly Salary Threshold |
| 1st renewal | — | — | SGD 3,900 |
| 2nd renewal | SGD 100,000 | 1 | |
| 3rd renewal | SGD 200,000 | 2 | |
| 4th renewal | SGD 300,000 | 3 | |
| 5th renewal | SGD 400,000 | 4 | |
| 6th renewal | SGD 700,000 | 5 | SGD 4,700 |
| 7th renewal | SGD 750,000 | 6 | |
| 8th renewal | SGD 800,000 | 7 | |
| 9th renewal | SGD 900,000 | 8 | |
| 10th renewal | SGD 1,000,000 | 9 | |
| 11th renewal | SGD 1,150,000 | 10 |
Source: MOM official EntrePass renewal page, verified July 2026. MOM states that these thresholds are subject to periodic adjustment to ensure companies continue contributing at a meaningful level to Singapore’s economy.
5.4 How TBS and LWF Are Calculated
Total Business Spending (TBS) = Total operating expenditure, minus:
- Royalties, franchise fees and proprietary technology fees paid to overseas companies
- Costs for work outsourced overseas
- All remuneration paid to EntrePass holders at the company
The following items are not counted as operating expenditure for TBS purposes: cost of goods sold / cost of services, personal expenses, and residential property rental.
Local Workforce Factor (LWF) is calculated as:
| LWF = PME headcount + (LQS employee headcount ÷ 3) |
PME (Professional, Manager, Executive): Must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents; monthly salary at or above the PME threshold for the relevant renewal cycle; minimum 3 months of CPF contribution history; directly employed by the company (not through an intermediary).
LQS (Local Qualifying Salary) employees: Must meet local qualifying salary standards, have 3 months of CPF history, and be directly employed. A maximum of 12 LQS employees may be counted toward the LWF.
5.5 Documents Required for Renewal
- ACRA company registration information dated within the last 3 months
- Audited financial statements for the most recent financial year (small companies may be exempt from audit; unaudited 12-month statements may be submitted as an interim measure or for appeal purposes)
- Company bank statements for the most recent 3 months
- Employee CPF contribution records (may be waived for first renewal if none yet available)
- At least one document evidencing business activity: client reference letter, recent invoices, signed contracts, business cooperation agreements, tenancy agreements, or a revised business plan if the nature of operations has changed
- Record of contributions to Singapore’s startup ecosystem (where applicable)
- Personal identification documents
- Screenshot of the company’s Startup SG Network (SSN) profile
Upon renewal approval, MOM issues a new IPA valid for 3 months. The new pass must be issued within this window.
Source: MOM Renew an EntrePass page (last updated January 2026)
6. Dependant Passes: Spouses, Children and Parents
6.1 Pass Type by Family Member
| Family Member | Pass Type |
| Legally married spouse; unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted) | Dependant’s Pass (DP) |
| Common-law spouse; unmarried disabled children aged 21 and above; unmarried stepchildren under 21; parents | Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) — subject to greater discretion in assessment |
6.2 Qualifying Thresholds
To bring spouse and/or children — meet any one of the following:
- Company annual TBS of SGD 100,000 and LWF of 1
- Founded and exited 2 or more venture-backed or innovative technology companies
- Raised more than SGD 2,000,000 from investors across past or current businesses
- Holds 2 or more deep-tech IP rights providing significant competitive advantage to the company
To bring parents — both of the following must be met:
- Company annual TBS of SGD 200,000
- LWF of 2
| The signal from MOM is clear: Singapore is prepared to open family pathways for entrepreneurs who are genuinely embedded in the local economy. The parent threshold — twice the TBS and twice the LWF of the spouse/children threshold — reflects a meaningfully higher bar. For founders with multi-generational family migration plans, this should be factored into company growth planning from the outset. |
7. Practical Planning Considerations
Based on our team’s experience supporting EntrePass applicants, two planning points are consistently underestimated:
7.1 Design Your Company Structure from Day One Around Renewal 2 and 3 Thresholds
The TBS calculation explicitly excludes circular transactions with related overseas entities. Any structure that attempts to pad local spending through intra-group charges with overseas affiliates will not count toward TBS. This should be resolved at the architecture design stage — not discovered at the first renewal.
The practical implication: the company’s operating model, staffing approach, and service delivery structure should be designed from incorporation with the renewal 2 and 3 thresholds (SGD 100,000–200,000 TBS; LWF 1–2) explicitly in mind.
7.2 Parent Migration and Family Office Timelines Often Overlap
Founders who plan to bring parents to Singapore will need to meet a TBS of SGD 200,000 and LWF of 2 — a target that typically requires 2 to 4 years of solid operational growth. This timeline often coincides with the stage at which founders begin structuring a family office or 13O/13U fund arrangement in Singapore. Aligning these two timelines from the outset — rather than discovering the overlap when both require simultaneous attention — reduces planning friction significantly.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the EntrePass and the Employment Pass?
The Employment Pass requires an employer sponsor and is based on salary level. The EntrePass is for foreign entrepreneurs who own and operate their own Singapore company — no employer sponsor is required. Assessment is based on the company’s innovation profile or venture-backed status, not salary.
Do I need to have already registered my company before applying?
No. You may apply before incorporation and intend to register a company. However, if the company was already registered more than 12 months before the application date, MOM will assess it against renewal standards rather than new application standards.
I only meet one of the five criteria. Is that sufficient?
Yes. Meeting any single criterion is sufficient. The five criteria are independently qualifying — you do not need to satisfy multiple criteria simultaneously.
What is Total Business Spending (TBS) and what counts toward it?
TBS is the company’s total operating expenditure, minus: royalties and technology fees paid to overseas entities; costs of work outsourced overseas; and all remuneration paid to the company’s EntrePass holders. Cost of goods sold, personal expenses and residential property rental do not count as operating expenditure for TBS purposes.
Do I need to hire employees to meet the Local Workforce Factor (LWF)?
For the first renewal, there is no LWF requirement. From the second renewal onward, LWF of 1 is required — which means at least one Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident employed directly by the company at the qualifying PME salary level with at least 3 months of CPF contribution history. Planning for this from incorporation is strongly recommended.
How do I bring my spouse and children to Singapore on the EntrePass?
You must meet at least one of four qualifying conditions: company TBS of SGD 100,000 and LWF of 1; having founded and sold 2 or more venture-backed or innovative technology companies; having raised more than SGD 2,000,000 from investors; or holding 2 or more qualifying deep-tech IP rights. Application is for a Dependant’s Pass for legally married spouses and children under 21.
What happens if my renewal application is rejected?
You may appeal, but the appeal must include new evidence that addresses the specific reasons given in the rejection. Resubmitting the same materials without substantive additions will not be effective. If the business fundamentals are sound but documentation is the issue, a strengthened document package addressing the stated deficiencies is typically the right response.
Is Tech.Pass a better option for me than EntrePass?
Tech.Pass may be more appropriate if you have founded or led a technology company of meaningful scale, or have developed a technology product with large-scale adoption. The two passes are designed for different applicant profiles — EntrePass is designed for founders at earlier stages of building a Singapore-based company, while Tech.Pass is designed for established technology leaders.
About the Author
| Jenga Anderson Corporate Services Team Jenga Anderson (jengacorp.com) is a Singapore-based institutional corporate services platform, holding ACRA CSP (Corporate Service Provider), MOM EA (Employment Agency), CPA, Certified Tax Adviser and fund administration credentials. Its parent, Anderson Global, has a 23-year operating history across 15 office locations worldwide.We have supported over 5,000 corporate clients, 2,600 technology companies and 150 family offices across the full lifecycle of Singapore entity setup and immigration advisory — from EntrePass and Employment Pass applications through ACRA incorporation, corporate banking, family office 13O/13U establishment, and ongoing compliance management. All work is executed by our in-house team without outsourcing.Credentials: ACRA CSP · MOM EA · CPA · Certified Tax Adviser · Fund Administration |
If you are assessing whether the EntrePass is the right pass for your situation, or need assistance with application preparation, document packaging or renewal planning, contact our team for an initial discussion.
This article is published for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Pass eligibility and outcomes depend on individual circumstances and MOM assessment. Requirements are subject to change; always verify against the official MOM website before making decisions.
References & Sources
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore. EntrePass — Eligibility page. Verified July 2026.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore. EntrePass — Apply for a Pass page. Verified July 2026.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore. EntrePass — Renew an EntrePass page. Last updated January 2026.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore. EntrePass — Passes for Family page. Verified July 2026.
Raffles Corporate Services. EntrePass 2026 policy commentary.
Terra Advisory. EntrePass eligibility and application guidance, 2026.
Singapore Secretary Services. EntrePass requirements, 2026.
One Visa. EntrePass renewal thresholds and documentation, 2026.
Jenga Anderson · http://www.jengacorp.com · info@jengacorp.com