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Singapore competes hard for global top talent, and two work passes sit at the very top of that effort: the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass and the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). Both are built for high earners and exceptional professionals, both give holders far more freedom than a standard Employment Pass, and both can become a springboard to Singapore Permanent Residence. But they are not the same pass, and choosing the wrong one can cost you years of flexibility.
The headline numbers tell you who these passes are for. The ONE Pass asks for a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000, or genuinely outstanding achievement in your field. The PEP asks for S$22,500 a month and a S$270,000 minimum across each calendar year. For context, a standard Employment Pass starts at S$5,600 a month. These are passes for senior leaders, founders, and specialists at the top of their market.
This guide is the first resource in Singapore to cover both passes in one place, side by side, with the standard Employment Pass as a reference point. We walk through eligibility, validity, the application process, fees, family passes, and the pathway to PR for each. Every figure here is taken from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and current as of 2026. If you are weighing up which top-tier pass fits your situation, this is the map.
What is the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass?
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass, almost always shortened to the ONE Pass, is Singapore's premier work pass for top talent. MOM launched it in January 2023 to attract the world's most accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs across business, arts and culture, sport, academia, and research. It is aimed squarely at the people a country wants to build its economy around: chief executives, serial founders, world-class researchers, and leaders whose networks and expertise create jobs and industries.
What sets the ONE Pass apart from every other Singapore work pass is its combination of length and freedom. It runs for up to five years, far longer than any other pass. It is not tied to a single employer, so a holder can work for several companies at once, sit on multiple boards, and even start and run their own ventures concurrently. And it sits outside the frameworks that constrain ordinary Employment Pass hiring, including COMPASS and the Fair Consideration Framework job-advertising rules.
In short, the ONE Pass treats the holder as an individual talent rather than as one company's employee. That is a deliberate design choice. Singapore wants global leaders to base themselves in the country and to spread their activity across the economy, not to be locked to one job.
ONE Pass eligibility: who qualifies
There are two routes to a ONE Pass. Most applicants qualify on salary, but a second route exists for people whose achievements speak louder than their pay slip.
The salary route: S$30,000 a month
The main path is the salary benchmark. To qualify, you must either:
- Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 (or the foreign-currency equivalent) for the 12 consecutive months leading up to your application, under your current or most recent employment; or
- Be moving to a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 under a prospective established employer based in Singapore. In this case, you can only apply when your employment is due to start within six months.
"Fixed monthly salary" is the key phrase. It means your basic salary plus any fixed monthly allowances, not bonuses, commissions, or other variable pay. This is the same definition MOM uses across its work passes.
What counts as an "established company"
If you are relying on a prospective Singapore employer rather than your existing salary history, that employer must be an established company. MOM defines this as a company that meets at least one of the following:
- Market capitalisation of at least US$500 million; or
- Annual revenue of at least US$200 million.
For companies with global offices, MOM considers combined amounts on a case-by-case basis. If your prospective employer is a smaller or earlier-stage business, you will generally need to rely on your own 12-month salary history instead.
The multiple-employer rule
A common question is whether you can add up salaries from two employers to reach S$30,000. You cannot. The S$30,000 fixed monthly salary must come from a single employer. MOM's own example makes this plain: S$20,000 from one job plus S$10,000 from another does not qualify, but S$30,000 from one job plus S$5,000 from a second does, because the single-employer threshold is already met by the first S$30,000.
One more requirement applies to people already working in Singapore: existing pass holders must have worked in Singapore for at least one year before applying for a ONE Pass.
The outstanding-achievements route
You do not have to meet the salary benchmark at all if you have outstanding achievements. This route is for exceptional individuals in:
- Sport
- Arts and culture
- Academia and research
Applications under this route are reviewed holistically by MOM together with the relevant agencies, such as the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, the Ministry of Education, the National Research Foundation, and A*STAR. There is no fixed scorecard; the assessment weighs the significance of your accomplishments and your standing in your field.
A note for founders in tech and science: MOM steers experienced entrepreneurs building a new venture towards the Economic Development Board's Global Founder Programme (GFP) rather than the outstanding-achievements route. If you are starting a company in Singapore, it is worth checking the GFP as a parallel option.
ONE Pass benefits and features
The eligibility bar is high, but so are the rewards. Here is what a ONE Pass gives you.
Up to five years of validity. The ONE Pass is issued for up to five years, both for first-time holders and at each renewal. No other Singapore work pass comes close on duration.
Freedom to hold multiple roles and start companies. A ONE Pass holder can concurrently start, operate, and work for several companies at the same time. You do not need to reapply or seek a new pass every time you change or add a job, because the pass is tied to you as an individual, not to any one employer. This is the single biggest advantage over both the PEP and the Employment Pass.
Exemption from COMPASS and the Fair Consideration Framework. Employers hiring an Employment Pass holder must pass the COMPASS points system and, in many cases, advertise the role locally first. ONE Pass holders are exempt from both. That removes a major source of friction for the companies that engage them.
No foreign worker levy or quota. ONE Pass holders do not count against a company's foreign worker quota, and no levy is payable.
Family passes. Your spouse and children can join you in Singapore on the relevant family passes, and your spouse can work here on a Letter of Consent (more on this in the family section below).
A route to Permanent Residence. MOM confirms that ONE Pass holders can apply for Singapore PR. Given the income and standing involved, ONE Pass holders typically present very strong PR profiles.
Tip: The ability to run your own companies is the feature that most often decides between the ONE Pass and the PEP. If starting a business in Singapore is anywhere on your horizon, the ONE Pass keeps that door open. The PEP slams it shut.
ONE Pass renewal criteria
The ONE Pass is renewable, and you can apply to renew up to six months before it expires. At renewal, you need to meet one of the following:
- You earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 on average over the past five years while in Singapore; or
- You started and operate a Singapore-based company that employs at least five locals, each earning at least the prevailing Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary.
That second criterion is what makes the ONE Pass genuinely founder-friendly. A leader who spends five years building a Singapore company that creates local jobs can renew on the strength of that business, even if their own salary path looked different from a corporate executive's.
What is the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)?
The Personalised Employment Pass is Singapore's work pass for high-earning professionals who want flexibility without being tied to a single employer. It has been around far longer than the ONE Pass and occupies a slightly different niche: it is aimed at established, high-income professionals, whether they are already working in Singapore on an Employment Pass or coming from overseas.
The defining feature of the PEP is that it is not linked to any employer. An ordinary Employment Pass is sponsored by, and belongs to, the company that hires you; lose that job and the pass is cancelled. A PEP belongs to you. You can change jobs, work across sectors, and stay in Singapore between roles, all without applying for a new pass each time. For senior professionals who move between opportunities, that portability is the whole point.
Where the ONE Pass says "come and build," the PEP says "come and work, on your own terms." It is a professional's pass, not a founder's pass, and that distinction runs right through its rules.
PEP eligibility and requirements
The PEP has a clear salary bar to get in and a separate income requirement to keep it. Both matter.
The qualifying salary: S$22,500 a month
To be eligible for a PEP, you must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500. MOM benchmarks this to the top 10% of Employment Pass holders, which tells you exactly who the pass is for: the highest-paid tier of professionals in the country.
If you are an overseas foreign professional rather than a current Singapore pass holder, your last-drawn fixed monthly salary must have been at least S$22,500, and it must have been earned within the past six months of your application. You cannot apply on the strength of a high salary you left behind years ago.
The annual maintenance requirement: S$270,000 a year
Getting the pass is only half of it. To keep a PEP, you must earn a fixed salary of at least S$270,000 per calendar year, regardless of how many months you actually worked that year. This figure applies to applications made on or after 1 September 2023. (Applications made before that date fall under the older S$144,000 threshold.)
This annual figure is one of the most misunderstood parts of the PEP, and older third-party guides frequently quote outdated numbers. The current, correct maintenance requirement is S$270,000 per calendar year. You must report your income to MOM each year, by 31 January for the preceding calendar year, so it can confirm you have met the threshold. Fall short, and MOM can cancel the pass, so keep your fixed-salary documentation in order throughout your stint.
Who is not eligible
The PEP is not open to everyone who earns enough. You cannot hold a PEP if you are:
- An Employment Pass holder under the sponsorship scheme;
- A freelancer; or
- A sole proprietor, partner, or director who is also a shareholder in an ACRA-registered company.
Certain restricted occupations, such as some roles in media and religious work, are also off-limits under a PEP.
The rule that catches people out: no starting a business
This is the single most important limitation of the PEP, and the sharpest line between it and the ONE Pass. You cannot start a business or carry out any entrepreneurial activity on a PEP. If your plans involve founding or running a company, the PEP is the wrong pass, and MOM will point you to the EntrePass or the ONE Pass instead.
Tip: If you are a high earner today but suspect you might launch something in the next few years, think twice before locking into a PEP. Because it is non-renewable and cannot be used for business, you could find yourself needing a completely different pass mid-stint. The ONE Pass, by contrast, covers both employment and entrepreneurship from day one.
PEP validity, renewal, and the 6-month unemployment rule
The PEP's rules on duration are unusual, and getting them wrong can leave you scrambling.
Validity: up to three years. A PEP is issued for a maximum of three years.
Not renewable, issued only once. This is the critical point. Unlike almost every other Singapore pass, the PEP cannot be renewed. It is granted a single time. When it expires, you must move onto an Employment Pass or S Pass through an employer, or obtain PR, in order to keep working in Singapore. Plan your exit before you even start.
The six-month unemployment grace period. A major benefit of the PEP is that you can remain in Singapore for up to six months without a job while you search for your next role. This is far more generous than a standard Employment Pass, which is cancelled shortly after employment ends. But there is a hard limit: if you are unemployed for more than six months at any point, you must cancel the pass. The clock is real.
Taken together, these rules make the PEP a transitional pass. It buys a high earner up to three years of maximum flexibility, and the expectation is that during that window you either settle into a role that can sponsor an Employment Pass or secure PR.
ONE Pass vs PEP vs EP: the comparison
Because the three passes overlap in who they serve but differ sharply in the details, a side-by-side view is the fastest way to see which fits. The comparison below sets out the ONE Pass, the PEP, and the standard Employment Pass (EP) across the factors that matter most.
A few takeaways stand out. The ONE Pass is the only one of the three that lets you start a business. The PEP is the only one that cannot be renewed. And the EP is the only one tied to a single employer. Match those three facts against your own plans and the right pass usually becomes obvious.
For a deeper look at the standard Employment Pass, see our Employment Pass Singapore guide. If you are specifically weighing the PEP against a standard EP, our blog on the EP-to-PR pathway covers how EP holders progress towards residence.
How to apply: process, documents, fees, and timelines
Both passes are applied for online through MOM, but the details differ.
Applying for a ONE Pass
Applications are submitted through MOM's online portal. You will typically need:
- A valid passport
- Your educational certificates
- Evidence of your fixed monthly salary for the qualifying 12 months (or a job offer from an established Singapore employer), or documentation supporting the outstanding-achievements route
- Your current or most recent employment details
For the outstanding-achievements route, you should also be ready to provide evidence of your accomplishments, such as awards, publications, or records of standing in your field, which the relevant agencies will review.
Processing and In-Principle Approval. Most ONE Pass applications are processed within about four to eight weeks, with outstanding-achievements cases sometimes taking longer while the relevant agencies assess your profile. Once approved, you receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which gives you a six-month window to enter Singapore (if you are not already here) and complete issuance of the pass at the Employment Pass Services Centre.
Fees. A non-refundable application fee is payable when you submit, and an issuance fee is payable once the pass is approved, with a further charge if you need a Multiple Journey Visa. Third-party sources commonly cite an application fee of around S$105 and an issuance fee of around S$225, plus S$30 for the visa, but you should confirm the exact application and issuance fees on MOM's ONE Pass apply page before budgeting, as MOM's published fee schedule is the only authoritative figure.
Applying for a PEP
PEP applications are also made online through MOM. Expect to provide:
- A valid passport
- Educational certificates
- Evidence of your fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 (for overseas applicants, proof that this was your last-drawn salary within the past six months)
- Your current or most recent employment details
Processing for online PEP applications is generally around three weeks, though postal applications can take up to eight weeks. Once approved, the In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter is valid for six months, giving you time to relocate and complete formalities. As with the ONE Pass, confirm the current fee schedule on MOM's PEP apply page rather than relying on third-party figures.
Tip: For both passes, the biggest avoidable delays come from salary documentation. Have clean, consistent evidence of your fixed monthly salary ready: payslips and employment letters that agree with each other. Salary is the qualifying criterion, so any ambiguity there is what slows an application down.
If your application is rejected
A rejection is not always the end of the road. For the ONE Pass, MOM allows you to appeal within three months of the rejection advisory, and it is worth doing so only when you can address the specific reasons MOM gave. An appeal that adds no new information rarely changes the outcome. The same principle applies to the PEP: appeal only with fresh, stronger evidence. If the gap is structural (for example, your salary genuinely falls short of the threshold), the more practical move is often to secure a standard Employment Pass first, build a Singapore track record, and step up to a PEP or ONE Pass once your salary clears the bar. Appeals typically take around four weeks to be assessed.
Family and dependants
For most senior professionals, the ability to bring family matters as much as the pass itself. Both the ONE Pass and the PEP allow it.
Under both passes, eligible family members can join you in Singapore on the appropriate family passes. The split generally works like this:
- Dependant's Pass (DP): your legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted children).
- Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP): a common-law spouse, unmarried disabled children aged 21 and above, unmarried stepchildren under 21, and parents.
Because the ONE Pass and PEP are high-salary passes, holders comfortably clear the income levels MOM applies to family sponsorship, so bringing dependants is rarely the sticking point.
A standout feature of the ONE Pass is that your spouse can work in Singapore on a Letter of Consent (LOC) rather than having to secure their own work pass first. For dual-career families, that removes a major barrier to relocating.
Neither pass attracts a foreign worker levy or quota for the holder, and the family arrangements sit alongside the holder's own pass rather than depending on a sponsoring employer. For a fuller breakdown of family passes, see our guides to the Dependant's Pass and the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
The pathway to PR for ONE Pass and PEP holders
For many holders, the real destination is not the work pass at all. It is Singapore Permanent Residence. Both the ONE Pass and the PEP can lead there, and holders of either tend to present strong cases.
MOM confirms that ONE Pass holders can apply for PR, and PEP holders are equally eligible. Both apply through the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme, which is the standard route for working professionals. What makes ONE Pass and PEP holders stand out under PTS is income: these are, by definition, some of the highest earners in the country, and income is a meaningful factor in how the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) assesses applications.
Beyond raw salary, the profile these passes signal (senior standing, in-demand skills, and a genuine commitment to being based in Singapore) aligns closely with what ICA looks for. Time spent in Singapore, family ties, and economic contribution all strengthen a case.
That said, no work pass guarantees PR, and a high salary alone is not a rubber stamp. A well-prepared application that presents your full profile clearly still makes a difference. Our Singapore PR application guide walks through the whole process, and our guide to salary requirements for Singapore PR explains exactly how income factors in. It is also worth understanding the benefits of Singapore PR before you decide whether to pursue it.
Which pass is right for you?
With the rules laid out, the choice usually comes down to a few defining questions. Here is how the passes map onto real situations.
You are a senior corporate leader on a very high salary. If you earn S$30,000 a month or more and want maximum length and flexibility, the ONE Pass is the strongest fit. Five years of validity, no employer tie, and the option to take on board seats or advisory roles across companies make it ideal for executives operating at the top of a sector.
You are a founder or entrepreneur, or think you might become one. The ONE Pass is effectively the only choice among these three. It is the sole pass that lets you start and run companies, and its renewal criteria actively reward founders who build Singapore businesses that employ locals. The PEP forbids entrepreneurial activity outright, and the EP ties you to an employer.
You are an exceptional talent in sport, arts, academia, or research. The ONE Pass outstanding-achievements route exists precisely for you, and it does not require the S$30,000 salary. This is the pass Singapore designed to attract world-class non-corporate talent.
You are a high-earning professional who values flexibility but has no plans to found a company. The PEP is a clean fit. At S$22,500 a month you clear the bar, you get freedom from any single employer, and the six-month unemployment grace period gives you room to move between roles. Just remember it is non-renewable, so treat it as a three-year window to settle into a long-term role or secure PR.
You are being hired by a specific Singapore company at a normal senior salary. If your salary is below the PEP threshold and you are joining one employer, the standard Employment Pass is the right pass. You can always step up to a PEP or ONE Pass later if your salary rises.
Singapore also runs top-tier routes for investors and founders that sit outside these two passes. High-net-worth individuals investing in Singapore should look at the Global Investor Programme, and experienced founders launching a new venture should compare the ONE Pass against the EDB's Global Founder Programme.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ONE Pass Singapore eligibility requirement?
You qualify for a ONE Pass if you earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the 12 consecutive months before applying (or will earn that under a prospective established Singapore employer), or if you have outstanding achievements in sport, arts and culture, or academia and research. An "established" employer must have a market capitalisation of at least US$500 million or annual revenue of at least US$200 million. The S$30,000 must come from a single employer.
What are the Personalised Employment Pass requirements?
To be eligible for a PEP you must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500. To keep the pass, you must earn at least S$270,000 in fixed salary per calendar year. The PEP is valid for up to three years, is not renewable, and cannot be used to start a business. Overseas applicants must have earned the qualifying salary within the past six months.
What is the difference between the ONE Pass and the Employment Pass?
The ONE Pass is for top talent earning at least S$30,000 a month (or with outstanding achievements), runs for up to five years, is not tied to an employer, allows you to hold multiple roles and start companies, and is exempt from COMPASS. A standard Employment Pass starts at S$5,600 a month, is tied to one sponsoring employer, runs up to two years initially, requires the employer to pass the COMPASS framework, and does not allow you to run your own business.
Can a ONE Pass holder start a company?
Yes. The ONE Pass is the only one of Singapore's top-tier work passes that lets the holder concurrently start, operate, and work for multiple companies. In fact, founding a Singapore company that employs at least five locals at the prevailing EP minimum qualifying salary is one of the two ways to renew a ONE Pass.
Is the PEP renewable?
No. The PEP is issued only once and cannot be renewed. It is valid for up to three years, after which you must move onto an Employment Pass or S Pass through an employer, or obtain Permanent Residence, to keep working in Singapore.
What happens when my PEP expires?
When your PEP expires you must have another basis to remain and work in Singapore, because it cannot be renewed. Most holders transition to a standard Employment Pass or S Pass sponsored by an employer, or they secure Singapore PR before the pass ends. Plan this transition well ahead of the expiry date.
Can ONE Pass and PEP holders apply for PR?
Yes. Both ONE Pass and PEP holders can apply for Singapore Permanent Residence through the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme. Because both passes require very high incomes, holders often present strong PR profiles, though income alone does not guarantee approval.
How long does a ONE Pass application take?
MOM processes work pass applications through its online portal, and processing times vary with the completeness of your documentation. For comparison, online PEP applications typically take around three weeks. To avoid delays on either pass, submit clean, consistent salary evidence, since salary is the core qualifying criterion.
Can two jobs be combined to reach the ONE Pass salary?
No. The S$30,000 fixed monthly salary must come from a single employer. MOM's guidance is explicit: S$20,000 from one job plus S$10,000 from another does not qualify, but S$30,000 from one job (plus any additional income) does.
What is the annual salary requirement to keep a PEP?
You must earn at least S$270,000 in fixed salary per calendar year to maintain a PEP, for applications made on or after 1 September 2023, regardless of how many months you worked that year. You must report your income to MOM each year so it can confirm you have met the requirement.
Speak to a Singapore immigration consultant
Choosing between the ONE Pass, the PEP, and the Employment Pass is a decision with long consequences, and the best route often depends on where you want to be in five years, not just today. If you are planning to found a company, transition towards PR, or relocate a dual-career family, the right pass choice can save you years of friction.
At Singapore Top Immigration, we help senior professionals, founders, and their families navigate exactly these decisions and build the strongest possible case, whether for a work pass or for Permanent Residence. To talk through your situation, explore our Singapore PR services or get in touch for a consultation.
You can also read more about the ONE Pass and the benefits of the ONE Pass in Singapore on our blog.
This guide is for general information only and reflects Ministry of Manpower (MOM) rules current as of 2026. Salary thresholds, fees, and policies change; always confirm the latest figures on the official MOM website (mom.gov.sg) before applying. It does not constitute legal or immigration advice.
