If you are a foreign entrepreneur who wants to build a business in Singapore, the EntrePass is the work pass designed for you. Unlike the Employment Pass, which ties you to an employer, the EntrePass lets you relocate to Singapore as a founder — living here legally while you incorporate, operate, and grow your company. This guide covers who qualifies, how the application works, and what happens after you get your pass.
What Is the EntrePass?
The EntrePass is a work pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for foreign entrepreneurs who intend to start and run a business in Singapore that is either venture-backed or built on innovative technology. It is not a general business visa — MOM is selective, and generic business models do not qualify. The pass is designed for founders who can demonstrate genuine innovation, funded backing, or a credible entrepreneurial track record.
Who Qualifies for the EntrePass?
To be eligible, your Singapore company must have been registered with ACRA no more than six months before the application date. If you have not yet incorporated, you can apply before registering — MOM will assess your eligibility first, and you register the company after receiving in-principle approval.
Beyond the company requirement, you must meet at least one of three eligibility profiles:
Entrepreneur Profile
You have received funding from a recognised Singapore government source such as SEEDS Capital or an Enterprise Singapore-backed partner, or you are backed by a globally recognised accelerator such as Y Combinator or Techstars, or you have a verifiable track record of founding and exiting a business previously.
Innovator Profile
You hold registered intellectual property, have filed a patent, or have an active research collaboration with a Singapore university or research institution. MOM looks for tangible evidence of innovation — a general technology idea does not qualify.
Investor Profile
You have invested or committed to invest at least S$225,000 into a Singapore-based business or fund that meets MOM’s criteria.
EntrePass vs Employment Pass: Which One Do You Need?
This is a common point of confusion. The Employment Pass is for salaried professionals employed by a company. The EntrePass is for founders running their own company. If you are relocating to Singapore to work for an existing employer, the EP is the right pass. If you are coming to Singapore to start and operate your own business, the EntrePass is what applies.
Some founders initially enter on an EP — hired by a company in Singapore — and later transition to an EntrePass once their own venture is ready. This is a legitimate path, but it requires meeting EntrePass eligibility criteria at the time of switching.
How to Apply for the EntrePass
Step 1: Register Your Company With ACRA (or Apply First)
If your company is not yet incorporated, you can submit the EntrePass application first and register with ACRA after receiving in-principle approval. If your company is already incorporated, it must have been registered no more than six months before your application. The company must be a Singapore-registered private limited company.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Required documents include your passport, a detailed business plan, evidence supporting your eligibility profile (funding letters, IP certificates, accelerator acceptance letters, proof of prior exits), and your personal CV. The business plan is critical — MOM assesses your innovation credentials and business viability based on what you submit here.
Step 3: Submit Online via MOM EP Online Portal
Applications are submitted online through MOM’s EP Online portal. The application fee is S$105 per application, non-refundable. Processing typically takes six to eight weeks. If MOM refers your application to the Economic Development Board (EDB) or Enterprise Singapore for additional vetting, it can take up to two months or longer.
Step 4: Receive In-Principle Approval
If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter valid for six months. You use this to enter Singapore and complete the EntrePass issuance formalities, including registering your residential address and completing any required checks.
Step 5: Collect Your EntrePass
Once in Singapore, you complete the issuance process at MOM, register your company if not already done, and collect your physical EntrePass card.
Starting Your Company in Singapore on an EntrePass
The EntrePass is anchored to a Singapore-registered company. This means the pass and your company incorporation are linked — you cannot hold an EntrePass without an active Singapore business entity behind it.
Incorporating a private limited company in Singapore involves registering with ACRA, appointing at least one locally resident director, and providing a registered office address. For foreign founders who are not yet based in Singapore, this typically means appointing a nominee director to satisfy the local director requirement until you are physically resident.
Once you have your EntrePass and your company is operational, you can hire staff, open corporate bank accounts, and access Singapore’s business ecosystem — including grants and support from Enterprise Singapore for qualifying businesses.
EntrePass Renewal: What You Need to Show
The EntrePass is initially valid for one year and renewable. From the second renewal onwards, MOM applies progressively higher business milestones:
- You must demonstrate rising total annual business spending in Singapore
- From the second renewal, a minimum annual business spend of S$100,000 and at least one local employee hired are required
- MOM assesses whether your business has made tangible progress — revenue, headcount, and business activity are all considered
This renewal structure is important to understand upfront. The EntrePass is not a passive long-stay visa — MOM expects you to be actively building and investing in your Singapore business.
Bringing Your Family to Singapore on the EntrePass
EntrePass holders can sponsor Dependant’s Passes for their spouse and children, subject to meeting specific business spending or investment milestones set by MOM. Dependant’s Pass holders can work in Singapore if they obtain a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM.
EntrePass as a Pathway to Singapore PR
After operating your business in Singapore for several years on the EntrePass, you may become eligible to apply for Singapore Permanent Residency. ICA assesses PR applications holistically — your economic contributions, length of residency, tax payments, CPF contributions (where applicable), and community ties all factor in. Entrepreneurs with a successful, growing Singapore business and a strong local presence are generally well-positioned for PR consideration, though there is no automatic pathway and no guaranteed timeline.
How ImmigrateSG Can Help
The EntrePass application process is documentation-heavy and the business plan assessment is a genuine filter — MOM rejects applications where the innovation or funding credentials are not clearly evidenced. At ImmigrateSG, we help entrepreneurs assess their eligibility, structure their business plan for MOM’s evaluation criteria, and navigate both the EntrePass application and the company incorporation process.
Learn more about our EntrePass application service or find out how we can help you register a company in Singapore.
