Work passes
S Pass: who qualifies and how it works
The S Pass is MOM's work pass for skilled workers — associate professionals and technicians — with a job offer in Singapore. The candidate needs a fixed monthly salary of at least the S Pass qualifying salary for their age, from S$3,300, and the employer must have quota, pay a monthly levy of S$650 and provide medical insurance. Only the employer or its agent can apply, renew or appeal. COMPASS, the Employment Pass points test, is not part of MOM's S Pass criteria.
Key takeaways
- Qualifying salary: S$3,300 at 23 rising to S$4,800 at 45 and above; financial services S$3,800–5,650. From 1 January 2027, new applications start at S$3,600.
- Employer side: a sub-quota of 10% of the total workforce in services (15% in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process), a S$650 monthly levy, and medical insurance.
- A job change means a new application by the new employer. First pass up to 2 years; renewals up to 3.
- Rejected? The employer or authorised third party may appeal within 3 months.
- S Pass holders can apply for PR: ICA names “Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass” as a category.
Who the S Pass is for
The qualifying salary
| Sector | Now: age 23 or below | Now: age 45 and above | New applications from 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All sectors except financial services | S$3,300 | S$4,800 | S$3,600 rising to S$5,100 |
| Financial services | S$3,800 | S$5,650 | S$4,000 rising to S$5,650 |
As with the Employment Pass, the new scale applies to new applications from 1 January 2027 and to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028. In financial services the figure at age 45 and above does not change. Declaring qualifications is optional for an S Pass, but an employer that declares one is responsible for its authenticity.
What the employer takes on
- Quota. MOM caps S Pass holders at 10% of the company's total workforce in services and 15% in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process, within the sector's overall foreign-worker ceiling. The quota is worked out from local employees on CPF over the last 3 months.
- Levy. MOM: “Since 1 September 2025, the S Pass levy rate has been harmonised to $650 across all sectors and levy tiers.” It runs from the day the pass is issued until it is cancelled or expires.
- Medical insurance is compulsory for S Pass holders, and dormitory and construction, marine shipyard and process workers need a Primary Care Plan.
- Fair consideration. MOM's S Pass pass map starts with advertising on MyCareersFuture and considering all candidates fairly.
Applying, renewing and appealing
| Step | What MOM says |
|---|---|
| Apply | Online by the employer or appointed agent: S$105 to apply, S$100 for each pass issued; processed or updated within 10 business days. MOM says not to apply if its Self-Assessment Tool shows the candidate is not eligible. |
| Duration | Up to 2 years first, up to 3 on renewal — and never beyond 1 month before the passport expires. |
| Renew | From up to 6 months before expiry, and before it expires. The holder must still meet the eligibility rules, the passport must be valid for at least 7 months, and the employer needs quota. A missed deadline means a new application. |
| Appeal | Within 3 months, by the employer or authorised third party that applied — not the candidate; 85% of appeals are processed within 6 weeks. |
S Pass or Employment Pass?
| S Pass | Employment Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Level of job | Associate professionals and technicians | Professionals, managers and executives |
| Salary test | S Pass qualifying salary by age | Higher EP qualifying salary by age, then COMPASS |
| Employer quota and levy | Yes | No |
| Medical insurance | Employer must provide | Employer's choice |
| Family passes | Dependant's Pass from S$6,000 | Dependant's Pass from S$6,000; parents from S$12,000 |
| PR category | Yes — “Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass” | Yes — the same category |
An offer near the EP qualifying salary for the candidate's age may qualify for an Employment Pass instead, subject to COMPASS; the COMPASS calculator shows where a salary sits. For the family side, see the Dependant's Pass.
The S Pass and Singapore PR
ICA's category “Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass” covers S Pass holders directly, with no minimum period, and MOM's own FAQ confirms they can apply through ICA. What ICA weighs is set out on S Pass to PR, which also deals with the common belief that four years on the pass are needed.
S Pass holder thinking about PR?
Check which ICA category applies to you and what it asks for. Free and about 3 minutes; the result is personalised to your answers.
Official sources referenced
- MOM — Eligibility for S PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Key facts on S PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — S Pass quota and levy requirementsMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Apply for an S PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Renew an S PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Appeal against a rejected S Pass applicationMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Key facts on Employment PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Eligibility for Dependant's PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — FAQ: Can an S Pass holder apply to be a Singapore permanent resident?MOM · accessed 4 September 2026"Yes. If you hold an S Pass and wish to become a Singapore permanent resident, you can apply through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA)."
- ICA — Becoming a Permanent Resident (eligibility, documents, fees, processing)ICA · accessed 2 September 2026Primary page for eligibility routes, assessment factors, fees (S$100; S$20 + S$50 + S$50 at completion) and the 'within 6 months' processing statement.
Editorial information
- Written by
- SingaPR Editorial Team — Research & editorial
- Reviewed by
- SingaPR Immigration Research Desk — Fact review against ICA/MOM sources
- Published
- 27 September 2026
- Facts verified
- 27 September 2026 (re-checked at least every 90 days)
Revision history
- 2026-09-27 — First published after verification against MOM and ICA pages fetched on 27 September 2026.
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