Singapore EntrePass
Singapore SGP
The Singapore EntrePass is designed for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to start and operate innovative, scalable businesses in Singapore. Applicants must either have secured funding from a recognized venture capital firm, be supported by a Singapore government-linked incubator, or possess a strong track record in entrepreneurship or intellectual property. The pass is renewable every one to two years and can serve as a stepping stone toward Singapore permanent residency.
Program Details
- Category
- Entrepreneur
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $150
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Dependant's Pass available for spouse and children under 21; Long-Term Visit Pass available for parents and parents-in-law.
- Path to PR
- Yes — 2 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 8 years
- Physical Presence
- Must actively manage the business in Singapore; substantial physical presence required for renewal.
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Singapore taxes income sourced in Singapore; foreign-sourced income remitted to Singapore may also be taxable. No capital gains tax.
- Renewal Cost
- $150
No fixed personal income requirement. The business must be innovative, venture-backed, or supported by a government-recognized incubator or accelerator.
Application Timeline
Apply
2mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 2 years
Citizenship
After 8 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Incorporate or intend to incorporate a private limited company in Singapore
- ✓Hold at least 30% shareholding in the company
- ✓Business must be innovative: venture-backed, incubator-supported, or IP-driven
- ✓Must not be a hawker, food court, or employment agency business (excluded sectors)
- ✓Demonstrated track record in entrepreneurship, innovation, or a relevant domain
- ✓No adverse immigration or criminal record
Am I eligible for Singapore EntrePass?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Incorporate a private limited company in Singapore (or intend to)
home countryThe EntrePass is for entrepreneurs establishing or operating an innovative, scalable business in Singapore. You must either: (a) have already incorporated a private limited company in Singapore with ACRA (registered within the past 6 months); OR (b) intend to incorporate one. The company must be privately held and not listed on a stock exchange. A majority share is not required — you can hold any stake provided you have an active entrepreneurial role.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 02
Meet one of the qualifying criteria (VC funding, incubator, or IP/track record)
home countryMOM requires ONE of: (1) Company has received funding from MAS-licensed or Singapore-based VC/PE firm or accredited business angel; OR (2) Company is or has been incubated at a Singapore government-accredited incubator; OR (3) Applicant holds or is in process of registering IP filed through an approved IP institution (Singapore IPOS or international equivalent); OR (4) Applicant has a substantive track record in entrepreneurship (prior successful company with proven revenue) or is a lead researcher in a Singapore R&D project. Angel funding must be from a recognised investor — informal family loans do not qualify.
Typical duration: 1-4 weekssource ↗
- 03
Prepare and submit EntrePass application to MOM
onlineApply online at mom.gov.sg or via the myMOM portal. Documents include: business plan, company incorporation documents, proof of qualifying criterion (term sheet, incubator letter, IP certificate, etc.), personal CV, passport copies, and personal financial statements. Processing time: 8 weeks. MOM may request an interview or additional information.
Typical duration: 8-12 weekssource ↗
- 04
Receive In-Principle Approval (IPA) and collect EntrePass
destinationOn approval, receive IPA letter valid 6 months to collect pass. If overseas, use IPA to apply for visa (if required for your nationality). Enter Singapore and collect EntrePass at ICA or MOM-designated collection point. Pass initially granted for 1 year.
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 05
Achieve business milestones for renewal — 1-year initial, 2-year subsequent
destinationEntrePass is renewable but NOT automatic. MOM reviews business achievements at each renewal against declared milestones. Failure to achieve milestones = non-renewal. Track business metrics, revenue, employees, and investment received from the start.
Typical duration: Ongoingsource ↗
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport (6+ months validity) | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| ACRA company registration certificate (if already incorporated) | ACRA Singapore | No | — | 90 |
| Business plan (Singapore market-focused) | Self | No | — | — |
| Proof of qualifying criterion — ONE of: VC term sheet, incubator acceptance letter, IP registration, or prior company track record | VC firm / incubator / IPOS / prior company documents | No | — | 180 |
| CV / resume with entrepreneurship history | Self | No | — | — |
| Personal bank statements (last 3 months) | Bank | No | — | 90 |
| Photograph | Self | No | — | 90 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
SGD 105 application fee. Company incorporation (ACRA): SGD 300-600. MOM pass collection fee: SGD 225. Work permit management fee (if using agent): SGD 1,500-5,000. Singapore corporate tax 17% flat (after startup exemptions). Significant cost is the VC funding or incubator association — some incubators charge membership fees of SGD 5,000-20,000.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait0–0 weeks
- Decision → arrival4 weeks
- Residence card issuance1 weeks
- Total to residence card10–16 weeks
MOM targets 8-week processing for EntrePass. Complex cases (novel business models, disputed IP) may take 12 weeks. MOM may request an in-person interview adding 2-4 weeks.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 12 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 24 months
- Renewal fee
- $225
- Requirements
- First renewal at 1 year: must show business is operating (registered office, employees, revenue or confirmed investment). Second and subsequent renewals: every 2 years, assessed against business milestone commitments made at previous renewal. MOM provides a framework for what "progress" looks like.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 2
- Max days absent / year
- 60
- Integration test
- Not required
- Application fee
- $100
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 2
- Language test
- No
- Civic test
- Not required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Application fee
- $100
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Territorial (in-country only)
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- Singapore Territorial TaxationForeign-source income not remitted to Singapore is not subject to Singapore income tax
All Singapore tax residents. Singapore taxes only Singapore-sourced income and foreign-source income remitted to Singapore (with some exemptions).
source ↗ - Startup Tax Exemption (SUTE)75% exemption on first SGD 100,000 chargeable income; 50% on next SGD 100,000 — for first 3 years
Singapore-incorporated companies (excluding investment holding and property developers) for first 3 years of assessment.
Duration: 3 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
- Public system access
- After 0 months
Examples: Great Eastern, AIA Singapore, Prudential Singapore, AXA Singapore, Integrated Shield Plan (ISP)
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse on Dependant's Pass may apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to work in Singapore without requiring a separate work pass — a significant practical benefit.
- Child school enrolment
- Children on Dependant's Pass eligible for international and local schools. MOE international fee schedule applies for non-PR children at local schools.
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠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)
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Business plan not sufficiently innovative or scalable — generic food/beverage, retail, or service businesses typically rejected
- •Qualifying criterion insufficient: informal investment from family/friends without VC/angel status does not qualify
- •Incubator or VC firm not on MOM's recognised list — confirm list at mom.gov.sg before applying
- •No genuine Singapore nexus — business appears relocatable anywhere; MOM expects Singapore-specific activities
- •Lack of entrepreneurial track record — pure investors or passive shareholders not eligible
- •Business plan revenue projections unrealistic or unsupported
- •Prior Singapore work pass violations or immigration issues
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-09-01
Singapore expanded the list of accredited incubators qualifying for EntrePass to include more technology-sector incubators. Check current MOM list for latest accredited organisations.source ↗
2023-01-01
MOM tightened EntrePass eligibility criteria, requiring that VC/angel investment be from MAS-licensed VCs or an updated list of Singapore-recognised business angels. Informal investment arrangements excluded.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need VC funding to get an EntrePass?+
Not necessarily. VC/PE funding is one of multiple qualifying criteria. Alternatives include: acceptance into a Singapore government-accredited incubator, registered IP through an approved institution, or a demonstrable track record in entrepreneurship. However, in practice, VC funding or accredited incubator acceptance are the most commonly accepted routes.
Can I convert an EntrePass to an Employment Pass?+
Yes. If you are employed by your own Singapore company at a qualifying salary (currently SGD 5,600/month for most sectors; SGD 6,800 for financial services), you may apply to convert to an Employment Pass instead of renewing your EntrePass. Many founders do this once their company is generating revenue and can pay them a salary.
What happens if my EntrePass renewal is rejected?+
If MOM rejects your renewal due to insufficient business milestones, you must leave Singapore once your current pass expires. You may appeal the decision with additional evidence of business progress. Appeals must be submitted within 3 months of rejection notice.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.