If you are from overseas and are looking for employment in Singapore, the good news is that there is a large expat community and plenty of opportunities. Singapore is one of Asia's leading business and financial centres, with strong demand for foreign professionals, mid-skilled workers and migrant workers across healthcare, technology, finance, manufacturing, construction, food services and hospitality. The country is known for low tax rates, a safe environment and an appealing climate, but it is also consistently ranked among the world's most expensive cities, so a realistic salary matters as much as the job itself.
The most important thing to understand before you start is that you cannot apply for a Singapore work pass on your own. You must first have a job offer from a Singapore-registered employer, and it is the employer who applies for your work pass on your behalf. The rules have changed a great deal since this guide was first published: the minimum salaries have risen sharply, a points system called COMPASS now applies to Employment Pass applications, and new occupations were added to the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List on 1 September 2026. This guide explains the current rules for 2026, using the official figures published by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower.
The Three Main Work Passes at a Glance:
Most foreigners work in Singapore on one of three passes. Which one applies to you depends on your skill level, your salary and your occupation:
- Employment Pass (EP) — for foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians with a job offer. Minimum fixed monthly salary from S$5,600. No quota and no levy. Points-tested under COMPASS.
- S Pass — for mid-skilled workers such as technicians, supervisors and specialist operators. Minimum fixed monthly salary from S$3,300. Quota applies, and the employer pays a levy of S$650 a month.
- Work Permit — for semi-skilled and unskilled migrant workers from approved source countries in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process and services. No minimum salary in general, except a S$2,000 a month floor for occupations on the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List. Quota and levy apply, and family passes are not available.
Employment Pass 2026:
The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians who have a job offer from a Singapore-registered employer. Overseas companies without a Singapore office must apply through a local sponsor. The qualifying salary is a fixed monthly salary only — bonuses and commissions do not count — and it rises with age, because it is benchmarked to the top one-third of local PMET salaries.
Minimum salary now (new applications before 1 January 2027): S$5,600 a month for all sectors except financial services, rising progressively with age to S$10,700 a month at age 45 and above. For financial services, the minimum is S$6,200 a month, rising to S$11,800 a month at age 45 and above. As an example, at age 30 the minimum is S$7,223 a month in most sectors and S$7,982 a month in financial services; at age 35 it is S$8,382 and S$9,255; at age 40 it is S$9,541 and S$10,527.
From 1 January 2027 the minimums rise again: S$6,000 a month in most sectors, rising to S$11,500 a month at age 45 and above, and S$6,600 a month in financial services, rising to S$12,700 a month at age 45 and above. These increases were announced in Budget 2026.
COMPASS — the points test: meeting the salary is only the first stage. Since 1 September 2023, every new Employment Pass application must also pass COMPASS, the Complementarity Assessment Framework, with 40 points. There are four foundational criteria — salary, qualifications, diversity and support for local employment — each worth 0, 10 or 20 points, plus two bonus criteria: up to 20 points for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List and up to 10 points for strategic economic priorities. Candidates with a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more are exempt from COMPASS. Employers can check eligibility in advance with the Ministry of Manpower's Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).
Duration, fees and family: a first-time Employment Pass is issued for up to 2 years, and renewals for up to 3 years. Experienced tech professionals in shortage occupations may get a 5-year Employment Pass, with a fixed salary of at least S$10,700 a month at age 36 and below, rising to S$14,270 at age 45 and above (from 1 January 2027: S$11,500 to S$15,499). The official fees are an application fee of S$105 plus an issuance fee of S$225 per pass, with a Multiple Journey Visa fee of S$30 if needed. Most online applications are processed or updated within 10 business days. Medical insurance for Employment Pass holders is optional for the employer. Pass holders earning a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass.
Fair Consideration Framework: before most Employment Pass applications, the employer must advertise the job on MyCareersFuture, the official government job portal, for at least 14 consecutive days and fairly consider local applicants. No job offer may be made during that window. Exemptions apply for firms with fewer than 10 employees, roles paying S$22,500 or more a month, roles of one month or less, and qualifying intra-corporate transferees.
S Pass 2026:
The S Pass is for mid-skilled foreign workers — Associate Professionals and Technicians such as technicians, supervisors and specialist operators. It is open to all nationalities, and the employer or an appointed employment agent applies on the candidate's behalf. COMPASS does not apply to the S Pass.
Minimum salary now: S$3,300 a month for all sectors except financial services, rising with age to S$4,800 a month at age 45 and above. For financial services, the minimum is S$3,800 a month, rising to S$5,650 a month at age 45 and above. As an example, at age 30 the minimum is S$3,777 a month in most sectors and S$4,389 a month in financial services; at age 40 it is S$4,459 and S$5,230. From 1 January 2027 the minimums rise to S$3,600 a month in most sectors and S$4,000 a month in financial services.
Quota and levy: S Pass holders are capped at 10% of the total workforce in the services sector and 15% in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process sectors. From 1 July 2026, a local employee only counts towards the quota if they earn at least S$1,800 a month. The employer pays a flat levy of S$650 a month per S Pass holder across all sectors, in force since 1 September 2025.
Duration and other conditions: a first-time S Pass is issued for up to 2 years, and renewals for up to 3 years, limited by passport validity — the pass is valid only up to one month before the passport expires. The employer must provide medical insurance, and a Primary Care Plan must also be bought for workers living in dormitories. The same 14-day MyCareersFuture advertising rule applies to S Pass applications. S Pass holders earning at least S$6,000 a month fixed can sponsor dependants, the same threshold as for the Employment Pass.
Work Permit for Migrant Workers:
The Work Permit is the main route for most semi-skilled and unskilled migrant workers, including many jobseekers from South Asia. It covers five sectors: construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard, process and services, plus a separate Work Permit for migrant domestic workers. The employer or an appointed employment agent applies — the worker cannot apply themselves.
Salary, age and duration: there is no minimum salary for a general Work Permit. The one exception is workers hired under the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List, who must be paid a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,000. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and below 62 when applying. A Work Permit is issued for up to 2 years and can be renewed, depending on passport validity, the security bond and the employment period.
Quota, levy and source countries: the employer is limited by a sector quota — the Dependency Ratio Ceiling, which is 35% in the services sector — and pays a monthly levy per worker, with rates varying by sector and skill tier. Workers in the services sector may come from Malaysia, the People's Republic of China, and North Asian sources (Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea and Taiwan). Workers from Non-Traditional Sources — Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand — may only be hired for occupations on the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List. Family passes are not available for Work Permit holders.
New from 1 September 2026: the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List was expanded to add 8 new occupations — butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers; food and drink stall assistants; kitchen assistants; waiters; babysitters and infant caregivers; educarers; teacher aides; and cabin attendants. These workers must be paid at least S$2,000 a month fixed, and Non-Traditional Sources workers must not exceed 8% of the employer's total workforce.
After arrival: the employer must provide medical insurance. Work Permit holders must complete a medical examination by a Singapore-registered doctor within 2 weeks of arrival, and a Settling-in Programme within the first 14 days applies to manufacturing workers and female workers in construction, marine shipyard and process sectors. Non-Malaysian male workers in those sectors attend an Onboard centre instead.
In-Demand Jobs in Singapore in 2026:
Singapore's official shortage areas are set out in the Ministry of Manpower's Shortage Occupation List, which covers 7 sectors and 29 occupations and earns up to 20 COMPASS bonus points for Employment Pass applicants. The strongest demand in 2026 is in healthcare — including registered nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, diagnostic radiographers, podiatrists and medical social workers — artificial intelligence scientists, researchers and engineers, semiconductor engineers, carbon and green-economy roles such as carbon project managers, carbon traders and carbon verification specialists, and financial advisers and relationship managers serving ultra-high and high net worth clients, family offices and philanthropy. Agritech and maritime roles also appear on the list.
For mid-skilled and migrant workers, the newly expanded Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List opens food services, childcare and cabin attendant roles to workers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Hospitality hiring continues mainly through Work Permits and S Passes in the services sector rather than the Employment Pass. Human resources is not a shortage area in 2026 — the old advice that finance, IT, hospitality and HR are the strongest sectors is now out of date, with healthcare, AI and technology, green economy and semiconductors leading instead.
How to Apply for a Job in Singapore — Step by Step:
Follow these steps in order. Remember that only the employer applies for the work pass — your job is to win the job offer first.
- Find a job first. Search on MyCareersFuture (mycareersfuture.gov.sg), the official government job portal run by Workforce Singapore, where Employment Pass and S Pass roles must be advertised. Foreigners use it to browse roles and apply through the employer's own channels.
- Employer advertises the role on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days under the Fair Consideration Framework, unless an exemption applies.
- Employer checks eligibility with the Ministry of Manpower's Self-Assessment Tool (SAT).
- Employer submits the pass application through the Ministry of Manpower's EP eService or myMOM Portal for Employment Pass and S Pass, or WP Online for Work Permit, pays the application fee (Employment Pass: S$105) and uploads documents, including qualifications and verification proof where COMPASS points are needed.
- Ministry of Manpower processes the application — most Employment Pass and S Pass online applications are processed or updated within 10 business days. If approved, the Ministry issues an in-principle approval (IPA) letter.
- After arrival: complete the medical examination (Work Permit: within 2 weeks), buy medical insurance or a Primary Care Plan where required, get the pass issued, register fingerprints and receive the pass card — about 5 working days after registration for an Employment Pass and about 4 working days for an S Pass.
- Never pay anyone for a job or a visa. Only the employer applies and pays the Ministry of Manpower's official fees.
Bringing Your Family — Dependant's Pass:
Employment Pass and S Pass holders earning a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass. To sponsor parents, the pass holder must earn at least S$12,000 a month, and parents come on a Long-Term Visit Pass. Work Permit holders cannot bring family members on dependant passes.
Two other passes are worth a brief mention. The Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) is for high-earning Employment Pass holders and overseas foreign professionals with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, and it offers more flexibility because it is not tied to one employer. The EntrePass is for entrepreneurs starting a business in Singapore. The Training Employment Pass is for foreign professionals undergoing practical training, with a minimum salary of S$3,000 a month.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I apply for a Singapore work pass myself?
No. You must first get a job offer from a Singapore-registered employer, and the employer — or an appointed employment agent — applies for the pass on your behalf. Overseas companies without a Singapore office apply through a local sponsor.
What is the minimum salary for an Employment Pass in 2026?
The minimum fixed monthly salary is S$5,600 in most sectors and S$6,200 in financial services, rising with age to S$10,700 and S$11,800 at age 45 and above. From 1 January 2027 the minimums rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600. Meeting the salary alone is not enough — you must also pass COMPASS with 40 points, unless your fixed salary is S$22,500 or more a month.
What is COMPASS?
COMPASS is the Complementarity Assessment Framework, a points test for Employment Pass applications in force since 1 September 2023. You need 40 points across salary, qualifications, diversity and support for local employment, with bonus points for shortage occupations and strategic economic priorities. Candidates earning S$22,500 or more a month fixed are exempt.
What is the minimum salary for an S Pass in 2026?
The minimum fixed monthly salary is S$3,300 in most sectors and S$3,800 in financial services, rising with age to S$4,800 and S$5,650 at age 45 and above. From 1 January 2027 the minimums rise to S$3,600 and S$4,000. COMPASS does not apply to the S Pass, but a quota of 10% in services and 15% in other sectors applies, and the employer pays a flat levy of S$650 a month.
Is there a minimum salary for a Work Permit?
No, there is no minimum salary for a general Work Permit. The only exception is workers hired under the Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List, who must be paid a fixed monthly salary of at least S$2,000. Applicants must be at least 18 and below 62 when applying, and family passes are not available for Work Permit holders.
How long does a Singapore work pass application take?
Most Employment Pass and S Pass online applications are processed or updated within 10 business days. Before the application, the employer must usually advertise the job on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days, so allow time for that step as well.
Can my family join me in Singapore?
Employment Pass and S Pass holders earning at least S$6,000 a month fixed can sponsor a spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass. Parents need a Long-Term Visit Pass, sponsored by a pass holder earning at least S$12,000 a month. Work Permit holders cannot bring family members.
Which jobs are in demand in Singapore in 2026?
The official Shortage Occupation List points to healthcare roles such as registered nurses and physiotherapists, AI scientists and engineers, semiconductor engineers, carbon and green-economy roles, and financial advisers. The Non-Traditional Sources Occupation List, expanded on 1 September 2026, also opens food services, childcare and cabin attendant roles to workers from nine South and South-East Asian countries.
Never pay anyone for a job or a visa. Only the employer applies for your work pass and pays the Ministry of Manpower's official fees — anyone who asks you for money in exchange for a job offer or a visa is running a scam.
More guides for working abroad: How to Find a Job in Australia as a Foreigner in 2026 · Jobs in Germany for Foreigners 2026 · UK Skilled Worker Visa 2026
