Country guide · Singapore
Working in Singapore: Employment Pass and getting hired
Singapore is Asia's most international business hub with active hiring in tech, finance, and professional services — but the Employment Pass system has become more selective in recent years.
Last updated May 1, 2026
Quick facts
Main route
Employment Pass (EP)
Min. salary (general)
SGD 5,600/month (2025)
Min. salary (financial services)
SGD 6,200/month (2025)
COMPASS assessment?
Yes — points-based evaluation
Bring family?
Yes — Dependant's Pass
Path to PR?
Yes — after sustained employment
The Employment Pass — what's changed
Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) is the main work visa for professionals, managers, and executives. Since 2023, all new EP applications go through the COMPASS framework — a points-based system evaluating salary, qualifications, diversity, and skills.
The minimum salary for an EP is SGD 5,600/month (2025) for most sectors, and SGD 6,200/month for financial services roles. Older candidates need to earn more — the threshold scales with age.
COMPASS assesses your application against four criteria: your salary vs peers, your qualifications, whether your nationality adds diversity to the employer's workforce, and whether your role is on the shortage occupations list.
Fair hiring — what it means for you
Singapore has strong fair hiring laws. Employers must advertise roles on MyCareersFuture before hiring foreigners for most positions (Job Support Scheme roles and roles above SGD 22,500/month are exempt).
This means employers who genuinely want to hire international talent go through a documented process — which actually makes them more committed to the hire once they've made the decision.
Partner directory — execution layer