How Indians can get a work visa for Singapore — 2026

Singapore is one of the most professionalised work-visa systems in the world — every route is administered by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), decisions are mostly algorithmic, and timelines are predictable. It is also one of the most selective: the salary thresholds for the headline Employment Pass have risen sharply since 2022, and the new COMPASS points framework means a high salary alone no longer guarantees approval. The sections below cover the routes that actually work for Indian candidates in 2026, what each one costs, and what the documents look like.

The Skeleton of Singapore Work Passes

• All work passes are employer-sponsored with two exceptions: the ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass) and the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP). Everything else requires a Singapore-registered employer to apply on your behalf.
• The system is tiered by salary and skill: Work Permit (sector-specific, lower-skilled) → S Pass (mid-skilled) → Employment Pass (professionals) → ONE Pass / PEP (top earners and senior talent).
• Most professional applications are decided in 3 to 8 weeks.
• Singapore has a clear path to Permanent Residence (PR) after typically 2+ years on an EP, and to citizenship after 2+ years as a PR — but India does not allow dual citizenship, so naturalisation means surrendering the Indian passport and applying for an OCI.
• Tax: Singapore residents pay progressive rates from 0–24% (the top band rose to 24% from YA 2024); non-residents pay 15% or progressive rates, whichever is higher. There is no capital gains tax on personal investments.

1. Employment Pass (EP) — The Main Route for Professionals

The Employment Pass is the primary work visa for Indian professionals, managers, executives and technical specialists. It has changed substantially since 2022.

Salary thresholds (as of 2026)

• Minimum fixed monthly salary of S$5,600 for most sectors
• Minimum S$6,200 for the financial services sector
• These are floors — applicants in their 40s and 50s typically need significantly more (older candidates are benchmarked against more experienced local PMETs)
• "Fixed monthly salary" excludes variable bonuses, allowances and overtime — the headline number on the offer letter must meet the threshold without padding

COMPASS — the points framework (since September 2023)

Most EP applications are now scored under the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). The candidate must score at least 40 points out of 80 across six attributes:

Attribute	Points available	What it measures
Salary	0 / 10 / 20	How your salary compares to local PMETs in your sector at your age
Qualifications	0 / 10 / 20	Tier of your degree-issuing institution (top-200 / accredited / other)
Diversity	0 / 10 / 20	Whether your nationality is under-represented at the firm (≤5% bonus, 5–25% neutral, >25% penalty)
Local employment	0 / 10 / 20	Share of locals among the firm's PMETs vs. the sector benchmark
Skills bonus	0 / 10 / 20	Job is on the Shortage Occupation List (medicine, AI, cybersecurity, etc.)
Strategic Economic Priorities bonus	0 / 10 / 20	Firm contributes to Singapore's strategic priorities (innovation, internationalisation, etc.)

A few categories are exempt from COMPASS: candidates earning fixed monthly salary of S$22,500+, those filling roles for 1 month or less, and overseas intra-corporate transferees under WTO / FTA commitments.

For Indian candidates working in Singapore, diversity is the attribute most likely to penalise you — Indian nationals are heavily represented in Singapore's tech and finance sectors, so many large employers fail the ≤25% threshold and lose 10 points there. The salary, qualifications, skills and SEP bonuses generally compensate.

Duration and renewal

• First EP: up to 2 years
• Renewal: up to 3 years, subject to continuing to meet salary and COMPASS criteria
• A change of employer means a fresh application, not a transfer

Costs

• Application fee: S$105
• Issuance fee: S$225 (paid only when approved)
• Self-Tenancy Confirmation and Multiple Journey Visa add a small further fee
• Employer-paid in nearly all cases

2. S Pass — Mid-Skilled Roles

For technicians and mid-skilled associate professionals who do not qualify for an EP but are above the Work Permit floor.

Salary thresholds (as of 2026)

• Minimum fixed monthly salary of S$3,150 (most sectors)
• Minimum S$3,650 for the financial services sector
• Older / more experienced candidates benchmarked higher

Quotas and levies

S Pass holders count against an employer's dependency ratio ceiling (DRC) and attract a monthly levy payable by the employer:

• Tier 1 levy: S$550 / month per worker (within sub-DRC quota)
• Tier 2 levy: S$650 / month (above sub-DRC, within main DRC)

The levy is the employer's cost, not the worker's, but it materially affects who small-and-mid-sized businesses can hire on an S Pass.

Documents

• Educational certificates (diploma or higher generally expected)
• Verified by an approved background-screening agency (Dataflow, Vero, etc.)
• The verification is at the worker's or employer's cost; budget S$150–300 per document

3. Work Permit (WP) — Sector-Specific Lower-Skilled Roles

Work Permits are issued under sectoral schemes — construction, marine shipyard, process, manufacturing, services, conservancy, landscape. Each sector has its own source-country list, dependency ratios, and levy rates.

For Indian nationals, eligibility is sector-restricted (you cannot apply for a Work Permit in any sector — only the ones where Indian source-country status is open). This route is largely used by construction, manufacturing and shipyard workers, recruited through approved overseas employment agents.

The Work Permit:

• Does not allow family sponsorship
• Has strict employer-tied conditions — workers cannot change jobs without re-application
• Is renewable subject to continuing employment and sector quota
• Has maximum employment age limits (varies by sector and source country)

For most middle-class Indian professionals, the Work Permit is not the right route — it is designed for sectoral lower-skilled migration. Brokerage scams targeting Indian workers in this category are common; only deal with MOM-licensed Singapore Employment Agencies and Indian agents registered under the Emigration Act, 1983 (look up the agent on emigrate.gov.in).

4. ONE Pass — Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass

Introduced in 2023 as Singapore's flagship pass for top global talent. Replaces what older guides called the "Tech.Pass" path for senior tech leadership.

Two qualifying tracks

• Salary track: fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 (≈ S$360,000/year) within the past year, and with an established firm (market cap ≥ US$500 million or annual revenue ≥ US$200 million)
• Achievement track: outstanding achievements in arts and culture, sports, science and technology, or academia and research — no salary threshold

Features

• 5-year duration, renewable
• Self-sponsored — no employer dependency, work for multiple employers, run a business, switch jobs at will
• Spouse can work on a Letter of Consent (no separate work pass needed)
• Direct path to PR after the standard 2-year qualifying period

Application

• Filed directly by the candidate via MyMOM portal
• Decision typically within 4 to 8 weeks

The ONE Pass is the cleanest route for very senior Indian professionals — research scientists, founders, fund managers, senior partners, established creatives — who want flexibility without an employer-tied EP.

5. EntrePass — Founders and Entrepreneurs

For Indian founders relocating to start a Singapore-based business in innovation, technology, or other qualifying sectors.

Eligibility (one of)

• Funded by a government-recognised VC or angel investor with at least S$100,000 committed
• Hold an intellectual property registered with an approved national IP institution
• Have an ongoing research collaboration with a Singapore research institution recognised by A*STAR or an institute of higher learning
• Be an incubatee at a Singapore government-supported incubator or accelerator

Restrictions

• Business cannot be in restricted sectors (coffee shops, food courts, hawker centres, bars, nightclubs, foot reflexology, employment agencies, etc.)
• The applicant must own at least 30% of the company's shares
• Renewal at 1, 2 and 4 years, contingent on hitting milestones (employment of locals, total business spend, fixed-asset investment)

Reality

EntrePass is selective and milestone-heavy. Most Indian founders relocating to Singapore go via the Employment Pass route under their own funded entity, then convert to PR. EntrePass remains useful where the business model genuinely needs the founder physically on the ground from day one without revenue.

6. Personalised Employment Pass (PEP)

A "premium" pass for very high earners who want to stay in Singapore between jobs.

Eligibility

• For overseas applicants: last drawn fixed monthly salary of S$22,500+ (within the previous 6 months)
• For existing EP holders in Singapore: fixed monthly salary of S$22,500+

Features

• 3-year duration, non-renewable
• Not tied to an employer — you can change jobs without applying for a new pass
• Up to 6 months between jobs to find new employment
• Annual salary of at least S$270,000 must be earned in Singapore for the pass to remain valid

For most senior Indian candidates earning at this level, the ONE Pass is now the better route (longer duration, renewable, more flexibility). PEP is still issued but used less often than before.

7. The MOM Application Flow

The standard EP / S Pass sequence:

1. Employer files the application via the EP Online (now part of MyMOM) portal — the worker is not the applicant
2. MOM decision in 2–4 weeks for EP, 1–3 weeks for S Pass
3. On approval, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, valid for 6 months — the worker uses this to enter Singapore
4. Worker enters Singapore on the IPA, completes a medical examination (TB and HIV screening, for some categories) and registers fingerprints at the MOM office or designated location
5. Pass is issued physically (NRIC-style card) and the worker can begin employment
6. Notification of Employment filed by the employer to confirm start date

A few things that catch first-timers:

• The IPA gives a 30-day single-entry to Singapore from the date of arrival to complete formalities
• Employment can legally start the day the IPA is issued and the worker is physically present
• The Self-Tenancy Confirmation is needed before the work pass card can be issued — your rental contract / address proof must match
• Indian passport holders generally do not need a separate visit visa to enter Singapore on the IPA (visa-on-arrival arrangements apply via the e-visa system; check the Singapore High Commission in New Delhi for current entry requirements)

8. Family — Dependant Pass and LTVP

Dependant Pass (DP)

For the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of:

• EP holders earning fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000
• S Pass holders earning fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000
• ONE Pass holders (no salary threshold beyond the headline pass eligibility)

DP holders can work in Singapore if their employer obtains a Letter of Consent from MOM — this replaced the older Dependant Pass-attached work right in 2021.

Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

For common-law spouses, step-children, handicapped children over 21, and parents of EP holders:

• Parents need the EP holder to earn fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000
• Handicapped children and stepchildren need the EP holder to earn at least S$6,000

Pre-school and school admission

DP / LTVP children can attend government schools subject to the AEIS (Admissions Exercise for International Students) test from Primary 2 onwards, and pay international-student fees. Most Indian families on EP route their children through international schools — Global Indian International School (GIIS), Stamford American, NPS International, DPS International — at fees of S$25,000–50,000+ per year.

9. From Employment Pass to Permanent Residence

The path to PR is not formulaic, but the typical pattern:

• Hold an EP or S Pass for at least 6 months before applying — most successful applicants apply after 2 to 4 years
• Application via the e-PR system at the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA)
• Considered factors: economic contribution (salary, sector, employer), family ties to Singapore, age, qualifications, length of residence
• Decision in 4 to 12 months; success rates have tightened materially since 2010 and are now selective even for high earners

PR confers:

• The right to live and work in Singapore without an employment pass
• CPF (Central Provident Fund) participation — both employer and PR contribute
• The ability to buy HDB resale flats (subject to ethnic quota and family nucleus rules)
• Access to lower Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty rates than foreigners on residential property
• A path to citizenship after typically 2+ years as PR

A PR who leaves Singapore long-term must apply for a Re-entry Permit (REP), typically valid for 5 years — without a valid REP outside Singapore, PR status lapses.

10. Costs — Realistic Numbers for an Indian Family of Four

For an EP-led move with a stay-at-home spouse and two school-age children:

• EP application + issuance: S$330 (employer-paid)
• DP application + issuance per dependant: S$330 (often employer-paid for spouse, sometimes worker-paid for children)
• One-way airfare from India: S$300–600 per person
• Document attestation (educational certificates, marriage and birth certificates) in India: ₹15,000–40,000 total
• Background screening for educational verification: S$150–300 per certificate
• Initial month of housing deposit (typically 1–3 months' rent upfront): a 3-bedroom HDB flat in a non-central area runs S$3,500–5,500/month; a comparable condo runs S$5,500–9,000+/month
• International school admission for two children (annual): S$50,000–100,000+

A first-year all-in cost of relocation (excluding salary) for a family of four is realistically S$70,000–130,000+, dominated by school fees and rent. It is viable for senior PMETs but pinches mid-career professionals materially harder than Dubai or Toronto.

11. Documents You Will Be Asked For

Standard checklist for an EP application:

• Passport (validity 6+ months) — colour scan of personal-particulars page
• Recent passport-size photo with a white background
• Signed offer letter / employment contract
• Educational certificates and final transcripts — to be verified by an MOM-approved screening agency
• CV with chronological employment history
• Existing visa or work pass details, if any
• For dependants: legalised marriage and birth certificates (apostille from MEA in India)

For ONE Pass and PEP, additional documents on past salary, achievements, and supporting endorsements are required.

12. A Reality Check

• COMPASS makes salary-only thinking obsolete — even a S$10,000/month offer can fail if the employer scores poorly on diversity and local-employment attributes. Pick employers, not just packages.
• Cost of living is meaningfully higher than India and slightly higher than Dubai. Housing dominates: a comparable apartment in central Singapore costs 2–3× a Dubai equivalent. School fees for international schools are the second hit.
• Job market is deep in finance, tech, biotech, supply-chain, regional management, hospitality, professional services. Generalist roles for first-time Indian applicants are highly competitive — the EP threshold filters them out.
• Driving licence — Indian licences are valid for 12 months with an International Driving Permit (IDP); after that you must convert via the Basic Theory Test (no road test required) for Class 3 / 3A.
• Healthcare is excellent but private — budget for Integrated Shield Plan insurance on top of MediShield Life if you become a PR.
• PR is no longer a guarantee — the assumption that 2 years on an EP automatically converts to PR has not been true since the 2010s. Plan financially as if you may always be on a renewable EP.
• Recruiter scams for lower-skilled Singapore work — particularly construction, domestic worker, and "guaranteed PR" pitches — are a recurring problem. Only deal with Singapore Employment Agencies licensed by MOM (search at mom.gov.sg/eaDirectory) and Indian agents registered under the Emigration Act on emigrate.gov.in. See illegal immigration for the wider warning signs.

Official Sources

• Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — mom.gov.sg (all work-pass schemes, COMPASS calculator, EA directory)
• Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) — ica.gov.sg (PR, citizenship, entry permits)
• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) — edb.gov.sg (ONE Pass and Tech.Pass-era schemes for talent)
• High Commission of India, Singapore — hcisingapore.gov.in (OCI, Indian-side document services)
• Protector of Emigrants (India) — emigrate.gov.in (verify Indian recruiting agents)

For the broader picture once you arrive — banking, tax, remittance, OCI, the India-Singapore DTAA — see NRIs in Singapore. When the time comes to move back, returning to India from Singapore walks through the CPF withdrawal mechanics, the RNOR window, and the order of operations for redesignating accounts.