Quick answer: The Singapore EntrePass is a work pass for foreign founders of venture-backed or innovative firms. You need at least 30% of a private limited company here. You must also meet one of five criteria, such as raising SGD 100,000 from investors. It costs $105 to apply and $225 to issue. The first pass lasts up to 1 year.
The Singapore EntrePass is run by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Enterprise Singapore works with MOM to assess each case. This guide covers the current criteria, the papers, the costs, renewal and family passes.
What Is the Singapore EntrePass?
It is a work pass for founders who start and run a business in Singapore. It is not tied to an employer. You apply for yourself.
There is no minimum salary. There is also no foreign worker levy or quota. A levy is a monthly charge on foreign staff, and a quota is a hiring cap. Neither applies here.
The first pass lasts up to 1 year. The first renewal is also up to 1 year. Later renewals can last up to 2 years.
Singapore EntrePass Eligibility Criteria in 2026
You must meet the company rule and at least one of five criteria.
The company rule
- You have started, or will start, a private limited company registered with ACRA. ACRA is Singapore’s company registry.
- You hold at least 30% of the company’s shares.
- The company is venture-backed or owns innovative technology.
Is the company over 12 months old when you apply? Then MOM uses the renewal criteria instead.
The five criteria (meet at least one)
| Criterion | What you need |
|---|
| Funding raised | At least SGD 100,000 in a single round from investors, for a past or current business |
| Incubator or accelerator | Support from a government-recognised or well-known incubator or accelerator |
| Founded and sold a tech business | You founded a venture-backed or tech business that was sold while you managed it |
| Intellectual property (IP) | Registered IP that gives a strong edge and is hard to copy |
| Research collaboration | An ongoing research project with a Singapore university or research institute |
An incubator or accelerator is a programme that helps new start-ups grow. MOM’s examples include Startup SG partners, Y Combinator and MassChallenge.
Businesses That Cannot Use the EntrePass
Some business types are not allowed, even if you meet a criterion:
- Coffee shops, hawker centres and food courts.
- Bars, nightclubs and karaoke lounges.
- Foot reflexology and massage parlours.
- Acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine and herbal shops.
- Employment agencies.
- Geomancy businesses.
If your idea is in one of these areas, look at other passes instead.
Business Plan and Documents
The business plan is the heart of the application. MOM’s rules are short:
- It must be in English.
- It must be 10 pages or fewer.
- It covers your products and services, market analysis, operations plan and management team.
- It can add supporting papers, such as licence deals, product certificates or patents.
Many founders we work with first wrote their plan in Chinese, Japanese or Korean for home investors. If that is you, business plan translation turns it into clear English without losing the numbers.
Documents checklist
- Passport personal details page.
- Business plan.
- Proof of the type of business of any past ventures.
- CV, plus past job testimonials if you have them.
- Latest Bizfile business profile, if the company is registered.
- Latest financial statement, if the company is over 12 months old.
- Proof of the criterion you meet, such as investment agreements, an incubation agreement or IP registration.
Is Your Business Plan or Pitch Deck Not in English? We Translate It for MOM
Fees and Processing Time
| Item | Amount or time |
|---|
| Application fee | $105 per pass |
| Issuance fee | $225 per pass |
| Multiple Journey Visa, if needed | $30 per pass |
| Processing time | Within 6 weeks for most cases |
| Time to enter and issue after approval | 6 months from the in-principle approval |
Payment at submission is by Visa, Mastercard or Amex. You can check your status after 2 weeks.
How to Apply for the Singapore EntrePass
- Prepare your documents, including English translations.
- Apply online and pay the $105 fee.
- Get the result. If approved, you receive an in-principle approval (IPA) letter. It works as a single-entry visa.
- Travel to Singapore with the printed IPA letter. Do a medical check if the letter asks for one.
- Get the pass issued through MOM’s eService or at the Employment Pass Services Centre. You must be in Singapore for this.
- Register fingerprints and photo within 2 weeks, if required.
- Set up the digital pass in the SGWorkPass app and receive your card.
Apply for family passes only after your own pass is approved.
EntrePass Validity and Renewal
You can apply to renew from 3 months before your pass expires. Renewal costs $225 to issue, and it usually takes up to 8 weeks.
What you must show
- You still hold at least 30% of the company.
- You have a profile on the Startup SG Network and have claimed your company’s profile there.
- The company shows ongoing business activity and progress.
- You submit the latest financial statements.
- The company meets the spending and local hiring targets.
Spending and hiring targets
| Renewal | Yearly business spending | Local workforce |
|---|
| 1st | None | None |
| 2nd | $100,000 | 1 |
| 3rd | $200,000 | 2 |
| 4th | $300,000 | 3 |
| 5th | $400,000 | 4 |
| 6th | $700,000 | 5 |
The targets keep rising after the 6th renewal. “Local workforce” counts local professionals and managers who earn at least a set monthly salary. It also counts one third of local staff on the Local Qualifying Salary, up to 12 of them. Each person must have had CPF paid for at least 3 months.
Renewal needs audited or adjusted financial statements and 3 months of bank statements. If your past accounts were made abroad, financial statement translation helps MOM match the figures.
Applying for an EntrePass With Foreign Funding or IP Papers? Get Them Translated First
Family Passes for EntrePass Holders
| Family member | Pass |
|---|
| Legally married spouse | Dependant’s Pass |
| Unmarried children under 21 | Dependant’s Pass |
| Common-law spouse | Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Unmarried disabled children aged 21 and above | Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Unmarried stepchildren under 21 | Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Parents | Long-Term Visit Pass |
When you can bring them
For a spouse and children, you must meet one of these:
- Yearly business spending of $100,000 and 1 local workforce.
- Founded and sold 2 or more venture-backed or tech companies.
- Raised more than SGD 2 million for a past or current business.
- Own 2 or more deep tech IPs that give a strong edge.
For parents, you need yearly spending of $200,000 and 2 local workforce.
A spouse’s pass usually needs a marriage certificate. Was your wedding registered outside Singapore? Then translating the couple’s marriage papers is usually the first task.
Translating Company and Educational Documents
MOM has one firm rule for papers not in English. You must upload the original and its English translation together as one file. A translation service provider may prepare it.
Papers that often need translation:
- Degree and diploma certificates.
- Past company registration papers.
- Investment and shareholder agreements.
- Patent and IP certificates.
- Bank and financial statements.
Your CV lists your degree, so MOM may check it. When it was issued in another language, university degree translation shows the school and course name in English.
Bringing Your Family on an EntrePass? Get Marriage and Birth Records Translated Early
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- A plan that is too long. Keep it to 10 pages.
- Weak proof. Saying you raised funds is not enough. Attach the agreements.
- Separate files. Upload each original with its translation as one file.
- Missing the Startup SG Network step. Renewal checks your profile there.
- Hiring too late. Local workforce targets apply from the 2nd renewal.
If you qualify by founding and selling a company, the sale papers matter most. For deals signed in another language, sale and purchase agreement translation shows MOM your name and role clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my visit pass be extended while I wait for the result?
No. MOM says your Short-Term Visit Pass cannot be extended if it runs out before approval. Plan your trip dates around the processing time, or apply from abroad.
Can I check if my family qualifies before applying?
Yes. MOM has an online form to check if a family member can get a Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass.
When does the renewed pass start?
The renewed pass starts when your current pass expires. After approval, the IPA is valid for 3 months. Get the pass issued before the IPA or current pass ends, whichever comes first.
What counts as “venture-backed or innovative”?
MOM looks at four signs. Did the company raise money from investors? Did it build or sell tech products? Does it hold registered patents, or do ongoing research with a research institution?
Conclusion
The Singapore EntrePass suits founders with real backing, such as investor funds, an incubator, IP or research links. You need 30% of a Singapore private limited company, a short English business plan and solid proof. Renewal adds spending and local hiring targets that rise each cycle.
Get your papers in order before you apply. Are your degree, deals or accounts in another language? A translation partner for Singapore founders can prepare them in MOM’s one-file format.
