If you are an entrepreneur looking to start a company in Singapore, you may be eligible to apply for an Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass). This article will provide a brief overview of the criteria, process, and relevant information you need to know when applying for an EntrePass.
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What is the Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass)?
The Entrepreneur Pass is specially designed by the Singapore government for entrepreneurs planning to start a new business in Singapore or for those who wish to relocate their existing business from another country/region to Singapore. Its purpose is to attract high-quality innovators or experienced investors, positioning Singapore as a business hub in Asia.
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What are the eligibility requirements for an EntrePass?
To qualify for an EntrePass, you need to:
- Be at least 21 years old with relevant qualifications and experience
- Provide a business plan with entrepreneurial and innovative qualities that can create local employment opportunities
- Be willing to move to Singapore to run your new business
- Register your enterprise in Singapore as a private limited company
- The company must not be incorporated yet or must have been incorporated for less than six months at the time of your EntrePass application
- Hold at least 30% of the company’s shares
In addition to the above requirements, applicants are categorized into the following three groups, and you must meet at least one of the minimum eligibility criteria below:
- Entrepreneur
- Your company has received at least S$100,000 in funding or investment from a third-party venture capital (VC) firm or angel investor officially recognized by a Singapore government agency
- Your company is incubated by an incubator or accelerator recognized by the Singapore government
- You have an established business network and a strong entrepreneurial track record
- Innovator
- You possess intellectual property
- You have a research collaboration with a Singaporean institution of higher learning or a credible research institution
- You have achieved extraordinary accomplishments in your area of expertise
- Investor
- You have a credible investment track record
The following types of businesses are not eligible for an EntrePass:
- Coffee shops, snack bars, food courts
- Bars, clubs, karaoke lounges
- Foot reflexology and massage parlors
- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), acupuncture, and herbal dispensaries
- Employment agencies and feng shui businesses
What documents are required to apply for an EntrePass?
- Completed EntrePass application form
- Evidence that you have met at least one of the eligibility criteria under the Entrepreneur, Innovator, or Investor categories
- A business plan including a product/service description, market analysis, operation plan, management team, and supporting documents
- A passport-sized photograph taken within the last three months
- A copy of your passport’s personal particulars page
- Supporting documents from your previous work and/or business ventures
- Copies of relevant educational certificates (if applicable)
If your company has already been incorporated before your application submission, you will need to provide the following additional document:
- A copy of the company’s latest business profile issued by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)
In addition to the documents above, these other documents will help strengthen your EntrePass application:
- Licensing agreements
- Memorandums of Understanding with potential clients and/or suppliers
- Relevant product certifications
- Endorsements from prominent figures/external parties
- A copy of your company’s latest bank statements
All documents submitted for the EntrePass application must be in English or translated into English by a certified translation agency.
How do I submit my EntrePass application, and how long does it take?
You can submit your EntrePass application through the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) eServices website. A fee of S$105 is required upon submission. An additional fee of S$225 per pass is payable upon collection.
The processing time for an EntrePass application is approximately 8 weeks. It will be jointly assessed by MOM and relevant government agencies such as SPRING Singapore, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and SGInnovate.
How will I know if my EntrePass is approved, and how do I collect it?
Once your EntrePass application is approved, MOM will send an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter to the Singapore address provided in your application form. You must present the IPA letter to collect your EntrePass. The IPA letter is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
To collect your EntrePass, you must be physically in Singapore and present the IPA letter, your passport, and any other documents that may be requested in the IPA letter. If necessary, you will be issued a single-entry visa to enter Singapore to collect your EntrePass.
Your IPA letter may require you to present a medical examination report upon collection of the visa. You can choose to have the medical examination done at a hospital in your home country, or you can do it after arriving in Singapore. Please note that the medical report must be in English and submitted together with the completed medical examination form provided in the IPA letter.
After the IPA letter is issued, you must relocate to Singapore within 6 months of the approval date.
I have applied for an EntrePass but have not yet registered a company in Singapore. When should I register the company?
You do not need to register your company in Singapore before your EntrePass is approved. You can register the company after your EntrePass is approved to avoid wasting business registration and relocation expenses in case the EntrePass application is rejected.
After receiving the IPA letter, you will need to register your company, open a corporate bank account, and inject the necessary share capital within 30 days of receiving the letter.
After registering the company, you need to update your EntrePass details with MOM before they can issue you the final approved EntrePass card.
I have successfully obtained an EntrePass. Can I bring my family to live with me in Singapore?
The EntrePass allows you to bring your family to Singapore by applying for a Dependant’s Pass (DP). The DP issued to family members of an EntrePass holder is valid for the entire duration of the EntrePass and can be renewed along with it.
As an EntrePass holder, you need to meet the minimum business spending and local job creation requirements listed in the 2nd-year renewal criteria for EntrePass holders to be eligible for your family members to apply for a Singapore Dependant’s Pass (please refer to the question “How do I renew my EntrePass?” for details). You can also check your eligibility for a DP application through MOM’s assessment tool.
The application process for a Dependant’s Pass takes a total of approximately 16 weeks.
| Family Member | Your total annual business spending must be at least | You must employ at least |
| • Spouse (legally married)
• Biological children |
S$100,000 | 3 full-time local employees meeting the “Local Qualifying Salary” (LQS)
OR 1 local PME (Professional, Manager, or Executive) |
| • Parents | S$200,000 | 6 LQS
OR 2 local PMEs |
To bring your family to Singapore, you will need to apply for the corresponding type of dependant visa. Please see:
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My EntrePass application was rejected. What should I do?
If your EntrePass is rejected, you can file an appeal within 90 days of receiving the rejection notice. EntrePass appeal applications are typically processed within 8 weeks.
How do I renew my EntrePass?
The first issuance of an EntrePass is valid for 1 year, and renewals are generally valid for 2 years.
You can start applying for renewal when you receive the renewal form, approximately 3 months before the pass expires. You need to submit the completed application form and supporting documents to us at least 2 months before the pass expires.
Renewal Criteria:
If your company is registered with ACRA as a private limited company and meets the following conditions, you may be eligible to renew your pass:
- Own at least 30% of the company’s shares
- Provide proof of ongoing business activities
- Demonstrate that your business is venture capital-backed or possesses innovative technology.
- Have created a personal profile on the Startup SG Network (SSN) and claimed your company profile
- Additionally, there are business spending and local job creation requirements, as shown in the table below:
| Years holding EntrePass | Your total annual business spending must be at least | Minimum number of local PMEs (or equivalent) employed | Qualifying PME salary |
| 1 | – | – |
$3,900 |
| 2 | $100,000 | 1 | |
| 4 | $200,000 | 2 | |
| 6 | $300,000 | 3 | |
| 8 | $400,000 | 4 | |
| 10 | $700,000 | 5 |
$4,700 |
| 12 | $750,000 | 6 | |
| 14 | $800,000 | 7 | |
| 16 | $900,000 | 8 | |
| 18 | $1,000,000 | 9 | |
| 20 | $1,150,000 | 10 |
Can I apply for Singapore Permanent Residence with my EntrePass?
EntrePass holders are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in due course, subject to approval by the Singapore immigration authorities.
When submitting a PR application, you should demonstrate that you are running an operational and innovative business and that you will not become an economic burden to Singapore.
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