How to Secure AN EntrePass?
The Ultimate Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass) Guide:
If you are a foreign entrepreneurs, investor or business owners planning to setup your business in Singapore, you can consider applying for the Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass). Read further to learn more about the criteria, application procedure and all other information about how you can secure an Entrepass in Singapore.
What Is An Entrepass?
The Singapore Entrepreneur Pass, which is also known as the Entre pass, is a work visa granted to foreign entrepreneurs who are interested in setting up their businesses in Singapore. This also includes innovators, business owners and investors interested in using Singapore as a launch pad to penetrate ASEAN and the rest of Asia. The main characteristic of the Entrepass are:
- No minimum salary is required
- This visa is issued for 1 year and can be renewed for another 1 year; thereafter, you can renew for 2 years
- There is no worker levy or quota required
- You can bring your immediate family and parents (if the required business milestones))
Not sure how to proceed with your Entrepass?
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Eligibility Criteria of Entrepass
This work visa is meant for serial entrepreneurs, high-caliber innovators, and experienced investors who wish to run a venture-backed or innovative technology-based business in Singapore. See below for other key criteria to meet:
| Entrepreneur Stream | Innovator Stream | Investor Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Your company must receive at least S$100,000 from a government-funded venture capitalist or angel investor accredited to a government agency (List of approved investors are SGINNOVATE, SG Startup, and a list of other venture partners here ); | Holds an Intellectual Property(IP): You own unique intellectual property that gives you a competitive advantage. You must meet one of the following criteria i. The IP must be registered under an approved national IP institution. ii. This IP gives you a competitive advantage to your proposed business and cannot be easily replicated. iii. The owner of the IP should be any of the shareholders or the company; iv. Your IP can be Expired as long as one of the shareholders is the inventor. | You have an excellent reputation and track of investing and willing to invest a substantial amount of money in a new or existing company by starting an investment related company. You must meet one of the following criteria: i. An excellent track record of investing in highly scalable businesses. ii. Plans (i.e. quantum, period and pipeline) in investing your funds in other local innovative startups . iii. You have at least 8 years' experience as a senior management executive in a large company that can help to drive the growth of local innovative or technology startups. |
| Your company is an incubator/accelerator or is incubated by such a company registered with the government; | You have collaborated with Singapore-based research institutes or universities. You must fulfill all of the following criteria: i. The research collaboration must be related to your proposed business. ii. You need to provide a contact person to verify the details of the research collaboration. iii. The research collaboration must be ongoing and you must be involved in the research. iv. Contract of services is excluded as research collaboration | |
| Business network and entrepreneurial track record: You have substantial business experience or network and entrepreneurial track record of a highly scalable business. You must meet one of the following criteria: 1. founded and sold a tech company. 2. raised substantial funding from investors for a current or past venture. 3. being incubated by an internationally renowned incubator or accelerator. 4. demonstrate how your current networks and track record can help the growth of your proposed business (e.g. produce a letter of intent from prospective customers). | You have demonstrated exceptional skill and have achieved significant accomplishments in your field. You must fulfill all of the following criteria: i. The proposed business must be related to your area of expertise. ii. You have outstanding accomplishment in your area of expertise or received international recognition |
Not sure how to proceed with your Entrepass?
One Visa has helped thousands of entrepreneurs like you to secure their work pass Approval in Singapore. Get a Free Assessment Today for your Entrepass!
Types of businesses that are not eligible to apply for an Entrepass:
- Coffee shops, hawker centres, and food courts
- Bars, night clubs, and karaoke lounges
- Foot reflexology practices and massage parlours
- Foot reflexology practices and massage parlours
- Employment agencies
- Geomancy businesses
Documents required for the submission of an Entrepass
- Completed Entrepass application form
- A copy of the personal particulars page of your passport
- References and testimonials
- Education degrees and certificates
- Your company’s latest business profile (optional)
- A 10-page Business Plan. Click here to learn more about the business plan format
How long does it take to get an Entrepass in Singapore?
It takes 8 weeks to process the application. You can begin to check its status in 3 weeks on EP Online.
Once your application is approved, you will receive an in-principle approval (IPA) letter in the mail. You will then have 6 months to come to Singapore to get the Entrepass. You will receive a one-time entry visa to enter Singapore. Be sure to bring all the correct documents with you: the IPA letter, your passport, and, if needed, other documents requested in the letter. It will then take four days for the actual Entrepass card to be mailed to your Singapore address.
What should I do if my Entrepass visa is rejected?
If your application is rejected, don’t panic! You will receive a letter from MOM that will give you the reasons why it was rejected. Oftentimes these issues can be addressed and you can appeal the rejection by providing additional information to strengthen your case. One-Visa consultants can definitely help you with this. We have expert understanding of foreign manpower policies and can advise you on which additional documents you might need.
If you are still unsure about how to reapply, check out on how our Entrepass Service can help you.
Renewal criteria of Entrepass
- First renewal: $100,000 in business spending; 3 full-time employees (FTE) or 1 professional manager or executive (PME)
- Second Renewal: $200,000 in business spending; 6 FTEs or 2 PMEs
- Third Renewal: $300,000 in business spending; 9 FTEs or 3 PMEs
- Fourth Renewal: $400,000 in spending; 12 FTEs or 4 PMEs
- Your company’s latest business profile (optional)
- A 10-page Business Plan. Click here to learn more about the business plan format
Dependant's Pass or Long Term Visit Passes for Family Members
To be eligible for dependant passes or Long term visit pass for your family members, you must achieve certain business milestones. See below for details:
- Dependant's Passes for your spouse and children (below the age of 21 year-old) : Your business must earn at least $100,000 per year
- Long Term Visit Pass for your parents: Achieve a business turnover of 200,000 SGD per year
Need Professional help to secure your Entrepass?
One Visa has helped thousands of entrepreneurs like you to secure their work pass Approval in Singapore. Get a Free Assessment Today for your Entrepass!
Is it a requirement to setup a company for Entrepass application?
You do not need to start business before applying for the Entrepass. But if you do, you will need to demonstrate that you have the track records and the right background experience. All of this information has to be included in your application.
Starting your business in Singapore is a fairly easy process. Follow these steps:
You can be registered within 1-2 days with professional help. See our Singapore company registration guide.
Entrepass vs Employment Pass vs. Tech Pass
| Entrepass | Employment Pass (EP) | Tech.Pass Singapore | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company Requirements | Must be new company setup < 6 months | No requirement for how long the company has been established | Not Applicable |
| Business Activities | A business plan is enough as proof of business | Need concrete business activities as proof of ongoing business | Does not require ongoing business activities or business plan proposal for application |
| Salary Requirement | No salary required | Need to be paid a minimum monthly salary | 20,000 SGD per month |
| Main Evaluation Criteria | Innovative business idea and the applicant’s business track records. A 10-page business plan is required. Check out Entrepass Business Plan Guide. | Company sponsors business activities and applicant’s credential (education, relevant working experience etc.). Check out our full list of Employment Pass criteria.. | - You have more than 5 years of experience in a leading role in a tech company with a market value of at least US$500 million or have at least US$30 million funds raised; or - You have a minimum of five cumulative years of experience in a tech company working in a leading role in the development of a technology with at least 100,000 active users or the product has earned at least an annual revenue of US$100 million. See our full list of Tech.Pass Criteria. |
| Renewal criteria | Need to meet certain business milestones for your renewal to be granted. | Your company must show proof of business activities for your renewal to be granted. | Achieve the required business milestones. |
| Processing Time | 8 – 12 weeks | 3 – 8 weeks | 10 - 12 weeks |
| Dependant Pass Eligibility | Must achieve the business milestones set by MOM before you can apply for Dependant Passes for your family. | Must be making a minimum salary of 6,000 SGD per month before you can apply for Dependant Passes for your family. Check out our full list of Dependant's Pass Criteria. | Family members eligible for dependant's passes. |
| Pass Validity | Issued for 12 months and can be renewed on a 12 month basis | Issued for 12 – 24 months and can be renewed for 24 to 36 months. | 24 months |
Permanent Residency Pathway via the Entrepass
As part of the Skilled Migration under the PTS Scheme, Entrepass holders are eligible to apply for Singapore PR after staying for a fixed amount of time in Singapore. We usually recommend a physical of 1 – 3 years depending on the applicant’s background. See below for the benefits of becoming a Singapore PR
- More stability for your family and business
- Less restrictions working and living in Singapore: No need to apply for a new work pass everytime to operate a new company
- A Singapore PR is granted for a period of 5 years which is much longer than an Entrepass. The renewal criteria is a lot simpler/
If you are interested in applying for Singapore PR, you may read more about our Ultimate Singapore PR Guide.
What are the other types of work passes available in Singapore?
If you don’t qualify for the Entrepass, you still apply for other work passes that can possibly better match your work experience and skill level. See below for details:
| Employment Pass | Personalised Employment Pass | Tech Pass | S-Pass | Work Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - The Employment Pass is available to skilled, well-educated professionals who have been offered a job in Singapore. - Need to be paid a minimum salary. - It is valid for 2 year and can be renewed for another year; every future renewal lasts 2 years. - Business Owners and directors are allowed to hold this pass. See our full list of Employment Pass criteria for details. | - Not allowed to operate your own business - Must meet minimum salary requirement of S$12,000 - 18,000 per month. See our full list of PEP criteria. | - Fixed monthly salary of at least S$20,000; See the list of Tech.Pass criteria. - Allowed to work for more than one employers and can start own business. | - For medium-skilled foreign technicians in important industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, aerospace engineering, electronics, etc. The employer or employment agent must apply for the applicant. - Workers must have several years of experience and a either a degree, diploma, or certificate to demonstrate that they received the necessary education for their chosen field. - Workers must earn a minimum monthly salary of $2,200; those with more experience should earn more according to their experience and skill level. - The S-Pass lasts for 2 years and can be renewed up to 3 years. - The S-Pass has quota and levy requirements. The number of S-Pass employees can’t exceed 15% of the company’s service staff or 20% in all other sectors. As for the levy, employers must pay a monthly levy for each S-Pass worker to cover their healthcare costs. See full list of S-Pass criteria. | - The Work Permit is for foreign semi-skilled workers from selected Asian countries who work in the construction, manufacturing, marine, or process or service sectors (as well as foreign domestic workers, nannies, and performers). - It is valid for up to 2 years and can be renewed. - Quota is required for the work permit See our full list of Work Permit Criteria. |
Why should you get help from professional Entrepass agents or consultants?
The road to securing an Entrepreneur Visa in Singapore has grown increasingly complex, given government measures to prioritize local employment. But that shouldn’t deter you from seizing the boundless opportunities Singapore offers to skilled foreign professionals.
Here’s where expert consultation makes all the difference. Armed with over 10 years of specialised experience and a 90% success rate across 10,000+ cases, our consultants turn these challenges into your opportunities. Don’t let new regulations stall your ambitions; let us expertly guide you through each step, ensuring you stay ahead and succeed.
Not sure how to proceed with your Entrepass?
One Visa has helped thousands of entrepreneurs like you to secure their work pass Approval in Singapore. Get a Free Assessment Today for your Entrepass!
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