If you are a senior professional considering Singapore — particularly someone earning around S$30,000 a month or more — the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) is one of the most flexible works passes available.
Unlike a conventional Employment Pass, the ONE Pass is designed for individuals rather than a specific employer. That distinction becomes especially important if you change jobs, start a company, work across multiple companies or lose your job.
This guide explains the ONE Pass rules as they stand in September 2026, including the 2027 changes already announced by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
What is the ONE Pass?
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass, commonly called the ONE Pass, is a personalised work pass introduced by Singapore to attract highly experienced and accomplished global talent.
It is aimed at people who can bring significant expertise, networks, business activity or achievements to Singapore.
The pass covers talent across areas including:
- Business
- Finance and professional services
- Technology
- Arts and culture
- Sports
- Academia and research
- From 28 January 2027, a dedicated AI and Tech track will also be available. (Ministry of Manpower)
The important distinction is that the ONE Pass is not tied to a single employer in the same way as an Employment Pass.
A ONE Pass holder can potentially:
- Change employers without applying for a new work pass
- Work for more than one company
- Start a business
- Operate a business
- Work across multiple companies simultaneously, subject to contractual obligations
- Remain in Singapore while exploring new professional opportunities
MOM describes it as a personalised pass, rather than a conventional employer-sponsored work pass. (Ministry of Manpower)
Who can qualify for a ONE Pass?
There are several routes.
1. The S$30,000 salary route
The most commonly understood route is the salary criterion.
An applicant can qualify if they have earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the 12 consecutive months immediately before applying.
If applying based on a future Singapore job, the prospective employer must be an established Singapore-based company and the applicant must be earning at least S$30,000 fixed monthly salary.
For an overseas employer, the company generally needs to have either:
- Market capitalisation of at least US$500 million, or
- Annual revenue of at least US$200 million
MOM can consider combined amounts across a company's global operations on a case-by-case basis. (Ministry of Manpower)
An important point about the S$30,000
It is not simply household income.
And you generally cannot add together salaries from different employers to reach S$30,000.
For example:
| Employer | Monthly salary | Counts toward ONE Pass salary criterion? |
|---|---|---|
| Company A | S$20,000 | |
| Company B | S$10,000 | |
| Total | S$30,000 | No |
But:
| Employer | Monthly salary |
|---|---|
| Company A | S$30,000 |
| Company B | S$5,000 |
can satisfy the salary component because the qualifying S$30,000 comes from one employer. (Ministry of Manpower)
This is an important distinction for senior executives who have consulting income, board income or multiple employment arrangements.
Does the employer have to be a multinational company?
Not necessarily.
The company needs to meet MOM's definition of an established company for the relevant route.
For the conventional salary route, MOM states that an overseas or Singapore-based company can qualify based on:
- US$500 million market capitalisation, or
- US$200 million annual revenue
The assessment can consider the global company rather than simply the Singapore entity. (Ministry of Manpower)
So the ONE Pass is not restricted to people employed directly by companies headquartered in Singapore.
2. Outstanding achievements route
There is another route that does not require the S$30,000 salary criterion.
Applicants with outstanding achievements in areas such as:
- Sports
- Arts and culture
- Academia
- Research
may be considered.
These applications are assessed holistically with relevant government agencies, rather than simply against a salary threshold. (Ministry of Manpower)
This route is therefore quite different from simply saying:
"I earn S$30,000, therefore I automatically qualify."
The ONE Pass is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Meeting the stated salary threshold does not turn the application into an automatic entitlement. (Ministry of Manpower)
3. New AI and Tech route from January 2027
There is an important upcoming change.
From 28 January 2027, Singapore will introduce an AI and Tech track.
Under this route, the applicant must have:
- At least S$30,000 total monthly remuneration for the preceding 12 consecutive months
- At least S$22,500 fixed monthly salary
- The balance can include certain vested non-cash components such as ESOP/ESOW, subject to assessment
- At least five cumulative years of experience in founder/C-suite or technical roles within the preceding 10 years
- Current or last employment in a qualifying tech company, tech division or tech venture capital firm
The relevant company must generally have:
- US$500 million valuation/market capitalisation, or
- US$200 million revenue, or
- US$500 million assets under management
For qualifying tech start-ups, at least US$30 million in funds raised can also satisfy the company-level criterion. (Ministry of Manpower)
This is particularly relevant for senior technology and AI executives who may have significant equity compensation rather than a traditional S$30,000 cash salary.
FAQs
Is there a quota for ONE Pass?
No.
Singapore does not set a fixed numerical quota for ONE Pass holders.
This is different from schemes such as the S Pass, where employers operate within foreign-worker quotas and levies.
The government's approach to ONE Pass is essentially to maintain a high eligibility bar rather than a numerical ceiling. (Ministry of Manpower)
That does not mean anyone earning S$30,000 automatically receives one.
The individual and, where applicable, the employer are assessed against the relevant requirements.
How long is the ONE Pass valid?
A first ONE Pass can be issued for up to five years.
It can subsequently be renewed for another five years, provided the renewal requirements are met. (Ministry of Manpower)
This is significantly different from the standard Employment Pass, which is generally issued for up to two years for a first application and up to three years for renewals. (Ministry of Manpower)
What happens if a ONE Pass holder changes jobs?
This is one of the biggest advantages of the ONE Pass.
If you change employers, you do not have to apply for a completely new ONE Pass.
Instead, the holder needs to notify MOM as required.
The pass can also allow the holder to work for multiple companies at the same time, subject to the individual's contractual obligations. (Ministry of Manpower)
For example, someone could potentially:
Company A → Company B
without the traditional process of cancelling one employer-sponsored work pass and waiting for another employer to obtain a new one.
This provides substantially more career flexibility than a conventional employer-linked pass.
What happens if a ONE Pass holder loses their job?
This is probably the most important question for someone considering the pass.
You do NOT automatically have to leave Singapore immediately.
MOM explicitly states that ONE Pass holders have flexibility to explore new opportunities if they become unemployed.
There is no prescribed six-month unemployment period for the ONE Pass comparable to the Personalised Employment Pass.
MOM says a ONE Pass holder does not need to immediately leave Singapore after becoming unemployed. (Ministry of Manpower)
However, there is an important qualification.
MOM requires ONE Pass holders to provide information annually about:
- Professional activities
- Income during the preceding year
This information contributes to the assessment of whether the person continues to make meaningful contributions and whether the pass should be renewed.
MOM also states that the pass may be affected by long periods of unemployment without a valid reason. (Ministry of Manpower)
So the correct way to understand the rule is:
There is no fixed "you have X months to find another job" rule, but unemployment is not an unlimited guarantee of continued ONE Pass status.
So how long can an unemployed ONE Pass holder stay in Singapore?
This is where the ONE Pass differs considerably from the PEP.
There is no published six-month maximum unemployment period for ONE Pass holders.
MOM specifically gives ONE Pass holders flexibility to explore opportunities and does not require them to immediately leave Singapore when unemployed. (Ministry of Manpower)
However, MOM reserves the ability to take action where there are extended periods of economic inactivity without good reasons. (Ministry of Manpower)
Therefore, it would be misleading to tell someone:
"A ONE Pass holder can stay for five years without working."
The five-year validity of the card/pass is not a guarantee of five years of unemployment.
The person's ongoing professional activity matters.
What happens at the end of five years?
Renewal is where the distinction becomes important.
For renewal, the holder generally needs to satisfy one of two routes:
Route 1 — Salary
The holder has earned an average fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 over the preceding five years in Singapore.
Route 2 — Entrepreneurship
The holder has started and is operating a Singapore-based company that:
- Employs at least five local employees
- Pays each of those employees a gross monthly salary at least equal to the prevailing EP qualifying salary.
MOM states that the ONE Pass can be renewed for another five years if one of these criteria is met. (Ministry of Manpower)
This is a very important distinction.
Getting the ONE Pass and renewing the ONE Pass are not the same test.
Can a ONE Pass holder start a company?
Yes.
The pass is deliberately designed to provide flexibility around entrepreneurship.
A holder can:
- Start a company
- Operate a company
- Work for other companies
- Potentially work across multiple companies
MOM specifically lists the flexibility to concurrently start, operate and work for multiple companies as a feature of the pass. (Ministry of Manpower)
This makes the ONE Pass particularly different from a traditional Employment Pass.
What happens to the family?
ONE Pass holders receive relatively generous family privileges.
Eligible family members include:
Spouse
A legally married spouse can receive a Dependant's Pass (DP).
Children
Unmarried children below 21, including legally adopted children, can receive a DP.
Parents
Parents can receive a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
Other family members
Certain categories, such as:
- Common-law spouse
- Stepchildren
- Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above
may qualify for an LTVP under the ONE Pass family framework. (Ministry of Manpower)
Can the spouse work?
Yes — and this is one of the major differences between the ONE Pass and the normal DP arrangement.
A spouse of a ONE Pass holder can apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to work in Singapore.
The spouse does not have to qualify independently for an Employment Pass simply to obtain the right to work under this arrangement. (Ministry of Manpower)
The LOC can allow the spouse to:
- Work for an employer
- Operate a business
and the LOC is tied to the validity of the spouse's DP. (Ministry of Manpower)
Are there restrictions on the spouse's work?
There are some important practical rules.
A spouse working under an LOC cannot simply hold multiple LOC-based jobs simultaneously.
MOM states that a spouse can hold one LOC at a time.
If the spouse owns a business and is considered employed by that business, they cannot simultaneously obtain another LOC to work for another employer. (Ministry of Manpower)
If the spouse instead obtains their own Employment Pass or S Pass, they become independent of the ONE Pass holder for their stay in Singapore.
Their DP would then need to be cancelled before the new EP/S Pass is issued. (Ministry of Manpower)
Can the children work?
Children on the ONE Pass DP do not automatically receive the spouse's LOC work privilege.
If an eligible child wants to work, they generally need to obtain an appropriate work pass.
MOM specifically states that unmarried children on the ONE Pass DP need a work pass to work in Singapore. (Ministry of Manpower)
What if the spouse wants to start a business?
This is possible.
A spouse of a ONE Pass holder can use the LOC framework to operate a business, subject to MOM's requirements.
But there is an important limitation: the spouse cannot simultaneously use another LOC to work for a separate employer. (Ministry of Manpower)
What happens to the family if the ONE Pass holder loses their job?
This is an important distinction:
Losing the job is not the same as cancelling the ONE Pass.
If the ONE Pass remains valid, the associated family passes do not automatically disappear simply because the holder has become unemployed.
The main pass holder has flexibility to look for new opportunities, and the family can generally remain linked to the valid ONE Pass during that period. (Ministry of Manpower)
However, if the ONE Pass itself is cancelled, the situation changes.
MOM states that when the main ONE Pass is cancelled:
the related family passes are also cancelled.
The family members cannot simply continue using those passes after cancellation. (Ministry of Manpower)
They may be able to receive a Short-Term Visit Pass for a limited period while making departure arrangements, but that is different from retaining their long-term residency status. (Ministry of Manpower)
Does the spouse's work status survive if the ONE Pass is cancelled?
No.
The spouse's immigration status and work authorisation are connected to the family pass.
If the main ONE Pass is cancelled, the related family passes are cancelled, and any related LOC or Work Permit is also cancelled. (Ministry of Manpower)
This is therefore an important consideration for a family where the spouse has built a career in Singapore.
Does the ONE Pass have a foreign-worker quota?
No.
MOM explicitly states that there is no foreign worker levy or quota for the ONE Pass.
The same applies to the relevant family passes under the ONE Pass framework. (Ministry of Manpower)
This is different from S Pass and Work Permit arrangements, where employers can be constrained by sector-specific foreign-worker quotas.
Does ONE Pass require COMPASS?
No.
The ONE Pass is exempt from the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) and the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirements. (Ministry of Manpower)
That is because the ONE Pass is deliberately positioned above the mainstream Employment Pass framework.
Is the ONE Pass tied to a specific job?
No.
This is one of its defining features.
With a conventional EP:
Employer → Work pass → Employee
With ONE Pass:
Individual → ONE Pass → greater flexibility across employers/businesses
A ONE Pass holder does not have to obtain a fresh pass every time they change employers. (Ministry of Manpower)
Does ONE Pass lead automatically to Singapore PR?
No.
Holding a ONE Pass does not automatically mean someone becomes a Singapore Permanent Resident.
PR is a separate application and assessment process.
The ONE Pass can, however, be held by someone who later applies for PR.
What about taxes?
A ONE Pass holder may be subject to Singapore income tax depending on their circumstances and tax residency.
The work pass itself does not make someone automatically tax-exempt.
Tax treatment should be assessed separately with reference to IRAS rules and the person's actual circumstances.
Annual reporting is important
ONE Pass holders have an ongoing obligation that is easy to overlook.
MOM requires holders to notify it of their:
- Professional activities
- Annual income
The notification is generally due by 31 January of the following year.
Changes to personal information and residential details must also be reported. (Ministry of Manpower)
This means the ONE Pass isn't simply a five-year document that can be ignored after issuance.
There is an ongoing relationship with MOM.
What if you are unemployed when the annual notification is due?
Being unemployed does not automatically mean you cannot hold the ONE Pass.
MOM specifically addresses unemployed ONE Pass holders and says they are not required to immediately leave Singapore simply because they are unemployed.
However, MOM may ask about professional activity and income, and prolonged economic inactivity without good reason can affect the pass. (Ministry of Manpower)
So, if someone is between jobs, it is important to maintain proper records of their professional activities and comply with the annual notification requirement.
ONE Pass vs Employment Pass
| Feature | ONE Pass | Employment Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Target group | Top global talent | Professionals, managers, executives |
| Salary threshold | Generally, S$30,000 for salary route | Lower, age/sector dependent |
| Employer-linked | No | Yes |
| Change employer | No new pass required | New employer generally applies for new EP |
| Multiple companies | Possible | Generally, employer-specific |
| Start a business | Yes | More restricted |
| Duration | Up to 5 years | Generally, up to 2 years initially / 3 years renewal |
| COMPASS | Exempt | Generally applicable |
| Foreign worker quota | None | None |
| Spouse work | LOC available | Separate work pass generally required |
| Unemployment | Flexibility to seek opportunities | Pass is generally linked to employment |
| Renewal | 5-year criteria | Standard EP renewal criteria |
The contrast is particularly important for senior executives because the ONE Pass is designed around the individual rather than the employer. (Ministry of Manpower)
The bigger question: who is ONE Pass actually designed for?
The easiest way to think about it is this:
Employment Pass:
"I have a Singapore job."
PEP:
"I am a high-earning professional and want more flexibility than a normal EP."
ONE Pass:
"Singapore wants to attract me as a high-level global talent, and I need the flexibility to work, build, invest, advise or create opportunities across organisations."
That difference becomes especially important for senior executives, entrepreneurs, investors, technology leaders and internationally mobile professionals.
The ONE Pass is not simply a higher-salary Employment Pass. Its major value is the combination of five-year duration, employer flexibility, multiple-company flexibility, entrepreneurship options, family privileges and spouse work rights. (Ministry of Manpower)
Official sources
For anyone actually applying, the MOM ONE Pass pages should be treated as the authoritative source, because salary thresholds, procedures and family-pass requirements can change.
Where to verify: This article is general editorial information, not legal, immigration, medical or financial advice. Requirements can change. Check the relevant Singapore government agency or a qualified professional for advice about your situation.