Singapore is Asia's financial hub — and one of the easiest high-income countries to get a work visa as a skilled professional. Learn about the Employment Pass (EP), COMPASS framework, salary requirements, and path to PR.
For professionals, managers, executives, and specialists.
Min Salary: SGD 5,000/month (or 5,500 in financial services)
Validity: Up to 2 years initially, then 3-year renewals
For mid-skilled workers. Subject to employer quota limits.
Min Salary: SGD 3,150/month
Validity: Up to 2 years (renewable)
Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass for top global talent.
Min Salary: SGD 30,000/month OR outstanding achievement
Validity: 5 years, no job offer needed initially
For high-earning EP holders or overseas professionals.
Min Salary: SGD 22,500/month
Validity: 3 years, not tied to employer
Since 2023, Singapore uses the COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) to evaluate EP applications. You need 40 points to pass. Here's how points are scored:
| Criteria | Max Points | How to Score High |
|---|---|---|
| Salary vs Peers | 20 points | Earn ≥ local 90th percentile for your job/age group |
| Qualifications | 20 points | Degree from top-tier universities (QS Top 100) gets full points |
| Diversity of Workforce | 20 points | Company with high diversity of nationalities scores you better |
| Support for Local Employment | 20 points | Company employing many Singaporeans and PRs gets you bonus points |
Singapore Permanent Residency (PR) is one of the most valuable residency statuses in Asia. Here's what you need to know:
| Profession | Monthly Salary (SGD) | USD Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer (Senior) | SGD 8,000–18,000 | $5,900–13,300 |
| Data Scientist / ML Engineer | SGD 8,500–20,000 | $6,300–14,800 |
| Investment Banker / Finance | SGD 10,000–30,000+ | $7,400–22,200 |
| Doctor / Medical Specialist | SGD 12,000–35,000 | $8,900–25,900 |
| Product Manager | SGD 7,000–16,000 | $5,200–11,800 |
| Marketing Manager | SGD 5,500–12,000 | $4,100–8,900 |
The absolute minimum salary for EP 2026 is SGD 5,000/month (SGD 5,500 for financial services). However, with the COMPASS framework, older applicants need higher salaries to compete. Industry norms: Software engineers typically earn SGD 8,000–15,000/month. Finance: SGD 10,000+. The "minimum" is really for fresh graduates with exceptional qualifications from top universities.
Key job portals for Singapore: LinkedIn (most important for professional roles), JobStreet, MyCareersFuture (government-linked), Indeed Singapore, and company career pages directly. Focus on MNCs with Singapore offices — DBS Bank, OCBC, Grab, Sea Group, Google, Meta, Goldman Sachs Singapore, McKinsey. Apply from your home country — Singapore employers are used to hiring internationally and will initiate the EP process after an offer letter.