The EntrePass in Singapore is a work pass from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and run a business in Singapore that is venture-backed or built on innovative technologies. To qualify, you must register a company with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), hold at least 30% of its shares, and meet one of MOM's entrepreneur, innovator or investor profiles.
Unlike an Employment Pass, the EntrePass is tied to your own company rather than an employer's job offer. It is first issued for one year, then renewed against business spending and local-hire milestones that grow over time. This guide breaks down the 2026 eligibility profiles, the ACRA registration rules, the validity periods, and the renewal targets, all drawn from MOM.
Key Takeaways
- Who it is for: foreign entrepreneurs starting a venture-backed or innovative business in Singapore who hold at least 30% of an ACRA-registered company.
- Three profiles: you qualify as an entrepreneur (funding, incubator or accelerator backing, or a past exit), an innovator (registered IP or a research tie-up), or an investor, per MOM as of 2026.
- Company age: the company can be unregistered when you apply, or registered with ACRA no more than six months before the application date.
- Validity: the first pass and first renewal run up to one year each; later renewals run up to two years.
- Renewal milestones: from the second renewal you must show rising total annual business spend and hire local staff, starting at S$100,000 and one local employee, per MOM figures as of 2026.
What the EntrePass Is and Who Should Apply
The EntrePass lets a foreign founder live in Singapore while building a company here. MOM designed it for ventures that are either backed by recognised investors or built on technology that gives a real competitive edge. It is not a general business visa: ordinary trading, consulting or lifestyle businesses without an innovation or funding angle are unlikely to clear the bar.
You should consider the EntrePass if you are a foreign national who plans to own and actively run a Singapore company, you hold at least 30% of its shares, and your business fits one of MOM's three profiles. If you simply want to be employed by an existing Singapore firm, an Employment Pass is the more direct route.
Businesses That Do Not Qualify
Some sectors are excluded outright. MOM does not accept EntrePass applications from coffee shops, food courts, hawker centres, bars, nightclubs, karaoke lounges, foot reflexology and massage parlours, traditional Chinese medicine shops, acupuncture services, employment agencies, and geomancy businesses. If your venture sits in one of these areas, the pass is not an option.
The Three EntrePass Eligibility Profiles
On top of the ACRA company requirement, you must meet at least one of MOM's profiles. They fall into three groups: entrepreneur, innovator and investor. The table below sets out what each one asks for as of 2026.
| Profile | Who it fits | Core criteria (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | Founders with funding, accelerator backing or a track record | Raised at least S$100,000 in a single funding round from an eligible investor (such as a VC firm, business angel or government-backed fund); or is supported by a government-recognised or internationally renowned incubator or accelerator; or has founded and sold a tech business shown by a sale and purchase agreement. |
| Innovator | Founders with protected IP or a research link | Holds intellectual property registered with an approved national IP institution that gives a competitive advantage which cannot be easily replicated; or has an ongoing research collaboration with a Singapore institute of higher learning or research institution. |
| Investor | Founders investing in their own venture | Has a strong record of investing in businesses and will play an active part in operating the Singapore company, supported by relevant track-record evidence. |
Entrepreneur Profile
The entrepreneur route is the most common. Funding must come from a recognised source rather than friends or family, and the S$100,000 has to be raised in a single round. An incubator or accelerator must be one MOM recognises or a globally known programme. A past exit counts if you can prove you founded and sold a qualifying tech business.
Innovator Profile
The innovator route suits founders whose edge is protected technology. Registered IP must sit with an approved national IP office and give a genuine advantage that rivals cannot copy easily. The research-collaboration path needs an active project with a Singapore institute of higher learning or research institution, which MOM may verify with the institution directly.
Investor Profile
The investor route is for founders with a clear history of backing companies who will also be hands-on in the Singapore venture. MOM looks for evidence of past investments and an active operating role rather than a passive stake. Founders aiming purely to invest at scale should also weigh the Global Investor Programme, which is a separate route to residency.
Company Registration and ACRA Rules
The EntrePass is anchored to a Singapore company. You can apply before the company exists, or after it is registered, but timing matters. If the company is already incorporated, it must have been registered with ACRA no more than six months before the application date. You also need to hold at least 30% of the shares.
Getting an EntrePass does not on its own clear your business registration or any licences. ACRA approval for the company, and any sector licences, are handled separately. Many founders set up the entity and arrange a corporate secretary in parallel with the pass, or work through a business relocation plan when moving an existing operation to Singapore.
Application Fee and Timeline
The application is made online to MOM and carries a fee of S$105 as of 2026. MOM processes most cases within about six weeks. A successful application produces an in-principle approval letter; you then enter Singapore and get the pass issued, with the physical card following within a few working days.
Validity and Renewal Milestones
The first EntrePass is issued for up to one year. The first renewal is also for up to one year, and renewals after that run for up to two years. The catch is that renewals are conditional: from the second renewal onward you must show that the company is spending and hiring locally at set levels. There is no minimum salary attached to the pass itself.
MOM measures two things at renewal: total annual business spending (which excludes royalties, franchise fees and rent paid to related parties) and the number of local staff, meaning Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents on the payroll receiving CPF for at least three months. The targets rise with each renewal cycle, as set out below (figures as of 2026).
| Renewal | Total annual business spending | Local employees | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st renewal | No requirement | No requirement | Up to 1 year |
| 2nd renewal | S$100,000 | 1 | Up to 2 years |
| 3rd renewal | S$200,000 | 2 | Up to 2 years |
| 4th renewal | S$300,000 | 3 | Up to 2 years |
| 5th renewal and beyond | S$400,000 and rising | 4 and rising | Up to 2 years |
How EntrePass Differs From the Employment Pass
The two passes solve different problems. The EntrePass is for people building their own company and is judged on the venture and its growth; the Employment Pass is for salaried professionals hired by a Singapore employer and is judged on salary and the COMPASS points test. The EntrePass has no qualifying salary but does carry spending and local-hire renewal targets; the Employment Pass has a qualifying salary but no such founder milestones. For a side-by-side view of salaried routes, see our work pass application overview.
How to Strengthen an EntrePass Application
Approval is never guaranteed, but a well-prepared case clearly mapped to one profile reads far better than a vague business plan. Catalyst Immigration reviews each venture against the current MOM criteria before anything is submitted.
- Pick one profile and build the file around it, rather than spreading thin evidence across all three.
- Document funding properly: term sheets, cap table and proof the S$100,000 round came from an eligible investor.
- For the innovator route, gather IP registration certificates or a signed research-collaboration agreement.
- Show a credible spending and hiring plan that maps to the renewal milestones, so the venture looks built to last.
A clear profile match, real funding or IP evidence, and a realistic growth plan are what move an EntrePass case from borderline to convincing. Founders who later plan to settle can read our guide on how to become a Singapore PR.
Frequently Asked Questions About the EntrePass in Singapore
What is the EntrePass in Singapore?
The EntrePass is a work pass from MOM for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and run a venture-backed or innovative business in Singapore. You must register a company with ACRA, hold at least 30% of it, and meet one of MOM's entrepreneur, innovator or investor profiles.
Who is eligible for the EntrePass?
Foreign founders who own at least 30% of an ACRA-registered Singapore company and meet at least one profile: raising at least S$100,000 from an eligible investor, being backed by a recognised incubator or accelerator, having sold a tech business, holding registered IP, running a research collaboration with a Singapore institution, or having a strong investment record with an active operating role.
How old can my company be when I apply for an EntrePass?
You can apply before the company is registered, or after. If it is already incorporated, it must have been registered with ACRA no more than six months before the application date, as of 2026.
How long is the EntrePass valid?
The first pass and the first renewal are each valid for up to one year. Renewals after that are valid for up to two years, subject to meeting the business spending and local-hire criteria.
What are the EntrePass renewal requirements?
There is no requirement at the first renewal. From the second renewal you must show total annual business spending of S$100,000 and one local employee, rising to S$200,000 and two at the third renewal, then S$300,000 and three at the fourth, and higher thereafter, per MOM figures as of 2026.
What is the difference between the EntrePass and the Employment Pass?
The EntrePass is for foreign founders running their own company, judged on the venture and its growth, with no qualifying salary but with spending and local-hire renewal targets. The Employment Pass is for salaried professionals hired by a Singapore employer, judged on salary and the COMPASS points test.
Official Sources and References
- MOM - EntrePass eligibility
- MOM - EntrePass key facts
- MOM - Apply for an EntrePass
- MOM - Renew an EntrePass
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- Employment Pass and Work Visa
- Global Investor Programme
- Register a Company in Singapore
- Work Pass Application
- Business Relocation Services
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
Catalyst Immigration helps foreign founders map their venture to the right EntrePass profile, prepare the funding, IP or research evidence, and plan a spending and hiring path that holds up at renewal. We guide the full submission, from ACRA registration to the MOM application, so you apply with a strong case rather than a guess.