Switching jobs on an Employment Pass in Singapore is not a transfer. Your EP is tied to one specific employer, so your new company must apply for a brand-new Employment Pass for you. There is no way to move an existing EP from one employer to another, and you should not start the new job until the new pass is approved and issued.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) treats a job switch as a fresh application that is assessed on its own merits, including a new COMPASS points check and the current EP qualifying salary. Your old employer cancels the old pass once you leave. This guide walks through every step, who does what, the timing to watch, and what happens to any Dependant's Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass held by your family, all based on MOM rules.
Key Takeaways
- No transfer: an Employment Pass is tied to a specific employer, so the new employer must apply for a fresh EP. You cannot move your existing EP across companies.
- Start date: do not begin the new job until the new EP is approved and issued. Working before then breaches your pass conditions.
- Old pass: MOM does not cancel the old EP automatically. Your old employer cancels it, usually within one week after your last day, so you keep cover during the notice period.
- Fresh assessment: the new application faces a new COMPASS reassessment and must meet the current EP qualifying salary, which is S$5,600 a month for most sectors as of 2026 (rising with age), per MOM.
- Family passes: when the old EP is cancelled, related Dependant's Passes and LTVPs are cancelled too, so the new employer should apply for fresh family passes.
An Employment Pass Is Tied to One Employer
Every Employment Pass is issued for a named individual to work for a named company in an approved role. It is not a general work permit for Singapore. Because the pass is linked to that one employer, you cannot carry it over when you move to a different company, no matter how senior or well-paid you are.
MOM is direct on this point. Its guidance states you should ask the new employer to apply for a new Employment Pass for you, and that there is no need to cancel the existing EP before applying for the new one. In practice that means two passes briefly co-exist: your live EP with the current employer and a pending application lodged by the new employer.
Why There Is No EP Transfer
Singapore assesses each EP against the hiring firm's workforce and the prevailing rules at the time of application. A new employer has a different salary structure, a different nationality mix and a different local PMET share, so MOM re-runs the full check rather than rubber-stamping a move. This is why a job switch is always a fresh application, not an amendment to your old pass.
Step-by-Step: How to Switch Jobs on an EP
The process runs in a clear order. The candidate accepts an offer, the new employer applies, MOM assesses, and only then does the candidate move across. The table below shows each step and who is responsible.
| Step | Action | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Offer and acceptance | Agree the new role, salary and start date subject to a new EP being approved | Candidate and new employer |
| 2. New EP application | Apply online for a fresh Employment Pass for the candidate (no need to cancel the old EP first) | New employer or appointed employment agent |
| 3. Assessment | Assess the application on its merits: EP qualifying salary plus the COMPASS points test | MOM |
| 4. In-principle approval | Issue the approval letter once the application passes, then arrange pass issuance | MOM and new employer |
| 5. Resign and serve notice | Resign from the current job and serve the contractual notice period | Candidate |
| 6. Cancel the old EP | Cancel the existing Employment Pass after the last day of work | Old employer |
| 7. Start the new job | Begin work only after the new EP is issued | Candidate |
Do Not Start Before the New Pass Is Issued
A common mistake is starting the new job on the strength of a verbal offer or an in-principle approval letter alone. You may only work for the new employer once the new Employment Pass is issued. Working before that point breaches the conditions of any pass you hold and can put both the application and your standing in Singapore at risk.
The Old Pass: Cancellation and Notice Period
When you change jobs, MOM does not cancel the existing pass automatically, even after the new pass is approved. According to MOM, this is so the current employer has a notice period. Your old employer must cancel the EP through the EP eService once you stop working for them.
Employers are required to cancel an EP within one week after the pass holder's last day of work. If you have already left Singapore for good, the cancellation must happen within one week of your departure, unless the pass has expired. The pass holder cannot work on a cancelled pass, even while still in Singapore.
Timing the Overlap
The safest sequence keeps you covered throughout. Your old EP stays valid while you serve notice, the new EP is issued before your start date, and the old pass is cancelled only after your final day. Coordinate the cancellation date and the new start date so there is no gap where you are in Singapore without a valid work pass.
Fresh COMPASS and Salary Check on the New Application
Because the new EP is a fresh application, it goes through the full assessment again. Two gates apply: the EP qualifying salary, then the COMPASS points framework. Clearing both with your old employer does not guarantee a pass with the new one, because firm-level factors and your offered salary can differ.
As of 2026, MOM figures effective from 1 January 2025 set the EP qualifying salary at S$5,600 a month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services, each rising with age up to S$10,700 and S$11,800 respectively at age 45 and above. From 1 January 2027 these floors rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600 for the youngest applicants. Your new salary must meet the benchmark for your age and sector at the time you apply.
| EP qualifying salary | From 1 Jan 2025 | From 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Most sectors, youngest applicants | S$5,600 / month | S$6,000 / month |
| Most sectors, age 45 and above | Up to S$10,700 / month | Up to S$11,500 / month |
| Financial services, youngest applicants | S$6,200 / month | S$6,600 / month |
| Financial services, age 45 and above | Up to S$11,800 / month | Up to S$12,700 / month |
COMPASS Reassessment
Most new EP applications must also earn at least 40 points under COMPASS, the Complementarity Assessment Framework. COMPASS scores both the candidate (salary, qualifications) and the firm (nationality diversity and local PMET share), plus bonus points for shortage-list skills and strategic priorities. Since the firm-level criteria depend on the new employer's workforce, a profile that passed before can score differently with a new company.
What Happens to Dependants' Passes
Family passes ride on your EP. If your family holds a Dependant's Pass (DP) or a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) sponsored under your old EP, those passes are linked to it. When the old EP is cancelled, MOM cancels all related passes issued to family members, and these cannot be reinstated.
- Once the new EP is issued, the new employer can apply for fresh Dependant's Passes or LTVPs for eligible family members.
- DP eligibility depends on your salary; check that your new EP salary still meets the threshold for sponsoring dependants.
- Plan the family pass applications alongside the EP so your family is not left without a valid pass during the switch.
Avoiding a Gap for Your Family
Because cancelled family passes cannot be brought back, time the moves carefully. Have the new EP issued first, then apply for new DPs or LTVPs, and only allow the old EP to be cancelled once the replacement passes are in motion. Catalyst Immigration sequences the worker and family applications together so nobody falls out of status.
Frequently Asked Questions About switching jobs on an Employment Pass in Singapore
Can I transfer my Employment Pass to a new employer in Singapore?
No. An Employment Pass is tied to one specific employer and cannot be transferred. Your new employer must apply for a fresh EP for you, and the old employer cancels the existing pass once you leave.
Do I need to cancel my current EP before applying with a new employer?
No. MOM states there is no need to cancel the existing EP before the new employer applies for a new one. The old pass stays valid during your notice period and is cancelled by your old employer after your last day.
When can I start the new job?
Only after the new Employment Pass is approved and issued. Starting work on a verbal offer or an in-principle approval letter alone breaches your pass conditions, so wait until the new pass is in hand.
Will my new EP application be assessed again?
Yes. A job switch is a fresh application, so it must meet the current EP qualifying salary and pass a new COMPASS points check. Firm-level factors differ by employer, so a profile that passed before can score differently.
What happens to my family's Dependant's Pass when I switch jobs?
Dependant's Passes and LTVPs are linked to your EP. When the old EP is cancelled, related family passes are cancelled too and cannot be reinstated, so the new employer should apply for fresh family passes once your new EP is issued.
How long does the old employer have to cancel my EP?
Employers must cancel an EP within one week after the pass holder's last day of work. If you leave Singapore permanently, cancellation must happen within one week of departure, unless the pass has already expired.
Official Sources and References
- MOM - What if I want to change jobs while I am on an EP?
- MOM - Cancel an Employment Pass
- MOM - Employment Pass eligibility and COMPASS
- MOM - If an EP or S Pass holder changes jobs, is the existing pass automatically cancelled?
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- Employment Pass and Work Visa
- What Happens When Your EP Expires in Singapore
- EP COMPASS Framework in Singapore
- Employment Pass Salary Threshold in Singapore
- Employment Pass to PR in Singapore
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
Catalyst Immigration helps professionals switch employers cleanly, timing the new Employment Pass, the old pass cancellation and any family passes so there is no gap in status. We check your new salary against the live EP benchmark, sanity-check the COMPASS score with the new employer, and manage the full submission so your move stays compliant from offer to first day.