The Tech.Pass Singapore is a work pass for established global tech talent, including founders, leaders and technical experts, administered by the Economic Development Board (EDB) under the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Unlike a standard work pass tied to one employer, it lets a holder run companies, invest, take board seats, consult, mentor and lecture, all at the same time. As of 2026, EDB requires applicants to meet a salary benchmark and a leadership-experience benchmark, and the pass is valid for two years and renewable once for a further two years.
If you are a senior tech operator weighing a move to Singapore, the Tech.Pass is built for people who want optionality rather than a single job. This guide sets out the current EDB eligibility figures, what the pass allows, the fees, the renewal rules, and how it differs from the Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) and the Employment Pass (EP), all drawn from MOM and EDB.
Key Takeaways
- Who it is for: established tech entrepreneurs, leaders and technical experts who want to take on several economic activities at once, not a single employer-tied job.
- Eligibility (as of 2026): EDB requires a last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 in the past year, plus at least 5 cumulative years in a leading role at a qualifying tech company or venture capital firm.
- Qualifying firm: a tech company with a valuation or market capitalisation of at least US$500 million or at least US$30 million in funding raised, or a tech venture capital firm with at least US$500 million in assets under management.
- Validity: 2 years in the first instance, renewable once for another 2 years on meeting renewal criteria, after which a holder moves to another work pass.
- What it allows: start and run tech companies, be an employee, director, consultant or mentor, lecture in local universities, and hold these roles concurrently.
What the Tech.Pass Is and Who It Suits
The Tech.Pass is a personal work pass, not a company-sponsored one. EDB describes it as a route for established global tech talent, including entrepreneurs, leaders or technical experts, to join Singapore's tech sector and take on more than one economic activity. Because the pass is granted to the person, not a job, the holder is free to switch between or combine roles without reapplying for a new pass each time.
That flexibility is the main draw. A founder can incorporate a startup, sit on another company's board, advise a venture fund and lecture at a university, all under one pass. Most other Singapore work passes lock a holder to a single sponsoring employer, so the Tech.Pass suits people whose value sits in their track record and network rather than a fixed role.
How It Differs From an Employer-Sponsored Pass
An Employment Pass is applied for by a company for a named role, and it lapses if the holder leaves that employer. The Tech.Pass is self-sponsored: the individual applies to EDB and holds the pass independently. This is why it is positioned for senior operators and investors rather than for filling a specific vacancy.
Tech.Pass Eligibility Criteria in 2026
As of 2026, EDB sets two benchmarks that an applicant must meet: a salary benchmark and a leadership-experience benchmark. The salary figure can be in foreign currency equivalent, and EDB will consider other income sources, including non-cash components, on a case-by-case basis. Working experience is assessed within the past 10 years from the application date.
| Requirement | What EDB looks for | The figure (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Salary benchmark | Last drawn fixed monthly salary in the last 1 year | At least S$22,500 a month |
| Leadership experience | Cumulative years in a leading role at a qualifying firm, within the past 10 years | At least 5 years |
| Qualifying tech company | Valuation or market capitalisation, or funding raised | At least US$500 million valuation, or at least US$30 million funding |
| Qualifying venture capital firm | Assets under management (AUM) | At least US$500 million in AUM |
The Salary Benchmark
The S$22,500 figure is a recognised high-earner threshold in Singapore's work pass framework. Since 1 September 2023, candidates with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 are also exempt from the COMPASS points test and the Fair Consideration Framework job-advertising rule on the Employment Pass route, which signals how the government treats earners at this level.
The Leadership Experience Benchmark
Beyond pay, EDB wants a genuine leadership record. The five years must be in a leading role at a tech company with a valuation or market capitalisation of at least US$500 million or at least US$30 million in funding raised, or at a tech venture capital firm with at least US$500 million under management. EDB has refined these benchmarks over time, so always check the live EDB page before applying rather than relying on older write-ups.
What a Tech.Pass Holder Can Do
The pass is defined by what it lets you do at once. EDB allows a holder to take on several economic activities concurrently, which is unusual among Singapore work passes.
- Start and operate tech companies: incorporate and run one or more tech businesses in Singapore.
- Be an employee: work in one or more Singapore-based companies at any time.
- Be a director: sit on the board of one or more Singapore-based companies.
- Consult or mentor: advise startups, funds or accelerators.
- Lecture: teach in local institutions of higher learning.
Family can come too. A Tech.Pass holder who meets the prevailing salary criteria can sponsor a spouse and children, and parents, on Dependant's Passes or Long-Term Visit Passes, subject to MOM's conditions for each pass type.
Fees, Validity and Renewal
The Tech.Pass is valid for two years in the first instance and can be renewed once for another two years on meeting EDB's renewal criteria. After that single renewal, a holder transitions to another work pass to keep working in Singapore.
| Item | Amount or term (as of 2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | S$105 per person |
| Pass issuance fee | S$225 per pass |
| Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable) | S$30 each |
| Processing time | About 8 weeks |
| First validity | 2 years |
| Renewal | Once, for a further 2 years |
Renewal Criteria
To renew, EDB asks a holder to show real economic activity in Singapore by meeting one of three tests, based on EDB's published criteria as of 2026:
- Earn at least S$270,000 in assessable income from salary or business income, per your latest IRAS Notice of Assessment.
- Spend at least S$100,000 a year in business expenses and employ at least one local Professional, Manager or Executive earning at least S$3,900 a month, or three local staff at the qualifying salary.
- Run a Singapore-incorporated company with a digital or tech core product that has raised more than US$10 million in cumulative investment funding in the past 36 months, with recent funding from EDB-recognised investors.
Renewal applications open up to six months before the pass expires, and EDB advises about eight weeks to process once documents are complete.
Tech.Pass vs ONE Pass vs Employment Pass
Three passes overlap for senior foreign talent, but they target different profiles. The Tech.Pass is for tech founders and leaders who want multiple activities; the ONE Pass is for top earners and standouts across all sectors; the EP is the workhorse employer-sponsored pass.
| Feature | Tech.Pass | ONE Pass | Employment Pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administered by | EDB (under MOM) | MOM | MOM |
| Who it is for | Established tech entrepreneurs, leaders and experts | Top earners and standouts across all sectors | Foreign professionals in a named role |
| Salary benchmark | At least S$22,500 fixed monthly (past year) | At least S$30,000 fixed monthly | From S$5,600 a month (S$6,200 in financial services), rising with age |
| Sponsorship | Self-sponsored (held by the individual) | Self-sponsored (held by the individual) | Employer-sponsored for one job |
| Multiple activities | Yes, concurrently | Yes, concurrently | No, tied to one employer |
| Validity | 2 years, renewable once for 2 years | 5 years, renewable | Up to 2 years (new), up to 3 years (renewal) |
| COMPASS points test | Not applicable | Not applicable | Applies unless exempt |
In short: pick the Tech.Pass if you are a tech operator who wants to build and invest across several ventures; the ONE Pass if you are a very high earner or marquee talent in any field; and the EP if a single Singapore company is hiring you for a defined role. The EP qualifying salary figures above reflect MOM rates effective from 1 January 2025, which rise again from 1 January 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tech.Pass in Singapore
What is the Tech.Pass in Singapore?
The Tech.Pass is a personal work pass administered by EDB under MOM for established global tech talent, including founders, leaders and technical experts. It lets the holder start companies, invest, sit on boards, consult, mentor and lecture, all at the same time, rather than being tied to one employer.
What are the Tech.Pass eligibility criteria in 2026?
As of 2026, EDB requires a last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 in the past year, plus at least 5 cumulative years in a leading role at a tech company valued at US$500 million or more (or with at least US$30 million in funding), or at a tech venture capital firm with at least US$500 million under management.
How long is the Tech.Pass valid and can it be renewed?
The Tech.Pass is valid for 2 years in the first instance and can be renewed once for a further 2 years, provided the holder meets EDB's renewal criteria. After that single renewal, the holder moves to another work pass to keep working in Singapore.
What can a Tech.Pass holder actually do?
A holder can start and run one or more tech companies, be an employee or director in Singapore-based companies, work as a consultant or mentor, and lecture in local universities, holding several of these roles concurrently.
How is the Tech.Pass different from the ONE Pass and the Employment Pass?
The Tech.Pass targets tech founders and leaders with a S$22,500 monthly benchmark and runs 2 years. The ONE Pass targets top earners across all sectors at S$30,000 a month and runs 5 years. The Employment Pass is employer-sponsored for one role, starting from S$5,600 a month, and is tied to a single company.
Does the Tech.Pass require an employer to sponsor it?
No. The Tech.Pass is self-sponsored, meaning the individual applies to EDB and holds the pass independently of any company. This is what allows a holder to run businesses and take on multiple activities at once.
Official Sources and References
- EDB - Tech.Pass
- EDB - Apply for a Tech.Pass
- EDB - Renew my Tech.Pass
- MOM - Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass eligibility
- MOM - Employment Pass eligibility
Explore Catalyst Immigration’s other services:
- ONE Pass in Singapore
- Personalised Employment Pass in Singapore
- EntrePass in Singapore
- Employment Pass and Work Visa
- Work Pass Application
Talk to Catalyst Immigration
Catalyst Immigration helps tech founders and senior operators decide whether the Tech.Pass, ONE Pass or Employment Pass fits their plans, then prepares the EDB or MOM submission with the right evidence of salary, leadership track record and funding. We map your profile against the live criteria so you apply with a clear case rather than a guess.