2026 Singapore EP, PR & Citizenship (SC) Policy Update: How Can Foreign Professionals and Entrepreneurs Plan Their Singapore Residency?
“After registering a company in Singapore, can I apply for an Employment Pass (EP)?”
This is often followed by:
“Can I apply for Permanent Residency (PR) after obtaining an EP?”
“How long after obtaining PR can I apply for Singapore Citizenship (SC)?”
Although these three statuses are often discussed together, they are in fact governed by different systems and represent different stages of long-term planning.
In 2026, Singapore continues to assess applications for work passes, Permanent Residency, and Citizenship based on various factors, including individual qualifications, economic contributions, family ties, and long-term integration into Singapore.
Here is a summary of the key points for 2026.
Under Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) requirements in 2026, EP applications are assessed under a two-stage eligibility framework:
Stage 1: Meet the EP qualifying salary requirement
Stage 2: Pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS)
Non-Financial Services Sector
From S$5,600
Financial Services Sector
From S$6,200
The salary requirement also increases progressively based on the applicant's age.
For example, in the non-financial services sector:
- Age 23 or below: S$5,600
- Age 30: S$7,223
- Age 35: S$8,382
- Age 40: S$9,541
- Age 45 and above: S$10,700
Therefore, it should not be assumed that earning S$5,600 per month automatically means you will qualify for an Employment Pass (EP).
Meeting the qualifying salary requirement is only the first stage. Applicants must also meet the requirements under the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), unless they qualify for an applicable exemption.
In general, an applicant needs to score at least 40 points to pass COMPASS.
The assessment mainly covers the following criteria:
C1 | Salary
The applicant’s salary is assessed against the local PMET salary benchmarks for their sector and age group.
C2 | Qualifications
Points are awarded based on the applicant’s educational qualifications and the level of recognition associated with those qualifications.
C3 | Diversity
This considers the applicant’s nationality in relation to the proportion of the company’s PMET workforce made up of employees of the same nationality.
C4 | Support for Local Employment
This considers the company’s local PMET workforce and its contribution to local employment.
Where applicable, applicants may also qualify for additional bonus points such as Skills Bonus ,Strategic Economic Priorities (SEP) Bonus. These bonus criteria can provide additional points towards the applicant’s overall COMPASS score.
Under MOM’s requirements, candidates may be exempted from COMPASS if they meet certain conditions.For example, candidates with a fixed monthly salary of
S$22,500 or abovemay be exempted from COMPASS.
Overseas intra-corporate transferees (ICTs) and candidates filling a short-term role of one month or less may also qualify for an exemption.
However,being exempt from COMPASS does not mean that an EP will automatically be approved.The applicant must still meet all other applicable EP eligibility requirements.
EP
工作身份
Its main purpose is to answer the question:
“Am I legally allowed to work in Singapore?”
PR — Permanent Resident Status
Its main purpose is to answer the question:
“Can I live and build my future in Singapore on a long-term basis?”
According to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), current PR application categories include Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass holders, certain family members of Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, and eligible students.
It is important to note that:
Being eligible to apply for PR does not mean that the application will automatically be approved.
ICA assesses each application holistically, taking into account the applicant’s individual circumstances and other relevant factors.
SC Singapore Citizenship | 新加坡公民身份
This represents a further stage in long-term identity and residency planning.
Currently, eligible applicants who have been Singapore Permanent Residents (PRs) for at least 2 years and are 21 years of age or above may apply for Singapore Citizenship.
However, meeting the eligibility criteria to apply does not guarantee that the application will be approved.
“If I have held an EP and lived in Singapore for 2 years, can I automatically obtain PR?”
In reality, it is not that straightforward.
A PR application is assessed based on the applicant’s overall circumstances, including personal and family factors.
For entrepreneurs and professionals, it is advisable to plan ahead across multiple areas, such as:
- Employment and professional experience in Singapore
- Business operations and growth
- Income and career development
- Tax and compliance records
- Family circumstances
- Children’s education
- Long-term ties and commitment to Singapore
- Contributions to Singapore’s economy and society
After becoming a PR, if you plan to apply for Singapore Citizenship in the future, it is important to understand that Citizenship and PR represent two different stages of long-term residency planning.
According to ICA’s current requirements, in general, applicants must:
Have been a Singapore PR for at least 2 years and be aged 21 or above.
ICA will also assess each application based on the applicant’s individual circumstances and overall profile.
Therefore, for families planning their long-term future in Singapore, a more structured approach would be:
Career / Business Planning
EP & Long-Term Residency Planning
PR Planning
Singapore Citizenship (SC) Planning
For example:
Who will be responsible for the Singapore operations?
How should the company’s ownership structure be arranged?
How should the directors and management team be structured?
Does the individual plan to live in Singapore long term?
Should the family’s plans be considered as part of the overall strategy?
These considerations are often closely interconnected.
Therefore, when establishing a presence in Singapore, entrepreneurs may consider planning across three key levels:
Business Level
Business expansion, corporate structure, equity planning, accounting, and compliance.
Personal Level
Work passes, family planning, long-term residency, and immigration planning.
International Level
Positioning Singapore as a regional headquarters to connect with Southeast Asia and global markets.
“Do my overall circumstances support a long-term and sustainable pathway for building my future in Singapore?”
For example, an entrepreneur may have already incorporated a company in Singapore. However, if the company’s actual operations, the individual’s work arrangements, salary, corporate structure, and long-term business plans lack a clear and consistent rationale, simply owning a Singapore company does not automatically lead to an EP, PR, or Singapore Citizenship.
Therefore:
Company Incorporation ≠ EP
EP ≠ PR
PR ≠ Singapore Citizenship (SC)
Each stage has its own requirements, assessment criteria, and approval process.
AANDJ Consultancy focuses on providing Chinese entrepreneurs, investors, and high-net-worth individuals with comprehensive support and professional service coordination for establishing and developing their presence in Singapore.
Our areas of service include:
Business Expansion into Singapore | Immigration Planning | Equity Structuring | Accounting Support | International Legal Support
We aim to help clients plan from a more holistic perspective, bringing together:
Business + Equity + Tax & Finance + Legal + Immigration
rather than addressing each area separately.
Singapore immigration planning is not simply about applying for a pass.
More importantly, it is about building a long-term foundation for your business, family, and future in Singapore.
If you are considering building a long-term pathway in Singapore through business development, professional employment, or family planning, contact AANDJ Consultancy to explore the planning options that may be suitable for your circumstances.
This article is compiled based on publicly available information from Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) as of 2026. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration, legal, tax, or professional advice. Eligibility, assessment, and approval for EP, PR, and SC applications are determined by the relevant Singapore government authorities based on each applicant’s individual circumstances. Policies and requirements may also be subject to change.
Reference:
Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — Employment Pass Eligibility
MOM — COMPASS Salary Benchmarks
MOM — Employment Pass Key Facts
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) — Becoming a Permanent Resident
ICA — Becoming a Singapore Citizen