Republic of Singapore · work sponsored
S Pass
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 10 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Work pass for mid-level skilled foreign workers earning above the S Pass qualifying salary, subject to employer quota and levy.
- Processing time
- Online applications are processed, or receive an update, within 10 business days; overseas companies without a Singapore-registered company can take up to 8 weeks.
- Government fees
- Application fee SGD 105; issuance fee SGD 100; employer S Pass levy SGD 650/month from 1 September 2025; employer must maintain medical insurance.
- Typical duration
- Up to 2 years; renewable.
- Sponsorship required
- Yes
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the S Pass for Republic of Singapore has a typical government cost of about SGD 205. Sources: official Republic of Singapore government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/singapore/s-pass#answer
Answer cluster
Source-backed answer cluster
This page is part of a market-share execution cluster with public battlecards, source datasets and release gates. The links below are evidence trails for crawlers, AI retrievers and reviewers; they are not ranking, traffic, citation or market-share outcome claims.
calculator
Connect points calculator output, employer-route costs, levy exposure, invitation-stage fees and source-backed salary thresholds so the answer is actionable beyond the pass mark or sticker visa fee.
What is the S Pass in Republic of Singapore?
S Pass is a sponsor-led Singapore route. Indicative government fees are Application fee SGD 105; issuance fee SGD 100; employer S Pass levy SGD 650/month from 1 September 2025; employer must maintain medical insurance; indicative processing time is Online applications are processed, or receive an update, within 10 business days; overseas companies without a Singapore-registered company can take up to 8 weeks; typical duration is Up to 2 years; renewable. This route does not lead to permanent residence.
Verified against Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on 1 July 2026.
Australia skilled-route cost and points layer
Australia skilled points, nomination and Skills in Demand cost answer
The route guide answers eligibility. This stack keeps the money and evidence layer beside it: skills assessment, nomination, sponsorship, salary thresholds and route-stage fees.
Calculator context
A points result does not guarantee an invitation, nomination or visa grant. It only says whether the profile clears the 65-point SkillSelect EOI floor. Skills assessment, occupation demand, state nomination, sponsorship, salary thresholds and post-invitation fees still need separate evidence.
| Australia route | Points or sponsor trigger | Mandatory paid-away baseline | Skills, nomination or salary dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 189 Skilled Independent | Points-tested SkillSelect route. The EOI floor is 65 points; there is no sponsor or state nomination bonus. | A$7,501-A$8,705 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment before the EOI can become usable. No fixed salary floor in the route model; invitation depends on occupation demand and invitation rounds. |
| Subclass 190 Skilled Nominated | Points-tested SkillSelect route plus state or territory nomination. Nomination can add 5 points after the state gate is met. | A$7,506-A$9,010 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment plus A$0-A$300 state or territory fee exposure. No employer sponsor or national salary floor; state criteria can add occupation, residence and funds declarations. |
| Subclass 491 Skilled Work Regional | Points-tested regional route. State/territory nomination or eligible-relative sponsorship can add 15 points. | A$7,506-A$9,010 | A$550-A$1,200 skills assessment plus A$0-A$300 nomination or eligible-relative gate exposure. No upfront national salary floor; later subclass 191 context is income-evidence timing, not an upfront 491 fee. |
| Subclass 482 Skills in Demand | Sponsor-led route. It is not a points-tested SkillSelect invitation route. | A$10,381-A$13,335 | A$0-A$1,200 skills-assessment exposure where required by occupation, nationality or stream. A$420 sponsor fee, A$330 nomination fee and A$4,800-A$7,200 SAF levy are employer-side; A$79,423/yr CSIT or A$146,576/yr SSIT, plus AMSR where the stream requires it. |
| Comparator route | Route type | Paid-away baseline | Do not collapse these lines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore S Pass | Employer-sponsored pass with quota, levy and insurance duties. | SGD 16,405-SGD 18,205 | SGD 15,600 levy and SGD 600-SGD 2,400 insurance stay employer-side; SGD 39,600-SGD 45,600 salary evidence is not a visa fee. |
| New Zealand AEWV | Employer-accredited work route with job-check approval before the worker applies. | NZ$3,060-NZ$4,325 | NZ$775 accreditation and NZ$735 job check are employer-side; variable market-rate job evidence is not paid away. |
| New Zealand SMC | Residence route with points, skilled-employment evidence and post-invitation filing. | NZ$6,810-NZ$8,925 | NZ$0 EOI and NZ$6,450 resident-stage application; NZ$72,800-NZ$109,200 skilled-job pay evidence is not a fee. |
| Austria Red-White-Red Card | Points and employer-declaration route with AMS assessment. | €228-€363 | €218 application fee; €0 points and labour-market gate; €41,580 salary evidence remains a category condition. |
- Australia points calculator
- Subclass 189 guide
- Subclass 190 guide
- Subclass 491 guide
- Skills in Demand guide
- 189 cost-to-complete
- 190 cost-to-complete
- 491 cost-to-complete
- Skills in Demand cost
- Skills in Demand fees
- Australia salary thresholds
- Singapore S Pass cost
- New Zealand AEWV cost
- New Zealand SMC cost
- Austria RWR cost
- Austria RWR calculator
- Cost-to-complete JSON feed
- Skilled-route cost battlecard
- Capture-plan row
Source dates: Australia cost and salary data checked 1 July 2026; comparator cost rows checked 1 July 2026. Latest source record in this cluster: 1 July 2026. This cluster supports retrieval and review, not ranking, traffic, AI-citation or market-share outcome claims.
Overview
The S Pass is designed for mid-level skilled workers. Employers are subject to a dependency ratio ceiling (a cap on the proportion of S Pass and Work Permit holders relative to total workforce) and must pay a monthly foreign worker levy. MOM lists the current lower-bound salary for new applications submitted from 1 September 2025 at SGD 3,300 in most sectors and SGD 3,800 in financial services, with higher age-based thresholds and scheduled increases from 1 January 2027. S Pass holders can apply for PR but conversion rates are lower than for EP holders.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian S Pass holders are concentrated in construction, manufacturing, and IT support roles. The dependency ratio ceilin…
Malaysian applicants
Malaysian S Pass holders benefit from proximity and cultural familiarity. Many Malaysian S Pass workers commute daily fr…
Filipino applicants
Filipino S Pass holders concentrate in healthcare support, hospitality, and technical roles. PRC-issued professional cer…
Additional sources
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Job offer from a Singapore employer within the S Pass dependency ratio ceiling.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- ✓Fixed monthly salary at or above MOM's current S Pass qualifying salary: from SGD 3,300 in most sectors or SGD 3,800 in financial services for new applications submitted from 1 September 2025, with higher thresholds by age.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- ✓Employer can meet the S Pass quota cap: 10% of total workforce in services or 15% in construction, manufacturing, marine shipyard and process sectors.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- ✓If qualifications are declared, the employer can support that they are authentic and awarded by an accredited institution.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
Common blockers
- !Employer has exceeded its S Pass dependency ratio ceiling.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- !Salary below the qualifying threshold.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- !Employer cannot absorb the S Pass levy, medical insurance, or applicable Primary Care Plan obligations.
- !Declared qualifications cannot be substantiated when MOM reviews the application.
Typical evidence
- ·Candidate passport personal-particulars page.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- ·Employment contract specifying salary.
- ·Company ACRA business profile or instant information.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- ·Educational certificates or regulated-profession documents if declared or occupation-specific.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
- ·Medical insurance details, and medical examination or declaration where the IPA requires it.Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ↗
Application pathway
Employer checks quota and salary fit
Confirm the role meets the current S Pass salary floor, the company has available S Pass quota, and the ongoing SGD 650/month levy can be budgeted.
Advertise and consider candidates fairly
MOM requires employers to advertise the opening on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly before applying, unless an exemption applies.
Application submission via MOM portal
Employer or appointed employment agent submits the S Pass application online with supporting documents and pays the SGD 105 application fee.
IPA, insurance and arrival preparation
If approved, the IPA gives the candidate 60 days to enter Singapore. Before issuance, the employer buys required medical insurance and any required Primary Care Plan.
Pass issuance and card steps
The candidate must be in Singapore for issuance. The employer pays the SGD 100 issuance fee, submits insurance and address details, and completes fingerprint/photo registration if required.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyEmployerApply for an S Pass ↗
Employer or appointed employment agent submits the S Pass application, then arranges pass issuance after approval.
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical S Pass application runs about SGD 205 in government fees (single S Pass holder, no dependants, excluding ongoing employer levy). Indicative processing time: Online applications are processed, or receive an update, within 10 business days; overseas companies without a Singapore-registered company can take up to 8 weeks.. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a Singapore S Pass cost?+
MOM charges SGD 105 to apply for an S Pass and SGD 100 to issue it after approval, so the primary pass has SGD 205 in application and issuance fees. The larger employer cost is ongoing: MOM says the S Pass levy is SGD 650 per month from 1 September 2025, and employers must also buy and maintain medical insurance for each S Pass holder.
Who pays the S Pass levy and medical insurance?+
The employer pays them. MOM says employers must pay the levy for all S Pass holders from issuance until cancellation or expiry. MOM also says employers must buy and maintain medical insurance before issuing or renewing an S Pass, and the insurance cost cannot be passed on to the worker.
Can S Pass holders bring their spouse and children to Singapore?+
Yes, but only if the S Pass holder earns a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 6,000. Eligible spouses and unmarried children under 21 apply for Dependant's Passes, with separate MOM application and issuance fees.
What is the difference between an S Pass and an Employment Pass?+
The EP is for professionals and executives earning above the EP qualifying salary (from SGD 5,600 in most sectors before the 1 January 2027 increase) and assessed under COMPASS in most cases. The S Pass targets mid-level skilled workers earning above the S Pass salary floor (from SGD 3,300 in most sectors for new applications submitted from 1 September 2025). S Pass employers pay a monthly levy and are subject to workforce quota caps; EP employers are not. EP holders generally have an easier path to PR.
Can S Pass holders apply for Permanent Residence?+
Yes. S Pass holders can apply to ICA for PR, but approval rates are generally lower than for EP holders. Salary level, duration of stay, qualifications, and sector all influence the outcome.
If my salary is too low for an Employment Pass, could I qualify for an S Pass instead?+
Possibly. The S Pass targets mid-level skilled workers earning at or above the S Pass qualifying salary (from SGD 3,300 in most sectors or SGD 3,800 in financial services for new applications submitted from 1 September 2025) with typically diploma-level qualifications and at least 1 year of relevant experience, sitting below the EP thresholds. It still requires a sponsoring employer with available quota within its dependency ratio ceiling, and the employer pays a monthly levy. Verify the current qualifying salary on MOM.
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