The minimum monthly salary for Employment Passes in Singapore is set to increase from SG$3,300 to SG$3,600 (about US$2,660) with effect from January 1, 2017.  This change announced by Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MoM), is applicable to new Employment Pass applicants. 

The Employment Pass of Singapore is available to foreign professionals of all nationalities who meet the following criteria:

  • Have a job offer in Singapore
  • Work in a managerial, executive or specialized job
  • Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $3,300
  • Possess certain qualifications, such as university degree from a reputed institution, professional qualifications or specialist skills.

As per the guidelines from MoM, existing Employment Pass (EP) holders whose passes expire before January 1, 2017 are allowed to renew for a duration of up to three years, based on the existing EP requirements; those whose EPs expire between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017 can renew for a duration of one year, also based on the existing EP requirements.  However, existing EP holders whose passes expire from July 1 onwards will now have to meet the new salary threshold.

Employers in Singapore planning to sponsor foreign nationals for employment passes on or after January 1, 2017 should take into account the new minimum salary requirement and should use the Self-Assessment Tool on MoM's website to evaluate if their EP applicants will qualify under the new salary requirement.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.