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Singapore EntrePass Founder Business Visa Guide 2026

2026 Singapore EntrePass guide covering eligibility, innovative-business criteria, 30% ownership, application process, renewal rules and family passes.

Statutory Overview & Legal Framework

The EntrePass is a Singapore work pass for eligible foreign entrepreneurs who want to operate a private limited company that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies. It is open to all nationalities. The applicant must have started or intend to start an ACRA-registered private limited company and must hold at least 30% of the registered company's shareholding. The applicant must also satisfy at least one qualifying criterion, such as having raised at least S$100,000 in a single funding round, being supported by a government-recognised or internationally renowned incubator or accelerator, having founded and sold a qualifying technology business, holding qualifying intellectual property, or having a qualifying ongoing research collaboration in Singapore. If the company is already registered and is more than 12 months old when the application is made, the applicant is assessed against the renewal criteria instead. The EntrePass is not subject to the Employment Pass COMPASS framework and has no stipulated minimum salary.

Businesses Not Eligible for EntrePass

businesses:

Coffee shops

Hawker centres

Food courts

Bars

Night clubs

Karaoke lounges

Foot reflexology businesses

Massage parlours

Acupuncture businesses

Traditional Chinese medicine businesses

Herbal dispensing businesses

Employment agencies

Geomancy businesses

important: The exclusion list above reflects MOM's current EntrePass eligibility page. Do not expand it to additional categories such as every traditional retail or trading business unless the current MOM rules expressly exclude the specific activity.

12-Month Company Rule

new Company: You may apply before incorporating the company or after incorporation while it is within the new-company period.

registered Company: If the company is more than 12 months old on the date of application, MOM assesses the application according to the renewal criteria.

ownership: The applicant must hold at least 30% of the registered company's shareholding.

How to Apply for an EntrePass

Prepare the Business and Eligibility Evidence

Prepare the English business plan, passport page, CV and evidence for at least one qualifying innovative-business criterion.

Submit the Application to MOM

The candidate applies online and pays the S$105 application fee.

Wait for MOM's Decision

MOM states that most applications are processed within 6 weeks, although additional review or documents can extend the timeline.

Receive the IPA if Approved

An approved applicant receives an In-Principle Approval letter, which acts as a pre-approved single-entry visa and gives 6 months to enter Singapore and get the pass issued.

Incorporate or Finalise the Company

Where the business has not yet been incorporated, the applicant can use the approved EntrePass pathway to set up the Singapore company and obtain the required registrations and licences.

Get the EntrePass Issued

The applicant must be in Singapore when the pass is issued. After issuance, complete any required fingerprint and photo registration and obtain the digital or physical pass.

important: EntrePass approval does not itself guarantee ACRA incorporation or approval of business licences. Those are separate requirements.

EntrePass Renewal Rules

when To Apply: You can start applying for renewal 3 months before the pass expires.

first Renewal: Up to 1 year

subsequent Renewals: Up to 2 years

mandatory Conditions:

The pass holder must continue to own at least 30% of the company.

The company must remain registered with ACRA as a private limited company.

The company must demonstrate that it is venture-backed or owns innovative technologies.

The company must demonstrate ongoing business activity and progress.

The latest financial statements must be submitted.

The applicable Total Business Spending and Local Workforce requirements must be met.

The pass holder must create an individual profile and claim the company profile on Startup SG Network.

1st

No minimum

2nd

S$100,000

3rd

S$200,000

4th

S$300,000

5th

S$400,000

6th

S$700,000

lwf Formula: LWF = number of qualifying PMEs + (number of qualifying LQS employees / 3). Up to 12 LQS employees may be counted.

point: The applicable thresholds increase progressively in later renewal cycles. The current MOM table should be checked for cycles beyond the sixth because the required spending and workforce levels continue to rise.

Bringing Family Members to Singapore

spouse And Children

eligibility: An EntrePass holder may qualify to bring a legally married spouse and unmarried children below 21, including legally adopted children, if at least one of MOM's enhanced family criteria is met.

route1: Annual Total Business Spending of at least S$100,000 and 1 Local Workforce (LWF).

route2: Founded and sold at least 2 venture-backed or innovative-technology companies.

route3: Raised more than S$2 million for a past or current business.

route4: Possesses at least 2 deep-tech IPs providing significant competitive advantage.

pass Type: Dependant's Pass for a legally married spouse and unmarried children below 21.

parents

requirement: Annual Total Business Spending of at least S$200,000 and 2 Local Workforce (LWF).

pass Type: Long-Term Visit Pass

common Law Family: A common-law spouse and certain other family members use the Long-Term Visit Pass route where the current MOM conditions are met.

What Work Can an EntrePass Holder Perform?

An EntrePass holder is permitted to engage only in work activities related to the company associated with the pass.

before Incorporation: Before the company is registered, an approved EntrePass holder can perform activities related to setting up the intended company, such as registering the company, obtaining licences, conducting market research, networking, fundraising, signing business contracts and sourcing premises.

Current MOM Fees

application: S$105 per EntrePass application

issuance: S$225 per pass issued

multiple Journey Visa: S$30 for each Multiple Journey Visa, if applicable

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The EntrePass is a work pass for eligible foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and operate a Singapore private limited company that is venture-backed or possesses innovative technologies. It is open to all nationalities and has no stipulated minimum salary.

An applicant must meet at least one current qualifying route, including raising at least S$100,000 in a single funding round, being supported by a government-recognised or internationally renowned incubator or accelerator, having founded and sold a qualifying technology business, holding qualifying intellectual property, or having an ongoing qualifying research collaboration in Singapore.

The applicant must hold at least 30% of the registered company's shareholding. If the company is already registered, the ownership requirement still applies alongside the other EntrePass conditions.

A new EntrePass and first renewal can be granted for up to 1 year, while subsequent renewals can be granted for up to 2 years. Renewal requires continued qualifying business activity, at least 30% ownership, the applicable company conditions and the progressive Total Business Spending and Local Workforce requirements.

Yes, but enhanced criteria apply. One route requires annual Total Business Spending of at least S$100,000 and 1 Local Workforce. Alternative routes include having founded and sold at least 2 qualifying companies, raising more than S$2 million, or possessing at least 2 qualifying deep-tech IPs. Parents have a higher S$200,000 TBS and 2-LWF requirement.

The EntrePass is designed for venture-backed or innovative-technology businesses, and MOM expressly excludes businesses such as coffee shops, hawker centres, food courts, bars, night clubs, karaoke lounges, foot reflexology, massage parlours, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, herbal dispensing, employment agencies and geomancy businesses. Other activities should be assessed against the current MOM eligibility rules rather than assumed to be eligible.

Legal Disclaimer: This page is general informational content, not immigration, legal, business or investment advice. MOM eligibility, renewal criteria, family-pass conditions and business restrictions can change. Verify the current MOM requirements and the applicant's specific circumstances before applying.

Verification Standard: Official MOM sources checked in August 2026. No government endorsement, approval, accreditation or official verification of this website is claimed.

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ACRA Compliance at a Glance

EligibilityVenture-backed or innovative-technology business

Minimum ownershipAt least 30%

Funding routeS$100,000 in one qualifying funding round

New passUp to 1 year

Later renewalsUp to 2 years

Minimum salaryNone stipulated

Documents Checklist

Passport personal-particulars page
Business plan in English, generally 10 pages or less
Product or service description
Market analysis
Operations plan
Management-team profile
CV and relevant employment testimonials
Documents explaining previous business activities where applicable
Company Bizfile information if already registered
Latest financial statements if the company has been registered for more than 12 months
Funding evidence such as investment agreements or shareholder certificates where using the funding route
Incubation or accelerator agreement where using the incubator route
IP registration evidence where using the IP route
Research Collaboration Agreement where using the research-collaboration route

Key Pitfalls to Avoid

✕ Saying EntrePass requires S$100,000 of funding.

✓ S$100,000 is only one qualifying route. The applicant can qualify through other routes such as incubator support, qualifying IP, a founded-and-sold technology business or a Singapore research collaboration.

✕ Saying applicants can qualify with any patent or trademark.

✓ The IP route requires qualifying registered IP and significant competitive advantage that cannot be easily replicated.

✕ Saying an EntrePass applicant must incorporate the company before applying.

✓ MOM allows an applicant to intend to start the company. A company that is already registered has the additional 12-month rule.

✕ Saying EntrePass holders automatically qualify for family passes after reaching S$100,000 TBS and one local employee.

✓ That is one family-eligibility route for a spouse and children, but MOM lists alternative routes as well. Parents have a higher S$200,000 TBS and 2-LWF requirement.

✕ Calling the first renewal and later renewals all 2 years.

✓ The new pass and first renewal are up to 1 year; subsequent renewals are up to 2 years.

✕ Using the old renewal thresholds without checking the current MOM table.

✓ MOM's current progressive table begins with no minimum for the first renewal cycle, S$100,000 and 1 LWF for the second, then progressively higher requirements.

✕ Saying traditional retail or every traditional trading business is expressly excluded.

✓ Use MOM's current named exclusion list rather than adding categories that are not expressly listed.