Singapore Tech.Pass Guide 2026 | Eligibility, Renewal, Fees & 2027 Transition
Singapore Tech.Pass guide for 2026 covering current EDB eligibility, S$22,500 salary, US$500M or US$30M tech-company criterion, renewal requirements, fees, family passes and the January 2027 transition to ONE Pass (AI and Tech).
Key Framework Criteria & Principles
1. Last-Drawn Fixed Monthly Salary
S$22,500/monthThe applicant must have a last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 in the last 1 year, or the foreign-currency equivalent.
2. Leading Technology Experience
5 cumulative yearsThe applicant must have at least 5 cumulative years of experience in a leading role in a qualifying technology company or technology venture-capital firm.
3. Qualifying Tech Company
US$500M / US$30MThe qualifying technology company must have a valuation or market capitalisation of at least US$500 million, or at least US$30 million in funding raised.
4. Qualifying Tech VC Firm
US$500M AUMThe alternative experience route is a leading role in a technology venture-capital firm with at least US$500 million in assets under management.
5. Leading-Role Requirement
Leadership ExperienceThe qualifying experience must be in a leading role rather than merely general employment in the technology sector.
6. 2026 Application Window
Closes 27 Jan 2027New and renewal Tech.Pass applications remain available until 27 January 2027 at 23:59. From 28 January 2027, Tech.Pass is replaced by the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track.
Mandatory Eligibility Requirements
Step-by-Step Procedure
Confirm Current Eligibility
Check both mandatory initial criteria: the S$22,500 last-drawn fixed monthly salary requirement and the 5-year leading-role requirement in a qualifying technology company or technology VC firm.
Prepare Supporting Evidence
Prepare the completed application form, proof of payment, travel-document page and supporting evidence relevant to salary, leadership experience and the qualifying company or VC firm.
Complete the Tech.Pass Form
Download and complete the Tech.Pass application form and obtain the required signature before submission.
Pay the Application Fee
Pay the S$105 application fee using the payment instructions supplied with the application form.
Upload the Application
Submit the signed application form, payment receipt, travel-document page and required supporting documents through the designated EDB/MOM submission process.
EDB / MOM Assessment
Tech.Pass applications currently take around 8 weeks to process once the documents are in order. Additional information can result in a longer timeline.
Receive Approval and IPA
If approved, MOM sends formal notification of approval together with the in-principle approval (IPA) letter.
Enter Singapore and Issue the Pass
The Tech.Pass must be issued within 6 months of receiving the IPA, and the applicant must be physically in Singapore for issuance.
Pay Issuance Fee
Pay the S$225 issuance fee, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa where applicable.
Complete In-Person Issuance Formalities
Pass issuance can be completed in person at the MOM Employment Pass Services Centre with an appointment.
Important2026 Transition
Status
Tech.Pass is being phased out.
Application Deadline
27 January 2027 at 23:59.
Replacement Date
28 January 2027.
Replacement Pass
ONE Pass (AI and Tech).
New Applications After Deadline
EDB will no longer accept new Tech.Pass applications from 28 January 2027.
Renewal Applications After Deadline
EDB will no longer accept Tech.Pass renewal applications from 28 January 2027.
Existing Holders
Existing Tech.Pass holders may continue to remain in Singapore and enjoy their approved Tech.Pass privileges until their pass expires.
Planning Point
Applicants who are considering Tech.Pass in 2026 should account for the January 2027 closure before relying on the current Tech.Pass as a long-term immigration strategy.
Alternative
Eligible AI and technology professionals should examine the new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) framework once the new track becomes available.
Eligibility Logic
Current Rule
The current Tech.Pass initial eligibility criteria use an AND structure, not the former '2 out of 3' test.
Required Condition One
Last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 in the last 1 year, or foreign-currency equivalent.
Required Condition Two
At least 5 cumulative years of experience in a leading role in a qualifying technology company or qualifying technology venture-capital firm.
Qualifying Tech Company Route
- Technology company with valuation or market capitalisation of at least US$500 million.
- OR technology company with at least US$30 million in funding raised.
Qualifying Tech Venture Capital Route
- Technology venture-capital firm with at least US$500 million in assets under management.
Obsolete Rule Removed
The old initial-application product criterion requiring 5 years leading development experience on a product with at least 100,000 monthly active users or US$100 million annual revenue is not part of the current EDB eligibility criteria and is therefore removed from this page.
Salary Requirements
Threshold
S$22,500 per month
Basis
Last-drawn fixed monthly salary in the last 1 year.
Foreign Currency
Foreign-currency salary can be assessed at the equivalent value.
Other Income
Candidates or business owners with other income sources, including non-cash components, may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Important Distinction
The S$22,500 criterion is one mandatory component of the current initial Tech.Pass eligibility test; it is not a standalone alternative to the leadership/qualifying-company criterion.
Qualifying Company Rules
Technology Company
Route A
Valuation or market capitalisation of at least US$500 million.
Route B
At least US$30 million in funding raised.
Experience
At least 5 cumulative years in a leading role.
Important Point
The current funding threshold is US$30 million, not US$10 million.
Technology Venture Capital Firm
Requirement
At least US$500 million in assets under management.
Experience
At least 5 cumulative years in a leading role.
Important Point
This VC-firm AUM route is distinct from the technology-company valuation or funding routes.
Unsupported Document Claims Removed
- PitchBook was not retained as a blanket officially guaranteed evidence source.
- Crunchbase was not retained as a blanket officially guaranteed evidence source.
- An audit-firm verification was not described as a universal mandatory requirement.
- A generic ACRA incorporation report was not presented as a universal Tech.Pass eligibility document.
- A six-month passport-validity rule was not presented as a Tech.Pass-specific eligibility requirement because the current EDB application page identifies the travel-document particulars page without using the original blanket wording.
Application Fees
Application Fee
S$105 for each Tech.Pass application.
Issuance Fee
S$225 for each Tech.Pass issued.
Multiple Journey Visa
S$30 for each Multiple Journey Visa, if applicable.
Refundability
Application fees are non-refundable.
Payment Methods
- PayNow.
- Telegraphic Transfer.
Processing Starts
EDB states that processing begins after payment is received; depending on the bank, successful payment may take up to 1 month.
Pass Features
Multiple Activities
- Start and operate one or more technology companies.
- Be an employee in one or more Singapore-based companies at the same time.
- Work as a consultant or mentor.
- Lecture at local institutions of higher learning.
- Act as a director in one or more Singapore-based companies.
Single Pass Flexibility
Tech.Pass is an individualised pass. Holders do not need separate work passes when moving between the activities covered by the programme.
Employment Requirement
A Tech.Pass applicant does not need to secure employment in Singapore before applying.
Investment And Entrepreneurship
The pass is designed to give established technology talent flexibility to participate in entrepreneurship, employment, investment, advisory and ecosystem-building activities.
Tech At S G
Holding a Tech.Pass does not automatically qualify a company for the separate Tech@SG programme; company-level eligibility requirements continue to apply.
Renewal Rules
Duration
One additional 2-year renewal may be available.
Application Window
Renewal applications can be submitted up to 6 months before the expiry of the current Tech.Pass.
Recommended Lead Time
EDB advises applicants to cater at least 12 weeks for renewal processing.
Criteria
Non Cash Income
EDB's renewal framework recognises non-cash components such as Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOP) and Employee Share Ownership (ESOW) when assessing eligibility.
Important Distinction
Renewal uses any one of the specified renewal routes. It is not a repeat of the two-condition initial eligibility test.
Family Passes
Overview
Tech.Pass holders may sponsor eligible family members for MOM-issued Dependant's Passes or Long-Term Visit Passes.
Dependants Pass
- Legally married spouse.
- Unmarried children under 21 years old, including legally adopted children.
Long Term Visit Pass
- Common-law spouse.
- Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above.
- Unmarried stepchildren under 21 years old.
- Parents.
Important Point
Family flexibility allows sponsorship under the appropriate DP or LTVP category.
Application Documents
- Completed and signed dependant application form.
- Proof of payment.
- Travel-document page showing personal particulars.
- Relationship documents such as marriage or birth/adoption documents, depending on the dependant.
Work And Activity Rules
Employee
A Tech.Pass holder can work for one or more Singapore-based companies without obtaining separate work passes for each such employment relationship within the scope of Tech.Pass privileges.
Company Founder
The holder may start and operate one or more technology companies in Singapore.
Consulting
The holder may act as a consultant or mentor.
Education
The holder may lecture at local institutions of higher learning.
Director
The holder may serve as a director in one or more Singapore-based companies.
Separate Programme Warning
The Tech.Pass should not be confused with Tech@SG, which has separate company-level eligibility requirements.
Ordinary Pass Conversion
The flexibility of Tech.Pass is its central feature; candidates should not assume they need a separate Employment Pass every time they change among the listed economic activities.
Tech Pass Vs One Pass
Important Transition
The comparison must be read as a 2026 transition comparison because Tech.Pass will stop accepting applications from 28 January 2027.
Comparison
Renewal Planning
Income Route Example
A holder may qualify through S$270,000 or more of assessable income shown on the latest IRAS Notice of Assessment.
Business Route Example
A holder may qualify through at least S$100,000 annual business spending plus at least 1 qualifying local PME or 3 qualifying local LQS employees.
Funding Route Example
A qualifying founder-led Singapore technology entity may use the more-than-US$10-million cumulative funding route, provided recognised-investor and ownership/business-activity conditions are also satisfied.
Timing
Renewal applications can be submitted up to 6 months before expiry, and EDB advises allowing at least 12 weeks for processing.
2027 Issue
Because EDB will stop accepting Tech.Pass renewal applications from 28 January 2027, holders whose renewal timing intersects with the transition should review the successor ONE Pass (AI and Tech) route or other appropriate options.
Practical Checklist
- Confirm the current Tech.Pass application deadline of 27 January 2027 at 23:59.
- Confirm last-drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500.
- Document at least 5 cumulative years in a leading role.
- Confirm the relevant qualifying technology-company valuation, market capitalisation, funding or technology-VC AUM route.
- Prepare the official application form and payment evidence.
- Prepare the travel-document particulars page.
- Keep detailed evidence supporting salary, company qualification and leadership experience available.
- Budget S$105 for application and S$225 for issuance, plus S$30 for an applicable Multiple Journey Visa.
- Allow approximately 8 weeks for initial processing after the documents are in order.
- Remember that the IPA must be acted on within 6 months and the applicant must be in Singapore for issuance.
- For renewal, plan at least 12 weeks and check whether one of the three renewal criteria is satisfied.
- Review the January 2027 ONE Pass (AI and Tech) transition before committing to a Tech.Pass strategy.
Compliance And Practical Notes
- Tech.Pass is an individualised work pass rather than a conventional employer-specific work pass.
- No Singapore employment offer is required before submitting a Tech.Pass application.
- The current initial eligibility test should not be presented as the historic 2-out-of-3 model.
- The current qualifying technology-company funding threshold is US$30 million.
- A qualifying technology VC firm can satisfy the alternative experience-company requirement through US$500 million in AUM.
- The old 100,000 MAU / US$100 million annual revenue criterion should not be included as a current initial application condition.
- Renewal criteria are different from initial eligibility criteria.
- Tech.Pass holders can sponsor eligible family members under the appropriate DP or LTVP category.
- Tech.Pass holders do not automatically qualify their companies for Tech@SG.
- Existing Tech.Pass holders can continue using their approved pass until expiry after the January 2027 programme transition.
- Applicants in 2026 should account for the hard 27 January 2027 application deadline.
- The successor ONE Pass (AI and Tech) should be considered for applicants whose planned timing falls after the Tech.Pass closure.
Application Process
Confirm Current Eligibility
Step 1Check both mandatory initial criteria: the S$22,500 last-drawn fixed monthly salary requirement and the 5-year leading-role requirement in a qualifying technology company or technology VC firm.
Prepare Supporting Evidence
Step 2Prepare the completed application form, proof of payment, travel-document page and supporting evidence relevant to salary, leadership experience and the qualifying company or VC firm.
Complete the Tech.Pass Form
Step 3Download and complete the Tech.Pass application form and obtain the required signature before submission.
Pay the Application Fee
Step 4Pay the S$105 application fee using the payment instructions supplied with the application form.
Upload the Application
Step 5Submit the signed application form, payment receipt, travel-document page and required supporting documents through the designated EDB/MOM submission process.
EDB / MOM Assessment
Step 6Tech.Pass applications currently take around 8 weeks to process once the documents are in order. Additional information can result in a longer timeline.
Receive Approval and IPA
Step 7If approved, MOM sends formal notification of approval together with the in-principle approval (IPA) letter.
Enter Singapore and Issue the Pass
Step 8The Tech.Pass must be issued within 6 months of receiving the IPA, and the applicant must be physically in Singapore for issuance.
Pay Issuance Fee
Step 9Pay the S$225 issuance fee, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa where applicable.
Complete In-Person Issuance Formalities
Step 10Pass issuance can be completed in person at the MOM Employment Pass Services Centre with an appointment.
Documents
- Completed and signed Tech.Pass application form.
- Proof of payment of the S$105 application fee.
- Travel document page showing personal particulars.
- Salary and employment evidence supporting the last-drawn fixed monthly salary and employment history where requested.
- Supporting evidence for qualifying technology-company experience (company valuation/market cap or funding criterion and leading role duration).
- Supporting evidence for qualifying technology-VC experience (firm's qualifying AUM and leading role duration).
- Additional documents requested by EDB/MOM during assessment.
Required Document Checklist
Common Mistakes & Legal Misconceptions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Official Government Sources & Statutory Verification
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