GlobeQuest

Singapore visas and residency

Who can visit Singapore without a visa, and the 4 long-stay routes that let you actually live there.

Short stay

Visiting Singapore, by passport

How the 198 passports we track get in. A visitor entry is never permission to work, study or settle — that is what the routes further down are for.

United StatesVisa-free · 30 daysUnited KingdomVisa-free · 30 daysIndiae-VisaCanadaVisa-free · 30 daysAustraliaVisa-free · 30 daysGermanyVisa-free · 90 daysFranceVisa-free · 90 daysNetherlandsVisa-free · 90 daysIrelandVisa-free · 90 daysSpainVisa-free · 90 daysItalyVisa-free · 90 daysPortugalVisa-free · 90 daysPolandVisa-free · 90 daysSwedenVisa-free · 90 daysSwitzerlandVisa-free · 90 daysSouth AfricaVisa-free · 30 days
Long stay

How you actually move to Singapore

Work / sponsoredHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

Employment Pass (EP)

Professionals, managers and executives with a Singapore job offer. The main route into the country.

What you need
  • Job offer from a Singapore-registered employer, who applies on your behalf
  • Qualifying salary of at least S$5,600/month in general sectors and S$6,200 in financial services — the entry-level floors for the youngest applicants; the benchmark rises with age, to S$10,700 and S$11,800 respectively at 45 and above
  • At least 40 points on the COMPASS framework across salary, qualifications, workforce diversity and local employment support
How long it lasts
Up to 2 years initially, up to 3 on renewal.
Path to permanent residence
EP holders may apply for Permanent Residence, typically after a couple of years, but approval is discretionary and rates are not published.
Cost
S$105 application plus S$225 issuance, normally employer-paid.
Processing time
Most outcomes within about 3 weeks of a complete online application.
Worth knowing
  • The floor moves to S$6,000 (S$6,600 in financial services) for new applications from 1 January 2027, and for renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028 — a full year of lead time on renewals that is easy to misread as an immediate change. The age-scaled ceilings move with it, to S$11,500 and S$12,700.
  • COMPASS points for workforce diversity depend on your employer's existing national mix, so identical candidates can score differently at different firms.
Sources:Ministry of Manpower
Work / sponsoredHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass)

Top-tier earners and standouts in the arts, sport, science and academia who want freedom from a single employer.

What you need
  • Fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 in the last year, or an equivalent offer from a Singapore employer
  • Alternatively, outstanding achievement in arts, culture, sport, science or academia
How long it lasts
5 years, renewable.
Path to permanent residence
Same discretionary PR application, from a considerably stronger position.
Cost
Application and issuance fees comparable to the EP.
Processing time
Around 4 weeks.
Worth knowing
  • The ONE Pass lets you work for multiple employers concurrently, which no other pass allows.
  • Renewal requires having actually operated in Singapore during the term.
Sources:Ministry of Manpower
InvestmentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

EntrePass

Founders starting a venture-backed or innovation-driven company in Singapore.

What you need
  • A Singapore-registered private limited company, or willingness to register within 30 days of approval
  • Qualification as an entrepreneur, innovator or investor — funding from a recognised VC, IP ownership, incubator backing, or a comparable track record
How long it lasts
1 year initially, then renewable in 2-year blocks against spend and hiring milestones.
Path to permanent residence
PR application possible once the business is established.
Cost
S$105 application plus S$225 issuance, on top of incorporation.
Processing time
Around 8 weeks — noticeably slower than the EP.
Worth knowing
  • Lifestyle businesses — F&B, retail, and similar — are explicitly out of scope.
  • Renewals are judged on real local hiring and spend, not on the idea.
Sources:Ministry of Manpower
StudentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Student Pass

Students accepted to an approved Singapore institution.

What you need
  • Acceptance from an approved institution, which registers you in ICA's SOLAR system
  • Proof of funds and accommodation
  • Medical examination
How long it lasts
Matched to the course.
Path to permanent residence
Graduates commonly convert to an EP; some scholarship holders carry service bonds instead.
Cost
S$30 processing plus S$60 issuance, plus a multiple-entry visa fee where applicable.
Processing time
A few weeks after the institution registers you.
Worth knowing
  • Work during study is tightly restricted and depends on the institution's status.
Sources:ICA — Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
On the ground

Where you'd land in Singapore

Singapore

Asia's spotless financial and tech gateway.

Full Singapore guide

Singapore at a glance

Capital
Singapore
Population
6.1M
Languages
English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil
Currency
SGD