Moving to Singapore in 2026: Passes, Costs, First Steps
A move to Singapore starts with a pass. To work, you need a work pass that your employer applies for. To study, you need a Student's Pass. Everything else follows from that approval: the entry formalities, the registration after you land, where you can afford to live and how you are taxed. This guide puts the steps in order and gives the figures from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), the tax authority IRAS and other official sources, as read on 13 October 2026. Amounts are in Singapore dollars.
Quick answer
Get the pass first. An Employment Pass needs a fixed monthly salary of at least $5,600 and 40 points under COMPASS. An S Pass needs at least $3,300. The employer applies, and an online application is processed or given an update within 10 business days. To bring a spouse or children you need at least $6,000 a month. Before you fly, check that your passport has a minimum validity of 6 months and submit the free SG Arrival Card within three days before arrival. The median rent of a 4-room HDB flat ranges from S$3,000 to S$4,600 by town.
Step 1: choose your route
| Your situation | Pass | Key figure |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, manager or executive with a job offer | Employment Pass | At least $5,600 a month, plus COMPASS |
| Skilled worker with a job offer | S Pass | At least $3,300 a month |
| High earner who wants a pass not tied to one employer | Personalised Employment Pass | Fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500 |
| Top talent in business, arts and culture, sports, academia and research | Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass | Fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 |
| Full-time student | Student's Pass | S$45 processing fee, S$60 issuance fee |
| Spouse or child of an eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holder | Dependant's Pass | The pass holder earns at least $6,000 a month |
| Investor with a substantial business track record | Permanent residence through the Global Investor Programme | Applied for through the Economic Development Board |
MOM states the principle plainly: all foreigners who intend to work in Singapore must have a valid pass before they start work.
Step 2: the work pass
Our Singapore work visa guide has the full salary tables and the points test. The short version:
- Employment Pass salary: at least $5,600 a month, or $6,200 in financial services, rising with age to $10,700 and $11,800 at 45 and above.
- COMPASS: unless exempted, the application must earn 40 points across salary, qualifications, the diversity of the firm's workforce and its support for local employment.
- S Pass salary: at least $3,300 a month, or $3,800 in financial services. Employers face a quota and pay a monthly levy of $650 for each S Pass holder.
- From 1 January 2027: new applications need $6,000 for an Employment Pass and $3,600 for an S Pass.
- Who applies: the employer or an appointed employment agent. The job must first be advertised on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days, unless an exemption applies.
- Cost and time: $105 to apply and $225 when the pass is issued. An online application is processed or given an update within 10 business days.
- Duration: up to 2 years for a first pass and up to 3 years on renewal.
Step 3: your family
An Employment Pass or S Pass holder with a fixed monthly salary of at least $6,000 can bring a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass. Employment Pass holders earning at least $12,000 can bring parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass. MOM's advice is to apply for family passes after the main pass is approved, because the application fee for each family pass is lost if the Employment Pass is rejected.
Children on a Dependant's Pass do not need a Student's Pass for full-time, non-religious studies. Places in mainstream primary and secondary schools for international students go through the Ministry of Education's admissions exercises, the AEIS and S-AEIS, and all the tests are held in Singapore. For university and polytechnic students, see our Singapore student visa guide.
Step 4: before you fly
- Passport: all travellers except Singapore passport holders must ensure their passport has a minimum validity of 6 months.
- In-principle approval letter: for an Employment Pass, the letter is a pre-approved single-entry visa and gives you 6 months to enter Singapore and get the pass issued. MOM says employers should only bring candidates in once the pass is approved.
- Entry visa: ICA lists the countries whose travel document holders need an entry visa. The list includes India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt and Russia. A visa is not an immigration pass, and possession of a valid visa does not guarantee entry.
- SG Arrival Card: submit it within three days before arrival, counting the day of arrival. Submission is free, and ICA says it does not support or endorse commercial entities that charge a fee to submit it. Travellers who fail to submit it may be denied entry.
- Medical examination: the approval letter states whether you need one after arrival.
Step 5: your first weeks
- Show the approval letter to the immigration officer when you arrive.
- Complete any required medical examination.
- Your employer gets the pass issued while you are in Singapore. It needs your passport details, your Singapore contact details and a Singapore residential address that meets the housing requirements.
- Start work on the notification letter. It is valid for 1 month and lets you work and travel in and out of Singapore while you wait for the card.
- Register fingerprints and a photo at the Employment Pass Services Centre within 2 weeks after the pass is issued, if the letter says it is required. You are registered for a Singpass account at the same appointment.
- Set up the digital work pass in the SGWorkPass app with your Singpass.
- Receive the card within 5 working days after registration or document verification.
Our first steps after moving to Singapore page covers the setup tasks that follow.
Step 6: housing and your monthly budget
The Housing & Development Board publishes median monthly rents for HDB flats by town. These are the figures for the second quarter of 2026:
| Town | 3-room | 4-room | 5-room |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central | S$3,300 | S$4,600 | S$5,100 |
| Queenstown | S$3,100 | S$4,130 | S$4,400 |
| Ang Mo Kio | S$2,800 | S$3,500 | S$3,880 |
| Tampines | S$2,800 | S$3,500 | S$3,650 |
| Woodlands | S$2,600 | S$3,100 | S$3,300 |
| Choa Chu Kang | S$2,500 | S$3,000 | S$3,200 |
- Electricity: 31.16 cents/kWh with GST for 1 October to 31 December 2026.
- Public transport: adult card fares start at $1.28 for up to 3.2 km, and an adult Monthly Travel Pass with unlimited basic bus and train rides costs $122.00.
- Prices: the Consumer Price Index rose 2.3% in the year to August 2026.
- Pay: the median gross monthly income of full-time employed residents was $5,775 in 2025, including employer CPF contributions.
The town-by-town table is in our cost of living in Singapore guide, and one-off relocation costs are in cost of moving to Singapore.
Step 7: tax, CPF and health cover
| Topic | The rule |
|---|---|
| Tax residency | A foreigner who has stayed or worked in Singapore for at least 183 days in the previous calendar year is a tax resident. IRAS says foreigners issued with a work pass valid for at least 1 year will also be treated as tax residents, with the status reviewed at tax clearance |
| Resident tax rates | Progressive, from 0% to 24%. The first $20,000 of chargeable income is taxed at 0% |
| Non-resident employment income | A flat 15% or the resident rates, whichever gives the higher tax amount. Short-term employment of 60 days or less in a year is exempt, with exceptions for directors, public entertainers and professionals |
| Foreign-sourced income | For a tax resident, foreign-sourced income brought into Singapore is tax-exempt, with the exception of income received through partnerships in Singapore |
| GST | 9% |
| CPF | Employers pay contributions for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. The CPF Board lists foreigners as exempt |
Income tax is calculated on a preceding year basis: income taxed in Year of Assessment 2026 is income earned from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025.
Health insurance
The Ministry of Health describes MediShield Life as a basic health insurance plan that protects all Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents. For work pass holders, MOM's rule depends on the pass: employers must provide medical insurance for S Pass holders, and can choose whether to provide it for Employment Pass holders. Ask what your contract includes before you sign.
Step 8: staying for the long term
ICA lists Employment Pass and S Pass holders among the foreigners who may be eligible to apply for permanent residence. The fee is S$100 for each application at submission, and applications are processed within 6 months, provided the documents are in order. Two obligations deserve attention before you apply: National Service for sons granted the status under their parents' sponsorship, and the Re-Entry Permit you need to travel and return as a permanent resident. After at least 2 years as a permanent resident, from age 21, you are eligible to apply for citizenship. The detail is in our Singapore permanent residence guide.
The move at a glance
| Stage | Who acts | Time or cost |
|---|---|---|
| Job advertised on MyCareersFuture | Employer | At least 14 consecutive days |
| Employment Pass application | Employer or employment agent | $105, processed or given an update within 10 business days |
| Enter Singapore after approval | You | Within 6 months of in-principle approval |
| SG Arrival Card | You | Free, within three days before arrival |
| Pass issued | Employer | $225 for each pass |
| Fingerprints and photo, if required | You | Within 2 weeks after the pass is issued |
| Card delivered | MOM | Within 5 working days after registration |
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to Singapore without a job?
To work in Singapore you need a valid pass before you start, and an Employment Pass or S Pass requires a job offer and an application by the employer. MOM says candidates who meet the criteria can apply directly for a Personalised Employment Pass, which needs a fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500.
How much salary do I need to move to Singapore?
At least $5,600 a month for an Employment Pass and $3,300 for an S Pass, with higher figures for older candidates and in financial services. For new applications from 1 January 2027 the minimums are $6,000 and $3,600.
Can I bring my family to Singapore?
Yes, if you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass and earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $6,000. A legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get a Dependant's Pass.
How long does it take to get a Singapore work pass?
An online Employment Pass application is processed or given an update within 10 business days. The in-principle approval then gives you 6 months to enter Singapore and get the pass issued.
Do I pay tax in Singapore as a foreigner?
All income earned in Singapore is taxable. Tax residents pay progressive rates from 0% to 24%. Non-residents pay a flat 15% on employment income, or the resident rates if that gives a higher amount.
How much is rent in Singapore?
In the second quarter of 2026 the median monthly rent of a 4-room HDB flat ranged from S$3,000 in Bukit Panjang and Choa Chu Kang to S$4,600 in Central.
Can I get permanent residence in Singapore?
Employment Pass and S Pass holders are among the groups ICA lists as eligible to apply. The fee at submission is S$100 for each application, and ICA weighs factors such as family ties, economic contributions, qualifications, age and length of residency.
Official sources
- Ministry of Manpower — Work passes
- MOM — Eligibility for Employment Pass
- MOM — Apply for an Employment Pass
- MOM — Consider all candidates fairly before you apply for an Employment Pass
- MOM — Passes for families of Employment Pass holders
- MOM — Key facts on S Pass
- MOM — S Pass quota and levy requirements
- MOM — Eligibility for Dependant's Pass
- Immigration & Checkpoints Authority — Entering Singapore
- ICA — Check if you need an entry visa
- ICA — SG Arrival Card
- ICA — Becoming a Student's Pass holder
- ICA — Becoming a Permanent Resident
- ICA — Becoming a Singapore Citizen
- IRAS — Working out my tax residency
- IRAS — Individual income tax rates
- IRAS — Current GST rates
- CPF Board — Who should receive CPF contributions
- Ministry of Health — MediShield Life
- Ministry of Education — Admissions for international students
- Housing & Development Board, via data.gov.sg — Median rent by town and flat type (2026-Q2)
- SP Group — Tariff information
- Public Transport Council — Public transport fares and passes
- Department of Statistics — Singapore Consumer Price Index, August 2026
- MOM — Summary table: Income
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Salary floors, fees, tariffs and fares change, so confirm the current figure with the agency before you rely on it. Information, not legal, tax or financial advice.