Home > Information Index > EntrePass VS Employment Pass

EntrePass vs Employment Pass

So you have decide to relocate to Singapore. Should you apply for EntrePass or Employment Pass? The answer: it depends on your needs as described below.

Note 1: Don't make a mistake of thinking that somehow EntrePass has a better status that the Employment Pass or vice-versa. EntrePass is nothing more than an employment pass. When applying for Employment Pass, authorities give more weight to your educational qualifications whereas when applying for EntrePass, more weight is given to your entrepreneurial background. When applying for EntrePass, you are required to submit a business plan that is not required for Employment Pass.

Note 2: EntrePass can be applied before (or within 6 months) of incorporating your Singapore company whereas Employment Pass can only be applied for anytime after incorporating your company but not before.

Update: We have created an easy to understand Should You Apply For Employment Pass or EntrePass diagram for you. It should lay all your doubts to rest.

Alternatively, you can use the following guidelines to decide whether EntrePass or Employment Pass is better suited to your needs.

Entrepreneur Scenario 1:
You are living overseas and have concluded that setting up a business in Singapore and relocating to Singapore is a good idea for you. However, you have no need to setup a Singapore company unless your relocation visa is approved by Singapore authorities.

What should you do?
Under the above scenario, you should apply for EntrePass first. You will be asked to incorporate your Singapore business only after your EntrePass has been approved in principle. Our Foreign Entrepreneur Package 1 is designed for this scenario.

Entrepreneur Scenario 2:
You are living overseas and have concluded that setting up a business in Singapore and relocating to Singapore is a good idea for you. Getting a relocation visa will be a good idea, however, it's not a pre-requisite to setting up your Singapore company and you need to register your Singapore company quickly without having to wait for the processing of your relocation visa (4-8 weeks). You have a good education background.

What should you do?
Under the above scenario, you should register your company first and then apply for Employment Pass. Our Foreign Entrepreneur Package 2 is designed for this scenario.

Entrepreneur Scenario 3:
You are living overseas and have concluded that setting up a business in Singapore and relocating to Singapore is a good idea for you. Getting a relocation visa will be a good idea, however, it's not a pre-requisite to setting up your Singapore company and you need to register your Singapore company quickly without having to wait for the processing of your relocation visa (4-8 weeks). You don't have a good education background.

What should you do?
Under the above scenario, you should register your company first and then apply for EntrePass. Our Foreign Entrepreneur Package 3 is designed for this scenario.

Entrepreneur Scenario 4:
You are living overseas and have concluded that setting up a business in Singapore is a good idea for you, however, you don't have any plans to relocate to Singapore at present.

What should you do?
Under the above scenario, you should register your company first and utilize our nominee director service to satisfy the local director requirement. Our Company Registration + Nominee Director Package is designed for this scenario. At a later stage if you decide to relocate to Singapore, you can apply for Employment Pass.

Related Topics

EntrePass Details

Employment Pass Details