- An employer or its appointed agent files every EP application
- From 1 Jan 2027, EP salary bands rise to S11,500 for most sectors
- COMPASS needs 40 points unless you earn S$22,500 a month or more
- An EP holder may own shares in a Singapore-registered company
Can you get an Employment Pass through your own Singapore company?
Yes. A director or owner of a Singapore-registered company can potentially hold an Employment Pass (EP) through their own business. The company must be incorporated with ACRA and submit the application as the employing entity. Singapore does not have a separate “self-employed EP” category.
The application must meet MOM’s standard EP requirements, including the age-adjusted qualifying salary and the COMPASS assessment, unless exempt. Eligible companies with fewer than 10 employees are exempt from the MyCareersFuture job advertising requirement, while companies with fewer than 25 PMETs receive default points for diversity and support for local employment under COMPASS.
Incorporating a company does not guarantee EP approval. MOM assesses each application against the applicable requirements, so confirm your eligibility before applying.
A self employed employment pass Singapore route sounds simple: incorporate a company, then sponsor yourself. MOM does not make it that easy, because every EP application is assessed on salary, COMPASS points and the Fair Consideration Framework, whoever files it. Here is what MOM checks, how a new company fares and when another pass fits better, plus how an Employment Pass and work visa service can handle the filing.
Which route fits your situation?
For a self employed EP Singapore plan, your salary and your company’s profile decide the route. Earn at or above the qualifying salary and an EP is the natural starting point. Below it, MOM says the candidate is ineligible regardless of COMPASS points, so look at EntrePass or revisit the role.
| Your situation | Likely route | What to check | Read next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earning at or above the EP qualifying salary, with strong qualifications | EP through your company | Salary band for your age, COMPASS score and the job advertising requirement | Employment Pass guide |
| Earning below the EP qualifying salary | EntrePass, if the business qualifies | MOM treats a candidate below the qualifying salary as ineligible whatever the COMPASS score | EP vs EntrePass |
| Early-stage, venture-backed or innovative business | EntrePass | One MOM funding, incubator, exit, IP or research criterion, and at least 30% ownership | EntrePass |
| Want to incorporate first and relocate later | Nominee director first, then the pass application | The resident director requirement while the pass is pending | nominee director service |
| Already an EP holder with another employer | Shareholding is allowed, a directorship needs MOM’s Letter of Consent | MOM’s Letter of Consent process | EP holders as directors |
Can you get an Employment Pass through your own Singapore company?
Yes, a company’s owner or director can hold an Employment Pass under their own Singapore-registered business, provided the company is already incorporated with ACRA and files the application as the employer (or through an appointed employment agent). MOM’s shareholding FAQ confirms that an EP holder is permitted to own shares in a Singapore-registered company, and MOM’s candidate application form explicitly accounts for applicants who are a partner, sole proprietor, or director of a Singapore-registered company—who must use the EP route because business owners and shareholder-directors are ineligible for an S Pass or Personalised Employment Pass. In addition, while MOM’s directorship FAQ states that non-resident foreign directors do not need an EP just to be registered on ACRA, an EP is required once the director resides and carries out work or directorship duties in Singapore.
Searches such as “employment pass own company” and “can a foreigner sponsor their own employment pass” assume the answer is a simple yes. The EP eligibility page sets one set of criteria and does not describe a separate self employed EP Singapore category, so assume the standard salary, COMPASS and job advertising tests apply.
Employment pass sponsorship, in MOM’s wording, means an employer files the application and the candidate gives consent. The related question, “can ep holder be a shareholder”, has a clearer answer further down. If you are still choosing between routes, the overview of work passes for foreign business owners compares them side by side.
What does MOM check for an Employment Pass?
MOM runs two stages: the qualifying salary first, then COMPASS, which needs 40 points unless you are exempt. Employers must also meet the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement before submitting a new application. A candidate below the qualifying salary is ineligible regardless of COMPASS points.
COMPASS scores six areas:
- The candidate’s salary.
- The candidate’s qualifications.
- Diversity in the firm.
- Support for local employment.
- A Shortage Occupation List bonus.
- A Strategic Economic Priorities bonus.
You skip COMPASS if you meet any one of three conditions:
- A fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more.
- An overseas intra-corporate transferee application.
- A role lasting one month or less.
How does a brand-new company score under COMPASS?
MOM gives organisations with fewer than 25 PMETs default points on two firm-level criteria: 10 points for diversity and 10 for support for local employment. A new company typically has no PMET workforce yet, so those 20 points come automatically. The other 20 must come from the candidate’s own salary, qualifications and any bonus points.
An employment pass own company application from a new firm therefore leans on the founder’s profile. Employment pass sponsorship by a new company does not lower the 40-point bar, so a strong degree helps but a thin salary cannot be offset by the company’s profile. MOM’s page does not describe a separate scoring rule for brand-new companies beyond these defaults.
Can you own shares in the company that sponsors you?
Yes. MOM’s AskGov answer says an Employment Pass holder is allowed to own shares in a Singapore-registered company. Whether a given owner can hold the EP for that company is the separate eligibility question above, so shareholding alone does not settle it.
Directorships are treated differently, and they are often what searches for “can ep holder be a shareholder” really mean. An EP holder generally needs a Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM before being registered as a director of another company. MOM adds that the holder’s own employer must have no objection, and that approval is generally granted where the company is related to that employer by shareholding.
What order should you set things up in?
Incorporate first, appoint a resident director second, then file the Employment Pass application. Every Singapore company needs a director who is ordinarily resident, and a founder abroad can meet that with a nominee director while the pass is pending. ACRA also requires foreigners to use a corporate service provider to register a company.
- Start by incorporating as a foreigner. The registration and identity checks can be completed remotely.
- Appoint a nominee director service so the company meets the resident director rule. The nominee holds the role for compliance only, with no executive power or access to the bank account.
- Have the company, or an employment agent it appoints, file the EP application with your written consent.
- Wait for in-principle approval, then enter Singapore to have the pass issued.
- Review the directorship once the pass is issued, because ACRA lists Employment Pass holders as local residents.
Share capital is a separate decision from the pass. The minimum paid-up capital rules apply at incorporation, whichever pass you pursue.
Why does the 1 January 2027 EP salary rise matter?
New Employment Pass applications from 1 January 2027 face a higher qualifying salary: S11,500 a month in most sectors, up from S10,700 today. Financial services rises too. The figure you must meet depends on your age, and renewals expiring from 1 January 2028 move to the new bands.
- Most sectors: S10,700 until 1 January 2027, then S11,500.
- Financial services: S11,800 until 1 January 2027, then S12,700.
Take a 30-year-old founder outside financial services: the qualifying salary is S7,750 from 1 January 2027. If you plan to apply soon, check your timing against that date.
When does EntrePass or another pass fit better?
EntrePass fits founders running a venture-backed or innovative company, and MOM requires the holder to own at least 30% of it. A conventional business funded from your own pocket does not meet that test. A Personalised EP is not an alternative for owners.
- EntrePass: MOM wants one of five criteria, such as S$100,000 raised in a single funding round. ACRA says to apply before incorporation or within six months of setting up, and the EntrePass guide covers the criteria in full.
- Personalised EP: it needs a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, and MOM says you are not eligible if you are a sole proprietor, a partner, or a director who is also a shareholder in an ACRA-registered company. The Personalised Employment Pass guide has the detail.
- S Pass or Work Permit: holders cannot be registered with ACRA as sole proprietors, partners, directors or secretaries, according to MOM.
The “can a foreigner sponsor their own employment pass” question matters less for EntrePass, which MOM designs for founders. The EP vs EntrePass comparison sets the two side by side.
How Sleek helps with an Employment Pass plan
Sleek supports foreign-founder incorporation, nominee director appointments and Employment Pass applications. We file with MOM, but MOM makes the decision and no provider can promise an outcome.
This page is general information, not immigration advice. MOM decides each application, and thresholds change, as the January 2027 rise shows. Check MOM’s pages on the day you file, or browse the Sleek resources hub for related guides.
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FAQs on self employed employment pass singapore
Can a self-employed person get an Employment Pass?
MOM describes the Employment Pass as a pass for foreign professionals, managers and executives with a job offer in Singapore. Its EP pages do not list self-employment as a route, and the application is filed by an employer or its appointed employment agent. A freelancer or sole proprietor should not assume eligibility and should compare the options for an incorporated company before committing.
How long does an Employment Pass application take?
MOM says online applications are processed or given an update within 10 business days. Once in-principle approval is issued, the candidate has six months to enter Singapore and have the pass issued. Allow extra time for the job advertising requirement and for incorporation, which come first.
How much does an Employment Pass application cost?
MOM charges an application fee of S225 for each pass. A Multiple Journey Visa costs a further S$30 where it applies. Service provider fees are separate, so ask for a written quote.
Do I need to be in Singapore when the application is filed?
No. MOM states that candidates do not need to be in Singapore when the application is made. The in-principle approval then works as a pre-approved single-entry visa, and it states whether you need a medical examination.
Can I apply for an Employment Pass before incorporating?
MOM’s application steps start with an employer, or its appointed employment agent, filing the application while the candidate gives written consent. A company that does not exist yet cannot file, so incorporation comes first. Whether the company must also be trading or hold capital beyond the minimum is not addressed on MOM’s EP pages, so confirm that point before you file.
