August 5, 2022
Singapore Updates Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass Requirements as of September 1, 2022
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced at their Committee of Supply 2022 there would be an update to the requirements for Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders from September 1, 2022 to ensure that applicants are of a high caliber and are not being employed at a salary level below the local labour market norms.
From this date, applicants will be required to meet the below qualifying salary levels for new EP applications and for renewal applications for EPs expiring on or after September 1, 2023.
The above EP qualifying salaries have been set based on the wages of the top one-third of local Professionals, Managers, executives and Technicians (PMETs), thus ensuring that the EP applicants are comparable in caliber.
Employment Pass Qualifying Salary |
Minimum EP Qualifying Salary (for all sectors, except Financial Services (FS)) |
$5,000 (increases progressively with age, up to $10,500 for those in their mid-40s) |
Minimum EP Qualifying Salary (for FS sectors) |
$5,500 (increases progressively with age, up to $11,500 for those in their mid-40s) |
New S pass applications will be required to meet the below updated qualifying salary levels. These levels will also be applicable to renewals of S Passes expiring on or after September 1, 2023. The new S Pass levy will apply from September 1, 2022.
S Pass Qualifying Salary |
Minimum Qualifying Salary (for all sectors, except FS) |
$3,000 (increases progressively with age, up to $4,500 for those in mid-40s) |
Minimum Qualifying Salary (for FS sector) |
$3,500 (increases progressively with age, up to $5,500 for those in mid-40s) |
S Pass Levy |
Tier 1 Levy (for companies with S Passes up to 10% of total workforce) | $450 |
Tier 2 Levy (for companies with S Passes above 10% to 18% of total workforce) | $650 (no change from prevailing) |
The increase in cost of hiring an S Pass holder (qualifying salary and levy combined) is calculated based on the wages of the top one-third of local Associate Professionals and Technicians (APT). The aim is to uplift the quality of S Pass holders to be comparable with the local APTs.
The upcoming increase in qualifying salary and levies is the first of 3 progressive steps to be implemented to attain this standard, with 2 further increases to follow for new S Pass applications from September 1, 2023 and September 1, 2025, and for S Pass renewals from September 1, 2024 and September 1, 2026.
Finally, from January 1, 2023, the MOM will change the S Pass quota for the Manufacturing, Construction, Marine shipyard and Process sectors from 18% to 15% of the total workforce. The S Pass quota will remain unchanged for the services sector.
Employers can use the Self- Assessment Tool on the MOM website from August 1,2022 to assess whether their EP or S Pass applicants will meet the new qualifying salaries.
For further information on immigration in Singapore, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team.
As Head of Immigration with Sterling Lexicon, Leanne leads a team of specialists who are responsible for ensuring the entire immigration process is smooth and stress-free for clients, assignees and their accompanying family members. She brings over fifteen years of experience in strategic immigration management, planning and consultation to her role, and has cultivated invaluable knowledge and experience in processing countless global migration applications. As a trusted partner, she consults with clients on everything from policy considerations and cost or efficiency improvements, to the impact of opening offices in new locations. Leanne is a frequent presenter and author on global immigration topics and trends, and currently serves as a member of the Worldwide ERC (WERC) Immigration Advisory Council.
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