Singapore Skilled Worker Visa 2026 Full Details
Do you have a target of working in the liveliest business city in Asia? By 2026, Singapore has changed its landscape on the “Singapore Skilled Worker Visa. Both a top executive and a specialised technician, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has increased eligibility to have a high-quality Singaporean core and open to international talent nonetheless.
This guide is an absolute disclosure of the Employment Pass (EP), S Pass and Work Permit regulations of 2026.
The 2026 Employment Pass (EP): The 40-Point Hurdle
Employment Pass has been the gold standard of professionals, managers and executives. By January 1, 2026, Stage 2 COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) will be fully operational when dealing with both new applications and renewals.
The New Salary Floors
You should have to satisfy the indexed salary standards by age to even be considered.
- Non-Financial Sectors: Minimum S$5,600 (it rises to S$10,700 when age is 45+).
- Financial Services: S$6,200 (age 45 and above S$11,800)- Minimum.
Passing COMPASS
Your mark on the next criteria requirement be 40 or higher:
- C1 (Salary): 20 points maximum in case your salary is in the 90th percentile of local PMETs.
- C2 (Qualifications): 20 points on Top-Tier degrees (e.g. Ivy League, NUS, Oxford).
- C5 (Shortage Occupation List): A huge +20 point bonus in case you are employed in AI, Cybersecurity, Green Energy, or other specialized Healthcare (Physiotherapists and Registered Nurses were added to the following list in 2026).
The S Pass: Middle-level Qualified Workers
The S Pass will apply to technicians and associate professionals. The 2026 regulations focus on the parity of the costs with the local workforce.
- Qualifying Salary: S$3,300 (General) or S $3,800 (Finance), which increases with age to S 5,650.
- Unified Levy: All S Pass holders are now charged a uniform S$650/month levy by the employers irrespective of tier.
- Quota (DRC): The number of foreign workers allowed per firm is restricted to 10 percent (Services) or 15 percent (other sectors) quota. In order to recruit a single S Pass holder, the company should hire a local with a minimum of the LQS of S1600.
Work Permit: Essential Skilled Labor
In the case of 2026, there is increased flexibility in the Work Permit regime to be retained over time.
- Extending Age Limit: There is now an increase in the legal working age to age 63, which is equal to the local retirement age.
- No Stay Cap: Non-traditional skilled workers (R1 status) can no longer be restricted to a 14 years to 26 year limit on their overall stay.
- Comulsory Insurance: The employers are supposed to cover at least S$60,000 every year.
Universal Compliance: 2026 Best Practices
- Fair consideration Framework (FCF): All the jobs should be advertised on MyCareersFuture 14 days prior to an application.
- Mandatory Verification: MOM has made compulsory the vetting of all the degrees by approved agencies such as Avvanz or Verity Intelligence before points are allocated.
- Digital-First: No material cards any longer; all verification is carried out direct the SGWorkPass App.
FAQs
Am I capable of applying on my own to have the visa?
No. The application should be filled by an employer registered in Singapore or by an authorized Employment Agency on your behalf.
The time taken to get approval is how long?
Normal EP / S Pass applications require approximately 3 weeks when applied through myMOM portal. Complex cases that need to be verified manually about degrees may take 8 weeks.
What happens if I lose my job?
Immediately your visa is cancelled on termination. You are normally given a 30 day Short Term Visit Pass (STVP) to either seek a new sponsor or to ready yourself to leave.
Can my family join me?
Yes, when you earn at least S$6,000/month you may sponsor your spouse and children to get Dependant Pass.
Does an EP require a degree?
Not strictly. Although it is considered on top of COMPASS C2, you are still able to pass in case you have a very high salary (max in C1) or when you are in a Shortage Occupation (C5).
Final Thought
The Singapore Skilled Worker Visa of 2026 must be precise. The government is subsidizing Strategic Economic Priorities that is, when you are in Tech, Sustainability or Healthcare, the door is open wide. There is no time to apply before you can bring your profile to 40 points or above, because you have to use the MOM Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) first.
Disclaimer
This paper is merely informative and educational. It is recommended that the readers should ensure that the information they get is confirmed by credible sources such as the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to make decisions.