Thinking of starting a business, accompanying a student or changing your living environment in Singapore? But don't know where to start?

In fact, for the vast majority of ordinary people, there is a low-cost, highly controllable, compliant and legal path to entry in Singapore - theSelf-employment EP (Employment Pass).. By registering yourself as the owner of a company, you can apply for a legal residence permit for yourself.

This nanny-grade full guide breaks down the self-employed EP application requirements, COMPASS scoring rules and the complete process in one go.

I. Singapore Immigration Pathway

Apart from investment migration, there is no one-step immigration shortcut in Singapore. Even for matrimonial relatives, the progression path of "Long Term Visa → PR Permanent Resident → Citizen and Passport" is followed.

The three main employment passes in Singapore are:

• EP (Employment Pass): For professionals, business management, company founders, without quota, is the only high-end work permit that can be used as a springboard for immigration;
• S Pass (S Pass Intermediate Skills Pass): For middle-level skilled personnel, with strict quota restrictions, the threshold and subsequent advantages of status conversion are much lower than those of EP;
• WP (Work Permit): For ordinary foreign workers, largely unavailable for subsequent PR applications.

EP is subdivided into two core types:

• He hired EP.The core idea is to "work for someone else to get your status", as you are employed by a local company in Singapore, which applies for your pass.
• Self-employed EPYou register your own company in Singapore, act as a director and employ yourself, and apply for a pass for yourself, the core of which is to "be your own boss and get your legal residency status at the same time".

emphasizeEP Employment Pass: Both of them are identical in terms of legal status, pass function, renewal rules and PR application rights and benefits, both belong to the regular Employment Pass issued by MOM, Ministry of Manpower of Singapore, and only the subject and mode of application are different without any difference in rights and benefits. For ordinary people, EP Employment Pass is the core admission ticket with the highest gold content and the friendliest PR transfer.

II. Core application thresholds

As of September 2023, EP applications are subject to a two-stage review system. The salary threshold must be met and then the COMPASS score must be passed, one without the other.

Stage 1: Salary thresholds (Stage 1)

The salary threshold is based on the dual gradient rule of "industry + age", which requires applicants' salary to be comparable to that of the top one-third of local professionals in the same age group and industry, and MOM will adjust the threshold with reference to the changes in local PMET salaries on a regular basis.

1. Base monthly salary requirements (current rates)

2. Attention! Salaries will be increased as of January 2027

According to Singapore's Budget 2026 announcement, the EP salary threshold will be raised again:

It also means that2026 is the prime window for current low-threshold applicationsThe earlier the application is submitted, the more likely it is to avoid subsequent increases in salary requirements and reduce application and long-term holding costs.

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Stage 2: COMPASS Complementary Expertise Assessment Framework (Stage 2)

A score of 100 out of 100, with a passing mark of 40. Exemption from the COMPASS score is granted for a monthly salary of S$22,500.

• C1. Salary competitiveness (0-20 points):: 20 points (pay up to top 90% in industry), 10 points (65%-90%), 0 points (below 65%)
• C2. Educational background (0-20 points): 20 points (top tier institutions), 10 points (other recognized undergraduate degrees), 0 points (no degree equivalent) ⚠️ Starting September 1, 2023, all degrees declared in EP applications must be verified by a third party, and unverified degrees will be processed directly as 0 points and the application rejected outright.
• C3. Degree of employee diversity in the organization (0-20 points): 20 points (applicant nationality percentage <5%), 10 points (5%-25%), 0 points (≥25%)✅ Newly registered company benefit: company PMET employees less than 25 people, the default direct access to 10 points
• C4. Percentage of local staff (0-20 points): 20 points (local PMET share of the industry's top 50% quartile or more), 10 points (20%-50% quartile), 0 points (less than 20% quartile) ✅ Newly registered company benefit: company PMET employees less than 25 people, the default direct access to 10 points
• C5. Additional points for skills in shortage occupations (0-20 points)Additional points for positions on the 2026 version of the Shortage Occupations List (SOL).
• C6. Strategic Economic Priority Plus (0-10 points): Bonus points for companies participating in specific Singapore government innovation programs

✅ put the emphasis on: New company registration, default direct access to20 base pointsIn other words, you only need 20 points in salary + education to reach the 40-point passing line! In other words, you only need to gather 20 points in both salary + education to reach the 40-point application passing line, the threshold is far less high than expected.

III. Complete application process for self-employed EP

Step 1: Incorporate a Singapore Local Company

This is a prerequisite for self-employed EP application and can be registered in as fast as 1 working day. Singapore company law mandatory requirement: the company must have a statutory secretary + local director, one or the other.

You cannot serve as a local director before you get the EP, you can appoint a compliant secretarial company to provide titular director service, and you can replace it with your own after the EP is approved.

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Step 2: Company bank account opening

Once a company is established, it can apply for a commercial bank account. In recent years, banks have become more and more stringent in scrutinizing the company's business background and source of funds, so it is recommended to make preparations in advance. It is recommended to complete the opening of the company account before the EP is approved for subsequent fund operations.

Step 3: Submission of EP pass application

EP applications need to be submitted through Singpass by logging into the MOM system. Self-employed applicants who do not have Singpass before they get their passes need to appoint a compliant organization to handle the application on their behalf. Approval time is generally 5~15 working days.

Step 4: Apply for a Dependent Permit (DP)

Upon approval of the EP, you can immediately apply for a Dependent Pass DP for your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21, and your family members can legally reside, live and study in Singapore at the same time.

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P4 Frequently Asked Questions and Misconceptions

1. Does EP = Singapore Identity?
No. EP is a legal work-stay visa in Singapore, not a PR permanent resident or citizen, but holding an EP allows you to legally reside, run a business, and live a normal life in Singapore, and is the core pre-requisite for subsequent PR applications, and the most central springboard in the Singapore immigration pathway.

2. How long is the EP valid for? Is it difficult to renew the visa?
The first time the EP is approved for 2 years, and the renewal is usually approved for 3 years. The core conditions for renewal are clear and controllable: the company continues to operate normally, the person himself is paid normally on a monthly basis, compliant bookkeeping and tax filing, timely declaration of personal income tax, no violation of records, and the renewal pass rate is extremely high.

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3. How long does it take to apply for PR with an EP?
If you have been holding an EP for 2 years, you can submit a PR application. the core logic of PR approval is the actual contribution of you and your company to Singapore: whether the company continues to operate in a compliant manner, whether there is stable revenue and tax payments, whether to create local jobs, the core is to prove that you can create value for the Singapore economy and society in the long run.

4. Are there industry restrictions for self-employed EPs?
There is no clear industry restriction, and any industry that operates in compliance can apply. However, key reminder: shell companies, no actual operation, no real revenue companies, can not pass the EP audit, subsequent renewal will also be directly rejected, do not take a chance.

For those who want to start a business in Singapore, give their children a quality education environment, or change to a stable living environment, self-employed EP is a path that is extremely friendly to ordinary people. No need to invest at sky-high prices, no need to depend on others, you can control your own company operations and identity rhythm, and realize a legal landing in Singapore at low cost. However, from company registration, address attachment, EP application, to subsequent bookkeeping and tax filing, visa renewal, PR application, the whole process has a lot of details and compliance requirements, one step wrong, not only a waste of time and money, but also may affect the eligibility of the subsequent identity application.

Enterprise Finance GroupWe are your reliable partner for overseas business. We provide domestic (Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, etc.) company registration, overseas (Hong Kong, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, etc.) company registration,Hong Kong Identity Card Application, Renewal and Permanent Residence Services,Singapore EP Application ServiceWe also cover the whole chain of corporate services such as cross-border tax planning, equity structure design, and compliance and risk control programs. Whether you are new to self-employment EP or have a clear plan, we will provide you with professional and efficient on-the-ground support.

If you would like a free assessment of your qualifications for a self-employed EP application, or access to an exclusive 1-to-1 landing program, please feel free to contact us at: Tel. 16620947137WeChat Qicaiyingjituan(can be added by direct search), or scan the QR code below to add customer service, immediately docking professional consultants to start your journey to Singapore!