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Relocating to Singapore to run your business means two things at once: registering the company with ACRA and securing a work pass that lets you live and work there. Most founders incorporate first, then apply for an Employment Pass or EntrePass to move over. This guide walks through both tracks and how they fit together in 2026.

How Do You Move to Singapore to Run a Business?

You relocate by combining two separate processes: incorporating a Singapore company and Â鶹ԭ´´ a work pass. The company gives you something to run and, in the case of an Employment Pass, something to sponsor your stay. The pass gives you the legal right to live and work in Singapore.

The usual sequence is to incorporate first, then apply for the pass, since an Employment Pass needs a Singapore company to sponsor it. While the pass is pending, a nominee director satisfies the resident-director rule, and once you hold your own pass you can replace the nominee with yourself. The table below sets out the main passes founders use.

What Is the Employment Pass and Who Qualifies?

The Employment Pass (EP) is the most common route for a founder relocating to Singapore. You structure yourself as a salaried employee of your own company, which sponsors the pass. Qualifying turns on salary and the COMPASS points framework.

The minimum qualifying salary starts at S$5,600 per month and rises with age, reaching roughly S$10,700 for applicants in their mid-forties and above, with a higher floor for the financial services sector. Beyond salary, applications are scored on COMPASS, a points system that weighs salary, qualifications, diversity, and local employment. For a founder, the practical implication is that the company needs enough substance to pay a genuine qualifying salary, which is why EP planning and incorporation go hand in hand. For the incorporation side, see our guide to incorporating a company in Singapore.

What Is the EntrePass and When Is It Better?

The EntrePass is built for innovation-driven entrepreneurs rather than salaried employees. It has no minimum salary, which makes it attractive to early-stage founders who are not yet paying themselves a full EP-level salary.

In exchange, the bar is qualitative: you need to hold at least 30% equity in the company and show an innovation profile, such as venture funding, intellectual property, or a strong entrepreneurial track record. Renewals are milestone-based, with the company expected to grow local spending and headcount over time. The EntrePass suits venture-backed or IP-heavy startups; for a founder who can pay a market salary, the EP is usually simpler and faster. Venture-backed founders should also look at the grants and funding available in the Singapore startup ecosystem.

Is There a Faster or Higher-Tier Option?

Yes. The Overseas Networks and Expertise Pass, known as the ONE Pass, is a top-tier personalised pass for established high-earners and exceptional talent. Unlike the EP, it is not tied to a single employer.

The ONE Pass generally requires a salary of around S$30,000 per month, or a comparable track record in a business, arts, science, or academic field. For a founder who already has significant income or a strong profile, it offers the most flexibility, since it allows running or joining multiple companies. For most first-time founders, though, the Employment Pass remains the realistic route.

Can Your Family Move With You?

Yes. An Employment Pass, EntrePass, or ONE Pass holder can bring their family to Singapore, provided they meet the income threshold. This is one of the reasons Singapore is attractive for founder-families.

A pass holder earning at least S$6,000 per month can sponsor a spouse and children under 21 on Dependant Passes. Parents can be sponsored on a Long-Term Visit Pass at higher income levels. Dependant Pass holders can generally study in Singapore, and a spouse can apply for their own work pass if they wish to work. The family route runs off the main pass, so getting the founder's pass right comes first.

How Do the Company and the Pass Fit Together?

The company and the pass are sequential, not simultaneous. You incorporate first, operate with a nominee director to meet the resident-director rule, then apply for your own pass and step in as director once it is granted.

This is why founders who plan the relocation as one project move fastest: the company is structured from the start to support an Employment Pass application, with enough paid-up capital, a credible business plan, and a salary the company can genuinely pay. Trying to bolt a pass application onto a thinly capitalised shell after the fact is where most delays come from. Foreign founders should also remember that incorporation itself runs through a licensed corporate service provider, since there is no Singpass access without a pass. For the foreigner-specific setup, see our guide on registering a Singapore company as a foreigner.

What Mistakes Do Relocating Founders Make?

A few errors recur when founders try to move and register at once.

1. Applying for a pass before the company exists. An Employment Pass needs a sponsoring company, so incorporation comes first.
2. Undercapitalising the company. A company that cannot credibly pay a qualifying salary weakens the EP application.
3. Choosing EntrePass by default. Without genuine innovation or funding credentials, the EntrePass is harder, not easier, than an EP for a founder who can pay themselves.
4. Forgetting the nominee bridge. The resident-director rule applies from day one, so a nominee is needed until the founder's own pass is granted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need to Register the Company Before Applying for a Pass?

Usually yes. An Employment Pass is sponsored by a Singapore company, so you incorporate first and then apply. During the gap, a nominee director satisfies the resident-director requirement. The EntrePass can be applied for by a founder whose company is very new or about to be incorporated, but in practice the company still needs to be in place for it to operate.

What Is the Minimum Salary for an Employment Pass?

The Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary starts at S$5,600 per month as of 2026 and rises with the applicant's age, reaching around S$10,700 for those in their mid-forties and older. The financial services sector has a higher floor. Meeting the salary is necessary but not sufficient, since applications are also scored on the COMPASS points framework.

Can I Get an EntrePass Without Paying Myself a Salary?

Yes. The EntrePass has no minimum salary requirement, which is its main advantage for early-stage founders. Instead, it requires at least 30% equity in the company and an innovation profile such as venture funding, intellectual property, or a strong entrepreneurial track record. Renewals depend on meeting business milestones for local spending and hiring.

Can My Spouse and Children Move to Singapore With Me?

Yes. A pass holder earning at least S$6,000 per month can sponsor a spouse and children under 21 on Dependant Passes. Dependant Pass holders can generally study in Singapore, and a spouse can apply separately for their own work pass to take up employment. Parents can be sponsored on a Long-Term Visit Pass at higher income thresholds.

How Long Does an Employment Pass Take?

Employment Pass processing typically takes around two to eight weeks after a complete application, though timelines vary with the applicant profile and any additional checks. Incorporation is much faster, usually one to three business days. Because the pass depends on the company, founders should budget for the company to be set up and operating before the pass timeline begins.

Can I Run My Company on a Nominee Director Until My Pass Is Approved?

Yes. A nominee director satisfies Singapore's resident-director requirement while your own pass is pending. The nominee holds no operational control, and once your Employment Pass or EntrePass is granted you can be appointed as a director and remove the nominee. This bridge is a standard part of a founder relocation.

How Â鶹ԭ´´ Helps

Â鶹ԭ´´ helps founders relocate to Singapore by treating the company and the pass as one project. We handle incorporation as a licensed corporate service provider, arrange the resident director, and structure the company so it can credibly support an Employment Pass or EntrePass application.

Our online Singapore company registration service gets the company in place quickly, and we then guide founders through the pass route that fits their profile and through the Dependant Pass process for family. For the underlying incorporation detail, see our complete guide to incorporating a company in Singapore.

Sergey Voinich, Founder and Managing Partner at Â鶹ԭ´´, notes: "The founders who relocate smoothly are the ones who build the company and the pass as a single plan. Set the company up so it can genuinely sponsor your Employment Pass, and the move becomes a sequence rather than a scramble."