ONE Pass at a glance
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) is a five-year personalised work pass for top global talent in business, academia, research, arts, and sports. It allows holders to work for multiple companies simultaneously, is not tied to a single employer, and is exempt from COMPASS and job advertising requirements.
However, it is not suitable for most professionals. While the salary threshold is a key eligibility requirement, approval is still assessed holistically based on the applicant’s profile, credibility, and demonstrated standing in their field.
Contents
- What is the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass)?
- Who is the ONE Pass for?
- ONE Pass eligibility criteria
- Duration and renewal
- Key features of the ONE Pass
- Family members and dependant passes
- When should family passes be applied for?
- Application process and timeline
- ONE Pass renewal criteria
- ONE Pass vs Employment Pass or PEP
- Common misconceptions about the ONE Pass
- Common questions about the ONE Pass
- When professional assessment helps
- Next steps
What is the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass)?
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass (ONE Pass) is a Singapore work pass introduced to attract exceptional individuals whose skills and experience are unlikely to compete with the local workforce.
Unlike traditional work passes, the ONE Pass focuses on the individual rather than a single employer. Holders may concurrently work for multiple employers, start and operate businesses, and change roles without submitting a new work pass application.
For context on how the ONE Pass fits within Singapore’s broader work pass framework, it is helpful to compare it against other Singapore work pass options such as the Employment Pass and Personalised Employment Pass.
Who is the ONE Pass for?
The ONE Pass is intended for a narrow group of high-calibre individuals, including:
- Senior business leaders and executives
- Experienced founders building or scaling ventures
- Renowned professionals in arts and culture
- Elite athletes and sports professionals
- Academics and researchers with international recognition
For Employment Pass holders earning S$30,000 or more, the ONE Pass can be an attractive alternative that offers significantly greater flexibility and longer-term stability.
Once approved, the ONE Pass replaces the existing Employment Pass.
ONE Pass eligibility criteria
The ONE Pass has two distinct eligibility pathways, depending on whether the applicant is already working in Singapore or applying from overseas.
Salary-based eligibility (most common for existing EP holders)
Applicants may qualify if they meet either of the following:
- Earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 for the 12 consecutive months immediately before applying; or
- Will earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 under a future Singapore-based employer
If salary was drawn from multiple employers, the qualifying S$30,000 must come from one employer only.
For professionals already in Singapore holding an Employment Pass, this salary threshold is typically the primary determinant of eligibility. Where the salary requirement is clearly met and sustained, applications are generally straightforward, subject to standard credibility checks.
If you fall short of the S$30,000 salary threshold, the Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) may be a more appropriate option.
The PEP is a self-sponsored work pass for high-earning professionals with a minimum qualifying salary of S$22,500. It is granted for a one-time, non-renewable period of up to 3 years and allows holders to remain in Singapore for up to 6 months without employment between roles.
Unlike a standard Employment Pass, the PEP is not tied to a single employer, making it suitable for senior professionals who want flexibility while transitioning roles or negotiating new opportunities.
Overseas applicants and established company requirement
Applicants applying from overseas are subject to an additional assessment of their employer’s standing.
In addition to meeting the S$30,000 salary requirement, the applicant must have worked for an established overseas company for at least 12 consecutive months prior to applying.
An overseas company is generally considered established if it meets at least one of the following criteria:
- Market capitalisation of at least US$500 million; or
- Annual revenue of at least US$200 million
Where applicable, combined figures across global operations may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
This requirement reflects a higher threshold for overseas applicants, compared to professionals already working in Singapore, and ensures that applicants are coming from organisations with sufficient scale and credibility.
Outstanding achievements track
Applicants who do not meet the salary threshold may still qualify if they have outstanding achievements in one or more of the following areas:
- Arts and culture
- Sports
- Academia and research
Applications under this track are assessed holistically by MOM together with relevant government agencies such as MCCY, MOE, NRF, or A*STAR.
In practice, this track is highly selective. Approval is not based on titles or claims alone, but on:
- Verifiable achievements and recognition within the field
- Demonstrable impact at a national or international level
- Credibility, consistency, and strength of supporting documentation
How achievements are positioned and substantiated plays a critical role in outcomes.
While this pathway is distinct from salary-based eligibility, similar assessment principles are applied across senior work pass evaluations where profiles fall outside standard academic or employment routes. A practical illustration of how experience, seniority, and credibility are assessed can be seen in our Employment Pass eligibility assessment case study, which shows how MOM evaluates non-traditional profiles in practice.
Duration and renewal
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass is granted for an initial period of up to five years.
It may be renewed for further five-year periods, subject to meeting MOM’s renewal requirements.
Renewal eligibility is assessed based on the pass holder’s sustained senior-level contribution in Singapore, either through continued high-income employment or business activity.
Key features of the ONE Pass
The ONE Pass offers flexibility not available under other work passes, including:
- No requirement to meet COMPASS or job advertising rules
- Ability to work for multiple companies at the same time
- Freedom to change roles or employers without reapplying
- Ability to start and operate businesses concurrently
- No foreign worker quota or levy
These features make the ONE Pass particularly attractive for senior executives, founders, and professionals with portfolio careers.
Family members and dependant passes
Eligible family members may apply for passes after the ONE Pass is approved.
Spouse
- Legally married spouse: Dependant’s Pass
- Common-law spouse (where legally recognised in home country): Long-Term Visit Pass
Spouses holding a Dependant’s Pass or LTVP may apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC) to work in Singapore.
Children and parents
- Unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted children): Dependant’s Pass
- Handicapped unmarried children aged 21 and above: Dependant’s Pass
- Parents of the ONE Pass holder: Long-Term Visit Pass
Family passes are not available for married children or children over 21 who are not handicapped.
When should family passes be applied for?
Family passes are generally recommended after the ONE Pass is approved. While concurrent applications are allowed, family application fees may be forfeited if the main ONE Pass application is rejected.
Application process and timeline
Applications are submitted online by:
- The candidate directly; or
- An appointed employment agency or employer
Typical processing time:
- About 4 weeks for most cases
- Longer for applications under the outstanding achievements track
Applicants may submit only one work pass application at a time. For example, you cannot apply for an Employment Pass and ONE Pass simultaneously.
ONE Pass renewal criteria
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass is renewable for five years at a time.
To qualify for renewal, the pass holder must meet one of the following:
- Have earned a fixed monthly salary of at least S$30,000 on average over the previous five years in Singapore; or
- Have started and operated a Singapore-based company that employs at least 5 local employees, each earning at least the prevailing EP minimum qualifying salary
This renewal framework reflects Singapore’s intention for the ONE Pass to support long-term contribution, either through sustained senior-level employment or through business creation and local job generation.
Is the ONE Pass better than an Employment Pass or PEP?
From a flexibility and stability standpoint, the ONE Pass is clearly the more powerful pass.
Compared to a standard Employment Pass or PEP, the ONE Pass offers:
- A five-year validity period (instead of the typical 2–3 years)
- The ability to work for multiple employers concurrently
- Freedom to start and operate businesses without applying for a new work pass
- No requirement to meet COMPASS or job advertising criteria
For eligible individuals, this provides a much higher level of long-term certainty and career flexibility in Singapore.
However, the key determining factor is salary.
In practice:
- Professionals earning below S$30,000 per month will continue to be assessed under the Employment Pass or Personalised Employment Pass framework.
- Professionals earning S$30,000 or more, and who can credibly maintain this level of income, may consider the ONE Pass as an upgrade from an Employment Pass.
Because the ONE Pass is assessed on both income level and sustainability, it is not simply a “better version” of the Employment Pass – it is a higher-threshold option designed for a much smaller group of senior earners.
This is why many candidates remain on an Employment Pass even after reaching senior roles, and only explore the ONE Pass once income stability, role seniority, and longer-term plans are clear.
Common misconceptions about the ONE Pass
- There are several common misunderstandings about how the ONE Pass is assessed in practice:
- It is not a general work pass for all professionals, but it is accessible to existing Employment Pass holders who meet the S$30,000 salary threshold
- For applicants already in Singapore, sustained salary at or above S$30,000 is usually the key eligibility factor
- For overseas applicants, salary alone is not sufficient — the employing company’s scale and financial standing are also assessed
- Applications are reviewed for credibility and consistency, but this does not mean subjective “super seniority” requirements where salary and employment history are clear
- In short, the ONE Pass is highly selective, but selectivity operates differently depending on where the applicant is based.
Common questions about the ONE Pass
Yes. ONE Pass holders may apply for Singapore Permanent Residency, but approval is assessed separately by ICA and is not automatic. PR applications are evaluated holistically, taking into account factors such as income stability, length of stay, family ties, and overall contribution to Singapore.
You may wish to review the Singapore Permanent Residency application process to understand how eligibility is assessed in practice.
Yes. Spouses of ONE Pass holders who are issued a Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass may apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC), which allows them to work in Singapore without a separate Employment Pass
Depending on their circumstances, an LOC may also allow a spouse to operate a business or work under their own company structure, subject to prevailing requirements and compliance conditions.
To understand how this works in practice, see our guide on working in Singapore under a Letter of Consent.
The ONE Pass offers longer validity and greater flexibility than most work passes, but it is available only to professionals who meet higher eligibility thresholds. Many applicants assess it alongside other Singapore work pass options such as the Employment Pass or Personalised Employment Pass before deciding which route is appropriate.
When professional assessment helps
Because the ONE Pass is discretionary and profile-driven, professional assessment can be useful where:
- The applicant is transitioning from an Employment Pass or PEP
- Income is complex or drawn internationally
- The applicant is a founder, investor, or portfolio professional
- Family pass planning is required
In such cases, understanding how MOM assesses credibility, achievements, and long-term contribution can materially affect outcomes.
Next steps
If you are considering applying for the Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass and would like assistance with eligibility assessment or application strategy, you may book a consultation to discuss your situation or review our Singapore immigration services.
About the Author: Sulochana Uthirapathi is the Founder of Transform Borders, a Singapore immigration consultancy established in 2017. She specialises in Employment Pass (EP), Permanent Residency (PR) and Citizenship applications, supporting professionals, families and corporate clients with legally guided and structured immigration processes.