Singapore Self-Employed EP vs EntrePass: In-depth Comparison and Selection Strategy

Should you apply for Self-Employed EP or EntrePass? This seemingly simple choice will directly impact your business layout and family planning for the next three years. Singapore has made significant adjustments to policies for both types of passes, drawing clearer boundaries between talent introduction and entrepreneurship support.

1. Core Differences Overview (2025 Edition)

2. Application Threshold Comparison

1. Business Entity Requirements

• Self-Employed EP:
• Registered capital ≥S$50,000 (subscribed capital system)
• No industry restrictions
• Can acquire existing companies
• EntrePass:
• Must register new company (≤6 months)
• Limited to innovative industries (tech/R&D/venture capital, etc.)
• Requires endorsement from recognized incubator or venture capital (2025 new rule)

2. Personal Qualifications

• Self-Employed EP:
• No specific educational requirements
• Must demonstrate management experience (recommended ≥3 years)
• Monthly salary ≥S$5,600 (S$6,200 for financial sector)
• EntrePass:
• Bachelor's degree or above (STEM majors preferred)
• Entrepreneurial experience or patent technology
• No minimum salary requirement (but must maintain personal expenses)

3. Business Plan

• Self-Employed EP:
• Traditional business plan (3-year financial forecast)
• Focus on business viability
• EntrePass:
• Innovation assessment (requires NUS/NTU expert review)
• Must explain technology commercialization path
• Case: A blockchain project received Grade A for unique consensus mechanism

3. Key Differences in Operational Phase

1. Employment Policy

• Self-Employed EP:
• First year can have no local employees (but affects PR application)
• Foreign employee quota depends on company size
• EntrePass:
• Must hire 1 local professional in first year (2025 new rule)
• Enjoys foreign employee quota benefits (tech companies up to 1:3)

2. Funding Requirements

• Self-Employed EP:
• No mandatory funding requirements
• Can be 100% self-funded
• EntrePass:
• Must secure ≥S$50,000 investment within 12 months (from government-recognized institutions)
• Or annual revenue ≥S$100,000 (2025 raised standard)

3. Compliance Costs

4. Conversion and Upgrade Paths

1. Pass Conversion

• EntrePass to EP:
• Must meet EP salary standards
• Company operates for 18 months
• Success rate ~65% (2025 data)
• EP to EntrePass:
• Almost impossible (policy prohibited)
• Must cancel original company and re-register

2. PR Application Advantages

• Self-Employed EP:
• Can apply directly after 24 months
• Must prove business sustainability (recommended annual revenue ≥S$500,000)
• EntrePass:
• Must first convert to EP
• But innovative companies enjoy bonus points (approval rate +15%)

3. Family Planning

• Self-Employed EP:
• Spouse can work (DP holder)
• Children can attend public schools (through AEIS)
• EntrePass:
• No dependents allowed in first year (tightened in 2025)
• Second year requires meeting funding or revenue ≥S$200,000 to apply for DP

5. Industry Suitability Analysis

1. Industries Preferring Self-Employed EP

• Traditional Trade: Import/Export/Wholesale/Retail
• Professional Services: Legal/Accounting/Consulting
• Regional Specialties: Chinese Cuisine/Oriental Medicine
• Case: A Pu'er tea trader obtained PR through EP in three years

2. Industries Preferring EntrePass

• Deep Tech: AI/Quantum Computing/Biomedicine
• Web3.0: Blockchain/NFT Infrastructure
• Green Economy: Carbon Trading/Clean Energy
• Case: A hydrogen energy team was acquired 18 months after obtaining EntrePass

6. 2025 Application Strategy Recommendations

1. Choose Self-Employed EP When

• Have mature business model
• Need to bring family immediately
• Industry not on EntrePass list
• Plan to acquire existing business

2. Choose EntrePass When

• Hold patents or core technology
• Received incubator admission invitation
• Need foreign employee quota
• Seeking government grants (up to S$500,000)

3. Hybrid Strategy

• First establish with EP quickly (6 months)
• Simultaneously apply for EntrePass (convert after approval)
• Note: Must maintain operational costs for two companies

7. Common Misjudgments and Risks

1. Underestimating Innovation Threshold
   2025 EntrePass rejection rate rose to 58% (due to many ordinary projects posing as tech)
2. Poor Financial Planning
   EntrePass companies burn average S$30,000/month in first year
3. Ignoring Conversion Costs
   Converting from EntrePass to EP requires re-audit (additional ~S$8,000)
4. Misreading Family Policy
   Mistakenly believing EntrePass allows children enrollment in first year (actually needs DP approval)

Conclusion: Choice is Strategic Positioning

Singapore's 2025 talent policy is forming a clearer dual-track system: Self-Employed EP targets "business value creators," while EntrePass focuses on "technology innovation pioneers." Successful entrepreneurs often don't simply compare application difficulty, but make choices based on three core questions: What is my core competitiveness? (technology/business model), How urgent is my family planning?, What is my 3-year funding plan? Remember, this choice is not just about visa types, but determines how you'll participate in Singapore's economic narrative—as a competitor in mature markets or a builder of the innovation ecosystem. When your choice matches your true strengths, those seemingly strict policy requirements will actually become a moat protecting your development space.