2025 Singapore EntrePass Complete Guide

Singapore's EntrePass, as the core gateway to the nation's innovation ecosystem, has completed a new round of policy upgrades in 2025. This channel, specifically designed for global tech entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors, shows an evolution trend of precision, structuralization, and high value in application standards, renewal rules, and permanent residence pathways. Understanding its underlying logic and operational details has become a mandatory course for tech entrepreneurs landing in Singapore.

1. Policy Positioning and Target Groups: Targeted Selection for the Innovation Ecosystem

The core distinction between EntrePass and regular work visas lies in its clear innovation orientation:

• Industry Restrictions: Explicitly excludes traditional businesses (coffee shops, massage centers, feng shui consulting, etc.), focusing on tech innovation sectors such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, biomedicine, and clean energy
• Applicant Categories:
  • Entrepreneurs: Must secure ≥S$100,000 investment from government-recognized institutions or participate in official programs like SGInnovate
  • Innovators: Must hold international patents or exclusive technology (third-party technical assessment report required)
  • Investors: Required to establish venture capital funds or incubators with proven successful investment cases
• Company Status: Limited to newly registered companies ≤6 months old, with applicant holding ≥30% shares

2025 EntrePass Applicable vs Non-Applicable Industries Comparison Table

2. In-Depth Analysis of 2025 Application Conditions: Compliance Framework from Qualifications to Documentation

(1) Core Qualification Requirements

• Education Threshold: Bachelor's degree or above (STEM majors preferred), fresh graduates can substitute experience with academic achievements (patents/competition awards)
• Financial Proof: Personal or corporate account requires ≥S$50,000 deposit (from 2025, must show "registered capital" notation)
• Business Innovation: Must pass NUS/NTU expert review; tech projects must provide ≥2 international patent application records

(2) Revolutionary Upgrade of Documentation List

• Blockchain Verification: Academic credentials require CSSD certification + Opencerts blockchain storage; contract documents need hash on-chain
• Business Plan: Mandatory submission of 3-year financial projections in XBRL format, with new "Singapore Value Contribution" quantified chapter (must explain local job creation and technology transfer plans)
• Third-Party Endorsement: Must attach incubator residency certificate or pre-approval opinion from government agencies (e.g., EnterpriseSG)

3. Phased Application Process and Key Documents

▶ Phase 1: Company Registration and Preliminary Preparation (1-2 weeks)

• Register private limited company (Pte. Ltd.) through ACRA BizFile+ system, select innovation industry code (e.g., "Technology Consulting")
• Rent physical office space (shared spaces require landlord compliance certificate), residential address registration prohibited

▶ Phase 2: Application Document Assembly (3-4 weeks)

• Basic Documents: Passport, blockchain-certified academic credentials, police clearance certificate (notarized translation required)
• Business Documents:
  • XBRL format business plan (including SWOT-PESTEL analysis model)
  • Local director appointment letter (must be Singapore citizen/PR/EP holder)
  • Client contracts/invoices (cumulative amount ≥20% of registered capital)
• Financial Proof: Bank API direct-linked statements (screenshots prohibited); third-party funding requires notarized gift agreement

▶ Phase 3: Online Submission and Approval (6-8 weeks)

• Submit through MOM official website, pay S$100 application fee
• Subject to AI pre-screening system (documents with AI generation rate >25% automatically flagged)
• Approximately 30% of applicants required to attend online interview (focus on technology commercialization pathway)

4. Renewal and Permanent Residence Application Path: From Survival to Taking Root

(1) Renewal Conditions (Must Meet at Least Two)

• Employ ≥1 local professional (monthly salary ≥S$1,400 with full CPF contributions)
• Annual revenue ≥S$100,000 (2025 standard increased)
• Secure ≥S$50,000 investment from government-recognized institutions

EntrePass Renewal Requirements Tier Table

(2) Permanent Residence (PR) Application Strategy

• Basic Conditions: Hold pass for 2-3 years, stable company operations (annual revenue ≥S$300,000, employ ≥3 local staff)
• Fast Track:
  • Receive government fund support (e.g., Startup SG)
  • Technology patents generate commercial conversion (sales contracts required)
  • Participate in national R&D projects (e.g., A*STAR collaboration)
• Key Prohibitions: Zero revenue in first year or failure to hire local employees will result in direct PR application rejection

5. 2025 Policy Changes and Response Strategies

(1) Structural Tightening Areas

• Dependent Policy: Dependents prohibited in first year (spouse/children can only apply for DP after meeting funding/revenue conditions in second year)
• Funding Pressure: Must secure ≥S$50,000 investment within 12 months (limited to government-recognized institutions), projects with burn rate exceeding S$30,000/month will be closely monitored
• Compliance Costs: Accounting audit fees rise to S$5,000-8,000/year, plus S$5,000 government security deposit required

(2) Benefit Release Directions

• Quota Preference: Tech companies' foreign employee quota can reach 1:3 (regular companies only 1:5)
• Fast Track: Joining government incubators (e.g., BLOCK71, NTUitive) can waive certain funding requirements, approval shortened to 4 weeks
• Industry Priority: Hydrogen energy, quantum computing, carbon trading projects enjoy EDB direct review

Conclusion: Finding Certainty in the Innovation Ecosystem

The 2025 EntrePass policy functions like a sophisticated "innovation filter": it eliminates document fraud through blockchain verification, screens sustainable projects through XBRL financial models, and binds entrepreneurs to Singapore's talent ecosystem through local employment requirements. Successful cases prove that when technological barriers, business logic, and social value form a triple closed loop, the policy's high threshold actually becomes a moat for quality projects.

For entrepreneurs, the key lies in understanding the direction of rule evolution one step ahead—from betting on technology validation in the first year, to driving local integration in the second year, and ultimately achieving permanent residence application in the third year. In this system where innovation is the passport, every step of policy compliance is a refinement of business essence.