Economy Policy
Singapore to raise minimum salary requirement for S Pass work permits
|
Updated on
The increase aligns with the government’s aim to raise the quality of job applicants and maintain competitiveness.
Foreign workers seeking employment in Singapore will need to meet higher salary requirements to obtain work permits, following recent changes to S Pass applications.
The minimum qualifying salary for S Pass holders will be raised from S$3,150 ($2,460) to S$3,300 ($2,580), while those in the financial services sector will have a higher salary threshold from S$3,650 ($2,850) to S$3,800 ($2,970) starting September 1, 2025, the Ministry of Manpower (MoM) posted on its website.
The minimum salary requirement also rises with age, starting at age 23. Candidates 45 years old and above are required to have a minimum salary of S$4,800 ($3,750), while those applying for financial services roles require at least S$5,650 ($4,415).
The ministry said the S Pass Basic/Tier 1 levy will also be raised from S$550 to S$650 on September 1, 2025, while the Tier 2 levy remains unchanged at S$650.
The S Pass is a work permit that enables businesses in Singapore to employ mid-skilled foreign workers, such as technicians and support staff, who do not meet Employment Pass (EP) criteria. To qualify, foreign applicants must have a job offer from an employer based in Singapore and have a fixed monthly salary comparable to that earned by the top one-third of local workers classified under the Associate Professionals and Technicians (APT) category.
The S Pass must also be applied for by the employers or a duly appointed employment agent on behalf of the applicant. If the pass holder changes jobs, the new employer must apply for a new pass.
The MoM said the higher wage and levy requirements were meant to ensure the quality of S Pass holders is in line with the local APT workforce.
The qualifying salary for the Employment Pass, which was revised earlier in 2025, remains unchanged at S$5,600 ($4,370) and S$6,200 ($4,840) for financial services workers.
Singapore is facing a chronic talent shortage due to declining birth rates and increasing competition for skilled workers in the region.
Earlier in June, the government began accepting work permit applications for non-PMET (professionals, managers, executives, and technicians) roles from candidates from non-traditional source (NTS) countries of Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos. It also approved new minimum wage increases for more than 53,000 retail workers nationwide to boost competitiveness and productivity in the retail sector.
Topics
Author
Loading...
Loading...