Immigration Advisory Since 2014
Singapore Immigration from UAE & GCC
Singapore is Asia's premier financial and business hub, operating a transparent, merit-based immigration system. The Employment Pass (EP) is the primary entry route for foreign professionals, with a clear pathway to Singapore Permanent Residence for those who establish strong economic ties. Singapore is a direct 7-hour flight from Dubai.
Immigration Pathways
Our advisors in Dubai map your profile against official government criteria and prepare structured applications.
Employment Pass (EP)
For foreign professionals, managers and executives with a qualifying job offer from a Singapore-registered employer. As of 2026, EP applicants must clear a two-stage test: first, a qualifying salary benchmarked to the top third of local PMET wages by age — currently at least SGD 5,600/month for most sectors (SGD 6,200/month for financial services), rising with age up to roughly SGD 10,700 (SGD 11,800 in financial services) at age 45 and above; these floors rise further to SGD 6,000 / SGD 6,600 for new applications from 1 January 2027 and renewals expiring from 1 January 2028. Second, unless exempted (broadly, candidates already earning SGD 22,500/month or more), the candidate must score at least 40 points under COMPASS (the Complementarity Assessment Framework) — see below.
COMPASS: the points test behind every EP
COMPASS scores an EP application across criteria that typically include salary relative to local benchmarks, qualifications, workforce diversity of the hiring firm, the firm's support for local employment, and (for shortage occupations or strategic economic priorities) bonus points. A minimum of 40 points is required alongside the qualifying salary — meeting the salary alone is not sufficient. Getting this right before submission avoids a straightforward but avoidable rejection.
ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass)
For top global talent with a fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 30,000 (current or the salary offered by a future Singapore-based employer), or those with outstanding, recognised achievements in business, arts and culture, sports, or science, technology and academia/research. Valid for 5 years, not tied to a single employer, and lets the holder take on multiple concurrent business activities or directorships in Singapore — a materially different structure from the employer-tied EP.
S Pass
For mid-skilled technical staff and specialists who do not meet EP salary levels but hold a recognised diploma or technical qualification plus relevant work experience. S Pass numbers are also subject to a company-level quota and a foreign-worker levy, and MOM periodically revises the qualifying salary — confirm the current figure before assuming eligibility, since it changes independently of the EP thresholds above.
Singapore Permanent Residence (PR)
Most UAE-based professionals pursue PR through the Professional, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) Scheme, open to EP and S Pass holders. Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) guidance requires at least 6 months of continuous employment in Singapore before applying, though a longer, more established track record generally makes for a stronger case. ICA assesses economic contribution, qualifications, family ties and length of residence on a discretionary, case-by-case basis — there is no fixed points threshold published for PTS, unlike the EP's COMPASS test.
EntrePass
For entrepreneurs starting or already running a qualifying, innovative Singapore-registered business — typically evidenced by backing from an accredited venture capital firm or incubator, ownership of qualifying intellectual property, or a substantiated track record of entrepreneurial achievement. It is assessed by Enterprise Singapore criteria rather than a fixed salary, and is a materially different application path from the employment-based passes above.
Eligibility at a Glance
Which pass fits depends on a combination of factors, not any single number:
- Qualifying salary for the specific pass — EP, S Pass and ONE Pass each have their own distinct salary floor, and EP's rises further with age.
- COMPASS points (EP only) — salary/qualifications/diversity/local-employment-support/shortage-occupation and strategic-priority scoring, unless the candidate is COMPASS-exempt.
- Employer sponsorship — EP and S Pass are tied to a specific Singapore-registered employer; ONE Pass and EntrePass are not.
- Educational qualifications and relevant experience — verifiable, recognised qualifications strengthen an EP/S Pass case materially under COMPASS.
- Time already worked in Singapore — relevant for PTS Scheme PR applications, where continuous EP/S Pass employment (minimum 6 months per ICA guidance) is required.
- Quota and levy exposure (S Pass and work permits) — employer-side quota caps can affect whether a role is even eligible to be filled by an S Pass holder.
How Cosmos Supports UAE-Based Applicants
Cosmos Immigration has been advising clients from Dubai and Abu Dhabi since 2014, and our consultants are affiliated with CICC (Canada's regulator) and MARA (Australia's regulator). Singapore does not require a foreign consultancy to hold a local employment-agency licence to advise on EP, ONE Pass or PR eligibility from abroad — but we are not a Singapore-licensed employment agency, and we do not claim to be one.
What we actually do: assess your profile honestly against the current EP salary and COMPASS criteria (or ONE Pass/PTS-PR criteria), prepare a clear, evidence-backed document set, and coordinate directly with your prospective Singapore employer — who submits the formal MOM application — so the process runs in the right order the first time. Since 2014, our advisors have completed 10,569 client assessments across our Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Hyderabad offices.
Singapore Immigration FAQs
What is the Employment Pass minimum salary?
As of 2026, at least SGD 5,600/month for most sectors and SGD 6,200/month for financial services, rising with age up to roughly SGD 10,700-11,800 at age 45 and above. These floors increase to SGD 6,000/6,600 for new applications from 1 January 2027 and renewals expiring from 1 January 2028. Meeting the salary is necessary but not sufficient — the application must also clear COMPASS.
What is the COMPASS framework?
COMPASS is MOM's points-based assessment for Employment Pass applications, scoring salary, qualifications, workforce diversity, local employment support and shortage-occupation/strategic-priority criteria. A minimum of 40 points is required, unless the candidate earns above the COMPASS-exemption salary (around SGD 22,500/month).
What is the ONE Pass and who qualifies?
The Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass is for top-tier talent earning at least SGD 30,000/month, or those with outstanding, verifiable achievements in business, arts, sports, science or academia. Unlike the EP, it is not tied to one employer and is valid for 5 years.
How do I apply for Singapore PR?
Most professionals apply through the PTS Scheme once they have held an EP or S Pass for at least 6 months (per ICA guidance, though a longer record generally strengthens the case). ICA weighs economic contribution, qualifications, family ties and length of residence on a discretionary basis rather than a published points threshold.
Can my family join me in Singapore?
EP holders meeting a minimum salary can generally sponsor a Dependant's Pass for a spouse and children, and a Long-Term Visit Pass for other dependants, subject to MOM's current criteria at the time of application — these thresholds and eligibility rules are reviewed periodically, so we confirm the current position for your specific pass type and salary before you plan around it.
Is Cosmos a licensed Singapore employment agent?
No. Cosmos is CICC (Canada) and MARA (Australia) affiliated, and we do not hold or claim any Singapore employment-agency licence or MOM registration. We prepare your case and coordinate with your Singapore employer, who submits the formal application through MOM's official channel.
Official & Reference Sources
We work directly from official government sources. Verify any information through these authoritative channels:
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