Table of Contents
Introduction
The S Pass is a work visa for mid-skilled foreign workers. So it’s not for someone on a high executive level, but also not for fresh new interns. Technicians, supervisors, or supporting staff in manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and IT would be some examples. It permits foreigners to work in Singapore, provided they meet certain key requirements such as pay, qualifications, and sponsorship by the employer.
Starting 1 September 2025, a lot of the guidelines and criteria are changing regarding the S Pass. In this article, we’ll go through all these updates so that you’ll know exactly what to expect if you are thinking of applying for an S Pass.
S Pass Eligibility in 2025
The minimum qualifying salary for S Pass applicants is going to rise starting 1 September 2025. It’s an important update if you’re planning to apply or hire someone on an S Pass in Singapore.
Salary Requirements (as of 1 September 2025):
- For non-financial sectors: The baseline starts at S$3,300/month. But that’s only if you’re 23 years old.
As the age of the applicant goes up, so does the qualifying salary. So the older and more experienced you are, the higher your earnings need to be, perhaps as high as S$4,800 or higher to qualify.
- For financial services: It starts higher here, too—S$3,800/month at 23 years old.
And like before, it increases with age. For mature applicants, it can be up to S$5,650 or higher.
Why the disparity? Financial services jobs are overall perceived to be more qualified and better paid, so the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will demand higher pay to correspond.
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What about qualifications?
The other change is that now reporting your academic qualifications is optional. You don’t need to present your degrees or diplomas unless you wish to. But if you do decide to report them, they have to be from a recognised institution, and MOM will require them to be validated. That entails following formal procedures to establish that your school is legitimate and your papers are authentic.
This provides room for experienced workers who do not have formal qualifications but possess good experience and good offers.
How can you be sure if you’ll be approved?
Utilise MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT). It’s a bit like a “pre-check” on your application.
- If your SAT outcome indicates green, there is approximately a 90% chance that you will get approved. That is a strong green light to proceed.
- If you see that it’s red, chances are you’ll not get approved. Perhaps your pay is too little, or your qualifications aren’t up to expectations yet.
Don’t skip this step, as it saves you time and provides you with a realistic assessment of where you’re at before embarking on the full process.
S Pass Quota Guidelines (2025)
Singapore has a strict quota system to counterbalance foreign manpower and protect local jobs. It is called the Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC). It regulates the percentage of S Pass holders a company can employ in relation to its overall workforce.
How it works is as follows:
- Service Sector: Up to 10% of the total workforce may be employed by companies using S Pass holders.
- Manufacturing, Construction, Marine, and Process Sectors: There is a slightly higher quota, at 15% of the total workforce.
This means that if your company has 100 employees, you can have up to 10 S Pass holders in the service sector or 15 if you’re in one of the other mentioned sectors.
S Pass Levy Updates
Employers in all sectors, from 1 September 2025, will pay S$650 monthly for every S Pass holder. It doesn’t matter if your business is in construction, services, finance, or manufacturing. The fee is the same across the board.
Under the old system, levy rates fluctuated according to quotas and tiers. But this makes things so much easier.
What if your worker only works part of the month?
Then the levy will be computed on a daily basis. Here’s the calculation:
Daily Levy = (S$650 × 12) ÷ 365 = S$21.37/day (rounded up)
So if the worker starts in the middle of the month or leaves before the month is out, you won’t have to handle a complicated breakdown. Just list the days.
What Employers and Job Applicants Need to Prepare
For Employers:
- Check salary offers now. If applicants are paid less than S$3,300 (or S$3,800) based on industry and age, promote them ahead of renewal or new appointments.
- Keep track of CPF declarations on a weekly basis. Fraudulently low local manpower might force you into the inappropriate levy Tier.
- Plan for the higher levy: current S$650/month per S‑Pass.
- Advertise vacancies on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 days to comply with Fair Consideration Framework requirements.
For Applicants:
- Ensure your job offer wage complies with the new caps, particularly when renewals take effect from 1 September 2026.
- Gather all your important documents, verified diplomas if stated, contract, passport, and employer profile.
- Keep in mind that the Renewals have to be compliant with the new salary caps.
Renewal Process & Family Allowances
- Apply for renewal up to 6 months before the expiry date.
- First pass is for 2 years, while renewals are up to 3 years.
- After 1 September 2026, the renewals will change and will have to meet the new salary requirements.
- In case your income is more than S$6,000/month, you become eligible to apply for a Dependant’s Pass for your spouse and children, and also a Long Term Visit Pass for parents or disabled dependents.
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Conclusion
To summarise, if you are expecting to apply for an S Pass in 2025, or have someone you need to hire who requires one, these are the things you must get right:
- First, verify the new minimum wage according to the applicant’s nationality and industry. It’s not open to bargaining. If it’s below the offer, the application doesn’t even stand a chance.
- Then, ensure your firm has quota space. There is a quota ceiling for each industry on how many S Pass holders you can hire, so keep that in mind.
- Then comes the levy: it’s now a flat S$650 a month across the board. If one doesn’t work the whole month, do it on a daily basis based on (650 × 12) ÷ 365.
- Lastly, get your documents in order: certified education diplomas (if you make them a declaration), employment contract with salary, passport, company ACRA profile, and evidence that you have passed the SAT or have available quota space.
- In short, the process is now more organised, and that is a good thing; if you do it step by step. If you get yourself organised early, approvals will become much smoother.
