Singapore Residency Routes: Employment Pass vs Global Investor Programme
The Employment Pass and the Global Investor Programme are fundamentally different routes — one built on employment and salary, the other on invested capital. This guide compares current thresholds, the COMPASS framework and who each suits, including the EP increase from January 2027.
In short
EP and GIP serve entirely different applicants. The Employment Pass is issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and rests on employment: as at September 2026 the minimum qualifying salary starts at S$5,600 per month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services, rising with age to S$10,700 and S$11,800 respectively at 45 and above, and most applicants must also score 40 points under COMPASS. The Global Investor Programme is administered by the Economic Development Board (EDB) and leads directly to permanent residence, with three options: at least S$10 million invested in a business, S$25 million into a GIP-select fund, or a single family office managing at least S$200 million in assets.
EP vs GIP thresholds
- EP minimum salary (most sectors)
- From S$5,600; S$10,700 at age 45+
- EP minimum salary (financial services)
- From S$6,200; S$11,800 at age 45+
- EP points requirement
- 40 points on COMPASS (most applicants)
- EP increase
- From 1 Jan 2027: S$6,000 / S$6,600 for new applications
- GIP Option A
- At least S$10m into a new or existing business
- GIP Option B
- At least S$25m into a GIP-select fund
- GIP Option C
- Single family office with at least S$200m AUM
- GIP application fee
- S$20,000 (since 5 May 2025)
- Regulators
- EP: MOM; GIP: EDB
They solve different problems
The EP is a work pass, not permanent residence. It rests on employment: a Singapore company applies as employer, and the holder may work and live in Singapore, applying separately for permanent residence later if eligible. Founders and business owners commonly incorporate a company and have it employ them — the route often described as a "self-sponsored EP".
GIP leads directly to permanent residence. It is administered by EDB, aimed at applicants with an established business record, and measured in invested capital.
So the first fork is not "which is easier" but: do you want an operating Singapore entity, or to exchange investment for direct permanent residence?
EP: the salary floor is only half of it
As at September 2026, MOM's minimum qualifying salary for the EP:
| Applicant age | Most sectors | Financial services |
|---|---|---|
| Younger applicants (entry point) | S$5,600 | S$6,200 |
| 45 and above | S$10,700 | S$11,800 |
The floor rises with age, benchmarked to the top third of local PMET salaries. The same role therefore requires materially higher pay for an older applicant.
Beyond salary, most applicants must also pass COMPASS with at least 40 points. COMPASS scores salary, qualifications, nationality diversity within the firm, and the firm's share of local employees — it is a combined firm-level and individual-level assessment. This is the most underestimated part of the self-sponsored route: a newly incorporated company whose only person is the applicant typically scores poorly on diversity and local employment share.
The floor is rising. MOM has announced that from 1 January 2027, for new applications, the minimum qualifying salary increases to S$6,000 for most sectors and S$6,600 for financial services, with renewals following on a separate timetable.
GIP: three options at very different scales
EDB's current GIP offers three options:
- Option A — at least S$10 million invested in a new or existing business;
- Option B — at least S$25 million into a GIP-select fund;
- Option C — establish a single family office managing at least S$200 million in assets, of which at least S$50 million is deployed into Singapore-based investments.
The application fee has been S$20,000 since 5 May 2025.
GIP targets applicants with an established business track record, and EDB assesses operating history, company scale and the credibility of the investment plan. The investment threshold is necessary, not sufficient.
A family office is not a residency route
This is among the most common misconceptions. Setting up a family office does not by itself confer residency.
In practice there are two bridges:
- Family members hold an EP employed by the family office — subject to the salary floor and COMPASS, with a substantive role (reasonable pay, genuine responsibilities, working in Singapore);
- Apply for PR through GIP Option C — but that option requires at least S$200 million under management, far above the 13O (S$20 million) and 13U (S$50 million) tax incentive thresholds.
Put plainly: a family office that satisfies 13O or 13U does not thereby satisfy GIP Option C. The two sit an order of magnitude apart and must be modelled separately.
Choosing
- A genuine operating business you intend to run → the EP route is usually more realistic, but address the firm-level COMPASS structure (local employees, diversity) early;
- Investment capacity and a preference for direct PR → GIP, accepting EDB's substantive review of business background;
- Family asset management as the core objective → design the family office and the residency plan separately; neither delivers the other automatically.
Where CM1 fits
On residency projects CM1 GROUP acts as the coordinating and execution party: route feasibility assessment, Singapore incorporation and corporate secretarial work, employment and remuneration structuring, preparation and submission coordination for EP and DP applications, aligning family office and residency planning, and liaison with the relevant authorities and professional parties. Approval rests with MOM and EDB. Jurisdiction-specific tax or legal opinions are issued by licensed local firms we coordinate.
Related: Singapore family office guide, Singapore company incorporation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum Singapore EP salary in 2026?
As at September 2026, S$5,600 per month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services, rising with the applicant's age to S$10,700 and S$11,800 respectively at 45 and above. MOM has announced that from 1 January 2027 the floor rises to S$6,000 and S$6,600 for new applications.
What is COMPASS and what score is needed?
COMPASS is MOM's points-based EP assessment framework, and most applicants must reach 40 points. It scores salary, qualifications, nationality diversity within the firm and the firm's share of local employees — a combined firm-level and individual-level assessment. A newly incorporated company whose only person is the applicant typically scores poorly on diversity and local employment share.
What are the GIP investment thresholds?
EDB's current GIP has three options: Option A, at least S$10 million into a new or existing business; Option B, at least S$25 million into a GIP-select fund; Option C, a single family office managing at least S$200 million in assets with at least S$50 million deployed into Singapore-based investments. The application fee has been S$20,000 since 5 May 2025.
Does setting up a family office grant Singapore PR?
No. A family office does not confer residency by itself. The usual bridges are family members holding an EP employed by the family office, or applying for PR through GIP Option C — which requires at least S$200 million under management, far above the 13O (S$20 million) and 13U (S$50 million) tax thresholds. The two sit an order of magnitude apart and must be modelled separately.
Is a self-sponsored EP different from a regular EP?
There is no separate 'self-sponsored EP' category; the same salary and COMPASS standards apply. The difference is that the applicant is also the employer: a Singapore company must be incorporated first and apply on their behalf, so the company's operating substance, local employee mix and remuneration arrangements directly affect the COMPASS score and the outcome.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower, Singapore (MOM) — Employment Pass eligibility and COMPASS
- Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) — Global Investor Programme
Regulatory terms and figures cited here are attributed to their source and stated as at the date shown. They are provided for reference only and do not constitute legal, tax or investment advice. Requirements change — confirm the prevailing rules with the relevant authority before acting.
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