Key updates from 2025 and reminders for the year ahead
Key Updates in 2025 Below is a summary of important developments from 2025:
1. ONE Pass Annual Reports: The first annual report requests were sent by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to ONE Pass holders in early 2025. These requests were sent directly to ONE Pass holders via the email addresses registered in the MOM system.
2. ONE Pass Statistics & Ministerial Comments: MOM also released statistics and provided commentary on the ONE Pass, which is the newest pass type in Singapore. The Minister commented that the government is working to increase outreach to global talent and to encourage ONE Pass holders to participate in local programmes to mentor, network, and exchange insights with the business community. They also pointed out that most ONE Pass applications to date were conversions from EPs and PEPs.
3. EP Qualifying Salary: The government confirmed that there would be no further changes to the EP qualifying salary in 2025.
4. COMPASS Framework Impacts: The government shared that the impact of the COMPASS Framework had been analyzed. Early results suggested a decline in firms with a higher dependence on foreign nationals of a single nationality.
5. S Pass Qualifying Salary: It was announced that the S Pass qualifying salary would be increased, and the benchmark used as a reference is the top one-third of local Associates, Professionals and Technicians (APTs), as shown in the table.
6. S Pass Levy Increase: The S Pass levy was increased from SGD 550 to SGD 650 for all S Pass holders with effect from 1 September 2025.
7. Work Permit (WP) Updates: There were several updates relating to the WP, as outlined below. In addition, it was confirmed that the number of WP holders in Singapore had reached an all-time high, approximately 17% above pre-Covid levels.
- From 1 July 2025, the maximum employment period restriction for WP holders was be removed. Previously, employment was capped at 14 to 25 years, which often resulted in companies having to let go of experienced workers.
- From 1 July 2025, the maximum employment age of WP holders was aligned with the local retirement age, which is currently 63. However, new applicants must be below 61 years old at the point of application. This change does not apply to domestic migrant workers.
- From 1 June 2025, the Non-Traditional Source Occupation List (NTS-OL) was expanded to include Laos, Cambodia, and Bhutan, in response to industry demand.
- From 1 September 2025, the NTS-OL was further expanded to include more non-PMET occupations, including most manufacturing operator roles, heavy vehicle drivers, and cooks.
8. Widened use of the WP: The use of the WP continued to expand in 2025, with conversions from S Pass to WP becoming more common. In addition, the Dependant Pass Work Permit (DP-WP) was increasingly used by DP holders seeking employment in Singapore.
9. Adjustment in Declaration of Qualifications: Around April 2025, MOM removed the option to declare non-listed awarding institutions. This means that if an institution or school is not listed in the drop-down menu, the qualification cannot be declared.
As a result, most high school, post-secondary, vocational, and professional qualifications are no longer declared, and some EP and S Pass applications are now processed without any declared qualifications.
10. Tightened Border Security: The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) announced several measures to tighten border security. This includes the implementation of No-Boarding Directives (NBDs) and the establishment of the Integrated Targeting Centre (ITC), which leverages advance traveller information and data analytics to identify high-risk travellers before they arrive in Singapore.
11. COMPASS Framework Updates: In August 2025, updated salary benchmarks under the C1 salary criterion were released, resulting in higher minimum salaries required to score 10 and 20 points across most sectors.
In December 2025, updates were also made to the top-tier institution list, professional qualification list, and the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
12. Vaping Enforcement: On 28 August 2025, the Singapore government held a press conference announcing measures to combat vaping. These included stronger penalties, enhanced enforcement, and specific penalties for foreign nationals, which may include pass revocation and bans on re-entry into Singapore.
Important Reminders for 2026
Reflecting on the past year allows us to anticipate what may lie ahead in 2026. Below are key reminders as we move into the new year.
1. ONE Pass Annual Notifications: We expect MOM to issue another round of annual notification requests to ONE Pass holders sometime in Q1 or Q2 2026. We recommend that clients and ONE Pass holders regularly monitor their inboxes for any correspondence from MOM and ensure that contact details remain up to date in the MOM system.
2. Updating Company Turnover in MOM system: As we enter a new year, companies are able to update their annual turnover/revenue figures in the MOM system. This should be done even if the final turnover figure for 2025 is not yet available. Failure to update this information may result in processing delays and, in some cases, application rejections.
3. Budget and Committee of Supply Announcements: The Singapore Budget is expected to be released in February 2026, followed by the Committee of Supply (COS) debates. It is normally around this time that more substantial changes to immigration policy are announced, as well as commentary on existing policies. We look forward to potential updates on the ONE Pass and the COMPASS Framework during this year’s budget and COS.
4. Impact of Tightened Border Security: It remains to be seen what the No-Boarding Directives (NBDs), which will take effect from 30 January 2026, will mean for travelers to Singapore. In recent years, there has already been a noticeable increase in refused entries. As such, businesses should be prepared and ensure that business travelers are properly briefed on permissible visitor activities and the risks associated with non-compliance.
5. Minimum Salaries for EP and S Passes: It is currently unclear whether increases in the minimum qualifying salaries for EPs and S Passes will be announced in 2026. However, given that increases have been announced most years, it is advisable to be prepared for potential adjustments.
6. COMPASS Framework: Updates to the COMPASS Framework criteria are expected, as the framework is reviewed annually. Key indicative timelines include:
- C1 Salary: Potential update around August 2026
- C2 Qualifications: Potential update around November 2026
- C5 SOL: Potential update around November 2026
MOM has indicated that the SOL will undergo a comprehensive review every three years. As the COMPASS Framework was introduced in September 2023, this comprehensive review is expected to take place sometime in 2026.
K2 will continue to share updates as and when they become available, and we encourage all clients to watch for our communications. Please feel free to reach out to immigrationsingapore@k2xborder.com should you have any specific questions.
