EntrePass

TL;DR

Singapore work pass for foreign founders of a venture-backed Pte Ltd, with eligibility tied to funding raised, IP, accelerators, or innovation track record.

The EntrePass is a Singapore Ministry of Manpower work pass designed for foreign entrepreneurs who want to start and run a venture-backed Singapore-incorporated company. Eligibility (revised 2023) requires the founder to meet at least one of four tracks: raised S$100k+ from a Singapore government-recognised VC, hold IP/IP application that adds clear value, be accepted into a Singapore government-recognised incubator, or have an exceptional track record in tech innovation.

The pass is initially valid for one year, renewable in two-year increments based on the company hitting milestones (local hires, business spend, total revenue). It's the standard route for foreign founders relocating their startup HQ to Singapore, Indian, Chinese, and Indonesian founders are the largest cohorts.

Worked example

An Indian founder raising a US$1M seed round into her newly incorporated Singapore Pte Ltd applies for the EntrePass under the 'funded-by-recognised-VC' track (Sequoia Capital India qualifies). Approval comes in 4 weeks; the founder relocates from Mumbai to Singapore and the company hires its first 3 local engineers within 12 months to clear the renewal milestones.

Common pitfalls

• Applying without meeting one of the four 2023-revised eligibility tracks and getting an outright reject.
• Underestimating the renewal requirements (e.g. ≥3 local hires + ≥S$100k local business spend by year 2).
• Confusing EntrePass with the Tech.Pass route, Tech.Pass is for established tech executives, EntrePass is for first-time founders.

When this shows up in a pitch deck

Cross-border founders moving HQ to Singapore mention 'EntrePass approved, full-time SG presence' on the team slide.

Related terms

• Tech.Pass, Singapore work pass for established tech execs and founders (S$22.5k+/mo or 5+ yrs at a $500M+ tech firm), the most flexible tech-talent pass.
• Pte Ltd (Singapore), Singapore's standard private limited company: minimum S$1 paid-up capital, one director and one shareholder, default holdco for SE-Asia tech startups.
• ACRA Filing, Mandatory filings every Singapore Pte Ltd lodges with ACRA, incorporation, annual return, financial statements, and changes to directors or capital.
• Golden Visa (UAE), 10-year renewable UAE residency visa for investors, founders, and high-skill specialists, decoupled from employer sponsorship, a talent lever.
• Founder, A person who started or co-started the company and (typically) holds founder common stock subject to founder vesting.

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