Singapore: New ONE Pass (AI and Tech Track) to be Available in January 2027

The situation 

The Singapore government announced a new ONE Pass (AI and Tech) track, which will replace the Tech.Pass introduced in 2021.  

A closer look 

• • Validity and renewal.  The ONE Pass (AI and Tech) will be issued for five years and may be renewed for further five-year periods, aligning it with the broader ONE Pass framework. By contrast, the current Tech.Pass is valid for two years and may be renewed once for an additional two years.
  • Employer requirements. Applicants must satisfy the following specific employer-related criteria to qualify for this new track:  
    • They must be currently employed by, or most recently employed by, a technology company, a technology division within a company, or a technology-focused venture capital firm. The tech company or division must have a digital or technology offering as its core business product or service. This includes entities whose core business relies on proprietary technologies, scientific knowledge and/or engineering.  
    • In addition, the company must meet at least one of the following criteria:
      • Valuation or market capitalization of at least USD 500 million;
      • Annual revenue of at least USD 200 million;
      • At least USD 500 million in assets under management; or
      • At least USD 30 million in funding raised (for qualifying tech companies).
    • Individual eligibility requirements. Applicants must:  
      • Earn at least SGD 30,000 per month for 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the application date (including applicants intending to establish a company in Singapore); and
      • Must have at least five cumulative years of experience within the past 10 years in either a founder or C-suite role, or in a technical position such as a senior software engineer.
    • Salary requirements. Unlike the broader ONE Pass, the salary threshold under the AI and Tech track may be met by combining:
      • A last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least SGD 22,500; and
      • Vested non-cash components, such as employee stock option plans or share ownership (subject to MOM assessment).

This approach is similar to the Tech.Pass salary assessment framework, which also permits case-by-case consideration of non-cash components. 

• • • Comparison with the broader ONE Pass. The broader ONE Pass is available to top foreign professionals earning at least SGD 30,000 per month from a single employer, as well as individuals with outstanding achievements in arts and culture, sports, science and technology, academia and research. The new track focuses eligibility on experienced technology professionals while introducing more structured employer and experience criteria. 

Impact 

The route consolidates and enhances Singapore’s framework for attracting senior technology leaders and specialists, offering greater validity and renewal flexibility than the Tech.Pass. However, employers should review the new experience and employer-qualification requirements, which may narrow eligibility compared to the broader ONE Pass.

Background 

Singapore launched the Tech.Pass in 2021 to attract established technology entrepreneurs, leaders and technical experts to contribute to the country’s innovation ecosystem. In August 2022, the government introduced the broader Overseas Networks and Expertise (ONE) Pass to draw top global talent across sectors, including business, arts and culture, sports, science and technology, and academia and research. 

The new route is designed to strengthen Singapore’s ability to attract top global talent in critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing.  

Looking ahead 

Further implementation details and application procedures for the ONE Pass (AI and Tech) are expected to be released ahead of its January 2027 launch. Fragomen will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as additional guidance becomes available. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.