Staying in Singapore After Graduation: From Student's Pass to Employment Pass or S Pass

Singapore actively welcomes skilled international graduates who want to build a career in Asia. The city has strong demand for talent in technology, finance, engineering, and many other fields. But your Student's Pass does not convert into a work pass automatically — you must apply separately and plan ahead. This guide explains what happens to your pass, the two main work pass options available to you, and exactly how to apply.

What Happens to Your Student's Pass at Graduation

Your Student's Pass (STP) is tied to your enrollment at your school or university. When your course ends, your Student's Pass is cancelled. It does not automatically become a work pass or any other long-term pass.

Once your Student's Pass is canceled, your immigration status options depend on where you studied:

• Short-Term Visit Pass (STVP): All graduates are generally issued a 30-day STVP upon pass cancellation to settle their affairs or depart.
• 1-Year Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP): Graduates from eligible Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) in Singapore—including local autonomous universities and polytechnics—can apply to ICA for a non-renewable, 1-year LTVP to stay and search for employment.

Your Two Main Work Pass Options in Singapore

Most graduates qualify for one of two work passes: the Employment Pass (EP) or the S Pass. Your salary offer and the type of role you are offered will determine which pass applies to you.

Employment Pass Eligibility and COMPASS 

The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore's main work pass for professionals. To qualify, you need a job offer from a Singapore employer, a qualifying salary, and enough points under the COMPASS framework.

EP Salary Requirement

The current minimum qualifying salary for a new Employment Pass is SGD 5,600 per month for most sectors (base rate for the youngest eligible applicants), effective since 1 January 2025.

MOM benchmarks your salary against what local professionals (PMETs) in the same occupation and sector are earning. Use MOM's Employment/S Pass Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to check the threshold for your specific occupation before your employer applies.

COMPASS Criteria Breakdown

COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is a points-based system that all new EP applications must pass. You need at least 40 points to qualify. Candidates earning SGD 22,500 or more per month are generally exempt from the COMPASS assessment.

COMPASS assesses six criteria. Your employer submits the application and MOM calculates your score automatically.

• C1: Salary (Core): Benchmarked against local PMET wages in the same sector by age (0, 10, or 20 points). 
• C2: Qualifications (Core): Degrees from top-tier institutions score 20 points; degree-equivalent qualifications score 10 points.  
• C3: Diversity (Core): Higher points awarded if the candidate’s nationality represents a smaller share of the firm's PMET workforce (0, 10, or 20 points).  
• C4: Local Employment Support (Core): Points awarded based on the firm's proportion of local PMET hires relative to sector peers (0, 10, or 20 points).  
• C5: Shortage Occupation List (Bonus): Up to 20 bonus points if the candidate's job is on MOM's Shortage Occupation List.
• C6: Strategic Priorities (Bonus): Up to 10 bonus points for employers aligned with specific innovation or internationalization initiatives.

S Pass Eligibility, Quotas, and Levies

The S Pass is for mid-skilled associate professionals and technicians. It suits graduates who accept a role with a salary that falls below the EP threshold but above the S Pass minimum. Like the EP, your employer must apply for it on your behalf.

• S Pass Salary Requirement: As of September 2025, the minimum monthly salary for a new S Pass application is SGD 3,300 for most sectors, and SGD 3,800 for the financial services sector. The required minimum also increases progressively with age, up to roughly SGD 4,800 (general sectors) or SGD 5,650 (financial services) for applicants aged 45 and above. Check MOM's S Pass eligibility page for the full, current age-progressive salary table, since these figures are reviewed periodically.
• Quota Thresholds: The S Pass is strictly capped by company dependency ratio ceilings:
  • Services Sector: Max 10% of total company workforce.
  • All Other Sectors (including Manufacturing): Max 15% of total company workforce.
• Foreign Worker Levy: Employers must pay a standardized monthly levy of SGD 650 per S Pass employee. This levy cannot be deducted from the worker's salary.  

How to Apply for Your Work Pass

Work pass applications must be initiated by your employer. Candidates cannot apply independently.  

1. Accept a job offer. You need a confirmed offer from a Singapore-registered company. Without this, no work pass application can be submitted.
2. Prepare your supporting documents. Your employer will need your passport, degree certificate, academic transcripts, and a passport-size photo. Gather these early so you do not slow down the application.
3. Your employer submits via the myMOM Portal. Your employer (or their appointed employment agent) submits your application online. Both EP and S Pass applications use this same system.
4. MOM reviews your application. For EP applications, MOM runs the COMPASS assessment. For the S Pass, MOM checks salary, quota availability, and other eligibility criteria.
5. Receive your In-Principle Approval (IPA). If your application is successful, MOM issues an IPA letter. This confirms your pass is approved in principle. You can enter or remain in Singapore during formalities, but you cannot start work yet.
6. Complete issuance formalities. You may need to visit a MOM Services Centre to provide your fingerprints and a photo. MOM then issues your work pass card, and you can begin employment once it is active.

Documents You Will Typically Need

• Valid passport with at least six months of remaining validity
• University degree certificate and official academic transcripts
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Signed employment contract or offer letter
• Any additional documents MOM requests after reviewing your initial application

Processing Timelines

Standard online submissions processed through the myMOM Portal take approximately 10 business days. Overseas entities or manual application routes may take 6 to 8 weeks.

Long-Term Pathways: Permanent Residence in Singapore

After working in Singapore on an EP or S Pass, you may become eligible to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). PR gives you the right to live and work in Singapore indefinitely, without renewing a work pass each year.

You apply through ICA's e-PR system. ICA assesses applications holistically, based on your economic contributions, qualifications, family ties to Singapore, age, and length of residency in the country. There is no published minimum employment period before you can apply, but most successful applicants have worked in Singapore on a valid work pass for at least one to two years.

ICA aims to process PR applications within six months, provided all required documents are submitted correctly. Some applications take longer to assess.

Frequently Asked Questions