Bold take: Singapore is reshaping its foreign workforce rules to prize top AI and tech talent, potentially shifting how we think about work visas and who gets to contribute to the future economy. But here’s where it gets controversial: the details touch salary floors, career history, and who qualifies, which could influence who counts as “top” talent and how inclusive the system actually is. Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly rewrite that keeps all key information and adds a bit of context so the changes feel tangible.
Singapore is introducing a new track within its Overseas Networks and Expertise (One) Pass, specifically focused on AI and technology. This AI and Tech track is set to begin in January 2027 and will replace the existing Tech Pass. The Tech Pass, launched by the Economic Development Board in 2021, aimed to attract tech professionals to the city-state.
Key differences between the new One Pass (AI and Tech) and the old Tech Pass:
- Duration: The One Pass (AI and Tech) lasts five years per term and can be renewed for another five years, aligning with the broader One Pass’s five-year cycle. By contrast, the Tech Pass is valid for two years and can be renewed once for another two years.
- Target and eligibility: The One Pass (AI and Tech) targets top foreign professionals earning at least S$30,000 per month from a single employer, as well as individuals with outstanding achievements across arts and culture, sports, science and technology, and academia.
- Qualification path: To qualify for the One Pass (AI and Tech) track, applicants must currently work for or have recently worked in a tech company, a tech division, or a tech venture capital firm. A tech company or division is defined as a business whose core offering is digital or technology-based. Companies must meet at least one of these thresholds: a valuation or market capitalization of at least US$500 million (S$637 million); annual revenue of at least US$200 million; or assets under management of at least US$500 million. Additionally, tech firms that have raised at least US$30 million in funding will qualify.
- Individual salary criteria: Applicants must earn at least S$30,000 per month for 12 consecutive months before applying. Unlike the broader One Pass, there’s an alternative path: a last drawn fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500 combined with vested non-cash components (such as employee stock options or employee share ownership), subject to assessment. The non-cash components are evaluated case by case, similar to the existing Tech Pass approach.
- Experience requirement: Applicants must have at least five cumulative years of experience in a founder or C-suite role, or in a technical role (for example, senior software engineer). This experience must have been accumulated within the last ten years prior to the application date.
Current use and outlook: Manpower Minister Tan See Leng noted that the One Pass has seen healthy growth, with more than 8,000 individuals currently on the scheme, many contributing to sectors vital to Singapore’s future economy.
Beyond AI and Tech, Singapore is expanding work permit options through the Non-Traditional Source (NTS) Occupation List starting September 2026. Eight new occupations will be added across sectors such as food services, social services, and air transportation. This list allows local employers to hire workers from a broader range of locations beyond the usual pool, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
The eight new roles are:
- Butchers, fishmongers and related food preparers
- Food and drink stall assistants
- Kitchen assistants
- Waiters
- Cabin attendants
- Babysitters/infant caregivers
- Educarers
- Teacher aides
Employers must pay these workers at least S$2,000 per month in fixed salaries and may hire up to 8% of their total workforce from the NTS list. This move aims to help front-line, domestic-oriented sectors, such as food and beverage, access higher-quality workers from non-traditional source countries when local candidates aren’t available at the required salary levels.
There are broader salary and qualification updates on the horizon. In Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s Budget speech, there was an announcement to raise the Employment Pass (EP) qualifying salary from January 2027 to S$6,000 per month (up from S$5,600). Applicants must also pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (Compass), introduced in 2023. Dr. Tan noted that about two-thirds of current EP holders have been assessed under Compass, and early indicators show progress: fewer firms depend on a single foreign nationality, and overall reliance on foreign workers has declined by meaningful margins.
Similarly, the minimum qualifying salary for new S Pass applicants will rise from January 2027, with renewals following a year later. By around 2030, the S Pass threshold is expected to land somewhere between S$4,000 and S$4,500, depending on local wage trends and the economy.
On work permit numbers, Dr. Tan emphasized that Singapore still needs work permit holders to deliver essential infrastructure and services. He highlighted a 36% growth in construction-related work permit holders over the past five years as post-Covid-19 projects accelerated, contributing to an overall increase of 186,000 work permit holders (about 27%). He reassured that, even as the numbers are managed, the government will continue to support businesses in accessing higher-quality work permit workers.
Bottom line: Singapore is recalibrating its visa programs to attract high-skilled AI and tech talent while expanding opportunities for essential frontline roles through the NTS list. The approaches mix high-skill incentives with practical measures to address labor needs across sectors. What do you think about these changes? Do you believe the new criteria will attract the right mix of talent, or could they unintentionally narrow the pool and limit opportunities for smaller tech firms or diverse talent pipelines? Share your thoughts in the comments.
