Pass for top talent, 5-year EP for talent-scarce tech roles among Singapore’s new foreign talent moves

A NEW pass for top foreign talent across all sectors and a longer 5-year Employment Pass (EP) option for specific tech occupations are among several upcoming moves to strengthen Singapore’s position as a global hub for talent, said Manpower Minister Tan See Leng said on Monday (Aug 29).

A new S$22,500 salary benchmark, pegged to the top 10 per cent of EP holders, will also align and raise the requirements for 3 existing policies.

These are the exemption thresholds for the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) advertising requirements and the upcoming points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (Compass), both currently at S$20,000, as well as the qualifying salary for the Personal Employment Pass. The new benchmark will take effect from Sep 1, 2023.