Key Points
- Singapore increases S Pass salary thresholds and harmonizes Tier 1 levy rates from September 1, 2025.
- Salary criteria align with the top third of the local APT workforce.
- Tier 1 levies will increase to $650 across all sectors.
- Family sponsorship and qualification rules remain largely unchanged.
Overview
Effective September 1, 2025, Singapore will implement revised S Pass eligibility criteria and levy rates to better align the compensation of foreign mid-skilled workers with the compensation benchmarks of the top one-third of the local Associate Professionals and Technicians (APT) workforce.
Under the new rules, minimum qualifying monthly salaries will increase across sectors:
Sector
Current Minimum Salary
New Minimum Salary (From Sept. 1, 2025)
All (Except Finance)
SGD 3,150 (up to SGD 4,650 by age)
SGD 3,300 (up to SGD 4,800 by age)
Financial Services
SGD 3,650 (up to SGD 5,650 by age)
SGD 3,800 (up to SGD 5,650 by age)
*Salary thresholds increase progressively with age, starting from age 23.
Sector
Tier
Workforce Quota
Current Levy
New Levy (From Sept. 1, 2025)
Services
Tier 1
Up to 10%
SGD 550
SGD 650
All Other Sectors
Tier 1
Up to 10%
SGD 550
SGD 650
All Sectors
Tier 2
10 to 15%
SGD 650
No Change
*The Tier 1 levy will be harmonized across sectors at SGD 650/month.
Levy changes include a harmonized Tier 1 levy rate of SGD 650 per month, up from SGD 550 per month. Tier 2 levies remain unchanged at SGD 650. Workforce quota limits remain at 10% for Tier 1 and 10–15% for Tier 2.
S Pass holders earning at least SGD 6,000 per month will continue to qualify to sponsor their spouse and children for Dependent’s Passes. Declaring educational qualifications is still optional, but if declared, employers must verify authenticity against the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) accredited institution list.
Employers are strongly advised to use the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) before submitting S Pass applications. Applications with a positive SAT outcome typically have a 90% approval rate.
Looking Ahead
Employers should prepare to adjust compensation packages to meet new salary thresholds and factor in increased levy costs. Use the SAT for pre-qualification checks and verify educational documents when declaring credentials. Monitoring MOM updates will be critical as implementation nears.
