What this area covers: employment routes in Singapore
Employment routes is one of 6 parts of our “Immigration & Relocation” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our Singapore practice.
What it is in Singapore: skilled worker · intra-company transfer.
How we handle employment routes
The “Employment routes” project in Singapore is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
Entrepreneur visas, employment passes, investor residency — sequenced with the corporate setup so neither blocks the other.
The same desk that runs employment routes handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
Why Singapore
Singapore is the operating hub of the Asia-Pacific region, with territorial taxation, a strong regulator (MAS), and the rule of law. Our priority for structures focused on Southeast Asia and for fintech licensing under the PSA.
A reliable regulatory environment
Banking ecosystem
Corporate tax 17% (effectively lower with reliefs)
INNOVA represented on the ground
Why INNOVA
Operational differences that hold up on the 2nd, 5th and 10th project — not just at first impression.
One partner — the whole cycle
Registration, banking, tax, compliance, immigration — run by one team from start to finish.
14 years of practice
Working since 2012 through several regulatory cycles — including FATCA/CRS, the tightening of banking, and the introduction of UAE CT.
Regulator-grade documentation
Every output document is ready for audit and investor scrutiny — whatever the size of the deal.
Multi-jurisdiction within the group
Cross-border work is handled inside the group — no chain of external subcontractors.
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from the intro call to the operational hand-over.
Route assessment
Routes and realistic timelines
Document gathering
Certificates, financial documents and references
Submission
Filing with the embassy or online
Decision and relocation
Approval, biometrics, entry and settling in
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin — and what you walk away with. We won't pester you with needless questions: we already have most of the answers.
- Passport + biographical dataall family members
- Education + qualificationswhere the route requires
- Police clearance certificatesper jurisdiction
- Financial evidenceto thresholds
- Health and insurancewhere required
- Visa / residence permitissued
- Resident cardbiometric
- Tax-residency application supportdocumented
- Family-member visaslinked
- Renewal calendarset up
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Start with an initial call, then we pick the right format.
Intro call
A 30-minute online consultation. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline.
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: it creates your account on the portal, where your structure, renewal reminders and documents will live.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · creates an INNOVA portal account · 24h review.
Once you submit the questionnaire we create a portal account. Inside: your live structure, a renewals calendar (annual returns, register updates, tax filings), a document vault (certificates, share register, bank letters), a partner chat and project status. A single place for your entire operational life.
From a client
A review from a client who went through a comparable project. Verified, the engagement is ongoing.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, an intro call is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “Employment routes” projects in Singapore run 2–8 months start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
From US$ 4,500 + government fees. The lower bound is for clean, standard profiles; the upper bound is for complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdiction projects or regulated activity. A fixed quote follows a 30-minute scoping call.
In most cases, no. The entire process runs remotely under a notarised power of attorney. A handful of jurisdictions require an in-person visit (typically biometrics for a residence permit) — we plan those as efficiently as possible.
The EntrePass is a 1-year renewable visa for entrepreneurs launching an innovative, venture-backed, or IP-driven business in Singapore. You must show funding from a recognised VC, ownership of registered IP, or membership in an MAS/EDB-endorsed incubator. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) assesses it. A service business or sole proprietorship with no distinct innovation won't qualify. From there, a path to permanent residence opens.
The Employment Pass (EP) is Singapore's main work visa for a professional earning at least S$5,600 per month (2024 threshold; S$6,200 for financial services). Since 2023, every new EP application is scored under the COMPASS framework — salary, qualifications, firm diversity, and support for local hiring. Processing runs 3–8 weeks. Spouses and children get Dependant's Passes; after 2–4 years of continuous EP, you can apply for PR.
Yes. The common route: hold an Employment Pass continuously for 2–4 years with a clean tax record and real business contribution. EntrePass holders apply once their company hits meaningful revenue and headcount milestones. ICA assesses PR applications holistically, with no published quota. Odds are better for STEM profiles, applicants with significant local economic contribution, and those whose family members are citizens.
No. Tax residency is determined by domestic tests in the origin and destination country, not by visa status. We coordinate the visa and tax sides specifically to keep the position consistent.
Employment routes in other countries
The same service — in every jurisdiction we run. One desk, one standard.
