The Skilled Worker Visa program of Singapore has received major changes in 2025 to ensure that foreign and qualified professionals can easily live and work in Singapore with more obvious ways to permanent citizenship and longer visa terms.
Singapore Skilled Worker Visa 2025 Key New Rules
– Long Visa Terms: Visa terms have been extended between 2 years to up to 5 years on the employment of such sectors like technology, finance, manufacturing, and healthcare which offers more stability to the foreign professionals and families.
– Reduced Minimum Salary Requirement to Employment Pass (EP) holders: The amount of minimum salary required to qualify as Employment Pass (EP) holders has been lowered by an amount of 5,000 to 4,200 per month in certain sectors, making more skilled workers eligible.
– Streamlined Application: The new application system under the new COMPASS evaluation system is simplified and completely digitalized, which speeds up the approvals as it evaluates education, experience, and relevance of skills.
– Expanded Family Inclusion It is now easier to bring dependents in on long-term passes to allow spouses and children to work or study.
– Reduced Time to Permanent Residency: Applicants who are in a continuous employment and able to contribute to skill development can use Permanent Residency (PR) after 3 years, as opposed to 5 years before.
– Expanded Countries of Sources and Occupations: New countries such as Bhutan, Cambodia, and Laos have been introduced and the scope of eligible occupations when using the Work Permit and S Passes have been increased to suit the demands of the labor market.
Foreign Professionals: Benefits
– Greater job security and longer term planning opportunities and longer visa validity.
– Dependent passes are family-friendly policies that introduce a higher work-life balance.
– COMPASS points system improves transparency and speed of application processing.
– Higher chances of permanently settling in Singapore by having lower residency.
Summary Table: Singapore Skilled Worker Visa 2025 Updates
| Feature | Old Rule | New Rule (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa Validity | Up to 2 years | Up to 5 years |
| Minimum Salary (EP) | SGD 5,000 per month | SGD 4,200 per month (some industries) |
| Family Inclusion | Restricted | Dependents allowed on passes |
| PR Eligibility | After 5 years | After 3 years |
| Application Process | Paper + digital | Fully digital with COMPASS |
| Source Countries Added | Limited | Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos added |
FAQs
Q1: How much will be the new minimum salary in order to qualify as a Singapore Skilled Worker Visa in 2025?
Diluted to SGD 4,200 per month in certain areas out of the former SGD 5,000.
Q2: Are talented employees able to bring their families to Singapore?
Yes, now long term stays by dependents are allowed on the new dependent passes.
Q3: Within what time can skilled workers be able to seek permanent residency?
Then he served 3 years after the new regulations in employment.
