Master prompt
Tech.Pass + Singapore tech-ecosystem entry strategy
Apply Tech.Pass via EDB: prove the 2-of-3 criteria (salary, top-tech-company experience, scaled-product leadership), and map ecosystem activity for 2-year renewal — incorporation, investing, mentorship, IHL engagement.
SingaporeTech.PassEDBTech founderRenewalMentorshipInvestment
You are advising [CLIENT_NAME] on a Tech.Pass application via EDB Singapore. Tech.Pass is EDB's premium pass for established tech founders / leaders / experts. Far more flexible than EP — holder can incorporate, invest, mentor, lecture concurrently.
CLIENT FRAME
- Age: [AGE]
- Current role: [CURRENT_ROLE]
- Last drawn monthly fixed salary: SGD [LAST_DRAWN_SALARY_SGD_MONTHLY]
- Company valuation / funding: [COMPANY_VALUATION_USD]
- Product metrics: [PRODUCT_METRICS]
- Cumulative years in leading role: [YEARS_IN_ROLE]
- Intended SG activities: [INTENDED_SG_ACTIVITIES]
- Family: [FAMILY]
S1 — TECH.PASS ELIGIBILITY: 2-OF-3 CRITERIA
Applicant must satisfy at least 2 of 3 criteria. Audit each:
Criterion A — Salary
- Last drawn fixed monthly salary in past 1 year of at least
S$22,500
- "Fixed" means base + locked allowances, excluding bonuses,
RSUs / stock options vesting, performance-linked variable
- Evidence: most recent 12 months of payslips + employment
contract + employer letter confirming current fixed comp
- Audit [LAST_DRAWN_SALARY_SGD_MONTHLY] vs S$22,500:
* If at or above: PASS
* If below: FAIL on this criterion; rely on B + C
// 2026-05 — verify current EDB Tech.Pass salary threshold
Criterion B — Top tech-company leadership experience
- 5+ years CUMULATIVE experience in a leading role at a tech
company with:
- Valuation of US$500M+, OR
- Funding of US$30M+ raised in last 36 months
- "Leading role" = founder, CEO, CTO, CPO, CRO, VP-level reporting
to C-suite
- Evidence: employment contracts / founder agreements; company
valuation reports (Crunchbase, Pitchbook, last round term sheet
summary); LinkedIn + employer letters
- Audit [CURRENT_ROLE] + [COMPANY_VALUATION_USD] + [YEARS_IN_ROLE]:
* Confirm company valuation evidence
* Confirm leading role title + responsibilities
* Confirm 5y cumulative experience (can aggregate across
multiple qualifying companies)
Criterion C — Scaled tech-product leadership
- 5+ years CUMULATIVE experience leading the development of a tech
product with:
- 100,000+ monthly active users, OR
- US$100M+ annual revenue
- Evidence: company product-metrics dashboards (with employer
verification); press releases citing MAU / revenue; financial
filings (if public)
- Audit [PRODUCT_METRICS]:
* Compare against MAU / revenue thresholds
* Confirm leadership role (not contributor) over the product
State which 2-of-3 [CLIENT_NAME] satisfies. If 3-of-3: very strong case.
If only 1-of-3: NOT eligible for Tech.Pass; consider EntrePass or EP.
S2 — TECH.PASS APPLICATION COMPONENTS
Required documents:
(a) Completed Tech.Pass application form (EDB portal)
(b) Detailed CV (3-5 pages, immigration-format with chronological
roles + responsibilities + impact)
(c) Passport biographical page
(d) Education certificates (degrees, additional credentials)
(e) Evidence for each satisfied criterion:
- Criterion A: 12 months payslips + employment contract + HR
letter
- Criterion B: employment letters / founder agreements with
dates + roles; company valuation / funding evidence
- Criterion C: product-metric evidence (employer letter, press
releases, public filings)
(f) Statement of Intent (1-2 pages) — what [CLIENT_NAME] plans to
do in Singapore (mentorship, investments, ventures, IHL
engagement); see S4 for scaffolding
(g) References from 2-3 senior tech industry leaders
(h) Application fee: S$105 + issuance fee S$225 on approval +
multi-journey visa S$100 (visa-required nationalities)
// 2026-05 — verify current EDB Tech.Pass fee schedule
Submission via EDB Tech.Pass portal
Processing time: 4-8 weeks (faster than EntrePass / EP for strong
applicants)
S3 — VALIDITY + RENEWAL ARCHITECTURE
Initial validity: 2 years
First renewal: extend for 2 additional years (max 4 years total)
No further renewals beyond 4 years on Tech.Pass — applicant must
transition to EP, EntrePass, or apply for PR
Renewal criteria (must satisfy AT LEAST ONE of the following during
the initial 2y term — verify against current EDB Tech.Pass renewal
guidance):
- Mentorship: serve as mentor in a Singapore-based accelerator,
IHL, or government tech programme (Antler, SGInnovate, etc.) for
≥ 6 months
- Hiring: hire 2+ Singaporean / PR employees in skilled tech roles
- Investment: invest in a Singapore tech business OR contribute
to Singapore VC fund S$100K+
- Education / Training: lecture at Singapore IHL (NUS, NTU, SMU,
SUSS, SIT, SUTD) for ≥ 1 module
- Incorporation: incorporate AND operate a Singapore Pte Ltd
business
// 2026-05 — verify current EDB Tech.Pass renewal criteria list
S4 — STATEMENT OF INTENT SCAFFOLD
Draft a 1-2 page statement covering:
Para 1 — Who I am
- [CURRENT_ROLE] track record
- Why Singapore now (timing, family, opportunity)
Para 2 — What I will do in year 1
- Specific named activities: e.g.
* Incorporate <CompanyName> Pte Ltd in Q2 2026 (AI infrastructure
product targeting SEA enterprises)
* Hire founding 3 (engineering lead from SG/PR, product lead,
designer)
* Mentor at Antler SEA cohort (2 cohorts per year)
* Visiting fellow at NUS Enterprise (1 module / semester)
Para 3 — What I will do in years 2-4
- Scale: hire 12 SG/PR by end of year 2
- Invest: angel commitments of S$200K across 3-5 SEA startups
- Lecture: continuing IHL engagement
Para 4 — Why Singapore wins
- Talent ecosystem, regulatory clarity, IP protection, capital,
proximity to SEA / India market
- How [CLIENT_NAME] brings unique value (network, expertise, capital)
S5 — TECH.PASS vs EP vs EntrePass — WHY TECH.PASS?
Tech.Pass advantages for senior tech leaders:
- Single pass enables MULTIPLE activities concurrently (EP holders
are tied to one sponsor; Tech.Pass is self-sponsored)
- 2-year initial validity (vs EP 1-2 years, EntrePass 1-2 years)
- Higher prestige + EDB direct relationship (vs MOM-administered EP
/ EntrePass)
- Spouse can work via LOC (Letter of Consent) on DP
- Easier to pivot business activity without re-applying
Tech.Pass disadvantages:
- Higher eligibility bar (the 2-of-3 criteria)
- Renewal-driven activity expectations
- Maximum 4 years; must transition
When EP is better:
- Single role at established Singapore company
- Salary above S$22,500 but no founder track / no scaled-product
leadership
When EntrePass is better:
- Early-stage venture (no prior US$500M co. experience)
- VC backing exists but founder hasn't held leading role for 5y
S6 — ECOSYSTEM ACTIVITY MAP (post-grant)
Build [CLIENT_NAME]'s ecosystem activities calendar:
Q1 (months 1-3):
- Set up SG residence (housing, schools, banking, healthcare)
- Incorporate Pte Ltd (or set up first venture)
- Open OCBC / DBS corporate account
- Engage corporate secretary, auditor
- Apply spouse LOC if spouse intends to work
Q2 (months 4-6):
- Hire founding team (3-5 staff, target 50%+ SG/PR)
- Lease office (JTC, REIT, or commercial)
- Apply relevant sectoral licences (MAS for fintech, etc.)
- Start mentor engagement (Antler / SGInnovate / accelerators)
- Engage with EDB Concierge Service (Tech.Pass holder benefit —
direct EDB liaison for ecosystem navigation)
Q3 (months 7-9):
- Speaking engagements at SG industry events (Tech in Asia,
Money 20/20 Asia, Connect to ASEAN)
- First angel investments
- IHL teaching engagement starts
Q4 (months 10-12):
- Year-1 review with EDB; document achievements
- File first annual return + ECI for Pte Ltd
- First IRAS YA filing (April for previous tax year)
Year 2 (months 13-24):
- Hire to 12 staff; expand SG/PR mix to 60%+
- Lead at least one investment / partnership / IHL deliverable
- File for renewal at month 22-23
S7 — TECH.PASS TO PR PATHWAY
Tech.Pass does NOT grant PR. PR application via:
- ICA PTS scheme (Professionals / Technical Personnel / Skilled
Workers)
- Stronger application after demonstrable ecosystem contribution
- Singapore tax filings (last 3y IRAS NOA)
- Schooling, integration markers
Realistic PR timeline from Tech.Pass start: 2-4 years.
PR approval is discretionary; ICA does not publish acceptance rates.
S8 — FAMILY ON DEPENDANT'S PASS ([FAMILY])
- Spouse: DP eligible
- Children: DP eligible (unmarried, under 21)
- Spouse work: LOC required (MOM-issued; employer-driven application)
- Parents: separate LTVP application (subject to ICA discretion)
NS-liability flag (Enlistment Act 1970): if children include male
child born on/after 1 Jan 1986 — on PR (later), male child becomes
NS-liable. Pre-counsel at Tech.Pass stage. See sg-investor-family-
pr-ns-implications for detail.
S9 — TAX RESIDENCY + COMPENSATION STRUCTURING
Tech.Pass holders are typically high-earners; Singapore individual
income tax is progressive (max 22% at S$320K+ for tax residents; up
to 24% from YA 2024 for chargeable income > S$500K).
// 2026-05 — verify current IRAS individual tax brackets
- Tax residency: 183+ days in SG calendar year -> tax resident
- First-year concessions for relocating high-earners (limited)
- Equity vesting / RSU treatment under SG tax: read with [CURRENT_ROLE]
employer's existing arrangements
- DTAA India-Singapore: most personal income taxed in residence
state only; specific articles for salary, capital gains
If [CLIENT_NAME] retains Indian assets / income: Schedule FA in
Indian ITR (while still Indian tax-resident); RNOR window
opportunities for capital structuring.
S10 — POST-APPROVAL ONBOARDING CHECKLIST
□ Sign IPA (In-Principle Approval) within validity
□ Enter Singapore; complete medical exam if required
□ Collect pass card at ICA / MOM
□ Set up SingPass (digital ID)
□ Open personal bank account (DBS / OCBC / UOB)
□ Lease residence (URA / HDB private rental rules apply)
□ Register children for MOE schools or international schools
□ Engage tax advisor for YA 1 filing
□ Spouse LOC application (if applicable)
□ Start EDB-Concierge engagement
□ Build mentorship + IHL relationships
End with: "DRAFT Tech.Pass strategy memo — for Singapore-licensed immigration firm / corporate advisor review. Verify current EDB Tech.Pass eligibility criteria (salary threshold, tech-company valuation thresholds, product-metric thresholds), renewal criteria, and fee schedule against EDB published guidance (https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/how-we-help/incentives-and-schemes/tech-pass.html) before submission. Tech.Pass is administered with EDB curatorial discretion — strong case = clear track record + clear Singapore ecosystem contribution plan. Source-of-funds disclosures (FEMA / LRS for Indian-origin applicants) apply if [CLIENT_NAME] will be deploying personal capital into Singapore ventures."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt