Singapore Employment Pass Application Fees 2026
Thinking of recruiting foreign human resource or moving to the Lion City this year? The application fees of Singapore Employment Pass (EP) are pinned in the year 2026, with the help of a stable administrative system, yet with the new administrative changes, i.e. the introduction of 9 percent GST on transactions that are service-based, your budget is back to the drawing board.
Be it an HR personnel with the responsibility of dealing with a group of expatriates or a business owner who wants to have a competitive advantage, to start with the Singapore Employment Pass Application Fees 2026 is the initial move to developing a successful talent approach.
The Non-Negotiable Costs
In the case of 2026, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has a two-tier system of payment of all EP applications and renewals. These are mandatory statutory charges that cannot be refunded and have to be made through the my MOM Portal.
Submission
- Application Processing Fee: S $105.
- To be paid upon submission. This charge includes the evaluation of your application against the COMPASS framework as well as the evaluation fee is non-refundable to any extent.
Activation
- EP Issuance Fee: S$225
- After receiving the In-Principle Approval (IPA) you will have to pay this to get the pass and be granted the notification letter that will enable the candidate to commence work.
- Multiple Journey Visa (MJV): S$30
- This fee will automatically be added to the issuance fee in case the nationality of the candidate demands entry visa.
- Total Base Regulatory cost: To the greater part of the foreign professionals, the normal government fee amounts to S330 (not including extras of visa).
The Hidden Budget: Verification Costs and Other Ancillary Costs.
The COMPASS Framework, that is the Criterion C2 (Qualifications), is firmly implemented in 2026. The costs that are now borne by employers on the mandatory third-party verification of educational certificates are now to be borne in the same way.
- Educational Verification Fees: S150-S400 candidate. These are the fees charged by MOM-approved agencies, which check the genuineness of the degree as well as the institution it belongs to.
- Certified Translation Costs: S30150 per page. In case supporting documents are not written in English, a certified translation will have to be done.
- Medical Examination Fees: S50–S120. Although not necessarily mandatory, when the IPA letter needs a health check, this is a standard on boarding cost.
Payment Methods & Compliance
These payments are managed with ease via the my MOM Portal (a 2026 upgrade of the previously existing EP Online system). The platform supports:
- Corporate GIRO: The ideal solution when employers need to make high volumes.
- Immediate Payments: Pay Now, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Pro-Tip for 2026 Compliance
Have Corp pass and GIRO limits updated. One of the frequent reasons of the delay in 2026 is payment failure because of the old credit card numbers or lack of GIRO limits which may postpone the notification letter and shift the start dates.
FAQ
Does it have the same EP fees when it is renewed?
: Yes. The price of renewal of Employment Pass 2026 is the same as the new application: S105forsubmissionandS225 to be issued.
Can the application fee be refunded in case of rejection of the candidate?
No. The S105 represents an evaluation fee to the time and resources employed by MO M. In case the pass is not granted it is not refunded.
Who should pay these fees?
According to MOM, the employer tends to cover the application fee and issuance fee but there is no legal restriction against having the candidate covering the same. Most competitive corporate jobs however, visit these as common employer-absorbed expenses.
Final Thoughts
There are two aspects to the work with the Singapore Employment Pass Application Fees 2026: the low-cost regulatory charges and the more expensive compliance verification. Although the cost of government fees have been some of the most competitive in Asia, the qualifications verification is mandatory which means that an average EP recruitment process now has an administrative cost of about S500toS800.
Disclaimer:
This paper is purely informative. It is recommended that readers confirm the information using reputed sources, including the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) or other approved employment agencies then decide on financial or hiring options.