Singapore's ONE Pass adds AI and tech tracks to attract top global talent

ONE Pass has added an AI and tech track, replacing the former Tech Pass to draw top talent in fields like AI and quantum computing. Since launching in 2023, the scheme has brought in over 8,000 people across business and research roles.

The biggest change: non-cash compensation such as stock options and equity now counts toward the S$30,000 monthly salary requirement. That makes it easier for startup hires to qualify and removes a cash-flow barrier for smaller firms. Equity also gives new joiners more skin in the game.

Oliver Jay moved from San Francisco to Singapore in 2022 under the old Tech Pass and now leads international strategy at OpenAI. In biomedical tech, Dr Anders Skanderup developed an AI tool that analyses cancer DNA in the bloodstream and is using the pass to bring lab innovations into hospital care. In quantum, Professor Ang Engakok says experienced leaders are increasingly needed as the field moves from academia into real-world applications.

Caption language: en · Fetched: 2026-05-02

Tech companies are looking to attract more top-tier talent via the new AI and tech track in the overseas network and enter expertise or one pass scheme. Since its launch in 2023, more than 8,000 individuals have been hired across sectors like business and research. Kaylee Um reports. After years building his career in San Francisco's tech scene, Oliver Jay made the move to Singapore in 2022. Drawn by the chance to be part of its fast-growing ecosystem, today he leads international strategy at OpenAI. Mr. Jay is among those who've come to Singapore under the one pass, a scheme aimed at attracting top talent across sectors. Well, I don't think I'd be in Singapore if it weren't for at that point the tech pass that has now become the one pass.

I was really encouraged to see the direction of where one pass is going and having a special track for AI because absolutely, we think this is a phenomenal opportunity to bring in more talent. This new AI and tech track replaces the former tech pass and is part of efforts to attract high-quality talent in critical fields like AI and quantum computing. The Manpower Ministry says the new track will offer more attractive terms and better reflect how tech professionals are paid today. For instance, non-cash components like stock options and equity can now be counted towards the $30,000 monthly salary requirement. This could make it easier for startup talents to be eligible as their compensation is often not purely salary-based. This added flexibility could benefit smaller firms in growth sectors.

It's easier for the company not to have to come up with all the cash to to commit it at this level straight away, which is easier for larger corporations. Um startups are always cash-strapped until they make it. And then vice versa, I think it probably helps um the newcomers to feel more integrated in being part of the company by having some some stock option rather than just being on the payroll. In the quantum space, Professor Ang Engakok says there's a growing need for experienced talent to lead as the field moves from academia into real-world applications. While AI and tech are a growing focus, the one pass continues to draw talent across key sectors like biomedical tech. One of them is Dr.

Anders Skanderup, who has led the development of an AI-based tool that analyzes cancer DNA in the bloodstream, making for more precise disease tracking. Once we've done our research, we've discovered certain things and made those publications, we also need to make sure that those discoveries and those methodologies, they can be translated back into the hospital. The pass has allowed him to expand this work as he looks to bring these innovations from the lab into real-world care.