A company is not a work pass
Forming a Singapore company does not give you the right to live or work in Singapore. The two are separate. Many founders own a Singapore company perfectly well from abroad, using a nominee director to meet the local-director requirement. If you intend to relocate to Singapore yourself, you need a work pass, and that is applied for separately.
The main routes for founders
Two work passes are most relevant to founders and the people they bring into a Singapore company.
The Employment Pass. The Employment Pass, or EP, is for foreign professionals, managers and founders working for the company in a qualifying role. It is subject to a minimum salary, which rises with the candidate's age, and to a points-based assessment, called COMPASS, that weighs factors such as salary, qualifications and the make-up of the company's workforce. An EP is the route a founder relocating to run their Singapore company most often uses.
The EntrePass. The EntrePass is designed specifically for entrepreneurs starting an innovative, venture-backed or technology business in Singapore. Rather than a salary test, it asks the business to meet innovation criteria, for example funding from a recognised investor, ownership of qualifying intellectual property, or a recognised government grant or accelerator place. It suits a founder whose company is genuinely innovative and growth-focused.
Permanent residence
Holding a work pass over time can open a route to apply for Singapore permanent residence, though permanent residence is granted at the government's discretion and is never automatic.
How Cosmos helps
Cosmos helps you understand which pass fits your situation, and how it works alongside the company, so the two are planned together. The salary thresholds and the COMPASS framework change from time to time, and an application needs to be put together carefully. Cosmos is not an immigration adviser; where your application needs specialist advice, Cosmos will introduce you to it. Tell Cosmos early if you intend to relocate, because it affects how the company is best set up, including whether you still need a nominee director once you hold a pass yourself.