Employment Pass and COMPASS in Singapore: Employer’s Eligibility Guide

Last reviewed: 18 October 2026

What Is the Employment Pass

The Employment Pass (EP) allows foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) with a job offer to work in Singapore. An employer or appointed employment agent applies on the candidate’s behalf. An overseas company without a Singapore-registered office needs to apply through a local sponsor.

The Two-Stage EP Eligibility Framework

EP candidates must clear a 2-stage eligibility framework. Stage 1 is earning at least the EP qualifying salary, which is benchmarked to the top one-third of local PMET salaries by age. Stage 2 is passing the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework, better known as COMPASS, unless the candidate is exempted from it.

Stage 1: EP Qualifying Salary

The EP qualifying salary is a fixed monthly salary comparable to the top one-third of local PMET salaries, starting from $5,600 and increasing progressively with age, up to $10,700 for candidates in their mid-40s. Candidates in the financial services sector need higher salaries to qualify than this general benchmark.

These thresholds are going up. For new EP applications submitted from 1 January 2027, the minimum qualifying salary rises from $5,600 to $6,000, increasing progressively with age to $11,500 for candidates aged 45 and above (from $10,700 today). In financial services, the starting point rises from $6,200 to $6,600, up to $12,700 at age 45 and above (from $11,800). Every age band moves — a 30-year-old candidate outside financial services, for example, will need $7,750 instead of $7,223 — so check MOM’s age table rather than adding a flat $400.

Renewals follow a year later. The higher thresholds apply to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028, so a pass expiring during 2027 is still renewed against the current figures — but anyone whose pass expires in 2028 or later needs to be on the new salary by renewal time.

The S Pass moves on the same timetable. Its minimum qualifying salary rises from $3,300 to $3,600 for new applications submitted from 1 January 2027, increasing with age to $5,100 at 45 and above (from $4,800). In financial services, it rises from $3,800 to $4,000, while the top of the scale stays at $5,650 for candidates aged 45 and above. As with the EP, the new S Pass thresholds apply to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028.

Pass and sector	Current minimum	New applications from 1 Jan 2027, renewals expiring from 1 Jan 2028
EP (all except financial services)	$5,600 (up to $10,700 at 45+)	$6,000 (up to $11,500 at 45+)
EP (financial services)	$6,200 (up to $11,800 at 45+)	$6,600 (up to $12,700 at 45+)
S Pass (all except financial services)	$3,300 (up to $4,800 at 45+)	$3,600 (up to $5,100 at 45+)
S Pass (financial services)	$3,800 (up to $5,650 at 45+)	$4,000 (up to $5,650 at 45+)

Stage 2: COMPASS Explained

COMPASS — the Complementarity Assessment Framework — is a points-based test applied to EP applications that clear the Stage 1 salary requirement. An application needs to earn 40 points to pass COMPASS.

Before submitting an application, check the likely score using our COMPASS Points Estimator, which walks through the same criteria MOM uses to calculate the 40-point threshold.

The Six COMPASS Criteria

COMPASS scores an application against four foundational criteria and two bonus criteria. MOM’s published case studies show that an application can pass by meeting all four foundational criteria, or by being weak on one foundational criterion but making up sufficient points on a bonus criterion.

1. C1. Salary: how the candidate’s fixed monthly salary compares against the local PMET salary benchmark for the role and sector.
2. C2. Qualifications: the candidate’s educational qualifications, assessed against recognised institutions.
3. C3. Diversity: the nationality/citizenship diversity of the employer’s existing PMET workforce relative to the candidate’s own nationality.
4. C4. Support for local employment: the proportion of local PMETs in the employer’s workforce relative to its sector.
5. C5. Skills bonus: whether the role is on the Shortage Occupation List.
6. C6. Strategic Economic Priorities bonus: whether the employer has been endorsed under a scheme recognised as a strategic economic priority.

Who Is Exempt From COMPASS

Candidates are exempted from COMPASS entirely if they meet any of the following conditions:

• Have a fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500 (aligned with the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising exemption)
• Are applying as an overseas intra-corporate transferee
• Are filling the role for 1 month or less

The Job Advertising Requirement (FCF)

Under the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), employers submitting EP applications must generally advertise the job on MyCareersFuture and consider all candidates fairly before applying. The advertisement must run for at least 14 consecutive days, and employers should not make a job offer to the candidate during that mandatory advertising window. Job advertisements that have expired or been closed for more than 3 months cannot be reused for an EP application — the role has to be re-advertised.

Employers are exempted from the advertising requirement if they meet any of the following: the company has fewer than 10 employees; the fixed monthly salary for the role is $22,500 or more; the role is short-term (not more than 1 month); or the role is to be filled by a local transferee or an overseas intra-corporate transferee to a related Singapore entity. Fair hiring practice is still expected even where advertising is exempted.

Pass Duration and Renewal

A first-time Employment Pass is issued for up to 2 years. On renewal, it can be issued for up to 3 years. Experienced tech professionals with skills in shortage may be eligible for a longer, 5-year duration pass. The EP is renewable, and employers can choose whether to provide medical insurance for EP holders — this is not compulsory the way it is for some other work pass categories. At renewal, the candidate’s salary is checked against the qualifying salary in force for that renewal: passes expiring from 1 January 2028 must meet the higher thresholds that apply to new applications from 1 January 2027.

Compliant vs Non-Compliant EP Applications

✅ Compliant	❌ Non-Compliant
Job advertised on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days before the EP application is submitted	EP application submitted before the 14-day advertising window has closed
Salary set at or above the qualifying benchmark for the candidate’s age and sector	Salary set just below the benchmark on the assumption COMPASS points will make up for it
COMPASS score checked or estimated before submitting, confirming the application meets the 40-point threshold	Application submitted without checking the likely COMPASS score, risking rejection
Exemption conditions (salary, transferee status, role duration, company size) verified and documented before skipping advertising or COMPASS	Exemption assumed without confirming the salary, role duration or transferee status actually qualifies
Salary and COMPASS score reassessed against current benchmarks before filing a renewal	Renewal filed assuming the original approval terms still apply unchanged

Employer Checklist

• Confirm the candidate’s fixed monthly salary meets the age- and sector-based EP qualifying benchmark
• Use the COMPASS Points Estimator to check the likely score before applying, unless a COMPASS exemption clearly applies
• Advertise the role on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days, unless a documented advertising exemption applies
• Don’t make a job offer to the candidate until the mandatory advertising period has closed
• Confirm which exemption, if any, genuinely applies before skipping advertising or COMPASS — don’t assume
• Track pass expiry dates and start the renewal and COMPASS reassessment process well ahead of time — passes expiring from 1 January 2028 must meet the higher qualifying salaries that take effect for new applications on 1 January 2027

Related Guides

• COMPASS Points Estimator (Tool)
• Work Passes in Singapore: Complete Guide
• Employment Contract Requirements in Singapore

Last verified: 18 October 2026