COMPASS Framework for Employment Pass: Eligibility Criteria and Scoring Guide

Employment Pass (EP) candidates must clear a two-stage eligibility framework. Stage 1 sets a minimum qualifying salary benchmarked to the top one-third of local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians) salaries by age. Stage 2 requires a passing score on the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), unless an exemption applies. Candidates who fail Stage 1 are ineligible regardless of any COMPASS score.

Stage 1: EP Qualifying Salary

The qualifying salary applies to new applications and renewals. It rises progressively with age from age 23. Two sector bands exist: all sectors except financial services, and financial services. From 1 January 2027, higher thresholds take effect for new applications and for renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028.

All sectors except financial services

Age	Current minimum (before 1 Jan 2027)	From 1 Jan 2027
23 or below	$5,600	$6,000
24	$5,832	$6,250
25	$6,064	$6,500
26	$6,295	$6,750
27	$6,527	$7,000
28	$6,759	$7,250
29	$6,991	$7,500
30	$7,223	$7,750
31	$7,455	$8,000
32	$7,686	$8,250
33	$7,918	$8,500
34	$8,150	$8,750
35	$8,382	$9,000
36	$8,614	$9,250
37	$8,845	$9,500
38	$9,077	$9,750
39	$9,309	$10,000
40	$9,541	$10,250
41	$9,773	$10,500
42	$10,005	$10,750
43	$10,236	$11,000
44	$10,468	$11,250
45 or above	$10,700	$11,500

Financial services

Age	Current minimum (before 1 Jan 2027)	From 1 Jan 2027
23 or below	$6,200	$6,600
24	$6,455	$6,877
25	$6,709	$7,155
26	$6,964	$7,432
27	$7,218	$7,709
28	$7,473	$7,986
29	$7,727	$8,264
30	$7,982	$8,541
31	$8,236	$8,818
32	$8,491	$9,095
33	$8,745	$9,373
34	$9,000	$9,650
35	$9,255	$9,927
36	$9,509	$10,205
37	$9,764	$10,482
38	$10,018	$10,759
39	$10,273	$11,036
40	$10,527	$11,314
41	$10,782	$11,591
42	$11,036	$11,868
43	$11,291	$12,145
44	$11,545	$12,423
45 or above	$11,800	$12,700

Employers and employment agents can check a candidate’s eligibility using the enhanced Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) before applying. Employers must also meet the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising requirement before submitting new EP applications.

Stage 2: COMPASS Points System

An application needs 40 points to pass COMPASS. The framework has four foundational criteria (C1–C4) and two bonus criteria (C5–C6).

C1. Salary

Benchmarks the candidate’s fixed monthly salary against local PMET salaries in the employer’s sector. This is separate from the EP qualifying salary (Stage 1). Candidates who do not meet the EP qualifying salary are ineligible regardless of C1 points.

Candidate’s fixed monthly salary vs. sector benchmark	Points
90th percentile and above	20
65th to less than 90th percentile	10
Below 65th percentile	0

C2. Qualifications

Awards points for the candidate’s highest degree-equivalent qualification. If no points are needed from this criterion, qualifications and verification proof need not be submitted.

Qualification tier	Points
Top-tier institutions: top 100 universities based on QS World University Rankings and other highly-reputed universities in Asia, Singapore Autonomous Universities, or institutions highly recognised in a particular field and endorsed by a relevant agency	20
Other degree-equivalent qualifications: foreign qualifications comparable to a UK bachelor’s degree (assessed via UK ENIC), professional qualifications endorsed by a relevant sector agency, or foreign qualifications awarded by qualifying local private education institutions	10
No degree-equivalent qualification	0

Candidates without degree-equivalent qualifications can still pass COMPASS by earning 40 points from other criteria. Verification proof is required only if points are claimed from this criterion.

C3. Diversity

Measures the candidate’s nationality share among the organisation’s PMETs (including Permanent Residents, based on passport nationality in government records).

Organisation PMET count	Nationality share among PMETs	Points
Fewer than 25	—	10 (default)
25 or more	Less than 5%	20
25 or more	5% to less than 25%	10
25 or more	25% or more	0

Employers can check their workforce profile using the Workforce Insights tool on the myMOM Portal.

C4. Support for Local Employment

Recognises organisations that create opportunities for the local workforce.

Organisation PMET count	Local PMET share relative to sector	Points
Fewer than 25	—	10 (default)
25 or more	50th percentile and above	20
25 or more	20th to less than 50th percentile	10
25 or more	Below 20th percentile	0

If an organisation’s local PMET share is at least 70% (pegged to the 20th percentile economy-wide), the application scores at least 10 points regardless of sector ranking.

C5. Skills Bonus (Shortage Occupation List)

Applies when the job is on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) and the candidate performs the listed duties. The employer must select an eligible job title in the EP application.

Condition	Points
Job on SOL and candidate’s nationality share among organisation’s PMETs is less than 1/3	20
Job on SOL and candidate’s nationality share among organisation’s PMETs is 1/3 or more	10

Additional checks on job requirements apply if the candidate needs the SOL bonus to pass COMPASS or is applying for a 5-year duration EP for a specific tech occupation on the SOL. Candidates who needed SOL bonus points to pass COMPASS or obtain a longer duration EP can only be employed in that specific shortage occupation; redeployment requires MOM reassessment.

C6. Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus

Awards 10 points to organisations participating in or meeting criteria for at least one eligible programme endorsed by economic agencies or the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC). Award is at the discretion of the supporting agency. Points apply for up to 3 years or the duration of participation, whichever is shorter. Renewal requires continued participation plus at least 10 points on C3 and C4 for each of the three months before renewal.

Exemptions from COMPASS

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

Fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500 (aligned with the prevailing FCF job advertising exemption from 1 September 2023)
Applying as an overseas intra-corporate transferee
Filling the role for 1 month or less

Tools for Employers

COMPASS Guidebook – overview of the EP eligibility framework and application tips.
Workforce Insights tool on myMOM Portal – check organisation’s workforce profile, sector classification, C3 and C4 scores, and benchmarking data.
Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) – check a candidate’s eligibility before applying.

Illustrative Scoring Examples (from MOM)

Example A-1: Meets all four foundational criteria

Marketing consultancy, professional services sector. Local PMET share at 40th percentile. Candidate nationality share 15%. Candidate: Business Manager, bachelor’s degree (non-top-tier), salary at 70th percentile.

C1 Salary: 10 pts (65th–<90th percentile)
C2 Qualifications: 10 pts (degree-equivalent, non-top-tier)
C3 Diversity: 10 pts (5%–<25%)
C4 Support for Local Employment: 10 pts (20th–<50th percentile)
Total: 40 (Pass)

Example A-2: Small firm (fewer than 25 PMETs)

Medical technology start-up, biomedical sciences sector. 15 PMETs. Candidate: Operations Manager, bachelor’s degree (non-top-tier), salary at 70th percentile.

C1 Salary: 10 pts
C2 Qualifications: 10 pts
C3 Diversity: 10 pts (default for <25 PMETs)
C4 Support for Local Employment: 10 pts (default for <25 PMETs)
Total: 40 (Pass)

Example B: Weak on salary, strong on diversity

Commercial bank, financial services sector. Local PMET share at 40th percentile. Candidate nationality share 3%. Candidate: Management Associate, bachelor’s degree (non-top-tier), salary at 60th percentile.

C1 Salary: 0 pts (<65th percentile)
C2 Qualifications: 10 pts
C3 Diversity: 20 pts (<5%)
C4 Support for Local Employment: 10 pts
Total: 40 (Pass)

Example C: Weak on firm-level criteria, offset by SOL bonus

Software firm, infocomm technology sector. Local PMET share at 10th percentile. Candidate nationality share 35%. Candidate: job on SOL, master’s degree (non-top-tier), salary at 95th percentile.

C1 Salary: 20 pts (≥90th percentile)
C2 Qualifications: 10 pts
C3 Diversity: 0 pts (≥25%)
C4 Support for Local Employment: 0 pts (<20th percentile)
C5 Skills Bonus: 10 pts (SOL, nationality share ≥1/3)
Total: 40 (Pass)

Key Facts on the Employment Pass

Who it is for: Foreign professionals, managers and executives with a job offer in Singapore who meet the eligibility criteria.
Who can apply: An employer or appointed employment agent. Overseas companies without a Singapore-registered office must apply through a local sponsor.
Duration: First-time candidates up to 2 years; renewals up to 3 years. Experienced tech professionals with skills in shortage may be eligible for a 5-year pass.
Renewable: Yes.
Medical insurance: Employers may choose whether to provide it.
No foreign worker levy or quota required.
Family passes: Available for eligible family members.
Relevant legislation: Conditions of Work Pass; Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.