S Pass qualifying salary: current and 2027 rates
S Pass candidates must earn a fixed monthly salary comparable to the top one-third of local Associate Professionals and Technicians (APT) salaries by age. The minimum qualifying salary varies by sector and age.
All sectors except financial services
Current minimum: $3,300 at age 23 or below, rising progressively to $4,800 at age 45 and above.
From 1 January 2027 (new applications) and for renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028: $3,600 at age 23 or below, rising to $5,100 at age 45 and above.
Financial services sector
Current minimum: $3,800 at age 23 or below, rising to $5,650 at age 45 and above.
From 1 January 2027 (new applications) and for renewals expiring from 1 January 2028: $4,000 at age 23 or below, rising to $5,650 at age 45 and above.
Declaring qualifications is optional for S Pass applications. If declared, the employer is responsible for ensuring the qualification is authentic and awarded by an accredited institution in the application form’s drop-down list.
S Pass quota: Dependency Ratio Ceiling and S Pass cap
The number of S Pass holders a company can hire is limited by a Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC) — the maximum ratio of foreign workers (Work Permit + S Pass) to total workforce — and a specific S Pass cap within that DRC.
| Sector | DRC (max foreign workforce share) | S Pass cap (share of total workforce) |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 83.3% | 15% |
| Process | 83.3% | 15% |
| Marine shipyard | 75% | 15% |
| Manufacturing | 60% | 15% |
| Services | 35% | 10% |
The quota is calculated from the average number of local employees over the last three months, based on CPF contributions. The Local Qualifying Salary (LQS) determines which local employees count toward the quota. Quota balances update every Saturday and are visible the next working day on WP Online.
S Pass levy: harmonised rate from September 2025
Since 1 September 2025, the S Pass levy rate is $650 per month across all sectors and levy tiers. The daily levy rate for partial-month employment is $21.37, calculated as (monthly rate × 12) ÷ 365, rounded up to the nearest cent. Levy liability starts on the day the S Pass is issued and ends when the pass is cancelled or expires. Employers must pay the levy via GIRO.
Employment Pass: two-stage eligibility framework
EP candidates must clear both stages:
Stage 1 — EP qualifying salary
Fixed monthly salary benchmarked to the top one-third of local PMET salaries by age. The minimum varies by sector and age.
All sectors except financial services
Current (new applications before 1 Jan 2027, renewals expiring before 1 Jan 2028): $5,600 at age 23 or below, rising to $10,700 at age 45 and above.
From 1 Jan 2027 (new applications) and renewals expiring from 1 Jan 2028: $6,000 at age 23 or below, rising to $11,500 at age 45 and above.
Financial services sector
Current: $6,200 at age 23 or below, rising to $11,800 at age 45 and above.
From 1 Jan 2027: $6,600 at age 23 or below, rising to $12,700 at age 45 and above.
Candidates who do not meet the Stage 1 salary are not eligible for an EP, regardless of COMPASS points.
Stage 2 — COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework)
Unless exempted, the application must score at least 40 points across six criteria:
| Criterion | Maximum points | Key determinants |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Salary | 20 | Candidate’s fixed monthly salary vs. local PMET salary benchmarks by sector: ≥90th percentile = 20; 65th–<90th = 10; <65th = 0 |
| C2 Qualifications | 20 | Top-tier institutions (QS top 100, Singapore Autonomous Universities, agency-endorsed) = 20; other degree-equivalent = 10; none = 0 |
| C3 Diversity | 20 | Share of candidate’s nationality among firm’s PMETs: <5% = 20; 5%–<25% = 10; ≥25% = 0. Firms with <25 PMETs get 10 points by default. |
| C4 Support for local employment | 20 | Firm’s local PMET share relative to sector: ≥50th percentile = 20; 20th–<50th = 10; <20th = 0. Firms with <25 PMETs get 10 points by default. Firms with ≥70% local PMET share (economy-wide 20th percentile) score at least 10 regardless of sector ranking. |
| C5 Skills bonus (Shortage Occupation List) | +20 | Job on SOL and candidate’s nationality share <1/3 = 20; ≥1/3 = 10. Additional job-duty and experience checks apply if SOL points are needed to pass COMPASS or for a 5-year tech EP. |
| C6 Strategic Economic Priorities bonus | +10 | Participation in eligible economic-agency or NTUC-endorsed programmes. Awarded at agency discretion; valid up to 3 years or programme duration, whichever is shorter. Renewal requires ≥10 points on C3 and C4 for each of the 3 months before renewal. |
COMPASS exemptions apply if the candidate:
- Earns a fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500; or
- Is an overseas intra-corporate transferee; or
- Fills the role for one month or less.
Employers and employment agents can use the enhanced Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) to check eligibility before applying.
Key differences at a glance
| Feature | S Pass | Employment Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying salary floor | $3,300 (current) / $3,600 (from 2027) | $5,600 (current) / $6,000 (from 2027) — higher for financial services |
| Quota | Yes — DRC + S Pass cap by sector | No quota |
| Levy | $650/month (all sectors, from Sep 2025) | No levy |
| Medical insurance | Employer must provide | Employer may choose to provide |
| Primary Care Plan | Required for workers in dormitories (≥7) or CMP sectors | Not required |
| Duration (first issue) | Up to 2 years | Up to 2 years |
| Duration (renewal) | Up to 3 years | Up to 3 years (5 years for eligible tech professionals on SOL) |
| Family passes | Dependant’s Pass if fixed monthly salary ≥ $6,000 | Dependant’s Pass available (salary threshold applies per prevailing rules) |
| Qualifications | Optional to declare | Required for COMPASS C2 points; verification proof needed if points claimed |
Practical steps for employers and candidates
- Check eligibility before applying — Use the SAT for both passes. For S Pass, the SAT indicates ~90% chance of approval if eligible; if not eligible, do not apply.
- Verify salary against the correct table — Use the sector- and age-specific qualifying salary for the pass type and application/renewal date.
- Monitor quota balance — For S Pass, check WP Online after each Saturday update. Late or missing CPF/salary declarations reduce quota and can push workers into higher levy tiers.
- Prepare COMPASS documents early — If claiming C2 points, have verification proof ready. Use the Workforce Insights tool on myMOM Portal to view firm-level C3 and C4 scores and sector benchmarks.
- Plan for 2027 salary thresholds — Both passes have higher qualifying salaries for applications from 1 Jan 2027 and renewals expiring from 1 Jan 2028. Adjust offers and budgets accordingly.
- Notify MOM of changes — Any change in candidate occupation, salary, or company particulars must be notified. For SOL-dependent EP holders, redeployment to a different occupation triggers reassessment.
