S Pass holders face quota and levy constraints that Employment Pass holders do not.
The Employment Pass uses a two-stage eligibility framework with a qualifying salary and the COMPASS points system.
Permanent Residence is open to both S Pass and EP holders, but ICA does not publish approval rates or income thresholds.
This article sets out the current official requirements from MOM and ICA.
S Pass Quota and Levy Constraints
S Pass hiring is capped by a Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC).
The Dependency Ratio Ceiling for the Services sector is 35 percent of the company’s total workforce, with S Pass holders capped at 10 percent.
In Construction, Manufacturing, Marine Shipyard, and Process sectors, the S Pass quota cap is 15 percent of the total workforce.
Employers must pay a monthly levy of $650 for every S Pass holder across all sectors since 1 September 2025.
Levy liability starts on the day the pass is issued and ends when the pass is cancelled or expires.
Employers must also provide medical insurance for S Pass holders.
S Pass holders earning at least $6,000 fixed monthly salary may apply for a Dependant’s Pass for spouse and children.
EP Eligibility: Two-Stage Framework
EP candidates must clear two stages.
Stage 1 requires meeting the EP qualifying salary benchmarked to the top one-third of local PMET salaries by age.
Stage 2 requires scoring at least 40 points on the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), unless exempted.
Candidates who do not meet Stage 1 are not eligible regardless of COMPASS score.
Employers must also meet the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement before submitting new EP applications.
The Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) on MOM’s website can check eligibility before applying.
EP Qualifying Salary by Sector and Age
The EP qualifying salary varies by sector and age.
For all sectors except financial services, the current minimum is $5,600 at age 23, rising progressively to $10,700 at age 45 and above.
For financial services, the current minimum is $6,200 at age 23, rising to $11,800 at age 45 and above.
From 1 January 2027 for new applications (and renewals expiring from 1 January 2028), the minimums increase to $6,000 and $11,500 for all sectors, and $6,600 and $12,700 for financial services.
The salary used is the fixed monthly salary.
Detailed age-by-age tables are published on MOM’s EP eligibility page.
COMPASS Scoring: Four Foundational Criteria
COMPASS awards points across four foundational criteria (C1–C4) and two bonus criteria (C5–C6).
A total of 40 points is required to pass.
C1 Salary benchmarks the candidate’s fixed monthly salary against local PMET salaries in the sector by age.
90th percentile and above earns 20 points.
65th to less than 90th percentile earns 10 points.
Below 65th percentile earns 0 points.
This is separate from the EP qualifying salary floor in Stage 1.
C2 Qualifications awards points for the candidate’s highest degree-equivalent qualification.
Top-tier institutions (top 100 QS World University Rankings, Singapore Autonomous Universities, and endorsed specialised institutions) earn 20 points.
Other degree-equivalent qualifications (foreign bachelor’s-level degrees per UK ENIC, endorsed professional qualifications, or qualifying PEI degrees) earn 10 points.
No degree-equivalent qualification earns 0 points.
Verification proof must be submitted if points are claimed.
C3 Diversity measures the candidate’s nationality share among the organisation’s PMETs.
Organisations with fewer than 25 PMETs receive 10 points by default.
For organisations with 25 or more PMETs: nationality share below 5 percent earns 20 points; 5 percent to less than 25 percent earns 10 points; 25 percent or more earns 0 points.
Nationality is based on passport records in Singapore Government systems.
C4 Support for Local Employment measures the organisation’s local PMET share relative to its sector.
Organisations with fewer than 25 PMETs receive 10 points by default.
For organisations with 25 or more PMETs: local PMET share at the 50th percentile and above earns 20 points; 20th to less than 50th percentile earns 10 points; below 20th percentile earns 0 points.
If the organisation’s local PMET share is at least 70 percent (pegged to the 20th percentile economy-wide), the application scores at least 10 points regardless of sector ranking.
COMPASS Bonus Criteria
C5 Skills Bonus applies when the job is on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
If the candidate’s nationality share among the organisation’s PMETs is less than one-third, the bonus is 20 points.
If the nationality share is one-third or more, the bonus is 10 points.
Candidates who need SOL points to pass COMPASS or to obtain a 5-year EP for a specific tech occupation on the SOL can only be employed in that shortage occupation.
Redeployment requires MOM reassessment.
C6 Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus awards 10 points for participation in eligible programmes endorsed by economic agencies or NTUC.
The bonus applies for up to 3 years or the programme duration, whichever is shorter.
Renewal requires continued programme participation and at least 10 points each on C3 and C4 for the three months before renewal.
COMPASS Exemptions
Candidates are exempted from COMPASS if they meet any of these conditions:
Fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500.
Overseas intra-corporate transferee.
Filling the role for one month or less.
PR Eligibility for EP and S Pass Holders
Both EP holders and S Pass holders are eligible to apply for Permanent Residence.
The application is submitted online via ICA’s e-Service using Singpass.
ICA assesses factors including family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile, length of residency, ability to contribute and integrate, and commitment to sinking roots.
ICA has no affiliation with any external migration agency or commercial entity claiming to be a Singapore immigration specialist.
The official processing time is within 6 months provided all documents are in order; some applications may take longer.
PR Application Process and Fees
At submission, a fee of $100 per applicant is payable.
At completion of formalities, successful applicants pay $20 for the Entry Permit, $50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit, and $50 for the Singapore Identity Card.
All fees are non-refundable.
Payment is made online via Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered), or PayNow.
Applicants must provide certified true copies of original documents and official translations for non-English documents.
ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or migration agencies.
National Service Obligation for Male Applicants
All male Singapore citizens and PRs are liable for National Service (NS) under the Enlistment Act 1970 unless exempted.
Male applicants granted PR as foreign students or under parents’ sponsorship must register for NS at 16 and a half years old and enlist at 18.
Deferment is allowed up to ‘A’ Levels, polytechnic diploma, or equivalent pre-tertiary qualification.
No deferment is granted for university studies.
Renouncing PR without serving NS has serious adverse consequences for future immigration applications for the individual and family members.