COMPASS C3 for Indian EP Applicants: The Rules, the 40-Point Path, and the PR Application

The COMPASS diversity criterion (C3) can cost an application up to 20 points when a candidate’s nationality makes up a large share of the employer’s professional, manager, executive and technician (PMET) staff. It does not decide the outcome by itself. An application passes COMPASS at 40 points, and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) publishes examples that pass with C3 at zero. This article covers the C3 scoring rules, the routes to compensate, and what the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) publishes about applying for permanent residence (PR) on an Employment Pass (EP).

Two gates, in order

EP eligibility runs in two stages. Stage 1 is the qualifying salary. Stage 2 is COMPASS, unless the candidate is exempt. A candidate who misses Stage 1 is not eligible for an EP regardless of the points they would have scored under COMPASS. Employers and employment agents can run the Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) first. Employers must also meet the Fair Consideration Framework job advertising requirement before submitting new applications.

Stage 1: the qualifying salary

The qualifying salary is benchmarked to the top one-third of local PMET salaries by age, and it rises from age 23.

MOM publishes the full age-by-age table on its eligibility page; check the candidate’s exact figure first.

What C3 scores

Nationality is based on the passport recorded in Singapore Government records, including for permanent residents. Employers can check the share through the Workforce Insights tool on the myMOM Portal. The pages cited here publish no PMET nationality shares by sector and no C3 outcomes by nationality. Treat such figures from other sources as unverified.

Compensating when C3 returns zero

C3 is one of six criteria. Four are foundational and two are bonuses. A pass needs 40 points in total.

C1 (Salary) compares the candidate’s fixed monthly salary against local PMET salaries in the sector: 20 points at or above the 90th percentile, 10 points from the 65th to below the 90th percentile, 0 below the 65th. This benchmark differs from the Stage 1 qualifying salary. Missing the salary floor ends the application before COMPASS counts.

C2 (Qualifications) gives 20 points for degree-equivalent qualifications from listed institutions, including QS World University Rankings top 100 universities, Singapore’s Autonomous Universities, and institutions endorsed by a relevant agency. Other degree-equivalent qualifications earn 10 points; qualifications that are not degree-equivalent earn nothing. Submit verification proof only if the application needs C2 points.

C4 (Support for local employment) awards 10 points by default when the employer has fewer than 25 PMETs. With at least 25 PMETs: 20 points at or above the 50th percentile of local PMET share for the sector, 10 points from the 20th to below the 50th percentile, 0 below the 20th. An organisation with a local PMET share of at least 70% scores at least 10 points regardless of where it stands in its sector.

C5 (Skills bonus) adds 20 points when the job is on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) and the candidate’s nationality share is below one third, or 10 points when the share is one third or more. MOM checks job duties, experience, and qualifications or accreditation. If SOL points were needed to pass, the pass is tied to that occupation; redeployment requires notifying MOM first and a fresh assessment.

C6 (Strategic Economic Priorities bonus) gives 10 points when the organisation participates in or meets the criteria for at least one eligible programme. The supporting agency decides the award. Points last up to 3 years or the duration of participation, whichever is shorter. Renewal requires at least 10 points on C3 and on C4 in each of the 3 months before renewal.

Exemptions. A candidate is exempt from COMPASS with a fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500, as an overseas intra-corporate transferee, or for a role of 1 month or less.

MOM’s worked example: a firm where the candidate’s nationality forms 35% of PMETs and local PMET share sits below the 20th percentile still passes — C1 20, C2 10, C3 0, C4 0, C5 10, total 40.

What the official pages do not publish

The pages cited here carry no approval or rejection rates by nationality, no weights for the PR assessment factors, and no minimum EP tenure before a PR application. MOM states that no foreign worker levy or quota applies to the EP.

Applying for PR on an EP

A holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass applies through the ICA e-Service using a Singpass account. ICA lists the factors it weighs: family ties to Singaporeans, economic contributions, qualifications, age, family profile, and length of residency. It uses them to assess the applicant’s ability to contribute and integrate, and commitment to sinking roots. ICA does not publish how much each factor counts.

All fees are non-refundable. S$100 is due at submission. On completion of formalities the charges are S$20 for the Entry Permit, S$50 for a 5-year Re-Entry Permit, and S$50 for the Identity Card. Payment is online only. Applications are processed within 6 months provided all required documents are submitted and in order; some take longer.

Uploads must be certified true copies of the originals, with official translations for documents not in English. ICA accepts embassy or notary translations, and privately translated documents attested or notarised accordingly. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance. Start Singpass registration early: approval can take 2 to 5 working days, and every person added to the application must review the form before submission.

Also note that ICA states it has no affiliation with external migration agencies claiming to be Singapore immigration specialists, and it does not endorse their services. Male applicants granted PR are liable for National Service under the Enlistment Act 1970; ICA requires all male applicants to read the information at cmpb.gov.sg before proceeding. If citizenship is the eventual goal, one route requires at least 2 years as a PR and age 21 or above.

Before you file: a checklist

Advice, not official requirements.

1. Run MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool on the candidate’s details.
2. Match the candidate’s age to the qualifying salary for the sector.
3. Open Workforce Insights in the myMOM Portal.
4. Record the nationality share and the local PMET share.
5. Decide whether the application needs C2 points, then order verification proof if it does.
6. Check whether the job title sits on the Shortage Occupation List.
7. Register Singpass accounts for everyone before starting a PR application.
8. Assemble certified copies and official translations.

FAQ

Do the official sources give PR approval rates for Indian EP holders? No. ICA publishes eligibility, assessment factors, fees, and processing time. No approval rates by nationality appear on them.

Is there a minimum time on an EP before applying for PR? ICA’s eligibility list says only that the applicant holds an Employment Pass or S Pass. MOM gives pass durations — first-time up to 2 years, renewals up to 3 years — but no minimum applies on these pages.

Can a zero C3 score be appealed? The MOM pages cited here describe no appeal route for an individual COMPASS score. The score follows the employer’s PMET workforce profile. Check that profile in Workforce Insights, then compensate through other criteria or an exemption.

Official sources

• Eligibility for Employment Pass — Ministry of Manpower
• Key facts on Employment Pass — Ministry of Manpower
• Becoming a Permanent Resident — Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
• Becoming a Singapore Citizen — Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

This article does not constitute legal or migration advice.