Singapore Employment Pass & COMPASS 2025: The Points System Explained Clearly
Singapore's COMPASS framework changed how Employment Passes are evaluated in 2023. Two years on, here's what the six criteria actually mean, what score you need, and why some applicants are surprised by rejections despite high salaries.
Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) has always been straightforward in theory: earn enough, be qualified, get the pass. But since September 2023, MOM (Ministry of Manpower) has required employers to run their candidates through COMPASS — a six-criterion points framework — before an EP can be issued. The result is that some well-paid, well-qualified candidates are being rejected in ways that weren't possible before.
Here's what COMPASS actually measures, and what it means for your application.
What Is COMPASS?
COMPASS stands for Complementarity Assessment Framework. It was introduced to ensure that Employment Pass holders genuinely complement Singapore's local workforce rather than simply replacing local workers who could do the same job.
A candidate needs a minimum of 40 points across six criteria (C1–C6) to pass. Failing COMPASS means the EP application is rejected — regardless of salary or qualifications.
The Six COMPASS Criteria
C1: Salary
Your salary is benchmarked against local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, Technicians) salaries for your occupation and age group.
| Relative Salary Position | Points |
|---|---|
| Top one-third of local benchmark | 20 |
| Middle one-third | 10 |
| Bottom one-third | 0 |
C2: Qualifications
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| Top-100 university degree (QS ranking) | 20 |
| Other accredited degree | 10 |
| No degree or unaccredited institution | 0 |
C3: Diversity (Company Nationality Concentration)
This criterion penalises companies where a single foreign nationality makes up 25% or more of EP holders.
| Nationality Share at Company | Points |
|---|---|
| Less than 25% of EP holders | 20 |
| 25% or more | 0 |
This is the criterion that catches many applicants by surprise — particularly candidates from countries with large expatriate communities in Singapore. If an employer already has a high concentration of your nationality in EP roles, you may score 0 here regardless of your own qualifications.
C4: Local Employment Support
Measures how the employer compares to industry peers in employing local workers at the PMET level.
| Local Hiring vs Industry Peers | Points |
|---|---|
| Above industry median | 10 |
| At or above industry median | 10 |
| Below industry median | 0 |
C5: Skills Bonus (Priority Occupations)
Bonus points for candidates in occupations on MOM's shortage list.
| Occupation Status | Points |
|---|---|
| On shortage occupation list | 10 |
| Not on list | 0 |
C6: Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus
Additional points for companies with endorsed strategic partner status (specific government-endorsed programmes).
| Company Status | Points |
|---|---|
| Endorsed strategic partner | 10 |
| Not endorsed | 0 |
Salary Thresholds in 2025
Before COMPASS even applies, you must meet a minimum salary threshold based on your age. These figures apply from 2025:
General sector:
| Age | Minimum Monthly Salary |
|---|---|
| 23 and below | SGD 5,600 |
| 24 | SGD 5,900 |
| 25 | SGD 6,200 |
| 26–29 | SGD 6,500–7,500 |
| 30–34 | SGD 7,800–9,000 |
| 35–39 | SGD 9,100–10,100 |
| 40–44 | SGD 10,200–10,500 |
| 45 and above | SGD 10,700 |
Financial services sector: approximately 10% higher than the general figures at each age band.
The COMPASS Exemption: ONE Pass Territory
Candidates earning SGD 22,500 or more per month are exempt from COMPASS entirely. At this income level, MOM considers the economic contribution self-evident.
Alternatively, exceptional candidates may consider the Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass, which requires either:
- Monthly salary of SGD 30,000+, OR
- Employment with a company valued at USD 500M+ (market cap) or USD 200M+ (annual revenue), OR
- Outstanding achievements in arts, culture, sports, or academia
The ONE Pass is valid for 5 years and allows the holder to work for multiple employers simultaneously — a flexibility the standard EP does not offer.
What a Strong COMPASS Application Looks Like
A candidate who scores well typically:
- Has a salary in the top one-third for their age group and occupation (C1: 20 pts)
- Holds a degree from a top-100 ranked university (C2: 20 pts)
- Works for a company with diverse EP nationality representation (C3: 20 pts)
- Is in a shortage occupation (C5: 10 pts)
That combination alone totals 70 points — well above the 40-point minimum. The diversity criterion (C3) is the one most candidates cannot personally control — it depends on employer demographics.
Processing Time
Standard EP applications: 3–8 weeks from submission. Applications requiring additional documentation or manual review take longer. Employers submit applications through MOM's EP Online portal.
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