Work passes
Employment Pass (EP): eligibility and how it works
The Employment Pass is MOM's work pass for foreign professionals, managers and executives with a job offer in Singapore. Eligibility has two stages: a fixed monthly salary of at least the qualifying salary for the candidate's age (from S$5,600, higher in financial services), then 40 points under the COMPASS points framework unless exempt. The employer or its appointed agent applies, never the candidate. A first pass lasts up to 2 years; renewals up to 3.
Key takeaways
- Stage 1: MOM's qualifying salary rises with age, from S$5,600 at 23 to S$10,700 at 45 and above (financial services S$6,200–11,800). It rises to S$6,000 at 23 for new applications from 1 January 2027.
- Stage 2: COMPASS, a points framework with a pass mark of 40 points. MOM: candidates who miss Stage 1 are not eligible “regardless of the points they would have scored”.
- Exempt from COMPASS: a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, overseas intra-corporate transferees, and roles of 1 month or less.
- Only the employer or an appointed employment agent can apply, renew or appeal. MOM will not take an appeal from the candidate.
- An EP holder earning at least S$6,000 can sponsor a spouse and children on Dependant's Passes; at S$12,000, parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass.
Who the Employment Pass is for
The pass is tied to the job and the employer. There is no foreign worker levy or quota for EP holders, which is one practical difference from the S Pass. Candidates do not need to be in Singapore when the employer applies.
The two-stage eligibility test
- 1
Stage 1 — the qualifying salary
The candidate must earn at least the EP qualifying salary, which MOM benchmarks to the top third of local PMET salaries by age. It rises progressively from age 23 to 45, and financial services has a higher scale. The figure is compared with the fixed monthly salary.
- 2
Stage 2 — COMPASS
Unless exempt, the application must score 40 points under the Complementarity Assessment Framework: four criteria (salary against local PMETs in the sector, qualifications, the employer's nationality diversity and its support for local employment) plus two bonus criteria. COMPASS explained sets out every band.
| Sector | Now: age 23 or below | Now: age 45 and above | New applications from 1 January 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All sectors except financial services | S$5,600 | S$10,700 | S$6,000 rising to S$11,500 |
| Financial services | S$6,200 | S$11,800 | S$6,600 rising to S$12,700 |
The new column applies to new applications from 1 January 2027 and to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028, so a renewal in 2027 is still judged on today's scale. The COMPASS calculator reads MOM's table at the candidate's exact age and says which column applies.
Who is exempt from COMPASS
An exemption from COMPASS is not an exemption from Stage 1: the qualifying salary still applies. At S$22,500 a candidate can also consider the Personalised Employment Pass (compared below), and the employer is exempt from the job-advertising requirement described in how an EP application works.
Duration, renewal and changing jobs
- First pass: up to 2 years. Renewals: up to 3 years. MOM adds that experienced tech professionals with skills in shortage may be eligible for a 5-year pass, with its own salary scale and a minimum of 10 points on the diversity criterion.
- Renewal is by the same employer, up to 6 months before expiry, and the qualifying salary and COMPASS apply again — see Employment Pass renewal.
- A new employer means a new application by that employer. MOM notes that a verified qualification does not need verifying again at renewal or on a change of employer.
- Rejected? Only the employer can appeal, within 3 months — see Employment Pass appeal.
Other passes at the same level
| Pass | Who applies | Headline criterion (MOM) | Tied to one employer? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | Employer or appointed agent | Qualifying salary by age, then COMPASS | Yes |
| Personalised Employment Pass | The candidate | Fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500; issued once, up to 3 years | No |
| ONE Pass | The candidate, or an employer or agent | S$30,000 a month, or outstanding achievements | No |
| S Pass | Employer or appointed agent | Lower qualifying salary; employer quota and levy | Yes |
| EntrePass | The founder | A venture-backed or innovative company | Own business |
Family members
MOM's rule for EP holders: earn at least S$6,000 a month to bring a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 on a Dependant's Pass; a common-law spouse, step-children and handicapped children aged 21 and above come on a Long-Term Visit Pass, and parents only when the EP holder earns at least S$12,000. MOM advises applying for family passes after the EP is approved: the family-pass fees are lost if the EP is rejected.
The Employment Pass and Singapore PR
Holding an EP makes you eligible to apply for permanent residence under ICA's category “Holder of an Employment Pass or S Pass”, with no minimum period on the pass. PR is a separate, discretionary ICA decision with its own factors; the EP's qualifying salary is not a PR threshold. Employment Pass to PR covers that route.
Frequently asked
Can I apply for an Employment Pass myself?
No. MOM states that an employer or appointed employment agent applies on the candidate's behalf, and an overseas company with no Singapore-registered office applies through a local sponsor. The candidate gives written consent and supplies documents.
Is there a minimum degree for the EP?
No fixed minimum. Qualifications count under COMPASS criterion C2: 20 points for a top-tier institution, 10 for a degree-equivalent qualification, 0 without one. An application can still reach the pass mark on the other criteria.
Which salary counts?
The fixed monthly salary. Both the qualifying salary and the COMPASS salary criterion are compared with it.
Does passing the criteria guarantee a pass?
No. The criteria are what MOM publishes; MOM decides each application and also checks, for example, the job advertisement, the documents and the employer.
Check a salary against MOM's tables
The qualifying salary for the exact age, the C1 salary points for the employer's sector, and a COMPASS points range from your answers. Free; no details needed to see the result.
Official sources referenced
- MOM — Key facts on Employment PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Eligibility for Employment Pass (qualifying salary by age; COMPASS)MOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Apply for an Employment PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Renew an Employment PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Passes for families of Employment Pass holdersMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Experienced tech professionals with skills in shortage (5-year EP)MOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Eligibility for Personalised Employment PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- MOM — Key facts on Overseas Networks & Expertise PassMOM · accessed 27 September 2026
- ICA — Becoming a Permanent Resident (eligibility, documents, fees, processing)ICA · accessed 2 September 2026Primary page for eligibility routes, assessment factors, fees (S$100; S$20 + S$50 + S$50 at completion) and the 'within 6 months' processing statement.
Editorial information
- Written by
- SingaPR Editorial Team — Research & editorial
- Reviewed by
- SingaPR Immigration Research Desk — Fact review against ICA/MOM sources
- Published
- 27 September 2026
- Facts verified
- 27 September 2026 (re-checked at least every 90 days)
Revision history
- 2026-09-27 — First published after verification against MOM and ICA pages fetched on 27 September 2026.
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