Singapore Employment Pass COMPASS Guide
- Roger Pay
- 15 hours ago
- 7 min read
Singapore Employment Pass COMPASS Guide
Singapore's Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) requires candidates to pass a two-stage evaluation: meeting the qualifying salary floor and earning at least 40 points on the COMPASS points grid.
Aniday
All new Employment Pass (EP) applications must satisfy the latest C1 sector benchmarks, while renewals expiring on or after 1 July 2026 must adhere to the updated standards.
Hawksford
Key Takeaways
Two-Step Qualification: Candidates must hit the baseline qualifying salary and score ≥40 points across Foundational (C1–C4) and Bonus (C5–C6) criteria.
Exemptions Apply: Foreign hires earning ≥SG$22,500/month, intra-corporate transferees (ICTs), or short-term roles (≤1 month) are exempt from COMPASS.
Hawksford
Fair Consideration Framework (FCF): Employers must post roles on MyCareersFuture before applying, unless exempt.
Step 1: Meet the EP Minimum Salary
Before scoring COMPASS points, candidates must hit the baseline fixed monthly salary floor. The threshold scales up based on the candidate's age (peaking at age 45+).
Sector | Minimum (Age ≤23) | Maximum (Age 45+) |
General Sectors | SG$5,600 / month | SG$10,700 / month |
Financial Services | SG$6,200 / month | SG$11,800 / month |
Step 2: Pass the COMPASS Scoring Matrix (≥40 Points Needed)
Applications accumulate points based on four foundational criteria and two bonus criteria.
20 Points: Exceeds expectations
10 Points: Meets expectations
0 Points: Below expectations
Foundational & Bonus Criteria Breakdown
Category | Indicator | Criteria & Conditions | Points |
C1. Salary (Individual) | Sector Benchmark | ≥90th percentile of local PMET salaries by age | 20 |
65th to 90th percentile | 10 | ||
<65th percentile | 0 | ||
C2. Qualifications (Individual) | Education | Top-tier institution (Top 100 global, local AUs, top sector-specific) | 20 |
Degree-equivalent qualification | 10 | ||
No degree-equivalent qualification | 0 | ||
C3. Diversity (Firm) | Nationality Mix | <5% share of candidate's nationality among firm PMETs | 20 |
5% to 25% share | 10 | ||
≥25% share (Default 10 pts if firm has <25 PMETs) | 0 | ||
C4. Local Employment (Firm) | Local PMET Share | ≥50th percentile relative to industry subsector | 20 |
20th to 50th percentile | 10 | ||
<20th percentile (Default 10 pts if firm has <25 PMETs) | 0 | ||
C5. Skills Bonus (Bonus) | Shortage Occupation List | Candidate fills a role on MOM's Shortage Occupation List (SOL) | +10 to +20 |
C6. SEP Bonus (Bonus) | Strategic Priorities | Employer participates in eligible innovation/internationalisation schemes | +10 |
Who is Exempt from COMPASS?
Candidates bypass the COMPASS points system if they meet any of the following conditions:
Earning a fixed monthly salary of at least SG$22,500.
Applying as an Overseas Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT) under WTO GATS or an applicable Free Trade Agreement.
Filling a short-term position lasting 1 month or less.
How Employers Can Maximise COMPASS Scores
Benchmark Salary Offers (C1): Check MOM's updated sector benchmarks via the MyMOM Portal. Raising a candidate's offer to the 90th percentile yields maximum points.
Verify Qualifications Early (C2): Ensure foreign degree qualifications are authenticated by a MOM-approved background screening agency before submission.
Audit Firm PMET Headcount (C3 & C4): Monitor workforce diversity ratios. Note that employees earning at least SG$3,300/month are counted toward the firm's PMET headcount.
Leverage the Shortage Occupation List (C5): Check whether tech, agritech, healthcare, or green economy roles qualify for extra bonus points.
Need Assistance with Your EP Applications?
Navigating COMPASS benchmarks, qualification verifications, and FCF job postings requires strategic planning. Contact an immigration consultant or employment services specialist to run self-assessment models and streamline pass approvals.
What roles are currently on Singapore's Shortage Occupation List (SOL) for COMPASS C5 bonus points?
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) maintains a Shortage Occupation List (SOL) under the COMPASS C5 Skills Bonus criterion.
If a candidate is being hired for a role listed on the SOL and meets the specified educational and experience requirements, the application earns +10 or +20 bonus points under C5. Highly specialized Infocomm/Tech roles on the SOL may also qualify for an extended 5-year EP validity.
Key Occupations on the SOL by Sector
1. Agriculture & Food Technology
Alternative Protein Food Application Scientist
Novel Food Biotechnologist
2. Financial Services
Financial Technology (FinTech) AI / Specialist
Cybersecurity Specialist in financial institutions
3. Green Economy (Sustainability & Carbon Services)
Carbon Project / Programme Manager
Carbon Standards & Methodology Analyst / Developer
Carbon Trader
Carbon Verification & Audit Specialist / Auditor
4. Healthcare
Clinical Psychologist
Diagnostic Radiographer
Medical Social Worker
Occupational Therapist
Physiotherapist
Podiatrist
Registered Nurse
5. Infocomm Technology (ICT)
AI Scientist / AI Engineer
Application / Software Architect
Cloud Specialist
Cybersecurity Engineer / Cyber Forensics / Penetration Tester
Data Scientist / Data Architect
DevOps Engineer
6. Maritime & Engineering
Advanced Manufacturing Engineer / Semiconductor Specialist
Maritime Specialist / Marine Superintendent
Important Conditions for C5 Bonus Scoring
Role Matching: The candidate's actual daily job responsibilities must align closely with MOM's detailed SOL occupation description, not just match the job title.
Verification Requirements: Certain roles (e.g., healthcare professionals or food technologists) require specific degree fields, professional registrations, or minimum years of relevant experience.
Diversity Cap: If the candidate's nationality accounts for one-third (33.3%) or more of your firm’s total PMET headcount, the C5 bonus points awarded are reduced from +20 to +10 points.
What are the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) degree verification requirements for Employment Pass applications?
Mandatory education verification applies to all post-secondary qualifications declared in Employment Pass (EP) applications.
To claim COMPASS points for educational qualifications under Criterion 2 (Qualifications), employers must provide verification proof confirming two distinct aspects:
Authenticity: Proof that the candidate was genuinely awarded the degree.
Accreditation: Proof that the awarding institution is officially recognized by local government authorities.
Acceptable Sources of Verification Proof
MOM accepts verification proof from three primary sources:
MOM-Approved Background Screening Companies:
Verification reports must be issued by a screening partner accredited by MOM (e.g., RMI, Avvanz, HireRight, Dataflow, Sterling, eeCheck, Cisive).
Mandatory Requirement: The report must include a unique MOM Verification Reference Number.
Official Online Verification Portals:
Verification screenshots/documents directly from eligible government portals or university portals, provided they are in English, public, and verifiable by MOM.
Example (China degrees): Reports issued by the Center for Student Services and Development (CSSD) (e.g., Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate).
Digital Certificates via OpenCerts:
Tamper-proof digital degree certificates issued by participating educational institutions through Singapore's OpenCerts portal.
Unacceptable Verification Documents
MOM strictly rejects the following documents as verification proof:
Original degree certificates or diplomas submitted directly.
Documents certified by a Notary Public.
Formal letters issued by universities/schools confirming graduation.
Self-translated reports or unverified screenshots from third-party databases.
Processing Timeline & One-Time Rule
Turnaround Time: Background screening checks typically take 7 to 15 working days to complete.
One-Time Verification Rule: Verification is performed on a per-qualification basis. Once a candidate's degree has been verified and accepted by MOM, it does not need to be re-verified for future EP renewals or job changes.
How Bestar Singapore can Help Singapore Employment Pass COMPASS Guide
Navigating Singapore’s Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) requires a dual-stage qualification process: passing the mandatory salary threshold and securing at least 40 points on the MOM points evaluation matrix. Partnering with Bestar Singapore ensures a seamless, compliant path through your Employment Pass (EP) application.
Key Takeaways
Two-Stage Gatekeeping: Candidates must meet the age-scaled salary floor and score ≥40 points across COMPASS foundational (C1–C4) and bonus (C5–C6) criteria.
Dynamic Benchmarks: Salary baselines scale with candidate age, peaking for experienced talent (Age 45+).
COMPASS Exemptions: Candidates earning ≥SG$22,500/month, intra-corporate transferees (ICTs), or short-term roles (≤1 month) bypass points scoring.
Bestar Expertise: Pre-assesses COMPASS scoring, manages mandatory degree background checks, handles Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) compliance, and submits via the MyMOM portal.
Step 1: Baseline EP Salary Requirements
Before COMPASS points are calculated, candidates must hit the minimum fixed monthly salary floor.
Sector | Baseline Salary (New Graduates / Early 20s) | Maximum Scaled Floor (Age 45+) |
|---|---|---|
General Sectors | SG$5,600 / month | SG$10,700 / month |
Financial Services | SG$6,200 / month | SG$11,800 / month |
Step 2: COMPASS Points Matrix (≥40 Points Needed)
Applications earn points evaluated against sector and firm-level data.
Category | Indicator | Assessment Criteria | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
C1. Salary (Individual) | Sector Benchmark | ≥90th percentile of local PMET salaries by age | 20 |
65th to 90th percentile | 10 | ||
<65th percentile | 0 | ||
C2. Qualifications (Individual) | Academic Standing | Top-tier university / Recognized institution | 20 |
Degree-equivalent qualification | 10 | ||
Unrecognized or no degree | 0 | ||
C3. Diversity (Firm) | Nationality Share | <5% candidate's nationality in firm PMET workforce | 20 |
5% to 25% share | 10 | ||
≥25% share (Small firms <25 PMETs automatically score 10) | 0 | ||
C4. Local Employment (Firm) | PMET Ratio | ≥50th percentile relative to subsector | 20 |
20th to 50th percentile | 10 | ||
<20th percentile (Small firms <25 PMETs automatically score 10) | 0 | ||
C5. Skills Bonus (Bonus) | Shortage Occupation | Role listed under MOM's Shortage Occupation List (SOL) | +10 to +20 |
C6. SEP Bonus (Bonus) | Strategic Innovation | Firm participates in approved EDB/ESG transformation schemes | +10 |
How Bestar Singapore Maximises Your EP Application Success
Comprehensive COMPASS Pre-Assessment: Bestar conducts an upfront score evaluation using MOM SAT data to identify and rectify points shortfalls before formal submission.
Mandatory Educational Verification: Coordinates candidate degree screening with MOM-approved background verification bodies (e.g., Avvanz, Dataflow, Sterling) to ensure mandatory verification reference numbers are obtained.
Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) Compliance: Manages compulsory 14-day MyCareersFuture job postings, job description optimization, and applicant tracking to insulate your business from compliance flags.
Workforce Ratio Strategy: Audits small and expanding company PMET workforce statistics to maximize firm-level C3 (Diversity) and C4 (Local Support) scoring leverage.
Family Relocation Support: Assists EP holders earning ≥SG$6,000/month with Dependant's Pass (DP) and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) filings.
Need Assistance with Your EP Applications?
Streamline your hiring strategy and ensure compliant work pass approvals. Contact Bestar Singapore for tailored EP immigration advisory and COMPASS pre-assessments.
Call to Action
For Employers:
Avoid costly application delays and ensure full compliance under the COMPASS framework. Contact Bestar Singapore today to evaluate your candidate’s score and streamline your Employment Pass application.
For Foreign Executives & Professionals:
Planning your relocation or expansion in Singapore? Get in touch with Bestar's corporate immigration team to run a preliminary EP assessment and secure your work pass.
Form Field | Recommended Purpose |
Candidate Job Title / Role | Evaluates C1 Salary & C5 Shortage Occupation potential |
Proposed Fixed Monthly Salary | Verifies baseline eligibility against sector/age floors |
Candidate Nationality | Checks C3 Workforce Diversity impact |
Total PMET Headcount | Determines small-firm exemption or C3/C4 baseline scoring |
"Navigating COMPASS requirements doesn't have to be complicated. Let Bestar Singapore manage your degree verifications, FCF postings, and EP filings. 👉 Book your consultation now."
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