What is Employment Pass (EP)?

MOM assesses every EP application in two stages. Stage 1 is the EP qualifying salary, which rises with the candidate's age. A candidate who misses Stage 1 is not eligible, however many points they would have scored later. Stage 2 is COMPASS, the Complementarity Assessment Framework, which has a pass mark of 40 points.

Before you apply, the Fair Consideration Framework requires you to advertise the role on MyCareersFuture for at least 14 consecutive days and consider all candidates fairly. You should not make a job offer during that window. Companies with fewer than 10 employees, roles paying a fixed monthly salary of $22,500 or more, roles lasting one month or less and roles filled by a local transferee are exempt from advertising, but fair hiring still applies.

For new applications submitted before 1 January 2027, MOM sets the minimum at $5,600 a month for candidates aged 23 or below, rising each year of age to $10,700 at 45 and above. Financial services roles start higher, at $6,200, rising to $11,800. MOM gives worked figures on its eligibility page, such as $9,541 at age 40 outside financial services.

The floor rises for new applications from 1 January 2027 and for renewals expiring from 1 January 2028: $6,000 rising to $11,500, or $6,600 rising to $12,700 in financial services. Check the exact figure for your candidate's age before you set the offer, not just the starting figure.

COMPASS has four foundational criteria worth up to 20 points each: salary compared with local PMET pay in your sector (C1), qualifications (C2), the candidate's nationality share among your PMETs (C3), and your firm's support for local employment (C4). Two bonus criteria add points: up to 20 if the job is on the Shortage Occupation List (C5), and 10 for taking part in an eligible Strategic Economic Priorities programme (C6). A candidate without a degree can still pass by reaching 40 points through the other criteria.

Some candidates are exempt from COMPASS altogether: those on a fixed monthly salary of at least $22,500, overseas intra-corporate transferees, and people filling a role for one month or less.

Most problems are avoidable. Employers set the salary at the headline minimum without checking the age-based figure, make an offer before the advert has run for 14 days, or edit the advert's salary, occupation or number of vacancies and forget that MOM then needs a fresh advert open for another 14 days. MOM also rejects applications linked to adverts that are discriminatory or misdescribe the job, so write the advert as carefully as the application.