Singapore Employment Pass in 2026: COMPASS, Minimum Salary, and the Real Cost
The Singapore Employment Pass (EP) is the work pass for foreign professionals, managers, executives, and the founders who sponsor their own pass through their newly incorporated company. In 2026 the minimum monthly salary sits at S$5,600 for general roles and S$6,200 for financial services. Applicants must also clear at least 40 points on the COMPASS framework, and the employer must run a 14-day job advertisement on MyCareersFuture before submitting.
This guide walks through the full process — eligibility, COMPASS scoring, fees that get mislabelled in marketing copy, timeline expectations, and what actually drives rejection and appeal outcomes.
The Employment Pass in 2026: What Is New
Three changes affect EP applicants in 2026:
- Salary floors are higher than 2024. The general minimum rose from S$5,000 to S$5,600 in January 2025, with the financial-services minimum at S$6,200. Both apply to new applications and renewals.
- COMPASS bonus criteria expanded. The Shortage Occupation List was updated mid-2025, adding several technical and AI-adjacent roles. Bonus points under C5 (Skills) help borderline applicants reach the 40-point threshold.
- Job-ad enforcement tightened. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) audits Fair Consideration Framework compliance more aggressively. Generic adverts that obviously target a pre-selected candidate now draw queries.
The basic structure of the pass — 1-2 year initial validity, up to 3 years on renewal, tied to a single employer — has not changed.
Minimum Salary Floors by Sector and Age
MOM publishes age-banded benchmarks that scale upwards. The published floors are minimums for new applicants in their twenties; older or more senior applicants must clear higher bars that approximately reflect the local PMET salary distribution at the same experience level.
2026 baseline minimums:
- General sectors: S$5,600/month for applicants up to around age 30. Scales to roughly S$10,500/month for applicants in their mid-40s.
- Financial services: S$6,200/month at entry. Scales similarly with age.
The exact age-scaled benchmark is not public — MOM uses an internal benchmark drawn from quarterly PMET salary data. If you are within S$500 of the published minimum and your applicant is over 35, the application is at heightened risk of rejection on salary grounds even if it passes COMPASS.
The COMPASS Points System: How to Hit 40 Points
COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is the four-criteria points system in effect since 1 September 2023. The applicant must score at least 40 points across four foundational criteria, with up to 20 additional points available through two bonus criteria.
| Criterion | What it measures | Points available |
|---|---|---|
| C1 — Salary | Fixed monthly salary vs sector PMET benchmark | 0, 10, or 20 |
| C2 — Qualifications | Degree from recognised institution; top-tier institutions score higher | 0, 10, or 20 |
| C3 — Diversity | Applicant’s nationality as a share of firm’s PMET workforce | 0, 10, or 20 |
| C4 — Support for Local Employment | Firm’s share of locals in PMET vs industry benchmark | 0, 10, or 20 |
| C5 — Skills Bonus | Role on Shortage Occupation List or Strategic Economic Priorities list | +10 or +20 |
| C6 — Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus | Firm participates in EDB economic partnership programmes | +10 |
Most applicants clear 40 by hitting two of the four foundational criteria at 20 points each, or all four at 10 points each. Founders sponsoring their own pass typically score zero on C3 (single-nationality firm) and C4 (no local employees) — they often have to compensate through high salary (20 on C1) plus strong qualifications (20 on C2).
Salary above S$22,500/month exempts the entire COMPASS process
If the fixed monthly salary is at least S$22,500, COMPASS does not apply. Intra-corporate transferees and one-month assignments are also exempt. For everyone else, COMPASS is the gatekeeper.
The 14-Day Job Advertisement Rule (Fair Consideration Framework)
Before submitting an EP application, the employer must advertise the role on MyCareersFuture for 14 consecutive days. The advert must specify the actual job, salary range, and qualifications — not a stripped-down placeholder.
Exemptions from the job-ad requirement:
- Fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500.
- Intra-corporate transferees from a related foreign entity (with documentation).
- Roles requiring credentials only a small number of people in the world hold (rare in practice).
- Firms with fewer than 10 employees were previously exempt; that exemption tightened in 2024 and now depends on COMPASS scoring.
MOM has stepped up enforcement of FCF compliance. Adverts that look like sham postings — overly narrow requirements that match a single candidate, no realistic salary range, no real selection process — draw audit queries that can stall or kill the EP submission.
Documents You Will Need to Prepare
For a typical EP application:
- Passport bio-data page.
- Educational certificates and transcripts. Degrees from less recognised institutions require a Verification Report from Dataflow or similar verification service.
- Recent passport photograph (current MOM specifications).
- Employment contract or appointment letter stating the actual salary.
- Updated CV showing employment history.
- Company profile from ACRA (the employer’s own BizFile+ profile).
- Latest financial statements if the company is established.
- Evidence of the 14-day MyCareersFuture advertisement.
For founder-sponsored EPs, MOM often asks for additional documentation showing the business is real — bank statements, signed customer contracts, evidence of revenue or funding.
Government Fees vs Service Fees: The Honest Breakdown
This is where most agency marketing collateral becomes misleading. The actual MOM government fees for an EP are modest:
- Application fee: S$105.
- Issuance fee on approval: S$225.
- Multiple journey visa, if needed: S$30.
Total government cost: S$330 to S$360.
Anything beyond that is a service fee charged by the corporate services or immigration consultancy. Service fees in the Singapore market typically run from around S$1,200 (basic submission-only) to S$3,500 (full COMPASS pre-check, FCF advert design, document preparation, appeal handling if needed).
When you see a quoted “EP fee” of around S$3,400, that is service plus government bundled. Ask for the breakdown — the government portion should not be more than S$330.
Timeline: From Job Ad to Pass Issuance
A clean application timeline:
- Day 1–14: MyCareersFuture job advertisement runs.
- Day 15: Application submitted via EP Online.
- Day 16–35: MOM processing. Most decisions return in 3 weeks.
- Day 35–40: In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter issued. The candidate uses this to enter Singapore.
- Day 40–60: Candidate enters Singapore, has photograph and biometrics taken at MOM Services Centre. Physical pass card issued within 4 working days.
Total: typically 35 to 45 days from the start of the job ad to a physical pass in hand.
Variances: complex cases involving Dataflow verification, appeal of an initial rejection, or follow-up queries from MOM can extend the timeline by 3 to 6 weeks.
EP for Founders: When You Sponsor Your Own Pass
Founders who incorporate a Singapore company and want to work in Singapore typically sponsor their own EP through that company. This is allowed but receives extra scrutiny:
- The company must be a real operating business, not a shell. MOM looks at bank statements, customer contracts, and revenue.
- The salary you pay yourself must be genuinely paid (taxes, CPF where applicable, bank records). Paying yourself S$5,600 on paper and pulling drawings instead is the most common trigger for rejection or revocation.
- Founders often score zero on C3 (diversity) and C4 (local employment), so the application leans heavily on C1 (salary) and C2 (qualifications). C5 bonus points if the role is on the Shortage Occupation List can be decisive.
Our team typically handles founder EP applications alongside Singapore incorporation as a single package — the company set-up, COMPASS pre-check, FCF advert, and EP submission move together.
Dependant Pass and LTVP: What Family Members Qualify For
EP holders with a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 can sponsor a Dependant Pass (DP) for:
- Spouse (legally married).
- Unmarried children under 21.
At S$12,000 or more, the EP holder can also sponsor a Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for:
- Common-law partner.
- Step-children.
- Parents (subject to additional MOM assessment).
DP holders can work in Singapore only with a Letter of Consent (LOC) issued by MOM, granted case-by-case. LTVP holders generally cannot work unless they obtain their own work pass.
Common Reasons EPs Get Rejected (and How to Appeal)
The four most common rejection grounds:
- Salary below age-scaled benchmark. The published minimum is a floor, not a target. Applicants in their late thirties and forties need to clear meaningfully higher salaries.
- COMPASS score below 40. Often because the firm is small, single-nationality, and the role is generic. Adding C5 skills-bonus eligibility (if the role qualifies) can fix this.
- Qualifications not verified. Degrees from less recognised institutions trigger a Dataflow Verification Report request. Failing to provide a clean report kills the application.
- FCF advertisement deficiency. Advert too narrow, salary range absent, role description mismatching the actual job.
Appeals must be lodged within 3 months of rejection. The appeal can address the specific reason given and submit new information — for example, an updated salary offer or a corrected COMPASS calculation. The success rate on appeal is meaningfully higher when the rejection reason is COMPASS or salary calibration rather than fundamental eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum salary for a Singapore Employment Pass in 2026?
S$5,600 per month for general sectors and S$6,200 for financial services. These figures apply to younger applicants; older or more senior applicants are assessed against higher age-scaled benchmarks.
What is COMPASS and how many points do I need?
COMPASS is the points-based assessment framework MOM uses to evaluate EP applications. You need at least 40 points across four foundational criteria (salary, qualifications, diversity, local employment support). Additional bonus points are available for shortage-occupation roles and EDB-partnered firms.
How long does it take to get an Employment Pass approved?
Approximately 35 to 45 days from the start of the mandatory 14-day MyCareersFuture job advertisement to physical pass issuance. Complex cases involving qualification verification or appeals can extend this by 3 to 6 weeks.
What are the actual government fees for an EP?
S$105 for the application and S$225 on issuance — a total of S$330. Anything quoted above this is the service fee charged by the corporate services or immigration consultancy preparing the application.
Can a founder sponsor their own Employment Pass?
Yes. The founder’s Singapore company sponsors the application like any other employer, but MOM applies extra scrutiny to confirm the business is genuine and the salary is actually paid. Founders should be ready to provide bank records, contracts, and evidence of revenue.
What is the difference between EP, Dependant Pass, and LTVP?
The EP is the principal work pass. The Dependant Pass is for spouses and unmarried children under 21 of EP holders earning at least S$6,000/month. The Long Term Visit Pass covers common-law partners, step-children, and parents of higher-earning EP holders (S$12,000+/month threshold for most cases).
What happens to my EP if I change jobs?
The EP is tied to a single employer. Changing jobs requires a new application sponsored by the new employer. The old EP must be cancelled by the previous employer within 7 days of your last day. You will receive a Short Term Visit Pass to bridge the gap if approval is in progress.
Planning an EP application for yourself or a hire? Our team runs a COMPASS pre-check before any submission and handles the full process end-to-end. See our Employment Pass service or talk to our work-pass team.
