Singapore Employment Pass 2026 — Salary, COMPASS Score & How to Apply

Singapore's Employment Pass changed fundamentally in 2026. The minimum salary rose to S$5,600 and every applicant must pass the COMPASS points framework. Here's exactly what that means, what scores get approved, and how to apply from Pakistan or anywhere.

Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) is the primary work visa for foreign professionals in managerial, executive, and specialist roles. In 2026, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) made its most significant changes to the EP framework since COMPASS was introduced in 2023 — raising salary benchmarks, updating the Shortage Occupation List, and changing how qualifications are scored.

If you are a software engineer, data scientist, finance professional, healthcare specialist, or business executive targeting Singapore, this is the complete picture of what getting an EP actually requires today.

What Is the Employment Pass

The Employment Pass allows foreign professionals to work in Singapore for a Singapore-registered employer. It is issued to the employer, who applies on your behalf — you cannot apply directly. The EP is valid for up to 2 years for first-time holders and renewable for up to 3 years.

EP holders can bring dependants (spouse and children) on Dependant's Passes if they earn S$6,000/month or above. They can apply for Singapore Permanent Residence (PR) after holding the EP, typically after 2–3 years.

The Two-Stage Framework — Salary + COMPASS

Since September 2023, every EP application must pass two distinct gates. Failing either one means rejection.

Gate 1 — Minimum Qualifying Salary

As of January 2026, the minimum monthly salary to qualify for an EP is:

S$5,600/month for all sectors except financial services.
S$6,200/month for financial services (banking, insurance, asset management).

These are the floor figures — for young applicants at entry level. The actual required salary increases with age. MOM benchmarks EP salaries against the top one-third of local PMET (Professionals, Managers, Executives, and Technicians) wages:

A 40-year-old software engineer earning S$5,600 will be automatically rejected even though they meet the base threshold. MOM expects salaries that reflect what experienced local professionals earn. The Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) on mom.gov.sg lets you check whether your salary likely meets the threshold before applying.

Exception: Applicants earning S$22,500/month or above are exempted from COMPASS entirely — the salary alone is sufficient.

Gate 2 — COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework)

COMPASS is a points-based system with six criteria. Applicants must score at least 40 points to pass. The system awards 0, 10, or 20 points per criterion.

The four foundational criteria:

C1 — Salary: How your salary compares to local PMETs in the same sector and job family. Earning at the 65th percentile of local PMETs earns 10 points. Earning at the 90th percentile earns 20 points. Earning below the 65th percentile earns 0 points. This is recalibrated annually — the benchmarks for 2026 are updated from 1 January 2026 for new applications and from 1 July 2026 for renewals.

C2 — Qualifications: Points for the educational credential of the applicant. A degree from a top-tier institution (MOM's updated list includes top global universities) earns 20 points. A degree from other recognised universities earns 10 points. No recognised degree earns 0 points. All qualifications must be verified by a MOM-approved background screening company — this is mandatory from 2026.

C3 — Diversity: Whether your nationality is over-represented in the firm. If your nationality makes up a small proportion of your employer's PMET workforce, you earn 20 points. If it is moderate, 10 points. If it is high (your employer relies heavily on one nationality), 0 points. This criterion penalises companies that have concentrated hiring from a single country.

C4 — Support for Local Employment: Whether your employer has a strong share of local (Singaporean and PR) PMETs relative to their industry peers. Firms with above-average local PMET ratios score 20 points. Average firms score 10. Below-average firms score 0.

The two bonus criteria:

C5 — Shortage Occupation List (SOL): +20 points if the role appears on Singapore's updated Shortage Occupation List. Updated from January 2026, the SOL includes specific roles in AI, cybersecurity, data science, healthcare, and biomedical fields. Selected infocomm technology roles on the SOL may also qualify for a 5-year EP instead of the standard 2 years — for applicants earning at least S$10,500/month.

C6 — Strategic Economic Priorities: +10 points if the employer holds approved status under certain government investment or innovation programmes (Enterprise Development Grant, EDB-supported companies, etc.).

Reaching 40 points: A well-qualified candidate with a degree from a recognised university (10 pts on C2), a fair salary (10 pts on C1), moderate nationality diversity (10 pts on C3), and an employer with average local PMET ratio (10 pts on C4) reaches exactly 40 points. The bonus criteria push over this threshold with margin. The riskiest profiles are those with low C3 scores (common nationality) and weak C4 scores (employer hiring heavily from abroad).

Documents Required

Valid passport. Educational degree certificates — verified by a MOM-approved screening company (Avvanz, Verity Intelligence, or similar). Employment contract from the Singapore employer. Employer's UEN (business registration number). Employer's payroll records demonstrating the salary offered. For regulated professions: proof of professional registration or licence.

The employer submits all documents through MOM's EP eService or myMOM Portal. The applicant does not submit independently.

Before Applying — The Fair Consideration Framework

Before an employer can apply for an EP on behalf of a foreign hire, they must first advertise the role on MyCareersFuture.sg for a minimum of 14 days and consider all Singaporean/PR applicants fairly. This is the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF). Only after demonstrating they could not fill the role locally can the employer proceed with an EP application.

Employers with a history of discriminatory hiring practices are flagged by MOM and their EP applications face additional scrutiny or rejection.

Application Costs and Processing

Application fee: S$105 (non-refundable).
Issuance fee (if approved): S$225.
Standard processing time: 10 business days for most applications.
Complex cases: Up to 8 weeks.

Applications are submitted by the employer online. Once approved, the applicant receives an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter, which allows entry into Singapore to complete formalities. The EP card is issued after the applicant arrives and completes the issuance process.

Other Singapore Work Passes

The EP is not the only work pass in Singapore. For context:

S Pass — for mid-skilled workers earning at least S$3,300/month (S$3,800 for financial services). Subject to employer quota limits (maximum percentage of workforce on S Passes).

Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) — for high-earning professionals earning S$22,500+/month. Not tied to a specific employer, valid 3 years, cannot be renewed.

Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass — for exceptional global talent earning S$30,000+/month or with outstanding achievements in their field. Allows simultaneous employment with multiple firms.

EntrePass — for foreign entrepreneurs starting venture-backed or innovative businesses in Singapore.

What Earns Good COMPASS Scores — Practical Advice

Salary strategy: The single most impactful factor is C1. If your salary lands below the 65th percentile for your role and experience level, you score 0 on C1 and need 40 points from the remaining 5 criteria alone — which is nearly impossible. Negotiate your salary to the 65th percentile minimum; the 90th percentile gives you maximum C1 points and strong overall position.

Choose employers carefully: C3 and C4 are entirely employer-dependent and not in your control. Before accepting a job offer, check if the company has a history of hiring from your country heavily (C3 risk). Ask the HR team if they have any concern about their COMPASS scores — a responsible employer will know. Companies that have been warned by MOM for non-compliance are difficult to get EPs with regardless of your own qualifications.

SOL roles are valuable: If your role is on the Shortage Occupation List, you receive a guaranteed 20-point bonus on C5. For tech roles in AI, cybersecurity, and data engineering, check the current SOL at mom.gov.sg before accepting a job title — the exact title may matter for SOL eligibility.

Degree verification: This is non-negotiable from 2026. All degrees must be independently verified by a MOM-approved screening company before the application is submitted. Build this time into your application timeline — verification takes 2–4 weeks typically.

Singapore Permanent Residence from EP

EP holders become eligible to apply for Singapore Permanent Residence (PR) typically after 2–3 years of holding the EP. PR applications are assessed holistically — salary, contribution to Singapore's economy, family ties, community integration, and duration of stay. There is no points test and no automatic pathway — PR is discretionary.

PR gives you the right to live and work in Singapore indefinitely, access to CPF (Central Provident Fund — Singapore's national pension system), and a path to citizenship after 2 years of PR.

Salary Expectations in Singapore — What EP Holders Actually Earn

Technology sector:
Junior software engineer (0–2 years): S$5,500–7,000/month.
Mid-level software engineer (3–6 years): S$7,500–10,500/month.
Senior engineer / tech lead: S$11,000–16,000/month.
AI/ML specialist: S$9,000–16,000/month (often on the SOL).
Cybersecurity specialist: S$8,000–14,000/month (SOL eligible roles).

Financial services:
Junior analyst (banking): S$5,500–7,500/month.
Associate / analyst (investment banking): S$8,000–14,000/month.
Risk and compliance manager: S$9,000–15,000/month.

Singapore's cost of living is significant — plan for SGD $3,500–5,000/month in living expenses for a single professional renting a room or small apartment. EP salaries are gross figures — CPF contributions apply only to Singapore citizens and PRs, so EP holders retain their full gross salary without CPF deductions, which is an advantage compared to locals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for an EP without a job offer?
No. The EP requires an employer to apply on your behalf. You cannot apply independently. You must have a confirmed job offer from a Singapore-registered employer.

Does my Pakistani degree qualify for COMPASS C2 points?
It depends on your university's ranking and recognition. Degrees from top global universities recognised on MOM's updated list earn 20 points. Degrees from other recognised universities earn 10 points. Degrees from unrecognised institutions earn 0. Check the MOM C2 institution list at mom.gov.sg. All degrees require independent verification regardless.

If my first EP application is rejected, can I reapply?
Yes. There is no mandatory waiting period after a rejection, but reapplying immediately with the same profile will produce the same result. Address the specific COMPASS shortfalls — typically salary or employer profile — before reapplying.

Can I work for multiple employers on an EP?
No. The EP is issued for a specific employer. Working for any other employer is a violation of your EP conditions. The ONE Pass (S$30,000+/month) allows multi-employer work.

Internal links: Japan Work Visa for Engineers & IT 2026 · South Korea Work Visa EPS 2026 · Dubai Work Visa 2026 · EU Blue Card Germany 2026 · Cost of Living Netherlands 2026 · Best Expat Health Insurance 2026 · Send Money from Pakistan Abroad 2026

Singapore MOM updates EP requirements regularly. Verify current salary benchmarks, COMPASS criteria, and the Shortage Occupation List at mom.gov.sg before applying. This article reflects February 2026 data.