Singapore
Employment Pass — COMPASS framework
Also known as: COMPASS, Complementarity Assessment Framework
- Pass mark
- 40 pts
- Model
- Fixed threshold
- Leads to
- Work pass → PR
- Path to PR
- Over time
- Job offer
- Yes
- Language test
- No
- Processing
- ~1 mo
Points system
C1 — Salary
20 ptsFixed monthly salary vs sector/age benchmark: ≥65th percentile 20; 25th–65th 10; below 25th 0.
C2 — Qualifications
20 ptsTop-tier institution 20; degree-equivalent 10; none 0.
C3 — Diversity
20 ptsFirm's share of the candidate's nationality among PMETs: <5% 20; 5–25% 10; >25% 0.
C4 — Support for local employment
20 ptsFirm's local PMET share vs industry: ≥50th percentile 20; 20th–50th 10; below 20th 0.
C5 — Skills bonus
20 ptsJob on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL).
C6 — Strategic economic priorities bonus
10 ptsFirm in an approved innovation or internationalisation partnership.
Pass mark: 40 points.
Path to permanent residency
- Grants PR directly: No
- Years to permanent residency: Varies
COMPASS gates the Employment Pass work pass, not PR. EP holders may apply for Permanent Residence (discretionary), typically after roughly 2+ years.
Visas & streams
- Employment Pass (EP)
Eligibility requirements
- A job offer meeting the EP qualifying salary (≥S$5,600 general; ≥S$6,200 financial services; rising with age)
- Pass COMPASS (≥40 points) unless exempt (salary ≥S$22,500, intra-corporate transfer, or short stay ≤1 month)
- Acceptable qualifications
Disqualifiers
- Below 40 COMPASS points and not exempt
- Salary below the EP floor
Recent changes
- 2023-09-01
COMPASS applied to new Employment Pass applications.
- 2024-09-01
COMPASS applied to Employment Pass renewals.
- 2025-01-01
EP qualifying salary raised (S$5,600 general; S$6,200 financial sector).
Notes
A points-based gate for the EP work pass — not a direct PR route. Two foundational individual criteria (salary, qualifications), two firm criteria (diversity, local support), and two bonus criteria. 40 points = pass; each block scores 0/10/20.
EasyPassport is a document-organization tool focused on citizenship by descent. This page is reference research, not legal or immigration advice. Points tables, thresholds, and salary floors change frequently — always verify with the official program authority before acting.