Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has updated the qualifications criteria for the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), a points-based evaluation system for all Employment Pass (EP) applications.

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has released updated qualifications criteria for the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), the points-based evaluation system applicable to all Employment Pass (EP) applications. Singapore has also modified the COMPASS system’s credentials standards, specifically the 20-point institutions list and the 10-point professional qualifications list.

The Employment Pass allows foreign professionals, managers and executives to work in Singapore. Employment Pass (EP) candidates need to pass the points-based COMPASS in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary.

To qualify for EP applications, candidates will need to pass a 2-stage eligibility framework:

Stage 1: Earn at least the EP qualifying salary, which is benchmarked to the top 1/3 of local PMET salaries by age.

Stage 2 : Unless exempted, pass the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).

From 1 January 2025, the EP qualifying salary for new applications will be revised to at least $5,600, and at least $6,200 for the financial services sector. This revised EP qualifying salary will also apply to the renewal of EPs that are expiring from 1 January 2026.

COMPASS, The Complementarity Assessment Framework, which came into effect for new EP applications in September 2023, allows to evaluation of EP candidates holistically based on individual and firm-related attributes. This ensures that employers bring in the right profile of foreign workers to complement the local workforce and that companies develop healthy workforce profiles that are powered by a strong local core.

Singapore has now modified the COMPASS system’s credentials standards, specifically the 20-point institutions list and the 10-point professional qualifications list, which will be used for new and renewal EP applications commencing January 1, 2025.

A list of institutions awarded 20 points under COMPASS Criterion 2 Qualifications has been released in November 2024 and applies to new and renewal applications from 1 January 2025.

EP candidates will earn 20 points on COMPASS Criterion 2 for a bachelor’s degree and above qualifications earned from the following eligible institutions.

For Group A institutions, 20 points are awarded for degrees from all faculties

For Group B institutions, 20 points are awarded only for degrees from specific faculties

Group A institutions: 20 points for all faculties ( not an exhaustive list)

Boston University – United States of America
Chulalongkorn University – Thailand
City University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong
Freie Universitat Berlin – Germany
Indian Institute of Technology Bombay – India
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi – India
King’s College London – United Kingdom
Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan (KTH Royal Institute Of Technology) – Sweden
McGill University – Canada

Employment Pass (EP) candidates will earn 10 points on COMPASS C2 (Qualifications) if they have these professional qualifications from the following institutions – ( not an exhaustive list). These are applicable to new and renewal applications from 1 January 2025.

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)

Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountant (ISCA)

The recently-released salary benchmarking table will apply to initial EP applications from January 1, 2025, and EP renewal applications of passes expiring from July 1, 2025.

The current salary benchmarks table (which was released in May 2023) applies to initial EP applications filed until December 31, 2024, and EP renewal applications of passes expiring from September 1, 2024 until June 30, 2025.

The benchmarking table released in August applies to New EP applications from 1 January 2025 and Renewals of EPs expiring from 1 July 2025.

Current C1 salary benchmarks by sector apply to New EP applications up to 31 December 2024 (inclusive) and renewals of EPs expiring from 1 September 2024 to 30 June 2025.