Singapore Employment Pass Checklist
The Singapore Employment Pass (EP) is for foreign professionals, managers, executives and specialists, and works in two stages: the qualifying salary and the COMPASS points system. This checklist covers the salary by age, the 2027 thresholds, the employer obligations and the pre-application checks. Based on the official Ministry of Manpower pages.
Three quick facts
- Two stages — meet the EP qualifying salary (stage 1), then pass the points-based COMPASS (stage 2) unless exempt.
- Qualifying salary from $5,600 — rising with age to $10,700 at 45 and above (non-financial sector).
- Failing stage 1 is fatal — if you do not meet the salary, you are not eligible regardless of your COMPASS points.
Who it is for
The Employment Pass (EP) is for foreign professionals, managers, executives and specialists. Candidates need to pass the points-based COMPASS in addition to meeting the EP qualifying salary. It works in two stages:
- Stage 1 — qualifying salary: meet the EP qualifying salary, benchmarked against the top one-third of local PMET salaries and rising with age.
- Stage 2 — COMPASS: unless exempt, pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework points system. Candidates who do not meet stage 1 are not eligible for an EP regardless of the points they would have scored under COMPASS.
Qualifying salary by age
| Sector | From age 23 (current) | Age 45 and above (current) | From 1 Jan 2027 (new applications) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-financial | $5,600 | $10,700 | $6,000 (age 45+: $11,500) |
| Financial services | $6,200 | $11,800 | $6,600 (age 45+: $12,700) |
The salary rises with age from the age-23 floor up to the age-45-and-above figure. The government has also published the higher thresholds that apply to new applications from 1 January 2027 (and to renewals expiring from 1 January 2028).
Before you apply
- Meet the qualifying salary for your age and sector — see the table above.
- Pass COMPASS unless exempt — the two-stage framework applies.
- Employer obligations — your employer must first meet the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) advertising requirement.
- Pre-check with the enhanced Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) — the Ministry of Manpower provides one to test eligibility.
For another Singapore work route see the Singapore S Pass documents checklist (on the checklists hub); for the destination photo use the Singapore passport photo page and the passport photo checker.
What is not published
The eligibility page does not list the item-by-item document checklist (qualification verification, employment contract, company documents), the COMPASS six-criteria scoring detail (C1–C6 points), or the application fee. Because none is published on this page, none is asserted here — confirm them through the Ministry of Manpower for your case.
Frequently asked questions
What is the EP minimum salary?
$5,600 from age 23, rising with age to $10,700 at age 45 and above (non-financial sector), with higher thresholds from 1 January 2027.
What is COMPASS?
The Complementarity Assessment Framework, a points-based system that most EP candidates must pass in addition to meeting the qualifying salary.
What if I do not meet the salary?
You are not eligible for an EP regardless of the points you would have scored under COMPASS.
What must my employer do?
The employer must meet the Fair Consideration Framework advertising requirement before applying for an EP.
How do I check my eligibility first?
Use the Ministry of Manpower's enhanced Self-Assessment Tool to pre-check your case before applying.
What documents and points detail are required?
The eligibility page does not publish the item-by-item list or the COMPASS scoring detail, so none is asserted here; confirm them through the Ministry of Manpower.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower (mom.gov.sg) — Employment Pass and Employment Pass eligibility pages, retrieved 2026-09-28. Requirements change, so confirm the current position before you apply.