COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework)

The Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) is a points-based system used by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to assess Employment Pass (EP) applications. It has applied to EP applications since September 2023, and scores each application on both the candidate and the employer.

How COMPASS fits into EP eligibility

EP candidates go through two stages:

• Stage 1 – Qualifying salary. The candidate must earn at least the EP qualifying salary, currently S$5,600 a month for most sectors and S$6,200 for financial services. The requirement rises progressively with age, up to S$10,700 (S$11,800 for financial services) at age 45 and above.
• Stage 2 – COMPASS. Unless exempted, the application must also pass COMPASS.

A candidate who does not meet Stage 1 is not eligible for an EP, regardless of how many COMPASS points the application would score.

The six COMPASS criteria

An application needs at least 40 points to pass. Points are awarded across six criteria:

• C1 – Salary: how the candidate’s salary compares with local salaries for similar roles
• C2 – Qualifications: the candidate’s educational credentials
• C3 – Diversity: the nationality mix of the employer’s workforce
• C4 – Support for Local Employment: the employer’s share of local professionals, managers, executives and technicians
• C5 – Skills Bonus: a bonus if the role is on MOM’s Shortage Occupation List
• C6 – Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus: a bonus for employers taking part in eligible government programmes

Exemptions from COMPASS

An application is exempt from COMPASS if any of these apply:

• The candidate earns a fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500
• The candidate is an overseas intra-corporate transferee
• The role is being filled for one month or less

Higher salary thresholds from 2027

For new applications from 1 January 2027, and renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028, the Stage 1 qualifying salary rises to S$6,000 for most sectors (up to S$11,500 at age 45 and above) and S$6,600 for financial services (up to S$12,700).

Checking eligibility

Employers can use MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool to check a candidate’s eligibility before applying. For the full application process, see Employment Pass (EP), or HeySara’s work pass service if you’d like help with it.

Salary thresholds are reviewed by MOM from time to time. Check MOM’s website for the latest figures.