Employment Pass (EP)

Eligibility requirements

• Have a genuine job offer and an employer or appointed employment agent able to apply. A founder can be assessed for a real role; share ownership does not remove the work-pass tests.
• Meet the salary threshold for the applicant’s age and employer’s sector. The headline figure is the youngest-age minimum, not a flat threshold for every professional.
• Normally achieve at least 40 COMPASS points across individual and employer factors. Salary, qualifications, nationality diversity and local employment support contribute, with defined bonus criteria.
• A COMPASS exemption may apply at fixed monthly salary of at least S$22,500, to qualifying overseas intra-corporate transferees, or for roles of one month or less. An exemption does not waive every EP condition.
• The employer must comply with applicable Fair Consideration Framework job advertising and fair-hiring obligations. The declared occupation, responsibilities, qualifications and salary must describe the real job.

Legal framework

Build the evidence

Prepare records that substantiate the relevant criteria. The final checklist depends on the applicant, route and filing authority.

• Passport particulars and consistent personal/employment history.
• Signed offer or employment contract, detailed job description, salary structure and employer registration/business information.
• Qualification verification evidence where qualifications are declared or relied on for COMPASS, using MOM-accepted verification procedures.
• Employer workforce and COMPASS information, recruitment evidence or exemption basis, and occupation-specific credentials where needed.

How to apply

1. 01

   Run an eligibility and timing assessment

   Use MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool with the correct age, sector, salary and intended filing date. For a 2027 hire, budget against the announced new thresholds.

2. 02

   Review recruitment and evidence

   The employer completes the required recruitment process and verifies the candidate’s documents. WG coordinates the evidence and activity review with the authorised Singapore filing party.

3. 03

   Submit and respond to MOM

   The employer or appointed employment agent submits through MOM’s system. Track requests for further information and avoid beginning employment merely because an application was lodged.

4. 04

   Issue the pass after approval

   Follow the in-principle approval instructions, complete required declarations or medical formalities, have the pass issued and complete card registration when directed.

5. 05

   Maintain the permission

   Update relevant changes and review salary, job, employer and COMPASS requirements ahead of renewal. A move to a new employer normally requires a new pass application.

After approval & family planning

• Eligible spouses and children may qualify for family passes, generally using a separate S$6,000 fixed-monthly-salary test; parents require S$12,000. Other relationship and sponsorship conditions apply.
• An EP is tied to employment. Dependants do not automatically acquire an unrestricted right to work.
• A qualifying longer-duration technology EP has additional criteria; it should not be promised to every applicant working for a technology company.

Frequently asked questions

Points to consider

• A positive self-assessment is an assessment aid, not an approval or permission to start work.