Singapore Employment Pass and Work Passes: Complete Guide

Singapore's work pass system is one of the most structured and transparent in Asia — governed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and updated regularly to balance demand for foreign talent with fair employment opportunities for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. The Employment Pass (EP) is the primary work authorisation for foreign professionals. Understanding the framework — including the 2026 salary thresholds, COMPASS scoring, and what to state on your resume — is essential for any international professional targeting Singapore.

Singapore work pass hierarchy

Employment Pass (EP) — Stage 1: Minimum qualifying salary

• General sectors (2026): S$5,600/month for the youngest candidates — rising progressively with age. Use MOM's Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) at mom.gov.sg for the exact age-linked threshold.
• Financial services (2026): S$6,200/month at entry — rising progressively with age.
• From 1 January 2027: Thresholds rise to S$6,000/month (general) and S$6,600/month (financial services) for new applications.
• COMPASS exemption: Candidates earning S$22,500/month fixed salary are exempt from Stage 2 COMPASS assessment.

Employment Pass — Stage 2: COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework)

Introduced September 2023, COMPASS requires a minimum score of 40 points across six criteria. Each criterion scores 0, 10, or 20 points:

• C1 — Salary: How competitive is the candidate's salary relative to local PMET peers in the same occupation?
• C2 — Qualifications: Recognised degree or professional qualification? MOM-approved verification by a screening firm is mandatory (2026 requirement).
• C3 — Diversity: Does the candidate's nationality add to workforce nationality diversity?
• C4 — Local employment support: Does the employer have a strong track record of local PMET employment?
• Bonus C5 — Shortage Occupation List: Is the role on MOM's Shortage Occupation List? Check mom.gov.sg for current inclusions.
• Bonus C6 — Strategic economic priorities: Does the employer participate in recognised government economic development programmes?

Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) — the advertising requirement

Before most EP or S Pass applications, employers must advertise the role on MyCareersFuture (careers.gov.sg) for at least 14 consecutive days and genuinely consider Singapore citizens and PRs. Exemptions apply for roles with fixed monthly salary above S$20,000 and short-term assignments (one month or less).

What to put on your Singapore resume about work pass status

• EP holder: "Employment Pass (EP) holder — valid to [MM/YYYY]"
• S Pass holder: "S Pass holder — valid to [MM/YYYY]" — employers have S Pass quotas
• Seeking EP: "Seeking Employment Pass sponsorship"
• Singapore Citizen or PR: "Singapore Citizen" or "Singapore PR"
• Never include your FIN number on your resume

Sources: MOM — Employment Pass (mom.gov.sg, 2026); migaku.com — EP eligibility 2026 (May 2026); terraadvisoryservices.com — COMPASS guide (August 2026); tyteoh.com — EP Singapore guide (July 2026); procloz.com — Work Pass Guide (June 2026); immigrationconsultant.sg — S Pass thresholds (June 2026)