If you are planning to apply for an Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore in 2025, you might be worried about the “COMPASS” system.

Gone are the days when a high salary alone guaranteed approval. Since the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) fully implemented the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS), every EP application is now scored on a points system.

To get your pass approved, you need 40 points.

But how do you calculate this? And more importantly, with the new qualifying salary checks effective January 1, 2025, do you still qualify?

In this guide, we break down the math so you can self-assess your chances before you apply.

1. The Pre-Requisite: The New 2025 Salary Floor

Before you even start counting points, your candidate must meet the Stage 1 Minimum Qualifying Salary.

From 1 January 2025, the minimum salary requirements for new applications have increased:

  • General Sector: Minimum S$5,600 per month (up from S$5,000).

  • Financial Services: Minimum S$6,200 per month (up from S$5,500).

Important: This number increases with age. A 23-year-old applicant might pass with S$5,600, but a 45-year-old director will typically need a salary above **S$10,700** to qualify.

If you don’t meet this Stage 1 salary floor, you are disqualified immediately. If you do, you move on to Stage 2: The 40-Point Calculator.

2. How to Calculate Your 40 Points

The COMPASS framework awards points across 4 Foundation Criteria (C1-C4) and 2 Bonus Criteria (C5-C6). You can score 20 points (Exceeds Expectations), 10 points (Meets Expectations), or 0 points (Below Expectations) for each category.

C1: Salary (Relative to Local Peers)

MOM compares your candidate’s salary to local professionals (PMETs) in the same sector and age group.

  • 20 Points: Salary is in the top 90th percentile (Top 10% of earners).

  • 10 Points: Salary is between the 65th and 90th percentile.

  • 0 Points: Salary is below the 65th percentile.

Note: If your candidate has a “low” salary for their sector (e.g., Banking), they will score 0 here, and you must make up points elsewhere.

C2: Qualifications

  • 20 Points: Top-tier institution (Top 100 universities globally or highly reputable regional colleges).

  • 10 Points: Degree-equivalent qualification (A standard Bachelor’s degree).

  • 0 Points: No degree-equivalent qualification.

Tip: MOM is strict on verification. You must ensure the degree is from an accredited institution. Our Immigration & Work Pass Services team handles the verification checks to prevent rejection.

C3: Diversity (Nationality Mix)

This checks if your company hires too many people from a single nationality.

  • 20 Points: The candidate’s nationality makes up less than 5% of your company’s PMETs.

  • 10 Points: The candidate’s nationality makes up 5% to 25% of your PMETs.

  • 0 Points: The candidate’s nationality is 25% or more of your PMETs.

Small Company Bonus: If your company has fewer than 25 PMET employees total, you automatically score 10 points here.

C4: Support for Local Employment

This compares your company’s share of local (Singaporean/PR) staff against your industry peers.

  • 20 Points: Your local hiring is in the top 50th percentile of your industry.

  • 10 Points: Your local hiring is between the 20th and 50th percentile.

  • 0 Points: Your local hiring is in the bottom 20%.

Small Company Bonus: Again, if you have fewer than 25 PMETs, you automatically score 10 points.

3. Example Scenarios: Will You Pass?

Scenario A: The “Small Tech Startup”

  • Candidate: Software Engineer, Salary S$7,000, Standard Degree.

  • Company: Only 5 employees (Small company).

  • Score Calculation:

    • C1 (Salary): S$7,000 might be average for tech. Let’s assume 0 points.

    • C2 (Degree): Standard University = 10 points.

    • C3 (Diversity): Small company default = 10 points.

    • C4 (Local Support): Small company default = 10 points.

    • Total: 30 Points -> FAIL (Needs 40).

How to Fix This:

The candidate needs Bonus Points (C5). If their role is on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) (e.g., AI Engineer, Cybersecurity), they can get 20 bonus points, bringing the total to 50 points (PASS).

Scenario B: The “High Earner”

  • Candidate: Managing Director, Salary S$22,500+.

  • Exemption: Candidates earning a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more are exempt from the COMPASS criteria entirely. They automatically qualify for an EP (and possibly the new ONE Pass).

4. How We Can Help You “Pass”

The COMPASS framework is not just about guessing numbers. It requires strategic planning. Sometimes, adjusting the salary by S$500 or re-classifying the job title to match the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) makes the difference between Approval and Rejection.

At Excellence Singapore, we don’t just file forms. We perform a preliminary COMPASS assessment for your candidates before submission.

Unsure if your candidate qualifies?

Don’t risk a rejection on your company’s permanent record.

Contact our Immigration Specialists today for a detailed assessment.