COMPASS Points Framework: How Singapore Scores EP Applicants

What is COMPASS?

COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is designed to help Singapore employers hire high-quality foreign professionals while maintaining a strong and diverse local workforce.

It applies to new EP applications from 1 September 2023 and to EP renewals for passes expiring from 1 September 2024. Employers must first meet the EP qualifying salary before the application is assessed under COMPASS.

For Japanese-speaking professionals in areas such as sales, finance, IT and management, this means salary is only one part of the assessment. The applicant’s qualifications and the employer’s workforce profile can also affect the outcome. New to the EP itself? Start with EP vs S Pass: Which Work Pass Do You Need in Singapore?.

How COMPASS is Scored

The four foundational criteria each award 0, 10 or 20 points. An application needs at least 40 points to pass.

*Source: Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM). Criteria and thresholds may be updated periodically.

The four foundational criteria

• C1 Salary: Applicants earning at or above the 90th percentile of local PMET salaries in their sector score 20 points. Those between the 65th and below the 90th percentile score 10 points. Below the 65th percentile scores 0.
• C2 Qualifications: A recognised degree-equivalent qualification generally scores 10 points, while eligible qualifications from MOM’s top-tier institutions or other qualifying institutions can score 20 points. The lists are updated periodically.
• C3 Diversity: More points are awarded when the applicant’s nationality is less represented among the employer’s PMET workforce: below 5% scores 20 points, 5% to below 25% scores 10, and 25% or more scores 0.
• C4 Support for local employment: This measures the employer’s local PMET share relative to its sector. For companies with at least 25 PMET employees, being at or above the sector’s 50th percentile scores 20 points, while the 20th to below 50th percentile scores 10. Companies with fewer than 25 PMETs receive 10 points by default.

The two bonus criteria

• C5 Skills bonus: An applicant can receive up to 20 bonus points if the role is on Singapore’s Shortage Occupation List (SOL) and the relevant requirements are met. The bonus is reduced to 10 points if the applicant’s nationality makes up at least one-third of the employer’s PMET workforce.
• C6 Strategic economic priorities bonus: Eligible employers can receive 10 bonus points for participating in qualifying programmes involving activities such as investment, innovation, internationalisation or workforce transformation.

What COMPASS means for Japanese-speaking Applicants

• Salary (C1): Meeting the EP qualifying salary is only the first step; a higher salary percentile can earn more COMPASS points.
• Qualifications (C2): A recognised degree-equivalent qualification can contribute 10 or 20 points.
• The employer's profile (C3 + C4): An application is stronger at employers with balanced nationality mix and healthy local hiring.
• Shortage roles get a bonus (C5): Meet the specific requirements of the Shortage Occupation List.

For employers and applicants, checking COMPASS eligibility early can help identify potential EP issues before an application is submitted. MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) can be used to check eligibility and estimated COMPASS scores. If an EP application does not meet COMPASS requirements, the S Pass may be an alternative. See more details: Singapore S Pass: Eligibility & Salary for Japanese-Speaking Roles.

Frequently asked questions

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