Since 2023, most Employment Pass applications must pass COMPASS, the Complementarity Assessment Framework. It is a points system, and understanding how it scores, especially the parts about your employer, is the difference between an approval and a refusal. This guide explains COMPASS in full for 2026: the criteria, the points, the pass mark, exemptions, and how to maximise your score.
Quick answer: COMPASS scores an EP candidate on four foundational criteria, each worth 0, 10, or 20 points: salary, qualifications, firm diversity, and support for local employment. That gives a base of up to 80 points, and bonus points are available for shortage-list skills and strategic partnerships. You need at least 40 points to pass. Candidates earning a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more are exempt. Two of the criteria are about the employer, so the same candidate can pass at one company and fail at another.
What is COMPASS?
COMPASS (the Complementarity Assessment Framework) is the points-based test MOM uses to decide most Employment Pass applications. It moved EP selection beyond salary alone, to a broader question: does hiring this foreign professional complement the local workforce? It looks at the candidate (salary, qualifications) and the employer (workforce diversity, local hiring).
It applies to new EP applications and, from 2026, to renewals.
How scoring works
- Four foundational criteria, each worth 0, 10, or 20 points, for a base of up to 80 points.
- Bonus points on top for shortage-list skills and strategic economic priorities.
- Pass mark: 40 points.
You do not need to score on every criterion; you need 40 in total. A weakness in one area can be offset by strength in another.
The four foundational criteria
| Criterion | What it measures | 20 points | 10 points | 0 points |
| C1 Salary | Your fixed monthly salary vs local PMETs in the sector, by age | At or above the 90th percentile | 65th to 90th percentile | Below the 65th percentile |
| C2 Qualifications | Your degree and the awarding institution | Degree from a top-tier institution | Degree-equivalent qualification | No degree-equivalent |
| C3 Diversity | Share of your nationality among the firm’s PMETs | Less than 5% | 5% to under 25% | 25% or more |
| C4 Support for local employment | The firm’s local PMET share vs its industry | Top third | Middle third | Bottom third |
Small firms: companies with 25 or fewer PMETs automatically score 10 points on both C3 (Diversity) and C4 (Support for Local Employment).
The key insight: C3 and C4 are about your employer, not you. A strong candidate can score poorly if the hiring firm has a high concentration of one nationality or weak local hiring, and the same candidate can pass easily at a more diverse firm.
The bonus criteria
Two bonuses can lift a borderline application over the line:
- C5 Skills Bonus (Shortage Occupation List): up to 20 points if the job is on MOM’s Shortage Occupation List, roles where Singapore has a genuine shortage of local talent.
- Strategic Economic Priorities Bonus: up to 10 points for firms partnering with the government on ambitious investment or innovation plans.
A single 20-point skills bonus can turn a 30-point base into a comfortable pass.
Who is exempt from COMPASS?
You do not need to pass COMPASS if:
- The candidate earns a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more.
- The candidate is an intra-corporate transferee (under a trade agreement).
- The role is being filled for a short period (one month or less).
Everyone else below the S$22,500 threshold is scored.
How to maximise your COMPASS score
- Push salary above the sector benchmark. Aim past the 65th, ideally the 90th, percentile for the role and age (10 or 20 points on C1).
- Highlight strong qualifications. A recognised degree scores 10; a top-tier institution scores 20 on C2. Make sure certificates are verifiable.
- Choose the employer context wisely. A firm with good workforce diversity and strong local hiring lifts C3 and C4, which the candidate cannot change alone.
- Check the Shortage Occupation List. If the role qualifies, the C5 bonus can be decisive.
For how COMPASS sits within the wider pass, see our guides on Employment Pass eligibility and the full Employment Pass guide.
2026 updates
COMPASS rules apply to new EP applications and to renewals in 2026, and MOM has refreshed the lists of recognised educational qualifications and awarding institutions used for the C2 score. Because the criteria and lists are updated periodically, always check the current MOM and EDB guidance before applying.
COMPASS, your EP, and PR
Passing COMPASS gets you the Employment Pass; the EP in turn is the strongest foundation for Singapore PR. A high COMPASS score usually reflects the salary, qualifications, and stability that also strengthen a later PR application. See our guide on Employment Pass to PR.
How First Immigration can help
The firm-level parts of COMPASS are easy to overlook, and they sink many applications. First Immigration helps you:
- Run a COMPASS pre-assessment and flag the weak spots before you apply.
- Advise on salary, qualifications, and the employer-side factors.
- Prepare a clean EP application, and plan the path to PR.
Explore our Employment Pass service, or speak to our consultants through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS)?
COMPASS is the points-based framework MOM uses to assess most Employment Pass applications, scoring the candidate’s salary and qualifications and the employer’s workforce diversity and local hiring.
How many points do I need to pass COMPASS?
At least 40 points. The four foundational criteria give a base of up to 80, with bonus points on top.
What are the four COMPASS criteria?
C1 Salary, C2 Qualifications, C3 Diversity, and C4 Support for Local Employment, each worth 0, 10, or 20 points.
How does the salary criterion work?
You score 20 points if your salary is at or above the 90th percentile for local PMETs in your sector and age, 10 points between the 65th and 90th percentile, and 0 below the 65th.
Do employer factors affect my COMPASS score?
Yes. Two criteria (Diversity and Support for Local Employment) are about the employer, so the same candidate can pass at one firm and fail at another. Firms with 25 or fewer PMETs auto-score 10 on both.
Who is exempt from COMPASS?
Candidates earning a fixed monthly salary of S$22,500 or more, intra-corporate transferees, and short-term roles.
What is the Shortage Occupation List bonus?
A C5 bonus of up to 20 points if the job is on MOM’s Shortage Occupation List, which can push a borderline application over the 40-point pass mark.
Does COMPASS apply to EP renewals?
Yes. From 2026, COMPASS applies to renewals as well as new applications.
