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The threshold rises with age — not one figure for everyone

Singapore
Employment Pass

A job offer from a Singaporean employer and a salary from S$5,600/month — the threshold rises progressively with the applicant’s age, up to S$10,700/month at 45 and above. There is no quota, but candidates must clear the COMPASS points system.

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Salary from
S$5,600/mo
Annual equivalent
≈$52,800/yr
Initial term
2 years
Points check
COMPASS (unless S$22,500+/mo)

The threshold rises with age and sector

Singapore’s system uses a progressive scale instead of one fixed figure — the older the applicant, the higher the expected salary; the financial sector carries a separately higher bar.

AGE / SECTOR
2026 THRESHOLD
THRESHOLD FROM 01.01.2027
Age 23, most sectors
2026 THRESHOLDfrom S$5,600/mo
from S$6,000/mo
Age 45+, most sectors
2026 THRESHOLDfrom S$10,700/mo
from S$11,500/mo
Age 45+, financial services
2026 THRESHOLDfrom S$11,800/mo
from S$12,700/mo

What the process consists of

Candidates with a fixed salary of S$22,500/month or more are automatically exempt from the COMPASS points check.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Application fee
RATES$105
per applicant
Card issuance fee (on approval)
RATES$225
per applicant
Medical exam (if required by country of origin)
RATE~$50–100
per applicant

How the process runs

01
Job offer from a Singaporean employer
Actual employment is required — the employer files the application, not the applicant directly.
02
Minimum salary threshold check
Stage 1 — salary must match the age-based scale.
03
COMPASS points check
Stage 2 — for everyone except candidates with a fixed salary of S$22,500/month or more.
04
Filing through MOM
The employer submits the full document package via the Ministry of Manpower portal.
05
Employment Pass issuance
Initial term of 2 years, with renewal available.

A good fit if

You have a job offer from a Singaporean employer at a salary at or above the threshold for your age.
You are prepared for the COMPASS points check (if your salary is below S$22,500/month).
Your role is outside financial services — then the general threshold applies, not the higher financial-sector one.
The absence of a quota on Employment Passes matters to you — unlike S Pass and Work Permit, there is no cap here.

A poor fit if

You have no specific job offer — the Employment Pass requires actual employment, and only the employer can file.
Your salary is below the threshold for your age — the S Pass, with a different, lower threshold, may be worth considering.
You are not prepared for the threshold rising from 1 January 2027 — plan a job change or renewal with the new scale in mind.
You need certainty on the path to permanent residence (PR) or employer-change rules — per the available research these are governed by ICA (the immigration authority), not MOM, and are not confirmed on this page.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

No matching firms in the directory for this category yet — the list is curated by hand and grows over time.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

Why does the threshold rise with age?

Because Singapore’s Employment Pass system officially uses a progressive age scale instead of a single figure — a more experienced (typically older) specialist is assumed to command a higher market salary.

What is COMPASS?

A points-based assessment introduced in 2023 — a second mandatory stage beyond the minimum salary check, weighing six criteria. Candidates with a fixed salary of S$22,500/month or more are exempt.

Why are both the 2026 and 2027 thresholds shown?

Because Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower has already officially approved the rise from 1 January 2027 — showing only the soon-to-be-outdated 2026 figure would fail to warn of the coming change.

Is there a quota on Employment Passes?

No — unlike the Work Permit and S Pass, there is no quota for the Employment Pass.

How does the financial-sector threshold differ?

It is higher across every age bracket: S$6,200→S$11,800 for 2026, versus S$5,600→S$10,700 for most other sectors.

Is there a path to permanent residence?

Yes, but it is governed by a separate body — the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), not the Ministry of Manpower — this aspect is not confirmed by a direct source on this page.

Sources

Ministry of Manpower Singapore (mom.gov.sg) — official Employment Pass eligibility page↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.