Singapore EP renewals face 40 point COMPASS minimum starting July 1

How the revised COMPASS rules work

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) tightened Employment Pass (EP) renewal rules with sector-specific salary benchmarks and a points threshold that captures every renewal from July 1, 2026. Until then, COMPASS applied only to new applications and a subset of renewals. After that date, any EP renewal failing either the qualifying salary or the 40-point COMPASS minimum will be refused regardless of how long the holder has lived in Singapore.

The framework scores applicants across five areas: salary, qualifications, nationality diversity within the firm, support for local hiring and a Shortage Occupation List bonus. To earn salary points, fixed monthly pay must reach the 65th percentile of local PMET wages in the applicant's sector, with full points at the 90th percentile. Benchmarks climb with age, so a 45-year-old needs materially more than a 25-year-old in the same role.

New EP applications already moved to the revised salary tables on Jan. 1, 2026. Advisory firms cite a general-sector qualifying salary around S$5,600 per month, with financial services and older candidates set higher. MOM updates exact figures periodically.

Who feels the squeeze

EP holders whose passes expire on or after July 1 face the biggest exposure, especially mid-career professionals in the 35-to-45 age band where benchmark salaries jump sharply. Existing pass terms aren't shortened, but renewal is where the new math hits.

Employers sponsoring EPs carry the compliance burden. They must classify their sector correctly, run candidates through MOM's online COMPASS estimator and confirm offered salaries clear both the base qualifying floor and the sector percentile.

Singapore has no dedicated digital nomad visa, so remote workers based here on an EP fall under the same rules. Tourists and short-term business visitors on visit passes are unaffected.

What to do before renewal

Check the renewal date on the current EP and work backward. Run the role through MOM's COMPASS self-assessment tool to confirm the score clears 40 points and the salary meets the sector benchmark for the holder's age.

Salary gaps need addressing before the renewal filing, not after. Pass holders short on points can offset with Shortage Occupation List roles, which add up to 20 bonus points and, for ICT roles, a five-year EP validity.

Read our full Singapore guide for the complete picture and check our latest visa updates for ongoing changes.