Globevisa Explains Singapore EP Rules Under 40-Point COMPASS Framework
Updated
Updated · The National Law Review · Sep 6
Globevisa Explains Singapore EP Rules Under 40-Point COMPASS Framework
2 articles · Updated · The National Law Review · Sep 6
Summary
Globevisa said Singapore Employment Pass applicants now face a structured review combining minimum salary thresholds with the COMPASS points system, which requires at least 40 points for new applications.
Six criteria drive that assessment: salary, qualifications, workforce diversity and local employment support, plus bonus points for shortage occupations and companies tied to strategic government programs.
The firm outlined three common application structures—self-employed, private investment company and employer-sponsored EP—and said each still hinges on salary, role, qualifications and the sponsoring company's circumstances.
Documentation remains a key risk area, with incomplete or inconsistent records potentially triggering extra information requests and slowing approval.
Singapore's 2023 rollout of COMPASS has made EP screening more rules-based, and Globevisa said applicants should track changing salary benchmarks and shortage lists before applying.
As Singapore tightens its visa rules, what hidden criteria in the COMPASS system are secretly causing highly qualified foreign professionals to face sudden rejections?
With Singapore's EP salary thresholds jumping to S$6,000 in 2027, could this strict COMPASS framework accidentally drive top global talent to rival hubs?
Beyond the attractive tax rates, how will Singapore's increasingly rigid family visa income requirements impact the long-term survival of foreign-led startups?