Why Singapore EP Holders Are Getting Rejected at Renewal (And How to Check Your COMPASS Score Before It's Too Late)
Why Singapore EP Holders Are Getting Rejected at Renewal (And How to Check Your COMPASS Score Before It's Too Late)
"I had been working in Singapore for four years on an Employment Pass. My salary was the same, my job was the same, my company was the same. Then my renewal got rejected. Nobody at my company had warned me that the rules had changed — that COMPASS was now being applied to renewals too. I had three weeks to figure out what happened before I had to leave the country."
Since 1 September 2024, something changed that thousands of EP holders in Singapore had no idea was coming: Employment Pass renewals became subject to the full COMPASS points-based assessment — the same framework that governs new EP applications since September 2023. An EP holder who passed COMPASS easily when they first applied may now fail at renewal because benchmarks have shifted, their company's profile has changed, or their degree institution was reclassified under the January 2026 update.
This guide explains exactly how COMPASS works, why previously approved EP holders are now failing renewal, how to calculate your own score before MOM does, and what to do if your renewal has already been rejected.
💡 Quick Answer — Will Your EP Renewal Pass COMPASS?
You need at least 40 points across 6 criteria. Many EP holders who scored 40–45 points on their original application are now scoring below 40 at renewal — because salary benchmarks have risen, degree institution rankings were updated in January 2026, and company-level scores (C3/C4) can change without the EP holder knowing. Check your score using MOM's Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) at least 6 months before your EP expires.
What Is COMPASS and Why Does It Now Affect Your Renewal?
COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is MOM's points-based system for evaluating Employment Pass applications. It was introduced for new EP applications from 1 September 2023, and extended to EP renewals from 1 September 2024. Before September 2024, EP renewals were largely administrative. From that date, all renewals must pass the same two-stage eligibility test as new applications.
Additionally, MOM updated the COMPASS benchmarks again in January 2026 — specifically the C2 university qualification list and the C5 Shortage Occupation List (SOL). This means an EP holder who passed COMPASS at renewal in 2024 or 2025 may now score differently under the 2026 benchmarks.
⚠️ The Silent Trap: Your Score Can Drop Without You Changing Anything
Your salary is the same. Your job is the same. Your degree is the same. But your COMPASS score at renewal could still be lower than when you first applied — because: (1) MOM's salary benchmarks rise every year, so the same salary may now score 0 instead of 10 on C1; (2) MOM updated its university qualification list in January 2026 — some institutions were reclassified or removed; (3) Your company's nationality diversity (C3) or local hiring rate (C4) may have changed without you knowing. Any one of these can push a borderline score below 40.
The COMPASS Timeline: What Changed and When
| Date | What Changed |
|---|---|
| 1 September 2023 | COMPASS introduced for all new EP applications |
| 1 September 2024 | COMPASS extended to all EP renewals — passes expiring from this date must pass COMPASS to renew |
| 1 January 2026 | Updated benchmarks: C2 university list revised; C5 Shortage Occupation List (SOL) updated — affects both new applications and renewals |
The 6 COMPASS Criteria Explained: Where Your Points Come From
Each of the four foundational criteria (C1–C4) awards 0, 10, or 20 points. The two bonus criteria (C5–C6) can each add up to 20 additional points. You need a minimum of 40 points total to pass.
| Criterion | What It Measures | Max Points | Who Controls It |
|---|---|---|---|
| C1 — Salary | Your salary vs. 65th/90th percentile of local PMET peers in your sector | 20 | You / Employer |
| C2 — Qualifications | Your degree institution ranking on MOM's updated 2026 list | 20 | Fixed (your degree) |
| C3 — Diversity | Whether your nationality is over-represented among your company's EP/S Pass holders | 20 | Employer (company level) |
| C4 — Local Employment Support | Your company's ratio of local PMETs vs. industry benchmark | 20 | Employer (company level) |
| C5 — Skills Bonus | Whether your role is on MOM's Shortage Occupation List (SOL) — updated January 2026 | 20 (bonus) | Your job role |
| C6 — Strategic Economic Priorities | Whether your employer is involved in Singapore's strategic economic initiatives | 20 (bonus) | Employer |
How Each Criterion Scores:
- C1 (Salary): 20 points if your salary is at or above the 90th percentile for your sector/age group; 10 points at the 65th percentile; 0 points below the 65th percentile. MOM's percentile benchmarks are updated annually — the same salary that scored 10 in 2024 may score 0 in 2026.
- C2 (Qualifications): 20 points for a degree from a Top-Tier institution on MOM's updated 2026 list; 10 points for other recognised universities; 0 points for unrecognised institutions. MOM refreshed this list in January 2026 — some institutions were reclassified.
- C3 (Diversity): 20 points if your nationality is under 5% of your firm's EP/S Pass workforce; 10 points if between 5–25%; 0 points if over 25%. This is determined by your company's hiring profile, not by you personally.
- C4 (Local Employment): 20 points if your firm's local PMET share is in the top 25% of its sector; 10 points at the 50th percentile; 0 points in the bottom 10%. Firms with fewer than 25 employees are exempt and receive 10 points automatically.
- C5 (Skills Bonus): 20 additional points if your specific role is on MOM's 2026 Shortage Occupation List. Check the current SOL at mom.gov.sg before applying.
How to Check Your COMPASS Score Before Renewal: Step-by-Step
MOM provides a free Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) that estimates your COMPASS score. Here is how to use it:
- Go to MOM's EP Self-Assessment Tool at mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/employment-pass/eligibility. Only your employer or an authorised employment agent can submit the actual renewal application, but you can run the self-assessment yourself to understand your likely score.
- Enter your details: your salary, age, sector, nationality, and degree institution. The tool will calculate your C1 and C2 scores automatically using the latest 2026 benchmarks.
- Ask your HR department for C3 and C4 data. These are company-level scores that only your employer can access. Ask HR specifically: "What is our company's nationality concentration ratio for EP holders?" and "What is our LSES (Local Senior Employment Support) score?"
- Check the Shortage Occupation List at mom.gov.sg to see if your specific job title qualifies for the C5 bonus under the January 2026 update.
- Add up your score. If the total is below 45, treat your renewal as at risk and take action now — ideally 6 months before your EP expires.
⚠️ The Minimum Salary Requirements in 2026
Before COMPASS scoring even begins, you must meet the minimum qualifying salary (MQS) for your age group. These are the 2026 thresholds:
- General sectors: S$5,600/month minimum (rising to S$6,000 from 1 January 2027)
- Financial services sector: S$6,200/month minimum
- Age 40–44: Higher minimum applies — check MOM's age-adjusted table
- Age 45+: Even higher minimum — the threshold rises significantly with age
- Salary of S$22,500+: Exempt from COMPASS entirely — only Stage 1 MQS applies
Failing the MQS means automatic rejection — COMPASS scoring does not even apply.
The Most Common Reasons EP Renewals Are Rejected
- Salary no longer meets the updated C1 benchmark. MOM updates its PMET salary percentile benchmarks annually. A salary of S$6,500 that scored 10 points on C1 in 2024 may score 0 points in 2026 if the 65th percentile threshold for your sector has risen above it. Always run C1 against the current benchmark before renewal.
- Degree institution reclassified under the January 2026 update. MOM refreshed its university qualification list in January 2026. If your institution moved from Top-Tier (Group A) to the lower group, your C2 score drops from 20 to 10 — losing 10 critical points. This alone can push a borderline score below 40.
- Company hired more people of your nationality (C3 failure). If your company has grown and hired more EP holders of your nationality, the concentration ratio may have crossed 25% — dropping your C3 score from 10 to 0 without any action on your part.
- Company's local PMET hiring rate declined (C4 failure). If your employer's ratio of local PMETs to total PMETs dropped below the industry median, the C4 score falls.
- Submitting the renewal too late. MOM allows renewals to be submitted up to 6 months before expiry — submit early, not two weeks before. If your EP expires before renewal is submitted, you become an illegal worker from the date of expiry.
- Dependent Pass and LTVP holders lose status if EP is rejected. If your renewal is rejected, your spouse's Dependent Pass and any LTVP held by family members are also cancelled. The entire family must leave Singapore.
If Your EP Renewal Is Rejected: What to Do Next
- You have 90 days to appeal from the rejection date. Log in to MOM's EP Online portal immediately and identify the exact stated reason for rejection.
- Only your employer can file the appeal — not you directly. Speak to your HR department immediately and ask them to initiate the appeal via MOM's myMOM Portal.
- Do not simply resubmit the same application. MOM expects the appeal to directly address the rejection reason with new evidence — a structural correction such as a salary increase or new evidence of company local hiring is required.
- MOM typically takes 6 weeks to process an appeal. During the appeal period, you cannot work in Singapore on the rejected EP.
- Consider alternative passes if the appeal fails. Depending on your profile, you may qualify for the PEP (Personalised Employment Pass), ONE Pass (Overseas Networks & Expertise Pass), or S Pass.
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The September 2024 extension of COMPASS to EP renewals — and the January 2026 benchmark updates — have made Singapore's work pass renewal process more demanding than ever. The key lesson is simple: do not treat your EP renewal as a formality. Run your COMPASS self-assessment at least 6 months before expiry, flag any risks to your HR team immediately, and negotiate a salary adjustment if your C1 score is at risk. A proactive 10-minute check on MOM's SAT tool is far less painful than a rejection letter with three weeks to leave the country.
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