Employment Pass in Singapore 2027: Updated Salary Guidelines for Foreign Professionals

Singapore has updated the salary benchmarks for Employment Pass applications, which will take effect in 2027. The changes will apply to both initial applications and work permit renewals, so foreign professionals should compare employers’ offers with the Ministry of Manpower’s new requirements in advance. Learn more about the updated salary thresholds, how the COMPASS points-based system works, and key dates for the transition to the new rules

Order a work guide and receive step-by-step instructions for obtaining a work visa to any country

GET THE GUIDE

Singapore remains one of the key destinations for highly qualified professionals in Asia—with a developed labor market, competitive salaries, and clear rules for the employment of foreign nationals. The country’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regularly reviews the conditions for issuing work permits, including the Employment Pass, and has now published updated salary benchmarks for 2027. Travelobiz recently reported on this in an article.

Further in this article, we’ll cover exactly what changes applicants can expect, how the COMPASS points-based system works, when the new thresholds will take effect, and what those planning to submit their applications soon should pay attention to.

Are you planning to work in Singapore or another Asian country and don’t know where to start preparing your documents?

The practical guide from the Visit World portal provides step-by-step instructions for legalizing employment abroad, from assessing eligibility to submitting a work visa application.

Employment Pass and the COMPASS System in Singapore: Basic Information

The Employment Pass is a work permit issued to foreign professionals, managers, and executives who are employed by Singaporean companies. The employer submits the application to the Ministry of Manpower, and the candidate must meet a set of criteria established by the regulator.

Singapore uses a points-based system for evaluating applications called COMPASS. One of its indicators is the C1 criterion, which assesses whether the candidate’s fixed monthly salary aligns with market rates in the relevant industry. For an Employment Pass application to be approved, the candidate must score at least 40 points in total across all system parameters.

How the myMOM portal update is changing the process of applying for a work visa in Singapore — we explain it here.

How does Criterion C1 work, and how are points awarded?

Under criterion C1, an employer can receive 10 or 20 points—depending on how much the foreign specialist’s fixed monthly salary exceeds local salaries in the relevant sector. The minimum threshold for earning points is the 65th percentile of salaries in the industry.

An applicant with a salary below this level will not receive any points under C1 and must compensate for this through other criteria in the COMPASS system. In this case, the overall evaluation of the application depends on the strength of other factors—ranging from the candidate’s qualifications to the employer’s company profile.

Visit World services for tourists, migrants, and expats: Insurance | Guides | Legal advice

When will the new salary thresholds take effect in Singapore?

The updated MOM salary benchmarks will apply:

• to initial Employment Pass applications submitted on or after January 1, 2027;
• to permit renewals expiring on or after July 1, 2027.

For applications and renewals falling within earlier periods, the current salary benchmarks remain in effect. Initial applications submitted by December 31, 2026, as well as renewals of permits expiring by June 30, 2027, will be assessed based on the existing salary tables.

A complete guide to starting a business in Singapore — follow the link.

Sector-Specific Wage Requirements in Singapore

Singapore’s regulatory model does not provide for a single minimum wage level applicable to all professions. Instead, MOM sets separate salary benchmarks for different sectors of the economy, based on current data on local workers’ earnings in each industry.

This approach allows for the real market conditions in each segment of the labor market to be taken into account. The annual review of these benchmarks reflects a broader trend—Singapore is strengthening the link between the terms of employment for foreign workers and current local wages, rather than relying on a fixed minimum.

Read also: Permanent Residency in Singapore in 2026. Who is eligible for PR and what are the benefits?

What should you keep in mind when planning to work in Singapore?

Foreign professionals considering moving to Singapore for work or renewing an existing work permit should take several practical considerations into account. The key points are as follows:

1. Timing of application submission—a salary that meets the required point threshold in 2026 may not yield the same result under the 2027 point table.
2. Sector-specific requirements—salary requirements vary by industry, so an employer’s offer should be compared with the current MOM benchmark for the relevant sector.
3. Expiration date of the current permit—renewals of Employment Passes (EP) that expire after July 1, 2027, will be assessed based on the new salary thresholds.
4. Comprehensive application assessment—salary is one of the COMPASS criteria, so a shortage of points under C1 can be offset by other parameters of the system.

Taking these aspects into account during planning will help avoid a situation where an application fails to reach the required 40 points due to outdated information on salary benchmarks. The employer and the candidate should agree on the terms of the contract with an understanding of the application submission period to which it will apply.

Prepare in advance for the legalization of your employment abroad!

Moving abroad for work requires not only an understanding of the salary requirements of your chosen country but also careful preparation of documents, knowledge of the legalization process, and familiarity with the rules for obtaining a residence permit.

The experts at Visit World have prepared a detailed step-by-step guide covering every stage of finding employment abroad—from searching for an employer to submitting documents for a work visa and adjusting to your new location.

Order a personalized guide from Visit World to receive structured information tailored to your specific situation and confidently navigate the path from a job offer to legal employment abroad!

Reminder! In our previous article, we discussed the ONE Pass in Singapore 2027—a new visa for experts in the fields of AI and technology.

Photo: Magnific