Singapore Employment Pass Salary 2027: New EP Benchmarks, COMPASS Points and Renewal Date Uncertainty

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has announced updated Employment Pass (EP) salary benchmarks for 2027 under the COMPASS points-based assessment framework. For new EP applications filed from January 1, 2027, the qualifying salary floor will increase from S$5,600 to S$6,000 per month for general sectors and from S$6,200 to S$6,600 for financial services. The age-scaled salary requirements will also rise, reaching S$11,500 for general sectors and S$12,700 for financial services for applicants aged 45 and above.

The updated salary benchmarks are important because salary is assessed under the C1 criterion of COMPASS. An EP application generally needs at least 40 COMPASS points, while the C1 salary criterion can provide 10 or 20 points when the applicant's fixed monthly salary meets the applicable benchmark. A salary below the relevant C1 benchmark receives zero C1 points, meaning the applicant must obtain sufficient points through other COMPASS criteria. Applicants earning S$22,500 per month or more are exempt from COMPASS scoring.

There is currently conflicting information about when the 2027 salary benchmarks will apply to EP renewals. One source cited in the supplied information states that the change would affect passes expiring from July 1, 2027, while two other independent sources indicate January 1, 2028. Because this specific renewal cutoff could not be confirmed with certainty, applicants and employers should verify the latest renewal rules directly with Singapore MOM before relying on either date.

For professionals planning a Singapore Employment Pass application or renewal, the transition means that a salary package that performed well under the 2026 benchmark may produce fewer COMPASS salary points under the 2027 framework. Employers and applicants should therefore review the applicable benchmark for the relevant application period and confirm the latest official MOM requirements before making decisions.