Document Checklist
Singapore Employment Pass Document Checklist (2026)
A Singapore Employment Pass application is submitted by the employer (or a licensed employment agent) through MOM's myMOM Portal, not by the candidate directly — but most of the underlying paperwork is the candidate's to gather and hand over. Since September 2023, an EP application has to clear both a minimum qualifying salary check and the COMPASS points framework, so incomplete evidence for either one is a common cause of delay or refusal. Assemble everything below before your employer opens the application, and confirm current salary thresholds and COMPASS criteria on MOM's website, since both are reviewed periodically.
Identity and personal documents
- Valid passportPersonal particulars page, valid well beyond the intended pass period.
- Passport-sized photographMeeting MOM's photo specifications for the online application.
- Personal particularsFull name, date of birth, nationality and residential address exactly as they appear on your passport — mismatches with other documents are a common cause of query.
Educational and professional qualifications
- Degree certificate(s) and transcriptsFor every qualification you want counted toward the COMPASS 'qualifications' criterion — these must be verifiable by a MOM-approved background screening company, so keep the originals or certified copies ready.
- Professional certifications or licencesWhere relevant to the role, e.g. chartered/professional body membership.
- Detailed CV / resumeCovering employment history, job titles, dates, and responsibilities in enough detail for MOM to assess role seniority and relevance.
Employment and salary evidence
- Signed employment contract or offer letterStating the fixed monthly salary, job title, and start date — this must clear the current qualifying salary floor (S$5,600/month in most sectors, S$6,200 in financial services, both rising in 2027), scaled up by your age band.
- Company's MyCareersFuture job advertisementProof the employer met the Fair Consideration Framework's 14-day local advertising requirement, unless the role is exempt (e.g. very small firms, or salary ≥S$22,500 for some exemptions).
- Organisation chart or role descriptionShowing where the position sits in the company and why it needs a foreign specialist — useful if the role or company profile is unusual and might draw extra scrutiny.
Employer's company documents
- ACRA business profileConfirming the hiring entity is a legitimately registered Singapore company in good standing.
- Latest financial statements or notice of assessmentEspecially for newer or smaller companies, MOM may want evidence the business can genuinely support the salary and role being offered.
- Local workforce dataMOM assesses the company's share of local PMET (professional, managerial, executive, technician) employment as part of COMPASS — larger or newer employers should be ready to discuss this if queried.
COMPASS-specific evidence
- Salary benchmarking readinessBe ready to justify how the offered salary compares to local PMET pay for a similar role and seniority — this drives COMPASS's salary criterion score.
- Shortage Occupation List checkIf the role appears on MOM's current Shortage Occupation List, note this explicitly — it can add COMPASS points via the skills bonus criterion.
- Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) resultRun MOM's online SAT before applying to estimate whether the candidate and company combination is likely to clear the 40-point COMPASS threshold — not mandatory, but avoids submitting a fee for a case likely to fail.
After approval
- In-Principle Approval (IPA) letterIssued once MOM approves the application — needed to enter Singapore if the candidate isn't already there.
- Formalities appointment / card collectionThe candidate completes a medical check-up if required and collects the physical Employment Pass card in Singapore before starting work.
Tips
- Run MOM's Self-Assessment Tool before submitting — a case that fails the SAT is unlikely to clear COMPASS, and the application fee isn't refunded on refusal.
- Make sure the job advertisement's title, salary range, and requirements match the actual employment contract — a mismatch between the two undermines the Fair Consideration Framework check.
- Start qualification verification early — MOM-approved background screening of degree certificates can take longer than expected, especially for universities outside Singapore's usual recognition list.
- Financial services roles face a higher salary floor and are generally assessed more strictly under COMPASS — budget extra lead time if you're hiring into this sector.
- The employer submits the application, but delays are usually caused by the candidate's missing documents — chase your paperwork early rather than leaving it to your employer's HR team to discover gaps.
Requirements change — always confirm the current list with the official source before you submit.
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