Employment Pass and work visas
The Employment Pass, prepared to stand up to scrutiny.
The Employment Pass is where most foreign founders are won or lost. We build a company with real substance beneath it, align the application to the COMPASS framework, use the Shortage Occupation List where it helps, and prepare for every question the Ministry of Manpower may ask.
An Employment Pass lets a foreign professional, including a company owner, work in Singapore. Approval depends on a credible salary for your sector and age, your qualifications, the COMPASS points framework, and a real, operating company behind the application. We prepare all of it, and we do not promise an approval, because the decision rests with the Ministry of Manpower. File it yourself with a thin case and it can be refused, leaving you to appeal alone; we structure it to stand up the first time.
What we handle
A complete, credible application.
- Employment Pass for founders, directors and professionals
- EntrePass for eligible venture-backed or innovative businesses
- S Pass and Dependant's Pass for your team and family
- A COMPASS profile review and a salary that is credible for your sector
- Shortage Occupation List assessment, where your role qualifies
- Document preparation, submission and response to MOM queries
- Appeals strategy, and a re-application plan if needed
How COMPASS works
A points system, not a single number.
New applications are scored under COMPASS, and you need at least 40 points. Four foundation criteria carry the weight, and two bonus criteria can lift you further:
- Salary, benchmarked to local professionals in your sector and rising with age
- Qualifications, with stronger scores for recognised institutions
- Diversity of the team's nationalities
- Support for local employment
- A skills bonus of up to 20 points if your role is on the Shortage Occupation List
- A bonus for strategic economic priorities
A very high fixed salary, around SGD 22,500 a month as of 2026, is exempt from COMPASS altogether. We confirm the current benchmarks and lists for your case before we file.
Where founders lose points, and how we fix it
The common weak points
- A salary too low to score, or unrealistically high for the sector
- No degree, so zero on the qualifications criterion
- A team dominated by a single nationality
- A company with no real substance behind it
How we strengthen the case
- Set a salary that is credible for your sector and as strong as the business can credibly support
- Upgrade your qualification where it lifts your score and lowers the salary you need
- Check whether your role qualifies for the Shortage Occupation List bonus
- Build real company substance, because a strong score on a shell still invites scrutiny
The realistic timeline
Quick to file, but the review is the real test.
For a first time applicant, expect roughly one to one and a half months once your documents and the Ministry of Manpower's third party qualification check are complete. If MOM requests further documents to confirm the company is a real, operating business, such as a tenancy agreement, bank statements or CPF records for local staff, it can run to three to six months. You can appeal twice. If needed, we re-strategise a fresh application around your sector, age, qualifications and COMPASS score.
Profile review
We assess your salary, sector, age and qualifications against current rules.
Strengthen the case
Real substance, a shortage occupation where it fits, and a qualification upgrade if useful.
Prepare and submit
A complete application, with every likely question anticipated.
Respond to MOM
We handle any document request, and both appeals if needed.
Renewal and PR
We stay on to keep the pass and plan permanent residence.
Company setup and Employment Pass, done properly.
- Singapore private limited company incorporation
- Bridging resident director until your EP is approved
- Employment Pass prepared and submitted
- A COMPASS profile review and strategy
Our Full-Support Commitment: if MOM requests further documents we handle the response, and both appeals if needed, at no extra professional fee. We stay with you through renewal and permanent residence.
Book a consultationCommon questions
What salary do I need for an Employment Pass? +
There is a minimum qualifying salary that rises with age, and separately your salary must score under COMPASS by matching or exceeding what local professionals in your sector earn. A salary that is too high for your industry can also raise questions. We set a figure that is both credible and competitive, using the current MOM benchmarks when you apply.
What is the Shortage Occupation List? +
It is a list of occupations Singapore is short of, across several sectors. A role on the list can earn up to 20 bonus points under COMPASS, provided you actually perform that occupation's key duties. It is refreshed periodically, so we check whether your role qualifies.
Can I overpay myself to score more points? +
Not sensibly. Salary is benchmarked against your sector, so an unusually large salary in a lower paying industry can look inconsistent and invite questions, even if you own the company.
Does my qualification matter? +
Yes. Qualifications score under COMPASS. If your qualification is the weak point, an upgrade through our academic pathways can lift your score and lower the salary you need to qualify.
What happens if my Employment Pass is rejected? +
You can appeal twice. We manage the appeals, and if both are unsuccessful we re-strategise a fresh application around your profile. We never promise an approval, because the decision rests with the authorities.
Give your Employment Pass its best chance.
Book a consultation. We will assess your profile and tell you what a credible application looks like, and the roadblocks to clear.