Does passing the Self-Assessment Tool guarantee EP approval?

No. SAT is an employer planning tool. MOM can still reject or reassess after new information, FCF gaps, qualification mismatches, or firm factors the SAT screenshot did not capture.

Does my university’s overseas campus count for 20 COMPASS C2 points?

Only if the awarding body on the certificate matches MOM’s published top-tier list. Same-brand different-campus speculation is risky — HR should confirm against the live list / SAT, not Reddit lore.

Is C1 salary the same as the EP qualifying salary floor?

No. Qualifying salary is Stage 1’s absolute floor. C1 scores where your fixed pay sits vs sector/age percentiles. Clearing the floor with 0 C1 points is common — you then need points elsewhere.

Why is my EP still pending after two weeks?

Peers report anywhere from ~2 weeks to multi-month clocks depending on COMPASS, first-time vs renewal, and MOM queries. Only the employer/agent can chase status — candidates cannot casework MOM directly.

Did the January 2025 EP qualifying salary change kill COMPASS?

No. Higher Stage 1 floors and COMPASS Stage 2 still both apply for most new EP applications. Clearing a new S$5,600-class floor can still score 0 on C1 if you sit below sector/age percentiles — you then need points from C2–C6 or bonuses.

Is ‘HR said no EP quota’ a COMPASS failure?

EP has no foreign-worker quota. That phrase usually means COMPASS anxiety, diversity/firm scores, salary budget, or S Pass confusion. Ask which C-criterion is weak and whether FCF advertising is done.

Move

COMPASS framework explained for EP candidates

MOM COMPASS C1–C6 in plain English — 40-point pass mark, salary vs qualifying floor, diversity and firm scores, SOL bonus, and how candidates prepare with HR.

MoveArriving3 min readLast reviewed 15 September 2026

COMPASS is MOM’s points-based Stage 2 for most Employment Pass applications. Stage 1 is still the EP qualifying salary. Fail Stage 1 and COMPASS points do not matter.

Reddit heat (r/askSingapore) clusters on: “Is my offer realistic?”, “Does my university campus count for 20 points?”, “How long is pending after COMPASS?”, and “HR said no EP quota” (see EP vs S Pass — EP has no quota).

Pass mark

You generally need 40 points across individual attributes, firm attributes, and optional bonuses.

Criterion	What it measures	Points (orientation)
C1 Salary	Fixed monthly salary vs local PMET benchmarks by sector and age	20 / 10 / 0 at ≥90th / 65–<90th / <65th percentile
C2 Qualifications	Degree-equivalent credibility	20 top-tier list / 10 other recognised degree-equivalent / 0 none
C3 Diversity	Your nationality’s share of the firm’s PMETs	20 / 10 / 0 at <5% / 5–<25% / ≥25%
C4 Local employment	Firm’s local PMET share vs sector peers	20 / 10 / 0 at ≥50th / 20–<50th / <20th percentile
C5 Skills bonus (SOL)	Job on Shortage Occupation List	+20 or +10 (reduced if nationality share ≥ 1/3 of PMETs)
C6 SEP bonus	Firm on Strategic Economic Priorities pathways	+10

Small firms (<25 PMETs) often score a default 10 on C3 and C4 — useful context when joining a tiny startup vs a large bank.

C1 is not the qualifying salary

Two different salary concepts trip candidates:

EP qualifying salary — absolute floor (age-banded; e.g. non-FS from S$5,600 at the youngest band up to S$10,700 at 45+, with financial services higher — see Employment Pass)
C1 COMPASS salary — where your fixed pay sits versus sector percentile benchmarks (updated annually; e.g. C1 tables released for new apps in a calendar year and renewals on a staggered window)

Clearing the floor with 0 C1 points is common. You then need points from qualifications, firm diversity/local mix, and/or SOL/SEP bonuses. Candidates earning at least S$22,500 fixed monthly salary are generally exempt from COMPASS — verify the live eligibility page.

New application vs renewal clocks

MOM often announces floor and C1 updates months ahead, then applies them first to new applications and later to renewals. Forum advice that “my friend renewed at last year’s number” can be true and useless for your new hire IPA. Always ask HR which table their SAT used.

C2 university list myths

MOM’s top-tier list is institution-based (QS top 100, selected Asian institutions, Singapore Autonomous Universities, agency-endorsed specialist schools). Forum speculation about “same brand, different campus” is risky — awarding body wording on the certificate matters. When in doubt, HR should confirm against MOM’s published list / SAT outcome, not Reddit lore.

What candidates can control

Accurate degree attestation and early document packs
Job scope and fixed monthly salary aligned with market (variable bonuses may not count the way you hope — verify MOM definitions with HR)
Honesty about nationality concentration if the firm already employs many peers from your country (C3 / C5 reductions)

You cannot personally “fix” a firm’s C4 score overnight. Employers should run Workforce Insights / SAT before verbal offers.

How employers should prepare

Run COMPASS self-assessment before candidates resign. Handshake IPAs are how relocation horror stories start. Fair Consideration Framework advertising still applies for many new EP applications — see FCF & MyCareersFuture.

C1 packaging traps (fixed monthly vs “total package” folklore): COMPASS C1 fixed-salary packaging.

C2 awarding-body / campus edges: COMPASS C2 degree verification edges.

Next: decoding the job offer, EP renewal, and career pivots when changing employers mid-pass.

Questions, answered

Does passing the Self-Assessment Tool guarantee EP approval?: No. SAT is an employer planning tool. MOM can still reject or reassess after new information, FCF gaps, qualification mismatches, or firm factors the SAT screenshot did not capture.
Does my university’s overseas campus count for 20 COMPASS C2 points?: Only if the awarding body on the certificate matches MOM’s published top-tier list. Same-brand different-campus speculation is risky — HR should confirm against the live list / SAT, not Reddit lore.
Is C1 salary the same as the EP qualifying salary floor?: No. Qualifying salary is Stage 1’s absolute floor. C1 scores where your fixed pay sits vs sector/age percentiles. Clearing the floor with 0 C1 points is common — you then need points elsewhere.
Why is my EP still pending after two weeks?: Peers report anywhere from ~2 weeks to multi-month clocks depending on COMPASS, first-time vs renewal, and MOM queries. Only the employer/agent can chase status — candidates cannot casework MOM directly.
Did the January 2025 EP qualifying salary change kill COMPASS?: No. Higher Stage 1 floors and COMPASS Stage 2 still both apply for most new EP applications. Clearing a new S$5,600-class floor can still score 0 on C1 if you sit below sector/age percentiles — you then need points from C2–C6 or bonuses.
Is ‘HR said no EP quota’ a COMPASS failure?: EP has no foreign-worker quota. That phrase usually means COMPASS anxiety, diversity/firm scores, salary budget, or S Pass confusion. Ask which C-criterion is weak and whether FCF advertising is done.

Sources & citations

Admin and policy details change. Prefer the official page when making decisions; we cite primary sources for Singapore government and statutory guidance.

ServiceImmigration counsel (category guide)