Singapore Sets Higher Salary Requirement For Foreigners To Gain A Work Visa In 2025
The minimum monthly salary will be raised by SGD600 (RM1,990).
Foreign professionals seeking employment in Singapore will face stricter eligibility requirements starting 1 January 2025
The Singaporean government is raising the qualifying salary benchmarks for the Employment Pass (EP) to ensure fair wages and maintain a high standard of professional talent in the workforce.
This means companies will have to pay foreign workers a higher minimum salary in order to get a work visa.
Here are the new salary benchmarks for EP applicants:
- The minimum monthly salary will increase from SGD5,000 (RM16,600) to SGD5,600 (RM18,500)
- For workers in the financial services sector, the threshold rises from SGD5,500 (RM18,200) to SGD6,200 (RM20,500)
The salary requirements scale with age and experience, reaching up to SGD10,500 (RM34,800) for workers aged 45 and above. These changes will also apply to EP renewals expiring from 1 January 2026.
Expats must also meet two key criteria to qualify for an EP:
- Meet the Salary Benchmark: Candidates must earn a fixed monthly salary comparable to the top one-third of local professionals, managers, executives, and technicians (PMETs)
- Pass the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS): A points-based system requiring applicants to score a minimum of 40 points
This framework applies to all new EP applications from September 2023 and will extend to EP renewals expiring from September 2024.
The COMPASS framework evaluates candidates on factors such as qualifications, skills, and alignment with Singapore's workforce priorities. While scoring well on COMPASS is essential, applicants must first meet the salary benchmark, as failing to do so disqualifies them from obtaining an EP.
Pass durations vary depending on the applicant's experience:
- First-time applicants: Up to two years
- Renewals: Up to three years
- Experienced tech professionals in high-demand fields: Up to five years
There are also alternative passes for specialised cases
This includes:
- Training Employment Pass: Issued to foreigners undergoing training related to their employer's business
- Personalised Employment Pass: Designed for high-earning professionals, this pass is not tied to an employer and provides greater flexibility
Read more here:
Leave a comment