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Singaporean officials announced significant updates to the Work Permit and S Pass that will take effect between July 1 and Sept. 1.
Key Points:
Additional Information: Authorities stated the changes are designed to create a higher-quality Work Permit workforce that balances labor market stability and aligns with the country’s economic priorities. Employers should be aware of the changes and take the new salaries and levies into account. BAL will continue to monitor developments and will provide more information as it becomes available.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.
Copyright © 2025 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
Singaporean officials released updated qualifications criterion for the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS).
Additional Information: An application needs to earn 40 points to pass COMPASS through individual and firm-related attributes. Officials have also updated the Shortage Occupation List with new occupations that require highly specialized skills and are in shortage in the local workforce. Further details on how EP applications are evaluated can be found here.
Copyright © 2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries, please contact copyright@bal.com.
Singaporean officials released the upcoming salary benchmarking table as part of the first round of annual updates to its Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) criteria.
Additional Information: Candidates need to pass the points-based COMPASS system in addition to meeting the qualifying salary to obtain an EP. Further details on how EP applications are evaluated can be found here. A candidate’s fixed monthly salary is compared to salary benchmarks by sector. To earn points under the COMPASS salary criterion (category C1), employers must ensure that their foreign employees meet the minimum salary requirements specified in the COMPASS benchmarking table. The system rewards zero, 10 or 20 points for each category. The required fixed monthly salary for candidates increases progressively with age, and the full list of organization sector classifications can be found here.
Singaporean officials are implementing changes for certain qualified Student’s Pass holders to apply for permanent residency faster.
Additional Information: The national exams that qualify a student pass holder include the Primary School Leaving Examination and the General Certificate of Education N/O/A level examinations. An Integrated Programme is a six-year course that eventually leads to the General Certificate of Education A-Level examination or International Baccalaureate Diploma or NUS High School Diploma. The government is also implementing a policy change to allow male guardians (fathers or grandfathers) to apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass to accompany and look after a foreign student; previously, only female guardians could apply.
BAL Analysis: The government hopes to make it easier for students to become permanent residents and attract more international skilled talent.
Singaporean officials announced that updates to salary benchmarks as part of the first round of annual updates to the COMPASS criteria will be postponed to July 2024.
Key Points:
Additional Information: COMPASS is a transparent points-based system that gives businesses greater clarity and certainty in the EP application process. COMPASS rewards zero, 10 or 20 points for each category based on whether the application does not meet, meets or exceeds expectations. Applicants who receive at least 40 points will be approved. Applicants can receive bonus points if the job is on the skills shortages list or if the company partners with the government on strategic economic priorities.
BAL Analysis: Changes may be made to the list of top-tier institutions and shortage occupation list to meet market requirements. Despite the postponement of the salary benchmarks update, the target implementation date for the first annual update is still Sept. 1. BAL will continue to monitor the implementation of the changes to the framework and will provide more information as it becomes available.
The Ministry of Manpower announced that, as of March 1, work pass holders are no longer required to have COVID-19 vaccinations.
Additional Information: Singapore’s Ministry of Health noted, “Around 80% of our population have achieved minimum protection, and around half are up to date with their vaccinations. … We should be able to manage these subsequent waves with an appropriate level of measures that does not deviate significantly form the new norm.” Information on COVID-19 vaccination locations in Singapore is available here.
Read the latest Singaporean immigration news here.
The minimum qualifying salary for Employment Pass applicants will be raised on Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Ministry of Manpower.
Additional Information: The minimum qualifying salary for EP applicants is reviewed annually by benchmarking the top one-third of local professional, managerial, executive and technician salaries to ensure a level playing field for local job seekers. The last increase was in September 2022, when the minimum qualifying salaries for the two categories were raised by SG$500. “The EP qualifying salary will also continue to increase progressively with age,” said Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower, during budget debates this month.
BAL Analysis: Employers should be mindful that the minimum qualifying salary is the first stage of a two-stage eligibility framework. Stage two requires that, unless exempted, EP applicants must pass the points-based Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). A breakdown of the required COMPASS foundational criteria and the minimum 40 points necessary to pass can be found here.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has confirmed that the local qualifying salary will be raised to Singaporean $1,600 (about US$1,190), effective July 1.
Additional Information: The local qualifying salary was first created to prevent companies from “gaming” the system by paying token salaries to local workers to allow them to hire more foreign employees. The local In his Budget 2024 speech, Wong stated, “We will tackle immediate challenges for households and businesses. Pursue better jobs, better growth and equip our workers for life. Create more paths for equality and mobility.” Computation of the foreign employee quota and local qualifying salary requirements are outlined on the MOM website.
BAL Analysis: MOM noted that calculation of foreign worker quotas for firms will remain unchanged with the new local qualifying salary requirement. Employers are encouraged to be mindful of annual salary notification deadlines. Personalized Employment Pass holders whose passes were issued from Jan. 1, 2023, will be required to submit their annual salary notification in 2025.
Singapore plans to allow all foreign visitors to clear immigration using automated checkpoint lanes without the need for prior enrollment.
Key Points
Background: Currently, the automated lanes are available only to Singapore residents and passport holders from 60 jurisdictions. The system, which launched in 2020, utilizes multi-modal biometrics that record travelers’ iris, facial and fingerprint information. An additional 230 automated lanes are scheduled for completion this year.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.
Singaporean officials announced the agreement with China for a 30-day mutual visa exemption policy will go into effect on Feb. 9.
Additional Information: Chinese travelers are currently required to apply for visas to visit Singapore, and Singaporean nationals have a 15-day visa exemption policy to visit China. Under long-standing agreements, holders of diplomatic, public affairs and service passports issued in China are exempt from visa requirements for a stay of up to 30 days in Singapore. Holders of all other Chinese travel documents must continue to apply for an entry visa before travel into Singapore until Feb. 9.
BAL Analysis: The mutual visa exemption policy is intended to further facilitate cross-border travel and economic development between Singapore and China. The new agreement should strengthen bilateral relations and economic ties between the two nations.