Singapore Employment Pass Update: COMPASS “20-Point” Universities for Overseas Professionals
Singapore continues to attract top talent from around the world thanks to its safety, business-friendly environment, and status as an international hub. However, hiring foreign professionals can be challenging.
- S Pass quotas restrict foreign employees to 10–15% of total company headcount.
- Employment Pass (EP) eligibility has become stricter due to minimum salary requirements and the COMPASS points system, which assesses qualifications, company diversity, local employment support, and strategic skills.
Recently, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM) announced a list of overseas universities that qualify for 20 points under the COMPASS C2 (Qualifications) criterion. Twenty points represent half of the 40-point threshold needed for EP eligibility, giving graduates from these institutions a significant advantage. This policy will take effect from applications submitted from January 2026.
Example Universities That Qualify for 20 COMPASS Points
While the full list of eligible institutions is extensive, below are examples of prominent universities from several countries:
- United States: Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- Thailand: Chulalongkorn University
- China: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Peking University, Tsinghua University
- Indonesia: Universitas Indonesia
The full list of qualifying universities can be found here.
Graduates from these institutions automatically receive 20 points for the qualifications criterion, meaning that combined with competitive salary and other company factors, their Employment Pass approval likelihood significantly increases.
Benefits for Companies Hiring Overseas Talent
1. Easier Strategic Planning
Companies can align salaries, diversity metrics, and local employment contributions to maximize total points, improving the success rate for EP approvals.
2. Access to Top-Tier Talent
Graduates from these institutions are highly skilled and often immediately productive, making them ideal candidates for key roles.
3. Streamlined Recruitment Process
Knowing the qualification points in advance allows HR teams to focus on additional eligibility factors without uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Verify academic credentials carefully to ensure compliance with MOM requirements.
- Align company metrics—salary, diversity, local employment—with COMPASS scoring criteria.
- Plan recruitment strategies ahead of January 2026, when the policy comes into effect.
Need Help with Singapore Hiring or Market Entry?
If your company is looking to hire top talents in Singapore or plan your overseas expansion, we Vintage Management Pte. Ltd. can help. Our experienced consultants provide tailored strategies to streamline recruitment, and support your entry into the Singapore market.
Schedule a free consultation or reach out to us to discuss how we can help your business succeed in Singapore.
