Employment Pass (EP) for Malaysian citizens

Eligibility for the Employment Pass (EP) is set by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and is not nationality-restricted beyond the general criteria, though Malaysian applicants may also have access to the following bilateral or treaty frameworks: Commonwealth. See the criteria below for the published requirements.

N/A — online application via MOM. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by Ministry of Manpower (MOM) — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.

Yes — Malaysian nationals can enter Republic of Singapore without a visa for short tourism (typically up to 90 days), but tourist entry does not authorise the activity covered by the Employment Pass (EP).

Government fees for the worked example (Single applicant, no Multiple Journey Visa) total about SGD 330. Dependants apply under the relevant Dependant Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass route and have separate MOM fees. Figures from MOM - Employment Pass application, verified 1 July 2026. Treat these as indicative — confirm the current schedule on the official source before budgeting.

The Employment Pass - all sectors except financial services floor is SGD 5,600/mo, effective 1 January 2025 (MOM - Employment Pass eligibility). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.

The typical published decision window is 10 days – 2 weeks. Malaysian applicants usually file via N/A — online application via MOM, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: MOM - Apply for an Employment Pass, verified 1 July 2026.

The qualifying salary depends on your age and sector. For younger applicants before the 1 January 2027 increase, the floor is SGD 5,600 per month in most sectors and SGD 6,200 in financial services. New applications from 1 January 2027 move to SGD 6,000 and SGD 6,600 respectively. Older and more experienced candidates must meet progressively higher salary thresholds.

COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is a points-based scoring system introduced in September 2023 for most new EP applications. It scores you on four criteria: salary relative to local benchmarks, qualifications, employer diversity, and support for local employment — plus bonus points for skills in shortage occupations or strategic economic priorities. You need 40 points to pass. Some EP holders are exempt (e.g. those earning SGD 22,500+/month, or intra-corporate transferees).

The EP itself is temporary, but EP holders can apply for Permanent Residence (PR) through ICA. There is no automatic conversion — PR applications are assessed on salary, qualifications, time in Singapore, sector, and other factors. Most successful PR applicants have held an EP for at least 6–12 months, though ICA does not publish minimum thresholds.

If you earn SGD 6,000 or more per month, your spouse and children can apply for a Dependant's Pass. If you earn SGD 12,000 or more, your parents can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass. These thresholds are set by MOM and may change — verify the current figures.

Yes. Your new employer must submit a fresh EP application before you start work. You cannot work for the new employer until the new EP is approved. Your old EP is cancelled when the new one is issued. There is no need to leave Singapore between jobs if you hold a valid pass.