Applicability Of Compass

Starting from September 1, 2023, the Compass requirements are in effect. Consequently, employment pass applications will be evaluated based on point-based criteria. It is crucial to ensure that if you intend to apply for an employment pass for any of your employees, you have met these requirements.

Salary Level

You can no longer hire a person at a salary of your choice arbitrarily. Salaries will now be assessed based on a sliding scale, and if the salary is significantly lower than the recommended range, your application may not be considered. You can refer to the provided reference salary ranges for guidance in determining appropriate salary levels.

Job Advertisement Requirements

Under the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF), there's a requirement that you must post the job opening on MyCareer Futures for a minimum period of 14 days. During this time, you should review potential candidates. If you don't find a suitable candidate during this period, you can proceed to file the application for an employment pass, but you must provide the reference number of the job application as part of the employment pass application process.

However, there are exemptions from the job advertisement requirements:

• If your company has fewer than 10 employees on its payroll.
• If the job being recruited for offers a salary of more than 22,500 Singapore dollars per month.

Verification Of Educational Qualification

Starting from September 1, 2023, it is mandatory to conduct educational verification for candidates. There are two possible scenarios for verification:

1. If the awarding institution is already listed in the Ministry of Manpower's records, you only need to authenticate the educational qualification of the specific candidate.
2. If the awarding institution is not on the Ministry of Manpower's list, you must not only authenticate the educational qualification but also verify the accreditation status of the institution.

Please be aware that this process involves both costs and time considerations. The typical charges by an external agency for verifying educational qualifications amount to approximately $150 to $200 in Singapore dollars. If a candidate claims multiple qualifications, this cost will go up since you'll need to carry out this verification for each qualification separately. Additionally, for verifying the accreditation status, there is an additional charge of $150 in Singapore dollars per qualification.

Processing Time

The processing time for your employment pass application depends on three main factors:

• The processing time for the employment pass application itself typically takes around 2 to 3 weeks, but it can vary depending on the season. It might take more or less time in certain circumstances.
• If you need to verify the educational qualifications of the candidate, this additional step usually takes approximately 2 to 3 weeks. However, if the candidate is from an uncommon or obscure country, the verification process may require more time.
• If you plan to advertise the job posting on MyCareer Futures, you should allocate an additional 14 to 18 days for this step. This time is necessary because the advertisement must be visible for at least 14 days.

Considering these factors, it's essential to factor in all these time estimates and also allow some time between each event to work out a reasonable and expected timeline for the entire process.

Increased Document Scrutiny:

We've noticed that the Ministry of Manpower is now conducting more thorough checks on the correctness of documents. Previously accepted documents are occasionally leading to employment pass rejections due to inadequate documentation. It's essential to understand that just because a previous employment pass was approved doesn't guarantee immediate approval for a new one. Any outstanding issues must be resolved before approval.

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Shortage Occupation List (SOL):

When applying for an employment pass, it's crucial to select the correct occupation for your candidate. Companies sometimes make mistakes in this regard, resulting in negative outcomes. It's important to be aware of the skills currently in demand or the shortage occupations to enhance the chances of a successful employment pass approval process.

Step 1: Invoicing and Payment Collection

Once you confirm your engagement with us, we will send you an invoice and require payment in advance for all assignments. We follow this practice, and we can begin working on your case only after we receive the payment.

Step 2: Identity Verification

Before we start any work, we need to verify the identity of the person instructing us to file the application. This is essential, in line with Ministry of Manpower regulations or guidelines. In some cases, individuals not related to the company have given instructions for processing employment passes. Typically, we use biometric identity verification, which involves using your identity card and a selfie. We will send you a link for this verification. If you're uncomfortable with this method, you can come to our office for in-person identity verification.

Step 3: Case Evaluation and Document Collection

Once we have the initial information, our team will evaluate your case. We'll identify any necessary actions, such as adhering to the FCF framework or making adjustments to salary records. Additionally, we'll collect and verify all the required documents, including forms, to ensure accuracy.

Step 4: Filing of Application

When all details are ready, we will file your application in the Ministry of Manpower system. The timeline for this depends on your specific case. If all documents are in order and no additional steps are required, we can file the application as early as the second or third day. However, if certain activities are pending, like verifying educational qualifications, we will need to wait.

Step 5: In-Principle Approval and Issuance

Upon approval by the Ministry of Manpower, they will issue an in-principle approval letter for the employee. To obtain the pass, the employee must sign this letter. If the employee has previously worked in Singapore and held an employment pass, this is a formality, and the pass can be collected from our office or the employer's office, depending on preference. In this case, there is no need to visit the employment pass service center for thumbprinting and photo submission because the ministry already has the necessary details.

However, if this is the employee's first job in Singapore and there is no previous record with the Ministry of Manpower, a visit to the employment pass service center is required for thumbprinting and photo submission.

Step 6: Card Collection

In the final step, the employment pass card is delivered either to our office or the employer's address, based on preference. The card is then handed over to the employee, concluding the process.