If your Employment Pass was rejected, you have three months to appeal to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). An appeal only works if you give MOM something new. Sending the same information again will get the same result.
Most rejections come down to a handful of fixable issues. The problem is that MOM sends a short rejection advisory, and it rarely explains much. So employers appeal too quickly, use up the three months, and lose the candidate.
Below, we cover why EP applications get rejected, whether to appeal or reapply, and how to file an appeal that has a real chance.
If you would rather hand it over, One Tax CM manages Employment Pass applications and appeals for employers hiring in Singapore.
What Does an Employment Pass Rejection Actually Mean?
A rejection means your application failed at least one of the two tests MOM applies: the qualifying salary, or the COMPASS points assessment. You can also fail on employer checks, such as the job advertisement or the accuracy of what you submitted.
Start with the rejection advisory in EP eService. It tells you the reason and what MOM expects next. If you applied manually, the same details are in the rejection letter. Read it first, because everything in your appeal should answer what it says.
Eight Common Reasons Why Your Employment Pass Got Rejected
- Salary too low
The pay is under the minimum for the candidate’s age and sector, not just the headline figure. - COMPASS score under 40
The application did not reach the pass mark across the four main criteria. - Qualifications not verified
MOM cannot verify the institution or no proof of verification was submitted. - Company-level scores are weak
Too many PMETs of one nationality or too few local PMETs. - Job ad problems
No MyCareersFuture ad, posted too briefly, inaccurate or discriminatory. - Job scope does not match
The candidate’s experience does not fit the role you declared. - Weak company profile
New company, low paid-up capital, no local staff or short of trading history. - Missing or inconsistent documents
Salary differs between contract and application name mismatches or missing passports pages.
The three biggest culprits are salary, COMPASS and the job advertisement. Here is what MOM is actually checking in each
Salary: the rule most employers miss
The qualifying salary is not one number. It rises with the candidate’s age.
| Sector | Age 23 and under | Age 45 and above |
|---|---|---|
| General | S$5,600 | S$10,700 |
| Financial Services | S$6,200 | S$11,800 |
From 1 January 2027 the entry minimums rise to S$6,000 and S$6,600. If you are reapplying in early 2027, budget for the higher figure.
Meeting the minimum only clears the first stage. It does not mean approval.
COMPASS: Why strong candidates still fail
COMPASS is a points system. You need 40 points to pass, scored across four criteria:
- Salary, compared against local PMETs in your sector
- Qualifications
- Nationality mix among your PMETs
- Support for local employment
Two of these four score your company, not the candidate. A strong candidate at a firm with mostly foreign PMETs can still fail, which is why swapping in someone else usually does not help.
You are exempt from COMPASS if the salary is S$22,500 or above, the candidate is an overseas intra-corporate transferee, or the role lasts one month or less. The EDB’s COMPASS explainer has the full list.
Before appealing, check the score with MOM’s Self-Assessment Tool.
Job advertising: the compliance trap
Unless exempt, you must advertise on MyCareersFuture for 14 days in a row before applying, and fairly consider everyone who applies. An ad that is inaccurate, discriminatory, or does not match the declared job can sink the application on its own.
You are exempt if your company has fewer than 10 employees, the salary is S$22,500 or above, the role lasts a month or less, you are moving a local employee within the group, or the candidate is an intra-corporate transferee.
Watch out: an advertising exemption is not a COMPASS exemption. They share the same S$22,500 figure, which trips people up.
Should You Appeal or Submit a New Application?
(Source – Envato.Elements)
Appeal if you have new evidence. Reapply if the facts themselves need to change. Repeating the same case wastes your three months.
| Rejection reason | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| Salary marginally below the threshold | Appeal with a revised employment contract |
| Qualifications since independently verified | Appeal with the verification documents |
| Job scope appears to have been misread | Appeal with a clarified job description |
| COMPASS shortfall on diversity or local hiring | Reapply once your workforce profile improves |
| Non-compliant MyCareersFuture advertisement | Re-advertise in full, then reapply |
| Appeal window has lapsed | Submit a fresh application |
There is no waiting period before reapplying. But reapplying without fixing the cause will get the same answer.
If the candidate is unlikely to clear the EP bar at all, the S Pass may suit better. Our comparison of how the S Pass and Employment Pass differ covers salary, quota and levy and our guide to the work passes available in Singapore maps the wider options.
How to Appeal a Rejected Employment Pass
- Get the rejection advisory. Log in to EP eService and read the reason and next steps in full.
- Find the real cause. Run the Self-Assessment Tool using the exact salary and qualifications you submitted, then compare the result against the advisory.
- Fix the gap. Raise the salary, verify qualifications, rewrite the job description, or gather proof of local hiring.
- Check your company records. Make sure your ACRA business profile is current and there are no outstanding levy or CPF issues. MOM will not approve a new pass while those sit unresolved.
- Gather documents. Revised signed contract, ACRA business profile, verified certificates, organisation chart, the candidate’s CV, and the MyCareersFuture ad record.
- Write the appeal letter. One page. Answer the rejection reason, state what has changed, and list your attachments. Our guide on how to write an EP appeal letter to MOM walks through it with a template.
- Submit through EP eService within 3 months. Only the employer or the employment agent can file, then track the status and print the outcome letter online.
One thing MOM checks quietly: whether you can afford the hire. Keep enough in the company account to cover around 12 months of the candidate’s salary plus normal operating costs.
Get It Right the First Time
Most EP rejections are avoidable. A Self-Assessment Tool check, a compliant job ad, verified qualifications and an accurate job scope solve most of them before they happen.
One Tax CM handles the whole process for employers hiring into Singapore: COMPASS pre-checks, MyCareersFuture compliance, submission, appeals and renewals. If you are setting up the hiring entity at the same time, we can line up the work pass timeline with your incorporation so your candidate is not left waiting on ACRA.
Talk to us about your Employment Pass application