Revised Verification Requirements for Employment Pass Applications

With the implementation of COMPASS, there will be updated verification requirements for both new and renewal Employment Pass (EP) applications. The following table outlines the verification evidence needed for qualifications at the post-secondary diploma level and beyond.

For New EP Applications:

Prior to September 1, 2023:

• Verification evidence is necessary only when the qualifications from awarding institutions are not present in the dropdown list on the application form.

Starting from September 1, 2023:

• Verification evidence is mandatory for all qualifications declared to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

For EP Renewals:

Before September 1, 2024:

• Verification evidence is required only if qualifications from awarding institutions are absent in the application’s dropdown list.

Effective September 1, 2024:

• Verification evidence is required for all qualifications declared to MOM.

It is important for employers seeking to accrue points from these qualifications in COMPASS to declare them in the EP application. However, the declaration of educational qualifications is optional otherwise. Employers should refrain from declaring qualifications that cannot be validated or are obtained from unaccredited institutions.

Employers are only obligated to verify a candidate’s qualifications once. Uploading verification evidence will not be prompted if the candidate’s qualifications have already been verified in the past.

Verification Evidence Requirements

Employers must ensure that the credentials of their candidates are genuine and were conferred by recognized institutions.

If the awarding institution of a qualification is not listed in the application dropdown, you must provide evidence verifying the authenticity of the qualification and the institution’s accreditation status. Suitable sources for verification evidence may include background screening agencies.

If the awarding institution of a qualification is listed in the application dropdown, you need to provide evidence confirming the authenticity of the qualification. Acceptable sources for verification evidence include background screening companies, the verification portal of the government/awarding institution, or the OpenCerts portal.

Please note that educational certificates authenticated by a notary public and school letters are not deemed acceptable as forms of verification evidence.

Authenticity checks serve to confirm the candidate’s receipt of the qualification, while accreditation checks verify that the qualification is endorsed by the local government authority.

If you have any company-related queries, you may email us at [email protected]. When in doubt, seek legal advice or consult an experienced licensed Employment Agency with the Ministry of Manpower.

Yours Sincerely,
The editorial team at Singapore Employment Agency

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Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd is a licensed Employment Agency with the Ministry of Manpower with license number 19C9790.