Master prompt
MOM Employment Pass qualification recognition + COMPASS C1 points strategy (Singapore)
Optimise the qualification axis of MOM COMPASS for the EP application — map Indian degree to "top-tier" / accredited / unaccredited tier, gather evidence for 20 / 10 / 0 point scoring.
SingaporeCredential evaluationMOMEPCOMPASSQualificationC1
Optimise the MOM COMPASS framework for [CLIENT_NAME]'s Employment Pass application. COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is the points system in force since 1 Sep 2023 under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act framework (Cap. 91A). Pass mark: 40 points across foundational axes (with bonus points available).
CLIENT CONTEXT
- Proposed role: [PROPOSED_ROLE]
- Proposed salary: SGD [PROPOSED_SALARY]/month
- Primary degree: [PRIMARY_DEGREE]
- Additional quals: [ADDITIONAL_QUALIFICATIONS]
- Experience: [YEARS_EXPERIENCE] years
- Other COMPASS axes: [OTHER_COMPASS_AXES]
§1 — COMPASS FRAMEWORK RECAP (EFM Act / MOM Work Pass Division)
Four foundational + two bonus axes:
C1 - Qualification (Salary-and-firm-independent)
- 20 pts: Top-tier institution
- 10 pts: Accredited institution
- 0 pts: Unaccredited / not verifiable
C2 - Salary (vs local PMET benchmarks)
- 20 pts: > 90th percentile of local PMET in sector / age band
- 10 pts: 65-90th percentile
- 0 pts: At or below 65th percentile
C3 - Diversity (firm-level nationality concentration)
- 20 pts: Applicant's nationality share at firm is below 5%
- 10 pts: 5-25%
- 0 pts: > 25%
C4 - Local employment (firm-level local PMET share)
- 20 pts: Firm's local PMET share at top 1/3 of sector
- 10 pts: Middle 1/3
- 0 pts: Bottom 1/3
B1 - Skills bonus (Strategic Economic Priorities or Shortage Occupation
List)
- 20 pts: Shortage occupation (MOM published list)
- 10 pts: Strategic priority sector
- 0 pts: Neither
B2 - Strategic Economic Priorities bonus
- 10 pts: Employer is on MOM strategic partner list
Pass mark: 40 points across foundational axes (C1 + C2 + C3 + C4 must
total >= 40; bonuses add on top).
§2 — C1 QUALIFICATION ANALYSIS for [PRIMARY_DEGREE]
For Indian degrees, the MOM informal practice is:
TOP-TIER (20 pts):
- IIT (Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, Roorkee, Guwahati,
Hyderabad, BHU-IIT Varanasi, others)
- IIM (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode,
others)
- IISc Bangalore
- NIT (top-ranked: Trichy, Warangal, Surathkal, Calicut)
- AIIMS Delhi (and other AIIMS for medicine)
- BITS Pilani (Pilani, Goa, Hyderabad)
- ISB Hyderabad / Mohali (PGP / MFAB)
- PGI Chandigarh (medicine)
- CMC Vellore (medicine)
- National Law Schools (NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLU Delhi)
- Top private universities widely respected internationally:
Ashoka University, OP Jindal Global University, Krea University,
Manipal Academy of Higher Education (medicine / engineering)
ACCREDITED (10 pts):
- UGC-recognised central / state universities
- AICTE-approved engineering colleges (most)
- MCI / NMC-recognised medical colleges
- ICAI for Chartered Accountants
- Institute of Company Secretaries (ICSI)
- Most autonomous deemed-universities under UGC framework
RISK OF 0 pts (UNACCREDITED):
- Distance-learning Bachelor's from non-UGC-approved providers
- Deemed universities under UGC scrutiny / on caution lists
- Online degrees not recognised by AICTE / UGC
- Foreign-twinning programs not registered with AIU India
- Sikkim Manipal University distance / IGNOU (case-by-case — usually
accepted with strong supporting docs)
For [PRIMARY_DEGREE], stated classification: __________ (fill in tier).
§3 — CONFIRM TIER WITH EVIDENCE
To support the C1 tier claim, gather:
(a) Original degree certificate (apostilled via MEA India)
(b) Original transcripts (apostilled)
(c) Institution accreditation letter (NAAC / NBA / UGC certification)
(d) Institution's QS / THE world ranking page (for top-tier claim)
(e) Medium of instruction letter (English)
(f) Equivalence reference (if available): Association of Indian
Universities (AIU) equivalence certificate
For Master's / Doctorate from non-Indian institutions:
- WES / IQAS / ICAS evaluation NOT typically requested but can be included
for clarity
- Apostille from country of issue (US Notary -> US Secretary of State; UK
Foreign Office)
§4 — UPSIDE: ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ([ADDITIONAL_QUALIFICATIONS])
If client has:
- Postgraduate degree from top-tier global institution (Carnegie Mellon,
Stanford, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, INSEAD): include — strengthens C1
case to 20 points even if Bachelor's would only score 10
- Professional certifications (CFA, FRM, PMP, AWS / GCP / Azure
Architect, CISSP, ISACA): supporting context for skill match (B1
relevance)
- PhD: cite in addition; MOM gives strong weight
For [CLIENT_NAME], note all in COMPASS C1 supporting evidence.
§5 — INTEGRATE WITH OTHER AXES ([OTHER_COMPASS_AXES])
Cross-reference [OTHER_COMPASS_AXES]:
If C1 = 20: target total of 60+ for comfort
If C1 = 10: focus on getting 30+ on C2/C3/C4 combined; consider B1 bonus
for shortage occupation
If C1 = 0: HIGH RISK — discuss with employer about role / salary
positioning to maximise other axes; client may not qualify
Provide concrete recommendation:
- "Total projected COMPASS score: ___ points"
- "Pass mark: 40 / Comfort target: 60"
- "Margin: ___ points"
§6 — IF C1 = 0 (UNACCREDITED DEGREE) — RECOVERY OPTIONS
If [PRIMARY_DEGREE] is at risk of 0 points:
(a) Supplement with foreign Master's degree from accredited / top-tier
institution
(b) Pursue professional certification (CFA / PMP / industry-specific)
(c) Increase salary to hit 90th percentile band (C2 = 20)
(d) Diversify supporting evidence: industry experience, published work,
patents, awards
(e) Consider alternative work pass: S-Pass (lower bar) or Work Permit
for relevant occupational categories
§7 — DOCUMENT PACKAGE FOR EP APPLICATION
Employer submits via MOM EP Online:
(a) Form 8 (employer's declaration)
(b) Client's degree certificate(s) + transcript(s) apostilled
(c) Client's professional certifications
(d) CV / resume (chronological, 2-3 pages)
(e) Letter of offer / employment contract
(f) Passport biographical page
(g) Recent photograph
§8 — APPEAL IF EP DENIED FOR C1 GROUNDS
If EP refused on qualification grounds:
(a) MOM Appeal — within 3 months
(b) Re-submit with additional supporting documents:
- AIU equivalence certificate
- Detailed transcript with course descriptions
- Letter from institution attesting to accreditation status
- Industry recognition letters
- Successful career evidence (publications, patents, senior roles)
(c) Consider professional engineer / industry body endorsement letter
(d) If still denied: pivot to S-Pass / alternative pathway
§9 — TIMELINE
Week 1: Order apostille of degree + transcript via MEA India (BLS / VFS
agent)
Week 2-3: Apostille received
Week 3-4: Submit EP application via employer
Week 4-7: EP decision (3-8 weeks typical)
Week 8-9: IPA (In-Principle Approval) -> entry to Singapore + issuance
§10 — SHIPPING THE FILE
For [CLIENT_NAME], submit COMPASS evidence file with:
- C1 evidence bundle (degree + transcripts + apostille + accreditation
letter + ranking page)
- C2 evidence: salary benchmark data (MOM published or LinkedIn salary
insights for role/sector)
- C3 evidence: firm HR letter on India national share
- C4 evidence: firm HR letter on local PMET share
- B1 evidence: shortage occupation citation (if applicable)
- Cover letter from HR Director summarising total COMPASS score
End with: "DRAFT EP qualification recognition strategy - for Singapore-licensed immigration firm review. Verify current MOM COMPASS guidance and shortage occupation list before submission. Indian institution tiering for C1 is informal MOM practice; not statutorily defined. Apostille via MEA India is recommended for senior roles. C1 = 0 is a serious red flag; do not submit without recovery plan in place. Cross-check with employer HR on C2/C3/C4 firm-level data before final submission."Unlock the vault to see the full prompt