Understanding Employment Pass Rejections: Common mistakes to avoid and how to ensure approval
Why EP Applications Get Rejected: 3 Mistakes Businesses Make
6 minute read
In recent years, Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has reduced the quota of Employment Passes (EP) issued to foreigners. We highlight factors why an EP gets rejected.
If you are a new applicant, trying to apply for an employment pass, refer to our detailed “how to get a Singapore employment pass” article.
Overview:
- #1 Employer not following Fair Consideration Framework (FCF)
- #2 Issues with the company background provided
- #3 Candidate not matching the job prof
- #4 Low score in COMPASS
- Other reasons for rejection
#1 Employer not following Fair Consideration Framework (FCF)
Due to the efforts to protect the local labour force by the Singapore Government, the Ministry has been progressively tightening the criteria for EP applications over the years.
New rules on hiring foreigners were added in 2014 to encourage companies to genuinely consider locals before hiring foreigners. This Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) requires employers to advertise a vacant role for at least 14 calendar days on the national jobs bank before the EP application can be filed. There are certain exemptions to this rule, for smaller companies, and even if exempted, the MOM encourages employers to nonetheless advertise as it gives them access to a bigger pool of Singaporean candidates.
If the MOM suspects that a company has unfair hiring practices, they may curtail their work pass privileges and may even place it on a blacklist until improvements are seen.
#2 Issues with the company background provided
Based on the remarks provided, you may be able to determine the reasons for rejection. For example, your company’s business activities may be considered irrelevant to Singapore’s economy, your company may have a weak Singaporean core, or your company may belong to an industry that is irrelevant to Singapore.
The MOM may therefore request for detailed information relating to the company’s business activities, manpower projection and an explanation as to why the candidate was chosen (special skills that cannot be found locally).
#3 Candidate not matching the job profile
An EP may also be rejected because the proposed salary, candidate’s educational qualification, or relevant work experience does not commensurate with the job position that is being applied for. Changing industries or job roles may be difficult for a foreigner unless they can demonstrate a transferable skillset. Additionally, although the base minimum salary for an EP is S$5,000/month (for non-financial services sector), our experience shows that candidates often will need a higher monthly salary in order for their application to be approved.
#4 Low score in COMPASS
AAccording to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), from September 2023, Candidates have to pass two stages of the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) to get the employment pass. Getting a low score (below 40/120) on the assessment will lead to rejection
“COMPASS evaluates EP applications based on a holistic set of individual and firm-related attributes.” – MOM
Other reasons for rejection
The Ministry of Manpower has the right to reject an Employment Pass application or an Employment Pass renewal for one of the following reasons:
Reason for Rejection | Explanation |
Scope and qualifications mismatch | Your experience and educational profile must align with the job’s scope and requirements. |
Insufficient information | Providing insufficient information required for validating Employment Pass applications may lead to rejection. |
Oversaturated job market | A company will prioritize local and experienced workers, and if there are enough local residents to fill the position, your application may get rejected. |
Imbalanced ratio of locals to foreigners | If the employer has not hired enough local employees, your application may get rejected for lack of contribution to the Singaporean economy. |
Discrepancies in information | Any discrepancies in the credentials or personal information provided in the Employment Pass application may lead to rejection. |
Unreliable work records | If you have a questionable and unreliable work record, you may not get approved for an Employment Pass. |
Earning less than the minimum salary | You must meet the minimum fixed monthly salary requirement to get approved for an Employment Pass. |
Insufficient finances of the company | If the company does not have sufficient funds to cover the total staff costs for a year, your application may get rejected. |
So what happens after a rejection?
Once you have determined the reasons for rejection and are able to address them, you can submit an appeal. You will need to submit the appeal within 3 months of getting the rejection, and can appeal up to 2 times. If you fail to appeal within the specified time, you will need to submit a brand new application.
Tips to get your EP accepted
Expert Tips for a Successful EP Application |
1. Seek assistance from immigration experts or visa consultants to navigate MOM policies and industry research. |
2. Prepare a strong justification letter from your HR department explaining why you are the best candidate for the role. |
3. Submit an up-to-date LinkedIn profile, CV, and cover letter with all relevant qualifications and certifications to avoid delays. |
Use experts
Immigration experts and visa consultants are extremely useful at this stage, as they can bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of MOM’s policies and system. You may even need to do your own research on the industry of the business, to determine whether the business or role is bringing value to Singapore’s economy.
Have a strong justification letter:
You will also need to submit a strong justification letter to explain why the company requires you to fill a crucial role and what special skills set you have. Usually, your company’s HR department can draft this letter for you.
Ensure you have an updated CV/Cover Letter
Submitting a well written and up to date CV or Cover Letter will help strengthen your visa application. You should also submit all of your relevant educational certifications and qualifications (including grade/mark sheets, if applicable), to avoid any delays in your application.
Next steps
Sleek manages end-to-end applications for all work passes such as Employment Pass (EP), Personalised Employment Pass (PEP), Letter of Consent (LOC), S Pass, Dependant’s Pass (DP), and Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP).
Our immigration experts have over 10 years of experience, with a 96% approval rate.
If you’re ready to take your business from dream to reality, we can help you make it happen. Get tailored, practical advice from us about your situation – get in touch with us today.
FAQ
When an Employment Pass (EP) application gets rejected in Singapore, the applicant and their prospective employer will receive a rejection letter from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) detailing the reasons for the rejection. The employer can reapply for an EP, but they must address the issues outlined in the rejection letter and provide additional information that can support the application.
The difficulty of getting an Employment Pass (EP) in Singapore depends on various factors such as the applicant’s qualifications, work experience, job role, and the employer’s reputation and financial stability.Generally, the Singapore government aims to attract foreign talent to fill skill gaps in the economy, and therefore, they have a relatively open policy for EP applications. However, to ensure that the EP system remains fair and competitive, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has set strict eligibility criteria and qualifying requirements for EP applicants
The success rate for EP applications can vary depending on various factors such as the qualifications and experience of the applicant, the job role and industry, and the financial stability and reputation of the employer.
Generally, MOM takes about three to 8 weeks to process an EP application. However, in some cases, it may take longer than 8 weeks, especially if there are issues with the application that need further clarification or if additional documents are required.
Earning a salary of at least $5,000, which is benchmarked against the top one-third of the local professionals, managers, executives and technicians ( PMET) salaries by age.
