Employment Pass (EP) Renewal in Singapore

Researched from official sources · May 5, 2026

Existing Employment Pass holders coordinate a renewal with their employer through the myMOM Portal up to 6 months before the pass expires.

MOM aims to process or update the application within 10 business days. Renewal is not guaranteed — the holder is re-assessed against the current qualifying salary for their age and sector and the current COMPASS framework.

Estimated time

10 business days for the outcome; up to 3 months from the IPA letter to issue the new pass

Cost

S$225-320

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Additional Items

  • Singpass (for the holder, when login or e-acknowledgement is needed)
  • Corppass with the EP eService assigned to the HR or Employment Agent submitting the renewal
Last checked 1 month ago

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Confirm renewal eligibility against current MOM thresholds

    1. Check the holder's salary against the current qualifying salary for their age band and sector — financial-services roles carry a sector premium
    2. Run the case through the MOM Self-Assessment Tool to model the COMPASS outcome with the latest firm-profile data
    3. Note that COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks refresh once a year — the August 2024 benchmarks apply to renewals expiring 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, the August 2025 benchmarks apply to renewals from 1 July 2026 onwards

    💡 Tip: The qualifying salary at renewal is the current threshold, not the one in force when the pass was first issued. Holders whose salary grew slower than the age-progressive minimum can fail renewal even with no change of role.

    MOM — EP eligibility (qualifying salary + COMPASS) (mom.gov.sg ↗) MOM — COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks (mom.gov.sg ↗)
  2. 2

    Refresh the company's turnover information in the myMOM Portal

    1. Update the organisation's turnover figures for the past 3 years before submitting the renewal
    2. Stale turnover data feeds an incorrect COMPASS firm-profile score and can drag the case below the 40-point pass mark

    ⚠️ Watch out: If the firm hasn't updated turnover figures since the previous EP submission, COMPASS C3 / C4 scoring will use outdated data — fix the figures first, then submit.

  3. 3

    Submit the renewal via the myMOM Portal

    1. Employer's HR or appointed Employment Agent logs in via Corppass with the EP eService assigned
    2. Upload the candidate's passport personal-particulars page and the latest ACRA business profile
    3. Upload qualification verification proof if it wasn't already verified during a previous application
    4. Pay the renewal submission and confirm

    💡 Tip: Renewals are submitted by the employer, not by the pass holder. The holder's job is to coordinate documents — passport bio-page, qualification verification source — with the employer's HR ahead of submission.

    MOM — Renew an Employment Pass (mom.gov.sg ↗) MOM — myMOM Portal (EP eService) (mom.gov.sg ↗)
  4. 4

    Wait for the outcome (within 10 business days for most cases)

    1. MOM either approves and issues an IPA letter, asks for more documents, or rejects
    2. Borderline COMPASS cases and salary-evidence requests can extend the review beyond 10 business days

    ⚠️ Watch out: Renewals are not guaranteed. The most common rejection bases are below-threshold salary at the holder's current age band, a COMPASS shortfall against the refreshed firm profile, or unfavourable Fair Consideration Framework signals on the employer side.

  5. 5

    Issue the new pass within the IPA validity window

    IPA letter (in-principle approval)

    1. Receive the IPA letter from MOM after approval
    2. Pay the SGD 225 issuance fee and follow the IPA instructions to issue the new pass
    3. Register the holder's biometrics where required so the new pass can be printed

    💡 Tip: Your IPA letter is only valid for 3 months. Get the pass issued before either the IPA expires or your current pass expires — whichever comes first. Miss this window and the overstaying fine applies even though the renewal was approved.

    ⚠️ Watch out: If the IPA expires unused, the employer has to re-submit the renewal and re-pay the issuance fee. If the current pass expires before the new one is registered, the holder is out of legal work status from that day, regardless of the approved IPA.

  6. 6

    Receive the new pass card

    1. MOM dispatches the physical pass card within 5 working days after registration or document verification
    2. Confirm the new expiry date — renewal can grant up to 3 years; tech-shortage roles can qualify for 5 years

    💡 Tip: If the existing pass card was already returned to MOM, the SGD 65.40 (incl. GST) replacement card fee applies in addition to the SGD 225 issuance fee.

What Could Go Wrong

Confirm renewal eligibility: Salary has not kept pace with the age-progressive minimum, or the firm-level COMPASS profile has weakened since the last application

Recovery: Employers can model the renewal outcome ahead of submission with the MOM Self-Assessment Tool. Adjust compensation or address the firm-profile gap (for example, local-employment ratio) before submitting.

Wait for the outcome: Application enters extended review and runs past the 10-business-day target

Recovery: MOM may ask for additional documents — most commonly evidence that the declared salary will actually be paid. Reply through the myMOM Portal with the requested documents; do not submit a fresh application in parallel.

Issue the new pass after IPA approval: The IPA letter expires unused, or the current pass expires before the new pass is registered

Recovery: If the IPA expires, the renewal has to be re-submitted and the issuance fee re-paid. If the current pass expires before issuance, the overstaying fine applies even though the renewal was approved — register the new pass before either deadline hits, whichever comes first.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
Pass issuance fee S$225 GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex Charged after MOM issues the IPA letter, to issue the new pass card. The renewal page lists this verbatim as "$225 to get the pass issued".
Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable) (Optional) S$30 GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex Charged per Multiple Journey Visa, only for nationals from visa-required countries. Renewal page wording: "$30 for each Multiple Journey visa (if applicable)". Waived if: The pass holder is not from a country that requires a visa to enter Singapore
Replacement card fee (only if the existing pass card is returned in error) (Optional) S$65.4 GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex Inclusive of GST. Triggers only when the previous physical card has already been surrendered and a replacement card has to be issued. Waived if: The existing pass card is not returned to MOM during the renewal
Pass issuance fee S$225
Payment:
GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex
Notes:
Charged after MOM issues the IPA letter, to issue the new pass card. The renewal page lists this verbatim as "$225 to get the pass issued".
Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable) (Optional) S$30
Payment:
GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex
Notes:
Charged per Multiple Journey Visa, only for nationals from visa-required countries. Renewal page wording: "$30 for each Multiple Journey visa (if applicable)".
Waived if:
The pass holder is not from a country that requires a visa to enter Singapore
Replacement card fee (only if the existing pass card is returned in error) (Optional) S$65.4
Payment:
GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, or Amex
Notes:
Inclusive of GST. Triggers only when the previous physical card has already been surrendered and a replacement card has to be issued.
Waived if:
The existing pass card is not returned to MOM during the renewal
Total: S$225

FAQ

Documents

Do I need to pass COMPASS again at renewal?

Yes. COMPASS applies to new applications and renewals. The 40-point pass mark, the four foundational criteria (salary, qualifications, diversity, support for local employment), and the two bonus criteria (skills bonus and strategic economic priorities) all apply at renewal. The COMPASS exemption for candidates earning a fixed monthly salary of SGD 22,500 or above applies at renewal as well.

General

When can my employer apply for renewal?

Up to 6 months before the pass expires. The renewal is submitted by the employer (or an appointed Employment Agent), not by the pass holder directly. MOM lists the window verbatim as "You can apply to renew an EP up to 6 months before the pass expires."

How long does MOM take to process a renewal?

MOM aims to process or give an update within 10 business days for renewals submitted via the myMOM Portal. The EP (Sponsorship) variant — used by overseas companies without a Singapore-registered employer — runs longer at 8 weeks for most cases.

Is renewal guaranteed if my employer applies on time?

No. MOM states plainly that renewals are not guaranteed. The pass holder is re-assessed against the current qualifying salary for their age and sector and the current COMPASS framework. A pass that was issued under an older salary threshold is not grandfathered against the new one.

How long is the renewed pass valid?

Up to 3 years for renewal — longer than the up-to-2-year duration on initial issuance. Tech professionals on the shortage occupation list may qualify for a 5-year duration.

After This Process

  • → Update the holder's records with the new expiry date and arrange a review well before the next renewal window
  • → Dependant Pass / Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) holders linked to this EP — check whether their passes also need to be renewed in step
  • → Changing employer instead of renewing? A new EP application is required — renewal does not transfer the pass to a different employer
  • → Leaving Singapore? Pass cancellation runs through the same EP eService, separately from renewal
  • → First-time EP issuance for a candidate without a current pass — separate flow, see MOM's Apply for an Employment Pass page

Sources

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8 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-05

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  1. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    Renewal window of up to 6 months before the pass expires; renewals processed or given an update within 10 business days via the myMOM Portal; EP (Sponsorship) variant runs within 8 weeks for most cases; IPA letter is valid for 3 months and the new pass must be issued before the IPA or the current pass expires (whichever comes first), otherwise an overstaying fine applies; renewals are not guaranteed; renewal fees published on this page are SGD 225 to get the pass issued and SGD 30 for each Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable); employer or appointed Employment Agent submits the renewal, not the pass holder directly.

    mom.gov.sg
  2. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    Employment Pass overview — issued to foreign professionals, managers, executives, and technicians; eligibility runs through a qualifying salary check followed by the COMPASS framework; a change of employer requires a new EP application rather than a renewal.

    mom.gov.sg
  3. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    COMPASS framework with four foundational criteria (salary, qualifications, diversity, support for local employment) and two bonus criteria (skills bonus, strategic economic priorities); 40-point pass mark; SGD 22,500 fixed monthly salary exemption from COMPASS; sector premium for financial-services roles; renewals are re-assessed against current qualifying salary and current COMPASS scoring.

    mom.gov.sg
  4. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    Pass duration — up to 2 years on initial issuance, up to 3 years on renewal, up to 5 years for tech professionals on the shortage occupation list; the employer applies for the pass on behalf of the candidate; no foreign-worker levy or quota required for EP.

    mom.gov.sg
  5. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    EP fee schedule referenced for new applications: SGD 105 application fee, SGD 225 pass issuance fee, SGD 30 Multiple Journey Visa (if applicable); accepted payment methods are GIRO, Visa, Mastercard, and Amex; pass card delivered within 5 working days after registration or document verification. (Per founder click-verification of the renew-a-pass page on 2026-05-05, only the SGD 225 issuance and SGD 30 Multiple Journey Visa fees apply at renewal — the SGD 105 application fee belongs to the new-application flow.)

    mom.gov.sg
  6. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    Documents required: candidate's passport personal-particulars page, ACRA business profile / Instant Information, verification proof for the candidate's qualifications (where applicable); accepted verification sources are background-screening companies with an MOM reference number, government or awarding-institution online portals, OpenCerts files, or letters from professional bodies; certificates, notary documents, self-translated screenshots, and unverifiable sources are not accepted.

    mom.gov.sg
  7. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    COMPASS C1 salary benchmarks refresh once a year; the August 2024 benchmarks apply to renewals expiring 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026; the August 2025 benchmarks apply to renewals from 1 July 2026 — establishes that renewals are re-assessed against the current benchmark cohort, not the cohort in force at first issuance.

    mom.gov.sg
  8. T1
    Ministry of Manpower 2026-05-05

    Fair Consideration Framework — MyCareersFuture 14-day advertising rule for new applications; SGD 22,500 fixed monthly salary exemption from advertising; firms with fewer than 10 employees are also exempt; signals from this framework feed the renewal review on the employer side.

    mom.gov.sg
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