Quick answer: The Employment / S Pass Self-Assessment Tool (SAT) is a free MOM eService that checks whether a candidate is likely to qualify for an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass before the employer applies. You log in with Singpass, enter the candidate’s salary, age, qualifications and work experience, and get an “Eligible” or “Not eligible” result. An “Eligible” result means about a 90% chance of approval, but it is not a guarantee.
This guide explains how the SAT works in 2026, what details you need, the salary limits it checks, and what to do after you get your result.
What Is the MOM Self-Assessment Tool (SAT)?
The SAT is an online checker from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It gives an indicative result for a new EP or S Pass application, or a renewal, using the same basic criteria MOM uses when it reviews the real application.
Key facts about the SAT:
- It is free and available 24 hours a day.
- You need to log in with Singpass. Login has been required since 1 August 2023.
- It covers the Employment Pass and the S Pass only.
- MOM does not store your results, so save or print the result before you leave the page.
- You can download or print the result as a PDF to share with others.
MOM asks employers to use the SAT before they apply. If the tool shows that a candidate is not eligible, MOM advises not to submit the application, because it will be rejected.
The SAT does not cover Work Permits, which have no minimum salary and are assessed differently. Our guide on Work Permit vs S Pass explains how the two passes differ.
Standard SAT vs Enhanced SAT
There are two versions of the tool:
| Feature | Standard SAT | Enhanced SAT |
|---|
| Who can use it | Anyone with Singpass | Employers and employment agents with EP eService access |
| Passes covered | Employment Pass and S Pass | Employment Pass |
| What it shows | Whether the candidate meets the basic criteria | An indicative outcome, including COMPASS scores |
| Login | Singpass | Singpass plus EP eService access |
The enhanced SAT exists because COMPASS scores use company data, such as the firm’s nationality mix and local hiring. That data is sensitive, so only authorised users at the company can see the full scores. Employment agents can transact for clients but only see the overall outcome.
Details You Need Before Using the SAT
Have these details ready before you start:
- The pass type: EP or S Pass
- The candidate’s fixed monthly salary: basic salary plus fixed allowances, not bonuses or overtime
- The candidate’s age
- The highest qualification, the institution that awarded it, and the year
- Relevant work experience
- The job’s sector, because financial services has higher salary limits
If the candidate’s qualification or institution is not on the SAT’s list, you can choose the closest equivalent level or leave it undeclared. For the S Pass, qualifications are optional to declare, but any you declare must be genuine and from an accredited institution.
Check the exact English name of the degree and university before you start. For a certificate issued in China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, the English name often comes from the translation, so many employers get it from Chinese translation services Singapore providers first and use the same wording in the SAT and the application.
How to Use the SAT: Step by Step
- Go to the Employment / S Pass Self-Assessment Tool page on MOM’s website.
- Log in with Singpass. Use the enhanced version if you have EP eService access and want COMPASS scores.
- Choose the pass type: Employment Pass or S Pass.
- Enter the candidate’s salary, age, qualifications and work experience.
- Preview your details and correct any mistakes.
- Submit to see the result.
- Download or print the result as a PDF. MOM does not save it.
- If the result is “Not eligible”, you can edit the details and reassess, for example to see what salary would make the candidate eligible.
Use Chrome 70 or above (recommended), Firefox 63 or above, or Safari 12 or above, with JavaScript turned on.
Passed the SAT? Get Your Degree and Transcripts Translated Before Your Employer Applies
Salary Limits the SAT Checks in 2026
The SAT compares the candidate’s fixed monthly salary with MOM’s minimum qualifying salary. The minimum rises with age, so older and more experienced candidates need a higher salary.
Employment Pass minimum qualifying salary
| Sector | Now | New applications from 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|
| All sectors except financial services | S$5,600 (age 23 or below) to S$10,700 (age 45 or above) | S$6,000 to S$11,500 |
| Financial services | S$6,200 (age 23 or below) to S$11,800 (age 45 or above) | S$6,600 to S$12,700 |
S Pass minimum qualifying salary
| Sector | Now | New applications from 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|
| All sectors except financial services | S$3,300 (age 23 or below) to S$4,800 (age 45 or above) | S$3,600 to S$5,100 |
| Financial services | S$3,800 (age 23 or below) to S$5,650 (age 45 or above) | S$4,000 to S$5,650 |
The 2027 salary limits also apply to renewals of passes expiring from 1 January 2028. If you are planning a renewal, run the SAT again closer to the date.
The COMPASS Points Test for Employment Pass
For an EP, meeting the salary is not enough. The application must also score at least 40 points under the COMPASS framework:
| Criterion | What it checks | Points |
|---|
| C1 Salary | Candidate’s salary compared with local PMET salaries in the sector | 0, 10 or 20 |
| C2 Qualifications | Degree-level qualification, with more points for top-tier institutions | 0, 10 or 20 |
| C3 Diversity | Whether the candidate’s nationality is a small share of the firm’s PMETs | 0, 10 or 20 |
| C4 Support for local employment | The firm’s share of local PMETs compared with its sector | 0, 10 or 20 |
| C5 Skills bonus | Job on the Shortage Occupation List | Up to 20 |
| C6 Strategic Economic Priorities bonus | Firm takes part in an eligible programme | 10 |
C3 and C4 depend on company data. That is why only the enhanced SAT, used by the employer, can show the full COMPASS result. If you are a candidate using the standard SAT, ask the employer’s HR team to run the enhanced version.
C2 points depend on the qualification MOM can verify, so the degree certificate and transcript need to be clear and complete. When they are in another language, translation for Employment Pass applications helps MOM match the qualification to the institution.
What Your SAT Result Means
| Result | What it means | What to do |
|---|
| Eligible | The candidate meets the basic criteria. About 90% of such applications are approved. | The employer can go ahead and prepare the application. |
| Not eligible | At least one criterion is not met. | Do not apply. Fix the gap first, such as the salary, or consider a different pass. |
Why an “Eligible” result can still be rejected
The SAT does not check everything. MOM’s real review also looks at:
- The employer’s S Pass quota and dependency ratio ceiling
- The candidate’s past immigration and work history
- The company’s actual COMPASS score, which may differ from the estimate
- Whether the documents are genuine and complete
Candidates who earn at least S$22,500 a month may not need an employer-sponsored pass at all. Read our guide to the Personalised Employment Pass to see if it suits you better.
Your Work Pass Documents Not in English? We Prepare Translations in MOM's Format
After the SAT: Preparing the Real Application
Once the SAT shows “Eligible”, the employer applies through MOM’s online system. This is where documents matter.
- Qualifications need verification proof. For EP applications, employers must make sure qualifications are genuine. MOM accepts proof from approved background screening companies, official verification portals, China’s CSSD reports for Chinese qualifications, or OpenCerts. A notarised copy of a certificate is not accepted as verification proof.
- Non-English documents need translation. MOM asks for the original document and its English translation uploaded together as one file. Self-translated proofs from verification portals are not accepted.
- Name differences need explaining. If the name in the passport is different from other documents, attach an explanation letter and proof such as a deed poll.
Degrees, diplomas and transcripts are the documents most often in another language. A clear academic transcript translation shows each subject, grade and credit exactly as the original.
Which Documents Usually Need Translation?
For EP and S Pass applications, these are the documents we most often see in another language:
- Degree and diploma certificates
- Academic transcripts
- Past employment letters and contracts
- Professional licences and trade certificates
- Marriage and birth certificates, if family members will apply for passes later
Translating all of them together keeps names, dates and job titles consistent across every file. Our MOM certificate translation service prepares each translation so it can be uploaded with its original as one file.
Avoid Fake SAT Websites
The real SAT is only on MOM’s website and is free. Be careful with:
- Websites that ask for payment to “check your eligibility”
- Calls or emails claiming to be from MOM that ask you to transfer money or share bank login details
MOM officers will never ask for money transfers or bank details this way. If you are unsure, call the ScamShield Helpline at 1799.
Planning an EP or S Pass Application? Send Every Non-English Document to Us Today
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the SAT check whether my company has enough S Pass quota?
No. The SAT does not look at quota. Employers can check their S Pass quota separately with MOM’s quota calculator before they apply.
Can a Work Permit holder use the SAT before moving to an S Pass?
Yes. MOM asks employers to check the worker’s eligibility with the S Pass SAT first. If the worker qualifies, the employer can apply for the S Pass while the Work Permit is still valid.
If a candidate is not eligible for an EP, can they try the S Pass instead?
Yes. Run the S Pass assessment in the same tool. If the job and salary meet the S Pass criteria, the employer can apply for an S Pass instead, subject to the company’s S Pass quota.
Does a “Not eligible” result stay on the candidate’s record?
No. MOM says it does not collect data that identifies users, and SAT results are not stored. The result only exists on your screen until you save or print it.
Conclusion
The MOM Self-Assessment Tool is the first step before any Employment Pass or S Pass application. It is free, takes a few minutes, and tells you whether the candidate meets the salary and basic criteria. For an EP, the employer should also use the enhanced SAT to see the COMPASS score.
After a positive result, focus on the documents: verification proof for qualifications and English translations for anything in another language. Need them done quickly? Send them to certified translators in Singapore who prepare certificates, transcripts and employment letters for EP and S Pass applications every week.
