Two Core Reasons for EP Renewal Refusal

Two Core Reasons for SG EP Renewal Refusal

2026-07-09

Industry News: EP Renewal Rejection Rate Rises, Interpretation of Two Core Rejection Factors

According to publicly available data from Singapore's Ministry of Human Resources (MOM), the rejection rate for EP renewals has risen to 9% in recent years, with many holders holding valid job positions unexpectedly rejecting their renewal applications. Based on the current COMPASS point review framework, this article summarizes the two most common reasons for renewal failure, providing reference for enterprise HR and foreign professionals.

The Applicant's Salary does not Match the Industry and Age Review Standards

Many applicants have a misconception that as long as they meet the minimum salary threshold for EP, they can smoothly renew their certificate. In fact, MOM adopts a relative salary evaluation standard, and salary decline can be divided into two categories.

Firstly, individual salary increases lag behind the overall salary growth rate in the industry; Secondly, the salary has not been synchronized with the age ladder requirements.

According to the new EP salary regulations that will be implemented in 2025, the basic monthly salary threshold for EP in the general industry is SGD 5600, and the standard for the financial industry has been raised to SGD 6200.

In addition, the salary standard increases year by year with age: starting from the age of 23, the salary requirements are raised in stages. Ordinary practitioners aged 45 and above who apply for EP require a monthly salary of SGD 10500, while those in the financial industry need to reach SGD 11500.

In the COMPASS scoring system, the salary dimension (C1) needs to be benchmarked against the median salary of local professionals (PMETs) in the same industry and at the same age: a salary ranking in the top 20% of the industry can earn a minimum of 20 points; Only reaching the industry median earns 10 points; Below the median line or even without a score. If the salary item significantly loses points and the total score is difficult to meet the passing line of 40 points, the renewal application will be directly rejected.

The Comprehensive Qualification of the Enterprise does not Meet the COMPASS Standard

The operational strength of the enterprise is a key dimension for EP application and renewal, and the company's revenue situation, industry scarcity, and local talent employment ratio are all included in MOM's comprehensive evaluation.

In the COMPASS system, enterprise related scores are concentrated in two major areas: diversification (C3) and local employment support (C4). If the nationality structure of foreign employees in the enterprise is imbalanced, or if the proportion of local PMET positions is reduced for a long time, or if the proportion of local talent employment is lower than the industry average, both dimensions will be significantly deducted points, and even basic scores cannot be obtained.

Even if the applicant has excellent personal qualifications and a large score gap in the enterprise sector, with an overall total score of less than 40 points, EP renewal cannot be approved.

Professional Handling Suggestions

The COMPASS points rules are refined and the salary age standards are updated year by year. Relying solely on enterprise HR's independent declaration can easily lead to material omissions and score estimation deviations, resulting in renewal failures. If you need to calculate your points in advance and improve your application materials, you can entrust a local legitimate business institution to plan a plan to avoid the risk of visa rejection.

Professional Service Institution | Singapore Skyline Business

Singapore Skyline Business was established in Singapore in 2013 and has been deeply involved in local policies for over ten years. Its business covers various types of work permit processing, PR and citizenship planning, company registration, accounting and tax reporting, and one-stop services for document translation and notarization.

The team is familiar with the latest audit rules of MOM and ICA, and has accumulated thousands of successful cases of permit processing. One stop agency eliminates the tedious process of repeatedly preparing materials and researching policies for enterprises and applicants.

For EP renewal customers, we can provide supporting services:

1.Real time synchronization of human resources department policy updates, early warning of salary and enterprise qualification review risks;

2.Accurate calculation of COMPASS points before renewal, customized material optimization plan, and filling in the score gaps;

3.We handle the entire process of data organization, form filling, online submission, follow-up on supplementary documents, and approval.

For inquiries related to EP renewal and various permit planning, please call+65 64388369 or add WeChat sissi skylilne for more details.

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