Effective September 1, 2023, the government of Singapore will require companies sponsoring foreign nationals for new Employment Passes (EPs) to verify the individual's academic credentials. This policy will also apply to renewal applications as of September 1, 2024. Previously, verification of academic credentials was only required at government request and for select countries and institutions. Singapore's announcement is intended to prevent fraudulent submissions and ensure the authenticity of visa applicants' qualifications.
COMPASS and Credential Verifications
Singapore's Employment Pass (EP) is designed for foreign professionals, managers, and executives with a job offer in Singapore and a salary of at least SGD 5,000. As part of the application process, the employer must attest to the job candidate's professional qualifications, including their educational credentials.
Starting September 1, 2023, Singapore will implement the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) for EP applications. COMPASS will award points to EP applicants based on a range of personal and employer criteria, including the applicant's educational qualifications.
As part of the COMPASS process, employers will be required to declare any candidate's educational credentials which they intend to count for points. All such educational credentials must be submitted to a designated background screening company for verification. Credentials that are not declared in the application process – for example, because the points that would be rewarded are not needed to pass COMPASS – do not require verification.
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This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.
Visit us at mayerbrown.com
Mayer Brown is a global services provider comprising associated legal practices that are separate entities, including Mayer Brown LLP (Illinois, USA), Mayer Brown International LLP (England & Wales), Mayer Brown (a Hong Kong partnership) and Tauil & Chequer Advogados (a Brazilian law partnership) and non-legal service providers, which provide consultancy services (collectively, the "Mayer Brown Practices"). The Mayer Brown Practices are established in various jurisdictions and may be a legal person or a partnership. PK Wong & Nair LLC ("PKWN") is the constituent Singapore law practice of our licensed joint law venture in Singapore, Mayer Brown PK Wong & Nair Pte. Ltd. Details of the individual Mayer Brown Practices and PKWN can be found in the Legal Notices section of our website. "Mayer Brown" and the Mayer Brown logo are the trademarks of Mayer Brown.
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This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.
