Employment Pass Cover Letter

When to use this template

Submitted alongside the EP application on EP Online. While not strictly required, MOM officers read cover letters when evaluating borderline applications. A weak or missing cover letter can result in rejection on first pass.

How to fill it in

1. Address: 'Controller of Immigration, Ministry of Manpower'.
2. Opening paragraph: company name, UEN, industry, Singapore presence, and headcount (mention local-to-foreign ratio if favourable).
3. Role: title, key responsibilities, why the role exists, why Singapore is the right base for this role.
4. Candidate: name, qualifications, years of experience, why this person specifically (achievements, unique skills, specialised knowledge).
5. Local hiring: explain efforts to hire locally first (job postings on MyCareersFuture, recruiters engaged, candidates interviewed). MOM expects evidence of fair consideration under COMPASS.
6. Salary: confirm salary is at or above sector benchmark for the role, qualifications, and experience.
7. Sign off with director's name and title.

Frequently asked questions

Is a cover letter mandatory?

No, but it materially improves approval rates for borderline cases. For straightforward applications (high salary, in-demand role, clear fit), MOM may approve without one. For tech, finance, and senior roles, always include.

What is COMPASS and how does it affect EP?

COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) is the points-based EP assessment introduced in 2023. EPs must score 40+ points across salary, qualifications, diversity, local hiring support, and job sector shortage. Cover letters help on the local hiring component.

What if my candidate doesn't have a degree?

Self-taught technologists and entrepreneurs can still qualify if salary and skills compensate. Document achievements in the cover letter — open-source contributions, products shipped, awards, patents, prior senior roles. MOM increasingly weighs proven track record.