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- Mandatory from 1 Sep 2023
- Employment Pass
- S Pass
- Translation first, then verification
MOM Education Verification for Malaysian Degrees: What EP and S Pass Applicants Need to Know
Mandatory since 1 September 2023 · Translation is the prerequisite step · Certified translation sufficient for MOM
Since 1 September 2023, every Employment Pass application in Singapore requires mandatory education verification from an MOM-accredited screening company. For Malaysian applicants, this means your degree or diploma must be translated into English before the screening company can verify it. Skipping or sequencing these steps incorrectly is the most common reason Malaysian EP applicants experience avoidable delays.
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The correct sequence
- 1
We do this
Certified English translation of your degree, diploma and transcript
- 2
You provide
Submit translated documents to your employer and/or the screening company
- 3
Screening company
Accredited company verifies your qualification (5–15 working days)
- 4
Your employer
Submits EP application via myMOM portal with verification result attached
- ✓
MOM
EP application processed with verified education credentials
1 Sep 2023
Date verification became mandatory
5–15 days
Typical screening company turnaround
24hr
Our translation turnaround
From S$60
Certified degree translation
What changed in September 2023
The MOM education verification requirement: old rules vs new
The September 2023 update was the most significant change to MOM’s EP framework in years. Understanding what changed clarifies exactly what you now need to do before applying.
New from Sep 2023
Mandatory education verification for all EP applicants
Every Employment Pass application must now include verification of the applicant’s highest qualification from an MOM-accredited background screening company — regardless of university ranking, degree level, or country of study.
New from Sep 2023
COMPASS points framework — education tier scoring
COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) became mandatory for most EP applications. Education credentials contribute to the COMPASS score. Unverified qualifications cannot be used to claim COMPASS education points.
Unchanged
Certified translation still sufficient for MOM (not notarised)
Unlike ICA, MOM does not require a notarised and SAL-authenticated translation for EP or S Pass applications. A certified translation with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy remains the accepted standard.
Unchanged
Employer submits via myMOM portal
Employers continue to be responsible for submitting the EP application through MOM’s myMOM portal. The screening company uploads the verification result directly to MOM’s system — applicants do not submit to MOM directly.
EP vs S Pass
Requirements by pass type: Employment Pass and S Pass compared
The translation requirement is the same for both pass types, but the verification framework and salary thresholds differ. Select your pass type below.
Employment Pass (EP)
EP Education Verification Requirements
Translation requirements
- Degree certificate — certified English translation if in Malay
- Academic transcript — certified translation of all pages
- Diploma (if used as highest qualification) — certified translation
- Certified translation is sufficient — notarisation not required by MOM
Verification & COMPASS
- Mandatory education verification via MOM-accredited screening company
- Verified degree contributes to COMPASS education points tier
- Employer selects screening company and initiates verification
- Verification result submitted to MOM directly by screening company
S Pass
S Pass Education Verification Requirements
Translation requirements
- Diploma or degree — certified English translation if in Malay
- Academic transcript — certified translation recommended
- Technical certificates — certified translation if in Malay
- Certified translation is sufficient — notarisation not required
Verification & framework
- Education verification required for mid-skilled roles with S Pass quota implications
- Employer initiates verification through MOM-accredited company
- COMPASS framework does not apply to S Pass — separate quota and levy rules
- Screening company timeframes same as EP: 5–15 working days
What to translate
Which Malaysian academic documents need translation for MOM verification
You submit translated documents to the screening company, not the originals. The screening company then contacts your Malaysian institution to verify the qualification directly.
Degree Certificate (Ijazah)
Your main degree parchment — required for EP and is the primary document the screening company verifies against the university’s records.
Certified translation required
Academic Transcript (Transkrip Akademik)
Full transcript showing subjects and grades — required by most screening companies alongside the degree certificate to confirm the programme details.
Certified translation required
Diploma Certificate (Diploma)
If your highest qualification is a diploma rather than a degree — required if using the diploma as the credential being verified for the EP or S Pass application.
Certified translation required
Professional / Technical Certificates
Certificates from CIDB, HRDF-accredited institutions, or professional bodies. Required only if used as supporting credentials — not always verified by the screening company.
Planning to apply for PR later? MOM only requires certified translation for EP applications. But ICA requires notarised + SAL-authenticated translation for PR. If PR is in your medium-term plan, consider ordering notarised translations now — it costs slightly more once but saves you re-translating the same documents again when you apply for PR.
The full process
Step by step: from translation to approved EP
Translation must happen before verification. Verification must happen before submission. Here is the correct sequence for Malaysian EP applicants.
- 1
We do this
Certified English translation of your academic documents
Send us your degree certificate and transcript. We produce a certified English translation with a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy — typically within 24 hours. This is the document you submit to the screening company, not your original Malay certificate.
- 2
You do this
Submit translated documents to your employer and/or screening company
Your employer selects an MOM-accredited screening company and initiates the verification. You provide the certified translation and any other supporting documents required by the screening company. Some companies allow direct submission by the applicant; others require employer initiation.
- 3
Screening company
Education verification with your Malaysian institution
The accredited screening company verifies your qualification by contacting your Malaysian university or institution directly. This typically takes 5 to 15 working days. The result is uploaded to MOM’s system — you do not need to collect a certificate.
- 4
Your employer
EP application submitted via myMOM portal
Once verification is complete, your employer submits your EP application through MOM’s myMOM portal. The application references the verification result automatically. MOM processes the application with the verified education credential — contributing to your COMPASS score if applicable.
Avoid delays
Common reasons Malaysian EP applications are delayed at the education verification stage
- Submitting the original Malay certificate to the screening company without an English translation — most accredited companies cannot process Malay-language documents directly
- Starting the EP application before the verification result is uploaded — MOM requires the verification to be complete before the EP application can be processed
- Providing only the degree certificate without the transcript — most screening companies require both to complete verification, and missing the transcript triggers a follow-up request
- Not accounting for the screening company’s turnaround in the employer’s timeline — hiring managers who expect an EP in two weeks often do not realise verification takes 5–15 working days on top of translation
- Using a translation from a non-qualified source — the Certificate of Translation Accuracy must be signed by a qualified translator; a bilingual colleague’s translation is not accepted by screening companies
We format every translation to screening company specifications. Each translation includes a signed Certificate of Translation Accuracy, the translator’s credentials, and a complete English rendering of all stamps, seals, and academic details on the original certificate — so the screening company has everything it needs in one submission.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Questions from Malaysian EP and S Pass applicants about education verification requirements.
- Last updated: June 2026
Two significant changes took effect simultaneously on 1 September 2023: (1) education verification became mandatory for all EP applications (previously selective), and (2) the COMPASS points assessment framework became mandatory for most EP applications. Verified education credentials contribute to an applicant’s COMPASS score — unverified qualifications cannot be used to claim COMPASS education points.
Yes, if your degree certificate, transcript, or diploma is in Malay. Accredited screening companies require English-language documents to complete verification. You must provide a certified English translation of any Malay-language academic document before submitting to the screening company. A certified translation (not notarised) is sufficient for MOM EP education verification.
Your employer initiates and manages the verification through MOM’s myMOM portal and the chosen accredited screening company. As the applicant, your role is to provide your employer (or the screening company) with your certified translated academic documents. The verification result is uploaded directly to MOM’s system by the screening company — your employer then references it in the EP application.
For MOM EP and S Pass, a certified translation is sufficient — notarisation and SAL authentication are not required by MOM. This differs from ICA, which requires the full notarised and SAL-authenticated chain for PR and Citizenship applications. If you plan to apply for PR in future, consider ordering notarised translations now to avoid re-translating the same documents later.
Education verification by the screening company typically takes 5 to 15 working days from when you submit your documents, depending on the company and the responsiveness of your Malaysian institution. Our certified translation is delivered within 24 hours, so the translation step does not significantly impact the overall timeline if you start it immediately.
MOM does not restrict EP applications to public university graduates. However, the COMPASS framework assigns different point values based on degree quality tiers. A verified degree from a recognised Malaysian private university — including those with foreign university affiliations or twinning programmes — still counts toward COMPASS education points, at the tier corresponding to the institution’s recognition level.
MOM’s guidance indicates that once education verification has been completed for an initial EP application, it does not need to be repeated for renewals with the same employer. However, if you are switching employers, changing your declared qualifications, or applying for a new EP rather than a renewal, the verification requirement may apply. Check with your employer or MOM’s official guidance for your specific situation.
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Certified English translation of your degree, diploma, and transcript — delivered in 24 hours, formatted to screening company specifications. From S$60 per document.
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