How long does RMI take to complete a MOM background screening?

Hiring foreign talent in Singapore comes with its own set of challenges, one of the most critical being meeting the Ministry of Manpower’s (MOM) Employment Pass (EP) requirements. Candidates must receive a minimum salary of at least 5,000 dollars per month (5,500 dollars in the financial services sector and a progressive raise according to age) and qualify in the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS). With every day counting in the application process, employers need reliable verification partners to ensure that credentials and documentation fully support EP eligibility.

At RMI, we understand that knowing the timeline for a MOM background screening isn’t just a trivial detail; it’s crucial for planning start dates, keeping your business compliant, and giving you and your candidates peace of mind.

Over the years, RMI has grown to support more than 4,000 companies in Singapore with MOM-related screening and has completed over 400,000 screening cases worldwide. Despite this scale, we continue to maintain a personalised, people-first approach, ensuring every client and candidate receives attentive, professional service.

In short, we’ve built our process around being thorough and fast, so you’re not left waiting longer than necessary. So, how long will it actually take when you work with us on an MOM verification? Let’s break down the timeline and what influences it.

MOM background screening timeline: what to expect with RMI

1. Typical turnaround time: The majority of our MOM background screening checks, such as education certificate verifications required for EP applications, are completed within 7 to 15 business days. In many cases, results are delivered sooner when the verifying party responds quickly and the process is straightforward. At RMI, We aspire towards results delivery in the fastest time possible and at the same time ensuring accuracy.
2. Factors that can affect the timeline: Sometimes, some circumstances cause a verification to take a few days longer. As an example, in case the degree of a candidate is from a foreign university, we must rely on the response time of that institution, time zones, school holidays or the efficiency of a registration office, which creates potential delay. Likewise, something wrong or missing (such as a name typo on a graduate or a document that lacks a signature or is not completely filled in) may systematically slacken the pace until it is corrected. Occasionally, bigger outside forces may interact with the common flow, like a worry about a university employee’s strike or an abrupt geopolitical turn of events that disturbs communication.
3. How RMI helps avoid delays: We don’t just sit back and wait for things to happen. Our team actively follows up with educational institutions to get verifications completed sooner rather than later. Whenever possible, we use electronic verification systems and established contacts to speed up responses. In fact, RMI maintains a global network spanning over 40 countries, which allows us quick access to confirm overseas credentials directly from the source. By having established relationships with university registrars and administrators worldwide, we can cut through a lot of the usual back-and-forth.
4. Personalised support through the process: One thing that sets our service apart is the human touch. When you work with RMI, you’re not dealing with a generic ticket in a system; you get a dedicated local case manager who oversees your candidate’s screening from start to finish. This person is your single point of contact, keeping you updated regularly so you’re never left guessing. Just as importantly, we guide your candidate through their part of the process too (for example, ensuring they promptly sign the Letter of Authorisation and provide any needed documents or translations). By making sure all the paperwork is in order and the candidate knows what to do, we drastically reduce the risk of any missing information. This people-centric approach facilitates the timely supply of complete, accurate documentation, eliminating the common hiccups that could lead to follow-ups or delays.
5. Realistic expectations and transparency: On average, our published turnaround for an MOM educational verification is around 7–15 working days, and we’re transparent about this timeline. We set these expectations based on thousands of checks we’ve completed across most countries and institutions, so you have a reliable timeframe to work with.

A smoother screening experience – from start to finish

We know that waiting on a background check can be stressful, especially when a work pass approval and a new hire’s start date are on the line. Compliance pressures from MOM and internal management add to the urgency. Our mission since 2012 has been to make this compliance step as smooth and worry-free as possible for you. By being both fast and meticulous, we help ensure you won’t face last-minute surprises.

In fact, RMI is one of the longest-serving background screening providers to the Ministry of Manpower, trusted for our accuracy and reliability. With years of experience, we understand the importance of getting verification right the first time. This reduces the risk of rejections or delays caused by incomplete checks or unmet criteria, giving employers confidence that their applications are properly supported.

Lastly, we should mention that our expertise isn’t limited to MOM education checks. RMI stays on top of other regulatory screening requirements in Singapore, too. For example, if you’re in the financial industry or another regulated sector, we offer dedicated MAS background screening services to help you comply with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s hiring standards with the same efficiency and care. In other words, when you partner with us, you’re tapping into a wealth of knowledge about compliance, be it MOM, MAS, or beyond, without having to juggle multiple vendors.

If you have any more questions about the MOM verification process or need guidance on a specific case, don’t hesitate to reach out or visit our MOM verification process page for a step-by-step overview. At RMI, we’ve got your back in navigating these compliance checks, and we look forward to helping you hire with confidence and ease.