When a foreign professional relocates to Singapore on an Employment Pass or S Pass, one of the most immediate practical concerns is whether their family can join them. Singapore’s Dependant’s Pass (DP) is the primary route for eligible work pass holders to bring their spouse and children to live in Singapore. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Dependant’s Pass in 2026: who qualifies, how to apply, what dependants can do in Singapore, and common reasons for rejection.
What Is a Dependant’s Pass?
A Dependant’s Pass is a long-term immigration pass issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that allows the immediate family members of eligible work pass holders to reside in Singapore for the duration of the main pass holder’s work pass validity. It is not a work pass itself — holders cannot work in Singapore without additional authorisation — but it gives them the right to live in the country and access most public amenities, including schools and healthcare.
Who Is Eligible to Apply for a Dependant’s Pass?
The Main Pass Holder
Not all work pass holders in Singapore are eligible to bring dependants. To apply for a Dependant’s Pass, the main pass holder must be:
- An Employment Pass (EP) holder earning at least S$6,000 per month; or
- An S Pass holder earning at least S$6,000 per month
Note that the S Pass minimum qualifying salary for DP eligibility (S$6,000) is higher than the general S Pass qualifying salary threshold (S$3,000 for most sectors from 2024). This is a separate and additional requirement specific to dependent sponsorship.
Work Permit holders, Training Employment Pass holders, and most other pass categories are generally not eligible to sponsor Dependant’s Passes, with some limited exceptions under specific schemes.
Eligible Dependants
The following family members of an eligible pass holder may apply for a Dependant’s Pass:
- Legally married spouse — civil marriages recognised under Singapore law; this includes both heterosexual marriages and, following Singapore’s evolving approach to international recognition of foreign legal relationships, legally married foreign same-sex spouses in some limited circumstances (though same-sex marriage is not performed or registered in Singapore)
- Unmarried children below 21 years of age — including legally adopted children
Note that parents, parents-in-law, siblings, and other relatives of the main pass holder do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass. They may be considered for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) in specific circumstances (see below).
Long-Term Visit Pass: An Alternative for Other Family Members
Family members who do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass may be considered for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). The LTVP is issued at MOM’s discretion and may be granted to:
- Common-law spouses or unmarried partners
- Parents and parents-in-law of the main pass holder
- Step-children and handicapped children above 21
The LTVP does not automatically confer work rights. LTVP holders who wish to work must obtain a separate Letter of Consent (LOC) or qualify for their own work pass. Approval is at MOM’s discretion and is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
What Can Dependant’s Pass Holders Do in Singapore?
Living and Daily Life
Dependant’s Pass holders may reside in Singapore for the duration of their pass validity, exit and re-enter Singapore freely, enrol in schools (including international schools and local schools, subject to place availability), and access private and public healthcare services.
Working in Singapore
A Dependant’s Pass holder does not have an automatic right to work in Singapore. To work, they need either:
- A Letter of Consent (LOC) — issued by MOM and linked to a specific employer; the DP holder may work for that employer for the duration of their DP validity; or
- Their own work pass — an Employment Pass, S Pass, or Work Permit in their own right, applied for independently by their employer
The LOC application is made by the employer, not the DP holder. Processing typically takes around three to five working days. The LOC is tied to the employer — if the DP holder changes jobs, a new LOC must be obtained from the new employer.
From 1 September 2023, MOM updated the LOC framework. Employers sponsoring a DP holder for an LOC do not need to consider the Fair Consideration Framework (FCF) job advertising requirement that applies to EP applications, which simplifies the process for DP holders seeking employment.
How to Apply for a Dependant’s Pass
Application Process
The main pass holder (or their employer or authorised agency) applies for the Dependant’s Pass through MOM’s EP Online portal. The application can typically be submitted at the same time as the main work pass application, or separately after the main pass has been issued.
Key steps:
- Log in to EP Online using the main pass holder’s CorpPass or SingPass
- Submit the DP application with supporting documents for each dependant
- Receive an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter if the application is successful
- The dependant travels to Singapore with the IPA letter
- The DP pass card is collected or mailed after the dependant registers and provides biometrics at MOM
Required Documents
Standard documents required for a Dependant’s Pass application include:
- Passport of the dependant (valid for at least six months)
- Marriage certificate (for spouse applications) — if not in English, a certified translation is required
- Birth certificate of the child (for child applications)
- Adoption order (for legally adopted children)
- Recent passport-sized photograph of the dependant
- Documentary proof of the main pass holder’s employment and salary (payslips, employment contract)
Additional documents may be requested by MOM depending on the nationality of the applicant and the family circumstances. Where original documents cannot be produced, notarised copies are generally acceptable.
Processing Time and Fees
Standard processing time for a Dependant’s Pass application is approximately three to five working days for straightforward cases where the main pass holder already holds an approved EP or S Pass. Applications submitted simultaneously with the main work pass may take slightly longer as both applications are assessed together.
The application fee is S$105 per dependant. There is an additional issuance fee of S$225 when the pass is issued. These fees are payable through EP Online.
Pass Validity
A Dependant’s Pass is issued for the same period as the main work pass holder’s pass validity. When the main pass holder renews their EP or S Pass, the Dependant’s Pass should also be renewed accordingly. If the main pass holder cancels or changes their work pass, the Dependant’s Pass is automatically cancelled.
DP holders should note that they cannot remain in Singapore on their Dependant’s Pass after the main pass has lapsed or been cancelled. They would need to depart, apply for another pass category, or adjust their status.
Common Reasons for Rejection
MOM assesses Dependant’s Pass applications holistically. Applications are commonly rejected or require additional documentation due to the following reasons:
- Main pass holder does not meet the salary threshold — the most common cause; if the EP or S Pass holder earns below S$6,000, no Dependant’s Pass can be issued
- Marriage not legally recognised — customary or religious marriages that have not been formally registered under the applicable country’s laws may not be accepted; MOM requires a registered civil marriage certificate
- Inconsistent or incomplete documentation — mismatched names, translated documents without certification, or missing birth or marriage certificates
- Child above 21 — unmarried children above 21 do not qualify for a DP; they would need to apply for a student pass, work pass, or LTVP
- Adverse immigration history — prior overstaying, visa violations, or other immigration issues affecting the dependant
If a DP application is rejected, MOM does not always provide detailed reasons. An appeal may be submitted through EP Online with additional supporting documentation. Working with an experienced immigration agent can help identify and address potential issues before submission.
Dependant’s Pass and School Enrolment
Children holding a Dependant’s Pass may attend school in Singapore. They are eligible to apply for places at international schools (which typically have no place restrictions for DP holders) and may also apply for places at local MOE schools, subject to available places and the standard registration framework. MOE school registration for DP children follows the same phases as for Singapore children, though DP children are generally in a lower priority category than Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
Key 2026 Updates
The S$6,000 sponsorship threshold for Dependant’s Pass eligibility was introduced as part of MOM’s broader effort to ensure that work pass holders sponsoring dependants have sufficient earning capacity to support their families in Singapore. This threshold has remained unchanged in 2026.
From January 2027, the general EP minimum qualifying salary will rise from S$5,600 to S$6,000 per month for most sectors. This means that EP holders currently earning between S$5,600 and S$5,999 who wish to sponsor dependants may need to plan ahead — they currently do not meet the S$6,000 threshold and would not qualify to bring dependants until their salary reaches that level.
Need Help with a Dependant’s Pass Application?
Navigating Singapore’s work pass and dependent sponsorship rules can be complex, particularly where documents are in foreign languages, where marriages were contracted under customary law, or where the main pass holder’s employment situation is non-standard.
At Raffles Corporate Services, our employment and immigration team assists EP and S Pass holders with Dependant’s Pass applications, renewals, and appeals. We can advise on documentation requirements, assess your eligibility, and manage the full application process on your behalf.
Contact us at [email protected] or reach us on WhatsApp at +65 8501 7133.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services
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