How to Bring Your Family to Singapore: Dependant Pass Explained

Singapore Expats Association
4 days ago
4 min read

For many expatriates, accepting a role in Singapore is not a difficult decision. The city is safe, efficient, and professionally rewarding. The harder part often comes later, when the question turns from career to family.

Can your spouse come with you? What about your children? How complicated is the paperwork, and how long does it really take?

Most families eventually encounter the Dependant’s Pass, which is Singapore’s primary immigration route for bringing immediate family members into the country. On paper, the rules look straightforward. In reality, the experience can feel very different depending on your job, your salary, and how well prepared you are.

This article explains the Dependant’s Pass in plain terms, without legal jargon, and focuses on what expatriates usually wish they had known earlier.

What the Dependant’s Pass Actually Is

The Dependant’s Pass (DP) is a long-term residence pass issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM). It allows certain family members of foreign professionals to live in Singapore while the main pass holder is employed here.

That is the official definition. In practical terms, the DP is how Singapore allows working foreigners to keep their families together. It does not mean permanent residence. It does not give citizenship rights. And it does not guarantee the right to work.

What it does give is legal stay, stability, and the ability to live an everyday life in Singapore, such as renting a home, enrolling children in school, opening bank accounts, and accessing healthcare.

Who Qualifies as a “Dependant” in Singapore

This is one area where expectations and reality often diverge.

Under Singapore law, only immediate family members qualify for a Dependant’s Pass. That means a legally married husband or wife, unmarried children below the age of 21, and legally adopted children below 21.

Long-term partners, common-law spouses, and fiancés do not qualify under the DP scheme, regardless of how long you have lived together. Parents, siblings, and other relatives are also excluded.

For many expatriates, this feels strict. However, Singapore’s immigration system is built around clear legal definitions. If the relationship cannot be proven through formal documents, it is unlikely to be accepted.

Which Work Pass Holders Can Bring Their Family

Not every foreign employee in Singapore can sponsor dependants. Eligibility depends on the type of work pass you hold.

In most cases, you must be holding an Employment Pass, S Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, EntrePass, or ONE Pass.

If you are on an Employment Pass or S Pass, your employer normally submits the Dependant’s Pass application on your behalf. This makes your company’s HR team more important than many people realise.

A practical tip is to discuss family relocation early, ideally before signing your contract. It avoids awkward conversations later.

The Salary Requirement (Where Many Plans Pause)

The salary requirement is often the deciding factor for whether a family can move together immediately or not.

To sponsor a Dependant’s Pass, the main applicant must earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of SGD 6,000. This figure refers to base salary only.

Bonuses, commissions, allowances, or employer-provided benefits usually do not count. Household income is also irrelevant. MOM looks only at the sponsor’s individual fixed pay.

This requirement is firm. Even experienced professionals sometimes discover they fall just short, which can delay family relocation plans.

Can a Dependant’s Pass Holder Work?

This question comes up almost immediately, especially in households where both partners have careers.

The answer is simple but important. A Dependant’s Pass does not allow the holder to work.

If your spouse wants to work in Singapore, they must secure their own work pass through an employer. Until that pass is approved, working, even part-time or freelance, is not allowed.

This restriction affects financial planning more than many families expect. Rent, school fees, and daily expenses in Singapore can add up quickly, especially on a single income.

How the Application Process Feels in Practice

On paper, the application process looks efficient. Compared to many countries, it often is. That does not mean it is effortless.

Applications are submitted online, usually by the employer. Documents such as passports, marriage certificates, and birth certificates are uploaded digitally.

If approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter. This allows your family to enter Singapore. Once they arrive, fingerprints and photographs are taken before the Dependant’s Pass card is issued.

Processing times are commonly around three weeks, although this can vary. Delays usually happen when documents are unclear or when additional checks are required.

Schooling and Children on a Dependant’s Pass

Children can live in Singapore on a Dependant’s Pass, but schooling is a separate issue.

Some schools accept DP holders directly. Others require a Student’s Pass, depending on the programme and the institution. International schools, in particular, operate on fixed academic calendars and waiting lists.

Families with school-age children often underestimate how early they need to start this process. A Dependant’s Pass alone does not guarantee a school place.

Validity, Renewal, and Employment Changes

A Dependant’s Pass is directly tied to the main work pass. This connection is critical.

If your employment ends, changes, or is not renewed, your dependant’s status is affected as well. DP validity usually matches your work pass, renewals happen together, and job changes may require fresh applications.

For expatriates in contract-based roles, this linkage adds another layer of planning.

If the Application Is Rejected

Rejections are not common, but they do happen. Most are linked to salary issues, missing documents, or inconsistencies.

In some cases, an appeal can be submitted with stronger supporting documents. Employers or immigration consultants usually handle this process.

Things Worth Considering

Bringing your family to Singapore is not just an immigration decision. It affects housing, finances, schooling, and long-term stability.

The Dependant’s Pass system is clear, but it leaves little room for flexibility. Understanding the limits early, especially around salary and employment rights, makes the entire relocation process far smoother.

Many expatriates succeed in building a comfortable family life in Singapore. The difference usually lies in preparation, not luck.

Need more help and advice, email us today at members@expatassociation.com or join us now at https://www.expatassociation.com/join-us and be part of something meaningful.

References and Sources: