Quick answer: A Dependant’s Pass (DP) lets an Employment Pass or S Pass holder bring their legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 to live in Singapore. The sponsor must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 and work for an established Singapore-registered company. Fees are S$105 to apply and S$225 on issuance, and the pass runs for as long as the main work pass. The rule most families get wrong: since 1 May 2021 a DP holder can no longer work on a Letter of Consent. To work, they need their own Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit, unless they are a business owner meeting MOM’s criteria.
If you are moving to Singapore with family, the Dependant’s Pass is usually the second application you make after your own. It is straightforward, but two things catch people out: the S$6,000 salary floor, and the fact that your spouse cannot simply take a job once they arrive.
Who can sponsor a Dependant’s Pass
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Your pass | Employment Pass or S Pass |
| Your salary | Fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 |
| Your employer | An established, Singapore-registered company, usually the company that sponsors your own pass |
The S$6,000 figure is the fixed monthly salary, not total package. Allowances that are not fixed, bonuses and employer CPF do not count towards it. If you are on an Employment Pass near the qualifying floor, check this before promising your family a move, because the EP salary threshold and the DP threshold are different numbers. Our guide to EP eligibility covers the pass thresholds, and S Pass criteria covers the S Pass side.
Who can come on a Dependant’s Pass
| Family member | Eligible on a DP? |
|---|---|
| Legally married spouse | Yes |
| Unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children | Yes |
| Common-law spouse | No. Apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass instead |
| Stepchildren | No. Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Handicapped children over 21 | No. Long-Term Visit Pass |
| Parents | No. Long-Term Visit Pass, and only if you earn at least S$12,000 |
If your family falls outside the DP categories, the Long-Term Visit Pass is the route. Our comparison of Dependant Pass vs LTVP sets out which applies to whom, and the complete LTVP guide covers the rest.
Fees and validity
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application | S$105 per pass |
| Issuance | S$225 per pass |
| Multiple Journey Visa, where the nationality requires one | S$30 |
| Validity | Tied to the main work pass, or the duration requested, whichever is shorter |
Both fees are charged per family member, so a spouse and two children means three applications and three sets of fees.
How to apply
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Check the salary threshold | Confirm your fixed monthly salary is at least S$6,000 |
| 2. Employer submits | Your employer or an appointed employment agent applies through MOM’s work pass eService |
| 3. Pay S$105 per pass | At submission, non-refundable |
| 4. Wait for the outcome | Most applications are processed within about 3 weeks |
| 5. IPA issued | The In-Principle Approval letter sets the deadline for entering Singapore and completing the formalities |
| 6. Pay S$225 and issue the pass | After arrival, with registration if MOM asks for it |
Documents usually include the marriage certificate for a spouse and birth certificates for children, with official translations where the originals are not in English. Keep the names consistent across every document, because a mismatch between the marriage certificate and the passport is the most common cause of delay.
Can a Dependant’s Pass holder work?
This is the rule that changed, and plenty of older articles still get it wrong.
Since 1 May 2021, a DP holder who wants to work needs their own work pass, such as an Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit. The Letter of Consent route was withdrawn for DP holders, and it applies to any work, including part-time and temporary jobs.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| DP holder taking a job, full-time or part-time | Your own Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit, applied for by the employer |
| DP holder running their own business | A Letter of Consent may still be possible, see the conditions below |
| LTVP holder who is the spouse of a citizen or PR | A Letter of Consent or Pre-approved Letter of Consent still applies. See can LTVP holders work in Singapore |
The business owner exception
A DP holder can still work on a Letter of Consent if they run their own business and meet MOM’s conditions:
- They are a sole proprietor, partner, or a company director with at least 30% shareholding in the business.
- The business employs at least one Singapore citizen or PR who earns at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary and receives CPF contributions for at least three months.
The Local Qualifying Salary is revised periodically, so confirm the current figure with MOM before relying on it.
What this means in practice
For a dual-career couple, the practical consequence is that the trailing spouse’s job offer has to clear the same bar as any other foreign hire. An employer taking them on has to apply for an EP or S Pass, meet the qualifying salary, and in the EP case score 40 points under COMPASS. That is a very different proposition from the old Letter of Consent, and it is worth knowing before the family commits to the move.
Renewing a Dependant’s Pass
- The renewal is a separate application, not automatic when your own pass is renewed.
- Apply up to 6 months before the DP expires, or 3 months for dependants of EP Sponsorship and EntrePass holders.
- The fee is S$225 on issuance, plus S$30 per Multiple Journey Visa.
- The renewed DP cannot outlast your own pass, so renew your own first or at the same time.
- If your own pass is not renewed, your family’s passes end with it. Our guide to Employment Pass renewal explains the salary thresholds that rise in 2027 and 2028.
Common problems
| Problem | What happens | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Salary just below S$6,000 | The DP application cannot succeed | Raise the fixed monthly salary, or look at an LTVP route if eligible |
| Assuming the spouse can work on arrival | They cannot, unless an employer sponsors a work pass | Plan the spouse’s employment before the move |
| Name mismatch between marriage certificate and passport | Delays or requests for more information | Provide official translations and consistent spellings |
| Renewing the DP after the main pass | The DP cannot outlast the main pass | Renew the main pass first, or together |
| Child turning 21 | The DP is no longer available for that child | Plan the transition to a Student’s Pass or their own pass |
How First Immigration can help
- Dependant’s Pass applications for your spouse and children, alongside your own pass.
- Salary checks before you commit, so you know whether the S$6,000 threshold is met.
- Work options for your spouse, including whether an EP or S Pass is realistic, through our Employment Pass service and S Pass service.
- Long-term planning, including Singapore PR for the family once you are settled.
Book a free assessment through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for a Dependant’s Pass in Singapore?
The legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an Employment Pass or S Pass holder who earns a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 and works for an established Singapore-registered company.
What is the minimum salary to apply for a Dependant’s Pass?
A fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000. Non-fixed allowances, bonuses and employer CPF do not count.
How much does a Dependant’s Pass cost?
S$105 to apply and S$225 when the pass is issued, per family member, plus S$30 for a Multiple Journey Visa where the nationality requires one.
How long is a Dependant’s Pass valid?
It is tied to the main work pass, or the duration requested, whichever is shorter.
Can a Dependant’s Pass holder work in Singapore?
Not on the pass itself. Since 1 May 2021 a DP holder needs their own Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit to work, including part-time and temporary work. The exception is a DP holder running their own business who meets MOM’s Letter of Consent conditions.
What are the Letter of Consent conditions for DP business owners?
The DP holder must be a sole proprietor, partner or company director with at least 30% shareholding, and the business must employ at least one Singapore citizen or PR earning at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary with CPF contributions for at least three months.
Can I bring my parents on a Dependant’s Pass?
No. Parents need a Long-Term Visit Pass, and the sponsor must earn at least S$12,000 a month.
Can my common-law spouse get a Dependant’s Pass?
No. A common-law spouse needs a Long-Term Visit Pass.
Is the Dependant’s Pass renewed automatically with my own pass?
No. It is a separate application, submitted up to 6 months before expiry, and the renewed pass cannot outlast your own.
What happens to my family’s passes if my own pass is not renewed?
They end with your pass, because they depend on it.
Official sources: MOM pages on Dependant’s Pass eligibility, applying for a Dependant’s Pass, key facts and working in Singapore; MOM factsheet on work arrangements of Dependant’s Pass holders; MOM, Eligibility for LOC for DP holders who are business owners.
Disclaimer: Salary thresholds, fees and rules are set by MOM and can change. Figures checked in October 2026. Confirm current requirements with MOM before applying.
