For senior foreign professionals relocating to Singapore, the Employment Pass or ONE Pass is only half the story. The other half is bringing the family. That is what the Dependant’s Pass (DP) is for — a work pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) that allows eligible family members of an Employment Pass, S Pass, EntrePass, ONE Pass or Personalised Employment Pass holder to live in Singapore for the duration of the sponsor’s pass.
Yet DP eligibility has tightened in recent years. Since September 2020, MOM has restricted the “Letter of Consent” that once let DP holders work freely, and salary thresholds for the sponsor have risen. Here is the full 2026 guide to eligibility, documents, application timelines, and post-approval considerations.
Who is eligible for a Dependant Pass?
A Dependant Pass may be issued to the following family members of a qualifying work pass holder:
- Legally married spouse (including same-sex marriages recognised in Singapore where applicable).
- Unmarried children under 21 (biological or legally adopted). Step-children of the spouse are included.
- Unmarried handicapped children over 21 (assessed case by case with medical documentation).
Common-law spouses, unmarried partners, and children over 21 who are not handicapped are not eligible for DP. They may apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) instead — the LTVP has lower entitlements and cannot generally be used to work.
Sponsor salary threshold
The sponsor’s fixed monthly salary determines DP eligibility. As of 2026:
- Employment Pass holders — sponsor salary must be at least S$6,000 per month (fixed monthly salary, exclusive of bonuses and allowances).
- S Pass holders — no longer eligible to sponsor DP since September 2023, save for grandfathered cases.
- EntrePass holders — sponsor must meet EntrePass renewal criteria (typically requires local hiring and business spend milestones).
- ONE Pass and PEP holders — the higher salary thresholds of these passes automatically meet DP sponsorship requirements.
See our companion guide on choosing between Employment Pass, ONE Pass and PEP.
Documents required for DP application
The sponsor and the dependant will need:
- Sponsor’s valid EP/ONE Pass/EntrePass/PEP details.
- Dependant’s passport (validity of at least 7 months).
- Passport-size digital photograph of the dependant (recent, taken within 3 months).
- Marriage certificate (for spouse) or birth certificate showing the sponsor as parent (for child), with certified English translation if not in English.
- For adopted children: adoption papers with certified English translation.
- For children over 21 with disability: medical assessment.
- Sponsor’s IPA (In-Principle Approval) or latest work pass card if already in Singapore.
- Sponsor’s salary slips (3 months) or IR8A form for the current year.
Application process step-by-step
Step 1: Submit online via EP Online
The sponsor’s employer (or the sponsor if self-sponsored) logs into MOM’s EP Online portal using their CorpPass and submits the DP application. Application fee is S$225 per dependant.
Step 2: MOM processing
MOM typically processes DP applications within 3 to 8 weeks. Complex cases (e.g. adopted children, foreign marriage certificates) may take longer.
Step 3: In-Principle Approval (IPA)
Successful applications receive an IPA valid for 6 months. This lets the dependant enter Singapore. The IPA is not a work pass — it is a pre-approval requiring in-person completion.
Step 4: Enter Singapore and complete pass issuance
The dependant enters Singapore on the IPA (visiting waiver or entry visa as required by nationality). Within 6 months, the sponsor/employer requests DP card issuance via EP Online, and the dependant undergoes medical examination (if applicable), attends the MOM Employment Pass Services Centre for biometric registration and photo capture, and receives the physical DP card (issuance fee S$150).
Step 5: DP validity and renewal
The DP is issued for the shorter of 2 years or the validity of the sponsor’s pass. When the sponsor renews, the DP is renewed at the same time via a linked application.
Can a DP holder work in Singapore?
Since 1 May 2021, DP holders cannot work in Singapore under a Letter of Consent (LOC) except in specific grandfathered categories. To work, a DP holder must obtain their own work pass — either an Employment Pass, S Pass, or Work Permit, depending on qualifications and salary.
DP holders can, however, run their own business or work as directors of their own companies if they hold a valid EP/S Pass sponsored by that company. Freelance and gig work without a proper work pass remain prohibited.
DP for children: schooling and healthcare
A DP child can attend any Singapore school subject to the school’s admission criteria. International schools generally accept DP holders directly. MOE government schools accept them with a Central Test for Foreigners at primary or secondary level. Healthcare access is via private insurance (MediShield does not cover foreigners) — factor in insurance costs of S$1,500 to S$5,000 per person per year depending on age and coverage.
Common DP application mistakes
The five most common issues we see: (1) marriage certificate translations that are not certified — MOM rejects unofficial translations; (2) sponsor salary threshold missed by including bonuses/allowances (only fixed monthly salary counts); (3) applying for children over 21 without medical documentation of a disability; (4) missing the 6-month IPA window to enter Singapore and complete issuance; and (5) DP holders taking freelance work without a proper work pass.
DP to Permanent Residency pathway
DP holders who have lived in Singapore for at least 2 years may apply for Permanent Residency under the Professionals/Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers (PTS) scheme sponsored by their EP-holder spouse. Approval rates vary considerably — see our companion guide on Singapore PR application.
Long-Term Visit Pass as an alternative
Where DP eligibility fails (e.g. common-law partner, elderly parent, unmarried child over 21), consider the Long-Term Visit Pass. LTVP is at MOM’s discretion, typically issued for 1 year, and does not automatically confer work rights. Parents of Singapore-citizen children may also apply for LTVP-Plus, which has enhanced privileges.
Getting help with a DP application
Family relocation is a stressful moment even without immigration paperwork. Your Singapore corporate services provider can coordinate the sponsor’s EP and DP applications together, source certified translations, and prepare the medical and schooling packages. Small errors on a DP application can delay a family reunification by weeks — get it right the first time.
The Dependant’s Pass keeps Singapore family-friendly for the senior foreign professionals it wants to attract. With the right documents, a compliant sponsor, and realistic expectations about work restrictions, most DP applications go through smoothly. It is when families rely on outdated information — especially about the abolished Letter of Consent for work — that things go wrong.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services