By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 29 September 2026
If you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass and earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000, your legally married spouse and your unmarried children under 21 can apply for Dependant’s Passes. To bring your parents, you need at least S$12,000 a month, and they apply for Long-Term Visit Passes. Your employer or an appointed agent applies, and the passes last as long as yours does.
The family rules are the part of a job offer most people check too late. The salary thresholds are fixed monthly salary, not total pay, so a bonus-heavy package can leave you short. Check the number on your contract before you commit to moving everyone.
Family passes at a glance
| Family member | Pass | Your minimum fixed monthly salary |
|---|---|---|
| Legally married spouse | Dependant’s Pass | S$6,000 |
| Unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children | Dependant’s Pass | S$6,000 |
| Common-law spouse, unmarried step-children under 21, unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above | Long-Term Visit Pass | S$6,000 |
| Parents | Long-Term Visit Pass | S$12,000 |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Who applies | Your employer or its appointed agent, usually alongside your own pass. |
| What decides it | Your fixed monthly salary, and documents proving the relationship. |
| The trap | Counting bonuses or allowances; the thresholds use fixed salary, not household income. |
| Plan early for | Marriage and birth certificates, with official translations if they are not in English. |
| Worth knowing | A dependant who wants to work needs their own work pass. |
The Dependant’s Pass
The Dependant’s Pass (DP) is for the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of Employment Pass and S Pass holders earning at least S$6,000 a month. It is valid for as long as the main pass, and it ends when the main pass ends. Your employer applies through MOM’s online system, and you will need marriage and birth certificates, with official English translations where needed.
Children who turn 21 can no longer hold a DP. They can apply for a pass in their own right, such as a Student’s Pass or a work pass, or a Long-Term Visit Pass in some cases.
Working on a Dependant’s Pass
A DP holder who wants to work needs their own work pass, applied for by their employer, such as an Employment Pass or S Pass, and must meet its conditions. Plan for this if your spouse intends to work; it is not automatic.
The Long-Term Visit Pass
MOM’s Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) covers family members who do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass. Employment Pass and S Pass holders earning at least S$6,000 a month can apply for a common-law spouse, unmarried step-children under 21, or unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above. Those earning at least S$12,000 a month can also apply for their parents. The salary is your own fixed salary, not combined household income, and the sponsor is usually your employer.
How to apply
- Check your fixed monthly salary against the thresholds.
- Gather marriage and birth certificates, with official translations if needed.
- Your employer or its agent applies through MOM, often at the same time as your own pass.
- Once approved, each family member enters Singapore and has the pass issued, like yours.
Family passes: FAQ
How much do I need to earn to bring my family to Singapore?
At least S$6,000 a month in fixed salary for a spouse and children on Dependant’s Passes, and S$12,000 for parents on Long-Term Visit Passes.
Can my spouse work on a Dependant’s Pass?
Only with their own work pass, applied for by their employer.
What happens to the Dependant’s Pass if I lose my job?
It is tied to your pass, so it ends when your pass is cancelled. Plan the family’s next steps with your employer and MOM’s guidance.
Can I bring my parents to Singapore?
If you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass and earn a fixed monthly salary of at least S$12,000, they can apply for Long-Term Visit Passes.
Read next
This page belongs to Moving to Singapore. For school places, read schools for newcomers’ children; for your own pass, work passes explained.
Sources checked 29 September 2026: MOM, eligibility for the Long-Term Visit Pass; HSBC Singapore on the S$6,000 dependant threshold; Linklaters on the S$6,000 and S$12,000 thresholds set by MOM from 2018. General information, not immigration advice. Last updated 29 September 2026.
