Dependant's Pass and LTVP: bringing your family

Your family can come too, but in Singapore it's your payslip, not your marriage certificate, that opens the door.

The short version

If you hold an Employment Pass or S Pass and earn a fixed SGD 6,000 a month or more (about £3,500), your spouse and unmarried children under 21 can get a Dependant's Pass (DP) [1].
The salary test is on your own pay, not household income [1].
Common-law partners, unmarried stepchildren under 21 and unmarried disabled children over 21 can apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). Parents qualify only if you earn SGD 12,000 a month or more (about £6,950) [2].
A DP holder who wants a job needs a work pass of their own; the old Letter of Consent now only covers running a business [3].
The FCDO warns that same-sex partners may struggle to get a dependant's pass [4].

Pound conversions use the Bank of England spot rate of 5 November 2026 (£1 = SGD 1.7214).

Who can come, and on which pass

Singapore draws a sharp line between family it recognises as dependants and family it lets visit long term. The difference matters for working, renewals and paperwork.

Family member	Pass	Your minimum fixed salary
Legally married spouse	Dependant's Pass	SGD 6,000 a month (about £3,500) [1]
Unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children	Dependant's Pass	SGD 6,000 a month [1]
Common-law spouse	Long-Term Visit Pass	SGD 6,000 a month [2]
Unmarried stepchildren under 21	Long-Term Visit Pass	SGD 6,000 a month [2]
Unmarried disabled children aged 21 and over	Long-Term Visit Pass	SGD 6,000 a month [2]
Parents	Long-Term Visit Pass	SGD 12,000 a month (about £6,950) [2]
Parents-in-law, siblings, grown-up children	No family pass	Visit only

Your employer must also be an established Singapore-registered company that sponsors the application [1]. If you came on the S Pass at the lower end of the salary scale, the family rules can be the bigger hurdle than the pass itself.

Holders of the ONE Pass and EntrePass have their own family rules, and the families of some overseas intra-corporate transferees can't get a DP or LTVP at all unless a trade agreement covers them [1]. If your UK employer is sending you out on a transfer, check this before you sign.

Partners who aren't married

Back home in Blighty, plenty of couples never bother with the registry office. In Singapore, a long-term partner who isn't your legal spouse goes on an LTVP as a common-law spouse, not a DP [2]. Expect to prove the relationship, with things like a shared tenancy, joint bills and evidence of time living together. The Ministry of Manpower assesses each case, so there's no guarantee.

The FCDO is frank on same-sex couples: same-sex marriage and partnerships aren't recognised in Singapore, and foreign residents may struggle to get a dependant's pass for a same-sex spouse or partner [4]. Some couples apply for an LTVP; others find the non-working partner needs a pass of their own. Talk to your employer's HR team early.

How the application works

Your own pass comes first. Your employer or an appointed employment agent applies for your family's passes; you can't apply yourself [5].
Gather the documents. Marriage and birth certificates are the backbone. Documents not in English need official translations.
Wait for approval, then complete the formalities. The pass card arrives five working days after registration or document checks [5].
Keep the dates in sync. A DP lasts as long as your main pass, or the period requested if that's shorter [5]. When your Employment Pass is renewed, your family's passes need renewing too.

A DP or LTVP costs SGD 105 for each application and SGD 225 for each pass when it's issued (about £61 and £131), plus SGD 30 for a Multiple Journey Visa if one is needed [8][9]. That's the same as an Employment Pass [6].

Babies born in Singapore

If you have a baby here, register the birth with the Singapore authorities first. The FCDO says your employer can then apply for a DP for your child within a deadline set by the Ministry of Manpower, and you'll need the baby's passport to do it [4]. So the first British passport is a priority: register the birth with the UK too, then apply to HM Passport Office [4]. Our guide to registering a child born abroad explains citizenship by descent.

Working on a Dependant's Pass

This is the bit that catches out a lot of trailing partners. A DP doesn't let you work on its own. The Ministry of Manpower lists four options [3]:

An Employment Pass or S Pass in your own name. You must meet the normal salary and COMPASS rules, and your DP is cancelled when the new pass is issued, because you're no longer dependent [3]. See our Employment Pass and COMPASS guide.
A DP-Work Permit. It has no minimum salary and is open to any nationality, but it's tied to your DP's validity and counts against the employer's quota and levy [3]. Changing jobs means the old employer cancels it before a new one can apply.
A Letter of Consent. This is now only for DP holders who want to set up or run their own business, not for taking a job [3].
Volunteering. Unpaid charity work needs no pass at all [3].

Losing a DP when you switch to your own Employment Pass sounds alarming but is often an upgrade: your pass no longer depends on your partner's job, and you can apply for permanent residence in your own right.

If your partner is on an LTVP rather than a DP, the rules for working are different; the Ministry of Manpower has a separate page on working for LTVP holders, so check that before accepting a job.

When things change

Children turning 21. A child's DP ends when they hit 21. Older children staying on usually need a Student's Pass or a work pass of their own. See universities in Singapore for British students.
Losing or changing your job. Your family's passes hang on yours. If your Employment Pass is cancelled, theirs go with it, so line up a new pass quickly.
Separation or divorce. The FCDO's guide was updated in February 2026 with information on children and divorce or separation in Singapore [4]. If you're splitting up, take local legal advice, especially before anyone leaves the country with the children.
Becoming permanent residents. Once you're a PR, you can sponsor your spouse and unmarried children under 21 for PR too, and sons who become PRs are liable for National Service [7]. Read permanent residence in Singapore for Brits before deciding.

Life for the family once you land

A few practical points for the trailing family:

Health cover. The FCDO says there's no reciprocal health agreement with the UK, so everyone needs health insurance [4]. Check your employer's policy covers dependants, not just you.
Schools. International school places fill up and fees are steep; start early. See schools in Singapore.
UK ties. Children's UK passports, Child Benefit and student finance can all be affected by living abroad. Our moving abroad checklist has the full list, and the emotional side gets its own guide in the emotional move.

Trailing partners often say the first few months are the hardest. Our community group for Brits in Singapore is a good place to find people who've done it, swap notes on DP-Work Permits and find someone to share a proper cuppa with.

Sources

Ministry of Manpower: Dependant's Pass eligibility (last updated 14 March 2024)
Ministry of Manpower: Long-Term Visit Pass eligibility (last updated 14 March 2024)
Ministry of Manpower: Working in Singapore for Dependant's Pass holders (last updated 25 March 2026)
GOV.UK (FCDO): Living in Singapore (last updated 18 February 2026) and Singapore travel advice – safety and security (still current at 6 November 2026)
Ministry of Manpower: Dependant's Pass key facts (last updated 20 November 2024)
Ministry of Manpower: Employment Pass – apply for a pass (checked 7 November 2026)
ICA: Apply for PR (last updated 30 October 2026)
Ministry of Manpower: Apply for a Dependant's Pass (read 11 November 2026)
Ministry of Manpower: Apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (read 11 November 2026)

Dependant's Pass and LTVP: bringing your family to Singapore