Dependant Pass (DP) and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) — Eligibility and requirements checklist

The Dependant Pass (DP) and Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) let eligible family members of Singapore Employment Pass or S Pass holders live in Singapore, with eligibility driven mainly by the pass holder’s fixed monthly salary and the family relationship — the DP for legally married spouses and children, and the LTVP for a wider set of relationships.

Raffles Corporate Services works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

What the Dependant Pass and LTVP are

The Dependant Pass is a Ministry of Manpower pass that allows the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holder to reside in Singapore for the duration of the main pass. The Long-Term Visit Pass covers a broader group — for example a common-law spouse, step-children or handicapped children, and, at a higher salary threshold, parents of the pass holder.

Both are sponsored passes: they depend on, and are tied to, the validity of the main work pass. If the sponsor’s pass lapses, the dependants’ passes fall away with it.

Who is eligible

Eligibility turns on two things: the relationship and the sponsor’s salary. The Dependant Pass is available to spouses (by legal marriage) and unmarried children under 21 where the sponsoring Employment Pass or S Pass holder earns at least the prescribed fixed monthly salary. The LTVP extends to relationships outside the DP definition, and sponsoring parents typically requires a higher salary level.

Because eligibility keys off the sponsor’s pass and salary, it is worth reading this alongside the main Employment Pass criteria: EntrePass vs Employment Pass: Choosing the Right Work Pass for a Foreign Founder in Singapore 2026.

Eligibility and requirements checklist

  • A valid, sufficiently senior Employment Pass or S Pass sponsor.
  • Sponsor’s fixed monthly salary at or above the prescribed threshold (higher for LTVP parents).
  • Documentary proof of relationship — marriage certificate, birth certificates, translated and legalised where needed.
  • Valid passports for each dependant.
  • The employer’s or appointed agent’s submission through MOM’s system.

Employers frequently handle dependants’ passes as part of a wider relocation. If the family move sits within a corporate set-up, our incorporation and structuring guidance provides useful context: Converting a Singapore Branch Office to a Subsidiary: Step-by-Step Guide.

Cost, timeline and duration

MOM application and issuance fees apply per dependant and are modest — budget on the order of low tens of Singapore dollars per stage per pass, and confirm current figures on the MOM website. Additional cost can arise from document translation and legalisation for overseas certificates.

Processing is often completed within one to three weeks for straightforward applications. Each dependant’s pass is issued in line with, and expires with, the sponsor’s work pass, so renewals are handled together with the main pass.

Right to work for dependants

A Dependant Pass does not, by itself, permit the holder to work. Since the rules changed, a DP holder who wishes to work generally needs to obtain their own work pass rather than a Letter of Consent, except in limited circumstances such as running their own registered business. This is a frequent point of confusion and is covered in detail in our conversion-routes guidance.

Documenting relationships for overseas families

The commonest cause of delay on a Dependant Pass or LTVP application is relationship documentation. Marriage and birth certificates issued overseas often need to be translated into English and, depending on the country, legalised or notarised. Start gathering and translating these early, because sourcing a certified translation from another jurisdiction can take weeks.

Where a relationship falls outside the DP definition — a common-law spouse, a step-child or a parent — the LTVP is the route, and the evidentiary bar and salary threshold differ. Identify the correct pass for each family member before submitting.

Keeping dependants' passes in sync with the sponsor

Because dependants’ passes hang off the sponsor’s work pass, their validity mirrors it. Renew them together, and be alert to changes in the sponsor’s employment: a job change, a salary change that affects eligibility, or a lapse in the main pass all cascade to the family’s passes.

Practical tip: track all the family’s pass expiry dates on the same calendar as the sponsor’s, and begin renewals well ahead of expiry to avoid any gap in the family’s right to remain.

Common mistakes and gotchas

The most common issues are assuming a Dependant Pass allows employment (it generally does not), and under-estimating the salary threshold needed to sponsor parents on an LTVP. A third is incomplete relationship documentation for overseas marriages and births, which delays approval.

Keep the dependants’ passes synchronised with the sponsor’s renewal cycle; a lapse in the main pass invalidates the dependants’ passes.

Official sources: ica.gov.sg, edb.gov.sg.

Related guides

FAQs

Can a Dependant Pass holder work in Singapore?
Not automatically. A DP holder who wants to work generally needs their own work pass; a Letter of Consent is only available in limited situations such as running their own business.

What is the difference between a DP and an LTVP?
The DP covers legally married spouses and unmarried children under 21. The LTVP covers wider relationships — for example common-law spouses, step or handicapped children and, at a higher salary threshold, parents.

What determines eligibility?
The sponsor’s work-pass type and fixed monthly salary, together with the family relationship and supporting documents.

How long is a Dependant Pass valid?
It is tied to the sponsor’s work pass and expires with it, so it is renewed together with the main pass.

Can I sponsor my parents in Singapore?
Parents are generally sponsored via a Long-Term Visit Pass, which typically requires the sponsoring pass holder to meet a higher fixed monthly salary threshold than a Dependant Pass.

What happens to the family if the sponsor changes jobs?
The dependants’ passes are tied to the sponsor’s work pass. A change of employer usually means a new work-pass application, and the dependants’ passes are handled alongside it.

Need help with this? Call, SMS or WhatsApp +65 8501 7133, or email [email protected]. Little Big Employment Agency (EA Licence 19C9790) works with a panel of corporate and employment law firms; this article is general information, not legal advice.

Other Related Posts