Insights for work and life.
Letter of Consent for Dependant’s Pass Holders Who Run a Business in Singapore
A Dependant’s Pass (DP) holder who wants to run a business in Singapore needs a Letter of Consent (LOC) from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). A Letter of Consent for Dependant’s Pass holders is available to business owners, namely sole proprietors, partners, and company directors with at least 30% of an ACRA-registered company, or members of a company limited by guarantee. Operating before the LOC is issued is not permitted.
This guide summarises MOM’s published rules for the business-owner route and the separate route for spouses of ONE Pass holders. Information is accurate as at 4 November 2026. Pass rules change, so check MOM before you apply.
Letter of Consent for Dependant’s Pass: who is eligible
According to MOM’s eligibility page, last updated on 14 January 2026, the business must be registered with ACRA, and you must be one of the following:
- A sole proprietor.
- A partner.
- A company director with at least 30% shareholding in the company, or a member of a company limited by guarantee.
Holding a DP alone does not give a right to work for an employer. MOM’s Dependant’s Pass key facts explain the pass. A DP holder who wants an ordinary job generally needs to apply for a work pass instead. Our guide on hiring Dependant’s Pass holders covers the employer side.
How to apply
MOM’s application page describes the process. The points below come from that page and MOM’s renewal page.
- Check that your DP has at least 3 months of validity left. If not, renew it first.
- Submit the online request first. MOM gives the outcome of the request within about 1 week.
- If the request is approved, apply for the LOC through the EP eService on the myMOM Portal. An employment agent can also apply for you.
- Update your business’s turnover information before you submit.
- Wait for the decision. The application is free, and most cases are processed within 4 weeks.
Dependant’s Pass holders can only begin operating the business after receiving the LOC.
Validity and renewal rules
For a first-time LOC, validity is the shorter of one year from the issue date or the DP expiry date. Renewals run up to the DP expiry date.
Renewal has a local hiring condition. Per MOM’s renewal page, you must have hired at least one Singaporean or Permanent Resident who earns at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary and has received CPF contributions for at least 3 consecutive months before you submit. You can renew up to 6 months before the LOC expires, and MOM says most renewals take within 3 weeks.
| Item | First LOC | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| Validity | Shorter of 1 year or DP expiry | Up to DP expiry |
| Local hire condition | Not stated on MOM’s eligibility page | At least one local on CPF for 3 months |
| DP validity needed | At least 3 months | At least 3 months |
When the LOC ends
The LOC stops being valid when the DP is cancelled or expires, or when the business is no longer active. You still need to cancel the LOC. MOM says to cancel within 1 week after the business is no longer active. Cancellation is immediate unless you request it in advance, and you can submit a request up to 14 days ahead. If you lose the LOC, report the loss and request a replacement.
Spouses of ONE Pass holders
A different rule applies to the spouses of Overseas Networks & Expertise (ONE) Pass holders. MOM’s ONE Pass family page, last updated on 13 October 2026, states that spouses can work or operate a business with an LOC.
- To run a business, the candidate can apply, or appoint an employment agent.
- To work, the prospective employer submits the application.
- The LOC lasts up to the expiry date of the DP.
- The application is free, and most cases take within 4 weeks.
Other dependants need a work pass. Our ONE Pass FAQ explains the main pass.
Common mistakes
- Starting operations before the LOC is issued.
- Letting the DP drop below 3 months before applying.
- Forgetting the local hire condition at renewal.
- Failing to cancel the LOC when the business becomes inactive.
- Assuming a company’s incorporation grants work rights. It does not.
For related family situations, see our notes on the Employment Pass family relocation policy and Dependant’s Pass after divorce.
Business owner route compared with the ONE Pass spouse route
| Feature | DP holder who owns a business | Spouse of a ONE Pass holder |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the LOC | Run an ACRA-registered business | Work or run a business |
| Who applies | The owner, or an employment agent | The owner or agent for a business, the employer for a job |
| Ownership test | Sole proprietor, partner, or director with at least 30% | Not applicable |
| Validity | Shorter of 1 year or DP expiry for a first LOC | Up to the DP expiry date |
| Fee | Free | Free |
A sensible sequence for a family relocating
The order of steps matters because the DP must have at least 3 months of validity at each stage.
- Confirm that the main pass holder’s pass and the DP are issued.
- Decide the structure: sole proprietorship, partnership or company.
- Register the business with ACRA, and plan the director and shareholding split if you are using a company.
- Submit the online LOC request, and wait for the outcome.
- Apply for the LOC through the EP eService, with updated turnover information.
- Start operating only after the LOC is issued.
- Diarise the renewal, and plan the local hire at least 3 months before you need to renew.
Frequently asked questions
Can a DP holder start trading while the LOC is pending?
No. MOM states that DP holders can only begin operating the business after receiving the LOC.
What if the main pass holder’s pass is cancelled?
The LOC stops being valid when the DP is cancelled or expires. Plan family moves so the business does not continue without a valid LOC.
Does incorporating a company give work rights?
No. Incorporation and work authorisation are separate matters. The LOC is the approval to operate.
Next steps
If you plan to start a company, the incorporation, the director arrangements and the LOC need to line up. Our licensed team at Singapore Employment Agency can explain the pass sequence. For incorporation and corporate administration, Raffles Corporate Services is an associated company that publishes a guide to registering a Singapore company as a foreigner. We disclose this relationship, and you are free to choose any provider. Our editorial content does not depend on it.
The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency
${ARTICLE_ENQUIRY_HTML}
Real people. Right here in Singapore.