Singapore regularly tops Asia-Pacific rankings for safety, quality of life, healthcare, and education. It is also one of the most logistically complex cities to relocate a family to: international schools require applications twelve to eighteen months in advance, housing works differently from most markets, the Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) framework is unique to Singapore, and most banks require a physical Employment Pass card before they will open an account. Families who plan ahead move smoothly; families who do not spend the first six months catching up on things that should have been arranged before departure.
This is your practical guide to relocating to Singapore as a family in 2026. We cover each major category in the order you should address it — work passes first, then schools, housing, healthcare, FDW hire, banking, and transport.
Step 1: Secure the Employment Pass First — Everything Else Depends on It
Every downstream step — school applications, lease signing, bank account, FDW hire — depends on either the Employment Pass being in hand or at least the Approval in Principle (IPA) letter having been issued. The EP is not a formality; it is the legal instrument that permits the primary earner to work in Singapore and that entitles the family to apply for Dependant’s Passes.
The minimum qualifying salary for a new EP application is SGD 5,600 per month for most sectors and SGD 6,200 per month for the Financial Services sector, as at June 2026, per the Ministry of Manpower. All new applications must also pass the COMPASS points-based framework. Our complete Singapore Employment Pass guide for 2026 covers COMPASS, salary thresholds, and the full application process.
Once the EP is approved, the employer applies for Dependant’s Passes for the spouse and unmarried children under 21. The DP is what permits the family to live in Singapore. Processing time for EPs is typically 3–8 weeks; DPs are typically processed within 3 weeks after the EP is issued. Our Dependant’s Pass and LTVP 2026 guide explains eligibility conditions, what DP holders can and cannot do, and how the Letter of Consent works for spouses who want to take up employment.
Step 2: International Schools — Apply Early, Apply to Several
This is the step most families underestimate. Singapore’s international schools are oversubscribed. The most popular institutions — Tanglin Trust School, UWCSEA (United World College of South East Asia), Singapore American School (SAS), Dulwich College, and Stamford American International School — run multi-year waitlists for many year groups. Applying in the same month you receive your EP is often already too late for the most popular schools.
International School Fees in Singapore 2026
| School Type | Annual Fees Per Child (SGD) |
|---|---|
| International primary (entry-level schools) | 25,000 – 35,000 |
| International secondary | 30,000 – 45,000 |
| Top-tier (UWCSEA, Tanglin, SAS, Dulwich) | 40,000 – 55,000 |
Most employers providing an education allowance cover SGD 30,000 to SGD 40,000 per child per year; full coverage for multiple children is typically reserved for senior hires. For local school options for foreign children — available to some PR holders and in certain circumstances — see MOE’s guidance on international students.
Key actions: Apply to multiple schools simultaneously. Most schools require proof of the EP or an employer letter confirming the Singapore move. Check whether the school has sibling priority policies — if one child is already enrolled, siblings receive a higher allocation score at the same school.
Step 3: Housing — Condominiums Are the Standard for Expat Families
Most Employment Pass holders cannot rent HDB flats under standard rules (only Singapore citizens and PRs may rent HDB without restriction). In practice, expat families rent private condominiums or landed properties.
Typical Monthly Rents as at Mid-2026
| Property Type | Location | Monthly Rent (SGD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2-bedroom condo | City fringe | 3,800 – 5,500 |
| 3-bedroom condo (family) | City fringe | 5,000 – 8,500 |
| 3-bedroom condo | Core central (Orchard, Bukit Timah) | 7,500 – 13,000 |
| 4-bedroom landed / cluster | Suburban | 9,000 – 18,000 |
Popular expat neighbourhoods include Holland Village and Buona Vista (close to UWCSEA East), Tanglin and Orchard (central, close to Tanglin Trust and the British School), East Coast and Siglap (more space, beach access), and Tanjong Pagar (ideal for professionals working in the CBD). Leases are typically one or two years and should include a diplomatic clause allowing early termination if the EP is cancelled or the assignment ends.
For families considering property purchase, note that the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for foreigners is 60% — making renting the virtually universal choice for expats on assignment. Our guide to buying property in Singapore as a foreigner in 2026 covers the full ABSD framework for those with longer-term ownership plans.
Step 4: Healthcare — Private Cover Is Non-Negotiable
Singapore’s healthcare system is world-class and highly efficient. However, EP holders are not entitled to the government subsidies that citizens and PRs receive at restructured public hospitals. In practice, expats access private hospitals or unsubsidised private wards, which are more expensive.
The Ministry of Health regulates all healthcare providers and publishes fee benchmarks for specialist procedures. As a planning reference: a private specialist consultation costs SGD 150 to SGD 400; inpatient care at a private hospital runs SGD 500 to SGD 2,000+ per day depending on treatment and room type.
Most employers include private medical insurance as part of the EP package. Verify the policy covers inpatient, outpatient, specialist, and ideally dental care, and confirm it provides direct billing to the major private hospitals (Gleneagles, Mount Elizabeth, Raffles Hospital, Parkway East). A comprehensive family policy typically costs SGD 5,000 to SGD 15,000 per year depending on coverage and the employee’s age.
Step 5: Hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW)
Singapore’s FDW framework is one of the most structured in Asia, and it is genuinely useful for families with young children or elderly dependants living with them. An FDW is a live-in helper who assists with childcare, housekeeping, and related domestic duties.
FDW Key Facts for 2026
- Employers must hire through a MOM-licensed employment agency
- FDW monthly levy: SGD 300 (standard rate); SGD 60 (concessionary rate for families with children under 16, elderly members above 67, or persons with disabilities, subject to eligibility criteria)
- FDW monthly salary: SGD 550 – SGD 800+, depending on experience, nationality, and the employment agency
- FDWs are entitled to at least one rest day per week (or compensation in lieu)
- Employers must purchase medical insurance covering at least SGD 15,000 of inpatient care per year, plus personal accident insurance
- Approved source countries include the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, India, and others
The total annual cost of employing an FDW (levy + salary + insurance + agency fees amortised over a 2-year contract) typically runs SGD 15,000 to SGD 22,000 per year. By international standards for live-in childcare, this is affordable — and the MOM regulatory framework means conditions and rights are clearly defined for both employer and worker.
Step 6: Banking
Singapore’s three dominant retail banks — DBS, OCBC, and UOB — all offer English-language services with robust mobile banking platforms. Opening a personal account requires:
- Your physical Employment Pass card (not just the IPA letter — the card itself)
- Proof of Singapore residential address (first tenancy agreement or a utility bill)
- Passport
Account opening takes 1 to 2 weeks from application; mobile banking access is typically granted within 48 hours of account approval. Some banks allow online pre-application before the EP card is received, but the card is required for final processing. Your spouse will need their Dependant’s Pass card to open a personal account.
Step 7: Transport — Hold off on the Car
Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network is efficient, English-signposted, and covers most of the island. Buses extend to every neighbourhood, and the Grab ride-hailing app provides on-demand transport at reasonable fares. For most expat families in the first year, public transport and Grab are entirely sufficient.
Buying a car in Singapore is one of the most expensive vehicle purchases in the world. The Certificate of Entitlement (COE) — a market-rate licence required to own any vehicle — has consistently traded above SGD 100,000 for standard family cars since 2022. Combined with the car purchase price, registration, and road tax, total vehicle ownership cost typically runs SGD 150,000 to SGD 250,000 for a family sedan. Most expats on standard two-year assignments choose not to buy.
If driving is needed before a purchase decision is made, your home country licence must be converted to a Singapore licence. The rules vary by country of origin. See our Singapore Driving Licence Conversion 2026 guide for the current requirements, including the Basic Theory Test obligation introduced for some categories from March 2026.
Pre-Arrival Checklist for Relocating Families
- EP application submitted or in-principle approval received
- Dependant’s Pass applications submitted (after EP IPA issued)
- International school applications submitted to at least three schools
- Long-term lease agreement signed (requires EP or employer letter)
- Private medical insurance policy confirmed
- MOM-licensed FDW agency engaged and helper shortlisted
- Bank account pre-application initiated
- Monthly budget model completed, cross-referenced against housing allowance and school fees
For a detailed breakdown of monthly living costs including food, transport, utilities, and lifestyle, see our Cost of Living in Singapore for Expats: 2026 Numbers.
Conclusion
Relocating a family to Singapore is manageable — Singapore is one of Asia’s most expat-friendly cities, and the infrastructure to support foreign professionals and their families is well developed. Schools, housing, healthcare, and domestic help all have clear frameworks. The difference between a smooth relocation and a stressful one is almost always timing: families who start the school and housing search before they leave their home country, and who get the EP applications right first time, arrive in Singapore already set up rather than scrambling. Plan in that order, and Singapore will reward you for it.
Little Big Employment Agency is a MOM-licensed employment agency specialising in Employment Pass applications and family Dependant’s Pass arrangements for relocating professionals. For company incorporation, corporate secretarial, and accounting services for the business dimension of your Singapore move, Raffles Corporate Services provides comprehensive Singapore company services.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency