Moving to Singapore with a family is operationally complex in ways that a solo relocation is not. Every family arrives with a different combination of school-age children, ageing parents, a spouse who may or may not be working, and decisions about housing, domestic help, and healthcare that need to be made before — or very quickly after — the work pass is issued. This guide to relocating to Singapore as a family in 2026 covers the practical decisions in the sequence most families face them: from visas and school enrolment through housing, domestic help, healthcare, and banking.
If you have not yet sorted your own work pass, start with our complete Employment Pass guide for 2026, since the pass category you hold — and specifically your salary level — determines what family members you can sponsor and under which conditions.
Step 1: Family Passes — Who Can Come With You
The family members you can bring to Singapore depend on your pass type and salary. Employment Pass holders earning at least SGD 6,000 per month may apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for their spouse and unmarried children under 21. Those earning between SGD 6,000 and SGD 12,000 may sponsor parents on a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), and those earning SGD 12,000 or above may sponsor a wider range of family members. For S Pass holders, sponsorship of a spouse requires a monthly salary of at least SGD 6,000 — a threshold that many S Pass holders near the minimum qualifying salary will not meet.
The Dependant’s Pass is not an automatic right; ICA considers the family member’s profile alongside the principal pass holder’s. For a full breakdown of DP eligibility conditions, pass durations, and the rules around spouses who wish to work in Singapore (which requires a Letter of Consent), see our detailed guide on Dependant’s Pass and LTVP in Singapore 2026.
Spouses on a Dependant’s Pass who want to work do not automatically have the right to do so. They need a Letter of Consent (LOC), which must be applied for by the employer. Our guide to the Letter of Consent in Singapore 2026 explains when it applies and how to obtain it.
Step 2: Schools — The Decision That Drives Everything Else
For families with school-age children, school placement is often the most complex and consequential relocation decision. Singapore offers three broad pathways: international schools, MOE government or government-aided schools, and private schools with foreign-system curricula.
International Schools
Singapore hosts more than 50 international and foreign-system schools, offering IB, British, American, Australian, Canadian, Indian, and other curricula. As at 2026, annual fees range from approximately SGD 26,000 per year at the lower end to SGD 55,000 per year at top-tier campuses, with additional one-time registration fees and annual capital development fees (typically SGD 1,000–5,000) on top. Many schools have waiting lists for mid-year entries, and registration fees are generally non-refundable.
Practical advice for families: apply to two or three schools before you arrive, not after. Application timelines vary — some schools require applications 6–12 months ahead for popular year groups. The Ministry of Education’s international students admissions page is the authoritative source for MOE school registration, while each international school operates its own admissions process.
MOE Government and Government-Aided Schools
Foreigners on work passes may enrol their children in MOE government or government-aided schools, subject to vacancy. For primary school, children of foreign families with a total family income above SGD 60,000 per year may only enrol in secondary school (not primary). Children of foreign families with income below this threshold may apply for primary school places if vacancies are available. Foreign students in MOE schools pay higher fees than Singaporean citizens and PRs, but these remain substantially lower than international school fees. Student passes are required and are obtained through ICA.
For families where the EP holder is on a clear track toward Singapore PR — and where children attending local schools would strengthen the PR file — the MOE route deserves serious consideration. Children integrated into the Singapore school system are a meaningful integration signal in an ICA holistic assessment. You can read more about how family integration factors into PR decisions in our complete Singapore PR pathway guide.
Step 3: Housing — Understanding the Rental Market
Foreign professionals on work passes are generally not permitted to purchase HDB public housing (which is reserved for Singapore Citizens and, in some cases, PRs). The practical options are private condominiums and landed properties, both of which are accessible to foreigners for rental and — with restrictions and Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) implications — for purchase.
As at early 2026, a three-bedroom condominium in a good-class expat neighbourhood (Buona Vista, Holland Village, Novena, Tanglin, East Coast) will typically rent for SGD 5,500–8,500 per month. Larger units and those in Core Central Region locations command higher rents. The rental market in Singapore is competitive at the family end, and well-located three-bedroom units near international schools are particularly sought after. Families are advised to engage a licensed property agent and to allow at least four to six weeks for the search and lease negotiation process.
For families arriving from property markets where large homes are the norm — Dubai, London, Hong Kong — Singapore’s condominium lifestyle will feel compact by comparison. Most condominiums offer shared facilities (pool, gym, function rooms), which partially compensate. Our case study on relocating from Dubai to Singapore in 2026 covers the lifestyle adjustment alongside the tax and visa considerations that Dubai-based professionals commonly encounter.
Step 4: Domestic Help — Hiring an FDW
Singapore has a well-developed market for Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs), and many expatriate families with young children or elderly dependants hire one. An FDW is a live-in domestic worker on a Work Permit specifically for domestic employment. As at 2026, the average FDW salary is approximately SGD 600–700 per month, though experienced helpers and those from certain nationalities command more.
Employer obligations under MOM’s Work Permit for Foreign Domestic Workers framework include: paying the standard FDW levy of SGD 300 per month (or SGD 60 per month at the concessionary rate for qualifying households with young children, elderly, or persons with disabilities); providing a security bond (SGD 5,000, typically insured); providing mandatory medical insurance and a personal accident policy; ensuring the FDW has a weekly rest day or compensates the FDW in lieu; and repatriating the FDW at the end of employment. One-time upfront costs including agency fees, medical examinations, and permit fees typically total SGD 1,000–3,000. The total monthly ongoing cost for a family without concessionary levy is approximately SGD 1,200–1,500 per month all-in.
Employers must hold a valid Singapore residential address before applying for an FDW Work Permit. This means housing and FDW applications must be sequenced — you need the tenancy agreement before MOM will process the FDW work permit.
Step 5: Healthcare — Building Your Coverage
Singapore has world-class healthcare infrastructure, including both public hospitals (restructured hospitals partially subsidised by the Government) and private hospitals. The key point for expatriate families is that MOM’s MediShield Life national insurance scheme does not cover foreign nationals on work passes. EP holders are not mandated by MOM to carry medical insurance (though many employers provide group insurance as a benefit). S Pass and Work Permit holders must be covered by employer-provided insurance of at least SGD 15,000 per year — but this minimum is inadequate for family coverage at Singapore private hospital rates.
A comprehensive family health insurance plan for a family of four, covering private hospital wards and specialist care in Singapore, typically costs SGD 8,000–20,000 per year depending on age, coverage limits, and the insurer. Many companies with corporate relocation packages fund this as part of the benefits package; those who do not should build it into the total compensation negotiation.
Dentistry, optical care, and routine outpatient visits are almost universally out-of-pocket or covered under separate outpatient riders, and these costs are non-trivial in Singapore. Families should budget SGD 500–1,500 per month for routine healthcare expenditure above insurance coverage.
Step 6: Banking and Financial Setup
Opening a bank account in Singapore as a foreigner is straightforward but not instant. The four major banks — DBS, OCBC, UOB, and HSBC — all accept foreign account applications, typically requiring a valid passport, Singapore residential address proof (tenancy agreement), and the work pass or in-principle approval letter. DBS and OCBC offer online account opening for foreigners in some circumstances; others require a branch visit.
Families should plan to open accounts within the first two weeks of arrival. A Singapore bank account is a prerequisite for many subsequent steps — paying rent, registering utilities, and in some cases school fee payments. Digital-first options such as Wise or Revolut are useful for managing multi-currency expenses during the transition but do not substitute for a local main account.
On tax, EP holders working in Singapore are taxed on Singapore-source income. Singapore’s personal income tax rates are among the most competitive globally — the top marginal rate is 24% on chargeable income above SGD 1 million, and most professionals fall within the 7–15% effective rate range. There is no capital gains tax. The implications of the move for your home-country tax position depend on your residency elections and tax treaties — this is one area where professional tax advice before relocation pays for itself.
Settling In: The First 90 Days
Most families find the first 90 days the most demanding — school logistics, FDW induction, housing teething issues, and the children’s adjustment all happen simultaneously. A few practical points that help:
- Register children’s student passes through ICA promptly — international school fees are typically not due until the student pass is issued.
- Apply for the EP card (blue SingPass card) as soon as the pass is issued; SingPass is needed for almost every government digital service, including ICA applications for your family members’ passes.
- If planning a PR application in two or three years, start building the record now: file IRAS taxes diligently, keep CPF contributions (if you become a PR) up to date, and document community involvement.
Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd (Licence No. 19C9790) assists families with the full work-pass and family-pass process — from the initial EP application through Dependant’s Pass and LOC applications. For guidance on your family’s relocation pathway, contact the team at Singapore Employment Agency. If you are also setting up a business in Singapore as part of the relocation, Raffles Corporate Services provides company incorporation, secretarial, and corporate compliance support.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency