Every year, thousands of families join the foreign professionals relocating to Singapore — following a job offer, a company transfer, or a deliberate decision to put down roots in one of Asia’s most liveable cities. The country reliably earns its place near the top of global safety, education, and healthcare rankings; the practical question for families is how to navigate the move efficiently, from securing the right family visas to finding a school with space before the school year starts.
This guide on relocating to Singapore as a family covers the complete journey: the Dependant’s Pass and LTVP framework that keeps your family together, international school selection, housing costs by district, hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker, healthcare arrangements, and the financial setup — banking, CPF, and the path to permanent residency. All figures and rules reflect the position as at 27 June 2026.
Step 1: Securing the Right Work Pass — and Your Family’s Passes
Before anything else, the principal applicant’s work pass determines what family members can accompany them and on what conditions. An Employment Pass (EP) holder earning at least S$6,000 per month (as at 27 April 2026, per MOM) can sponsor a spouse, children under 21, and stepchildren under 21 on a Dependant’s Pass (DP). S Pass holders may sponsor family members if their fixed monthly salary is at least S$6,000. EP holders earning below S$6,000 cannot sponsor family passes.
The Dependant’s Pass is tied to the principal’s work pass. If the EP is cancelled or expires, DP holders must leave Singapore or apply for another status. Our comprehensive Dependant’s Pass guide for 2026 covers the eligibility rules, application process, and what DP holders can and cannot do in Singapore, including work authorisation rules.
For parents and in-laws of the principal pass holder, the Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) is the applicable route — but eligibility is narrower and the approval process more discretionary. The principal must be a Singapore Citizen or PR to sponsor parents on a standard LTVP scheme; EP and S Pass holders typically need to meet additional financial and accommodation criteria.
Step 2: International Schools — Apply Early
Singapore’s international school market is oversubscribed at popular schools. Families arriving in Singapore for the first time regularly underestimate how far in advance enrolment decisions must be made — waiting lists at top-choice schools can run 12 to 18 months. The Singapore school year runs January to November/December for local schools, but international schools follow a variety of calendars: the British curriculum schools run September to June, the American curriculum follows August to June, and the IB World Schools vary.
Annual tuition fees at accredited international schools in Singapore range from approximately S$25,000 to S$55,000 per year depending on the school, year group, and curriculum. In addition to tuition, families typically pay a one-time enrolment fee of S$3,500–S$6,500 and an annual development levy of S$2,500–S$5,000. These are in addition to school uniforms, textbooks, and co-curricular activity fees.
Local School Admission for Expat Children
Children who are Singapore Permanent Residents are eligible to register for local government schools (MOE schools) through the standard Primary 1 Registration Exercise. Singapore Citizen children have priority over PR children, and both have priority over international students. International students (those on Dependent Passes) may apply for local school places but are classified as International Students and pay higher school fees than PR or citizen children. For families planning to apply for PR and stay long-term, enrolling children in a local school can strengthen the family’s integration profile — and admission to a local school is possible even before PR is granted.
Official guidance on local school admission is available from the Ministry of Education Singapore.
Step 3: Housing — Choosing Your District
Singapore’s rental market is mature and well-regulated. Most relocating expat families with children choose private condominiums: they offer facilities (pool, gym, playground), security, and flexible lease terms typically running one to two years. HDB flats — Singapore’s public housing — may be rented by foreigners, but are generally less spacious and have fewer facilities; they are more cost-effective for singles and couples than for families with children.
Rental costs for a 3-bedroom private condominium vary significantly by district. As a general guide for 2026:
- Core districts (Orchard, River Valley, Marina Bay, Sentosa): S$8,000–S$14,000/month
- City fringe (Buona Vista, Holland Village, Novena, Thomson): S$6,000–S$9,500/month
- Suburban (Tampines, Punggol, Woodlands, Jurong East): S$4,000–S$6,500/month
Most families balance proximity to their children’s school against commute time to the CBD. International schools are clustered in the west (Dover, Pasir Panjang, Holland Road) and the east (Tampines, Changi area), with some in the north. A useful heuristic: identify the school first, then select housing within a 15-minute drive.
Foreigners on an EP, S Pass, or Dependant’s Pass may rent any private residential property. Foreigners may not purchase HDB flats, and purchasing private property attracts an Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 60% for foreigners, making ownership impractical for most expatriates. For a fuller picture of the costs of living in Singapore as an expat family, see our cost of living in Singapore for expats: 2026 numbers.
Step 4: Hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker
Many families relocating to Singapore engage a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW), also known as a domestic helper or maid, to support household management and childcare. Singapore’s FDW system is well-established and regulated by the Ministry of Manpower.
Budget in 2026 for approximately:
- Monthly salary: S$600–S$900 (depending on nationality, experience, and skills)
- Monthly FDW levy: S$300 (standard); S$60 (concessionary rate for households with a young child, elderly, or person with disability)
- Mandatory medical insurance: approximately S$350–S$600/year
- Personal accident insurance: S$200–S$350/year
- Settling-in programme (SIP) and placement costs: S$1,500–S$3,500 one-time
- Annual home return flight: employer-funded, typically S$300–S$700 depending on country of origin
Employers must provide adequate living accommodation (a separate room is strongly recommended), sufficient food, adequate rest, and medical care. FDWs are entitled to one rest day per week (or compensation if they work on their rest day). Employers must have a valid MOM-issued Work Permit before the helper can commence work.
Families living in 2-room HDB flats may employ an FDW subject to MOM’s accommodation-size requirements. Larger HDB flats and private properties do not face this restriction.
Step 5: Healthcare for Expat Families
Singapore’s healthcare system is world-class, combining public restructured hospitals, specialist centres, and private hospitals and clinics. However, Employment Pass holders and their Dependant Pass family members are not automatically enrolled in MediShield Life — the national health insurance scheme that covers Singapore citizens and PRs. Expat families are almost entirely dependent on private health insurance.
Employer-provided insurance typically covers the principal EP holder; spouses and children on Dependant Passes may or may not be included depending on the employer’s policy. Families should verify their coverage before arriving and purchase a supplementary international health insurance plan if dependants are not covered.
Comprehensive international health insurance for a family of four typically runs S$8,000–S$18,000 per year, depending on the insurer, plan level, and whether the plan has Singapore-only or worldwide coverage. Our guide to healthcare for expats in Singapore explains the Integrated Shield Plan options available if the family obtains Singapore PR, and how private and public hospitals are structured for non-residents.
For routine GP visits, Singapore has an extensive network of private family clinics. A standard consultation runs S$25–S$60 out of pocket. Emergency and specialist care at private hospitals is significantly more expensive: a one-night inpatient stay at a private hospital routinely exceeds S$3,000 inclusive of room, tests, and physician fees — making health insurance non-negotiable for most families.
Step 6: Banking and Financial Setup
Opening a personal bank account in Singapore is straightforward for EP and S Pass holders. Most of the major banks — DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered — accept EP holders for account opening, typically within one to two weeks of the EP being approved. You will need your EP card (or IPA letter if the card has not yet been issued), passport, and proof of residential address in Singapore.
Monthly banking fees vary by account type; most banks waive fees if a minimum balance is maintained (typically S$1,000–S$3,000 for standard accounts; S$200,000–S$500,000 for priority banking tiers). International transfers are straightforward from all major Singapore banks. SWIFT and FAST transfers are common; Wise and similar services are widely used for remittances.
EP holders do not contribute to CPF (the Central Provident Fund) — CPF contributions are mandatory only for Singapore citizens and PRs. Once an EP holder successfully obtains PR, CPF contributions begin: both employer and employee contribute at graduated rates, building up balances for housing, healthcare (MediSave), and retirement (Ordinary Account and Special Account).
Step 7: Driving in Singapore
Singapore drives on the left. If you hold a valid driving licence from an approved country — including most Western European nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, the US, and Canada — you may drive in Singapore on your foreign licence for up to 12 months after entering. After 12 months, you must convert your foreign licence to a Singapore driving licence. Our Singapore driving licence conversion guide for 2026 explains the conversion process, the Basic Theory Test (BTT), and the documents required.
Singapore’s traffic is well-managed and the MRT public transport network is extensive. Many expat families find that one car is sufficient (or none at all in the central areas). Note that Singapore’s Vehicle Quota System and Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system make vehicle ownership significantly more expensive than in most other countries — a standard COE for a Category A vehicle (up to 1,600cc) regularly costs S$80,000–S$120,000 alone, before the car’s purchase price and registration fees.
Step 8: Planning for Permanent Residency
For families who find Singapore a genuine long-term home, the path to Permanent Residency begins with the principal pass holder building a strong ICA application profile. Approval rates have improved since Singapore announced a target of approximately 40,000 PR grants per year through 2030, with 35,264 grants made in 2024 (the highest since 2010). Our Complete Singapore PR Pathway Guide 2026 covers the PTS (Professionals, Technical Personnel and Skilled Workers) scheme — the most common route for EP holders — and how ICA’s holistic assessment weighs economic contribution, length of residency, family ties, and integration.
Children who grow up in Singapore’s education system and spouses who demonstrate social integration add meaningfully to a family’s PR application. There is no minimum time requirement in policy, but in practice, most successful PTS applicants have been resident for two to five years. Applying too early, before the salary trajectory and residency record are strong, typically results in rejection.
Conclusion
A successful family move to Singapore requires lead time — at least six months for school enrolment, two to three months for housing search, and one to three months for the work pass and family pass applications to be processed. Start with the school shortlist: it anchors every other decision from district selection to housing budget.
For families relocating through a job offer or company transfer, Singapore Employment Agency — a MOM-licensed employment agency — offers end-to-end support on Employment Pass applications, Dependant’s Pass processing, and the longer-term path to PR. For companies setting up a Singapore entity to bring in foreign talent, Raffles Corporate Services provides company incorporation, corporate secretarial services, and employment pass management under one roof.
Reach out to Singapore Employment Agency to discuss your family’s relocation plan and to ensure your work and family passes are in order before your move date.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency