The employment pass is sorted. The job offer is signed. Now the harder question lands: how do you actually move a family to Singapore, and what does it cost? The logistical complexity of relocating with a spouse, children, and possibly ageing parents is meaningfully different from the solo expat assignment — and most HR onboarding packs address the work-pass side while leaving the family side to a one-page checklist that turns out to be woefully incomplete.
This guide covers the full picture: housing, schools, healthcare, Foreign Domestic Worker hire, banking, driving, and the pass sequencing that determines whether your family arrives legally and smoothly. Whether you are a foreign professional moving your household to Singapore for the first time, or a company HR manager preparing a relocation package for a senior hire, this is the practical framework you need for 2026.
For country-specific cost and tax considerations, see also our Relocating from Dubai to Singapore 2026: Tax Reset, Visas and the Family Move guide.
Step 1: Secure the Principal Pass Before Everything Else
All family-related passes in Singapore are derivative — they depend on the principal pass holder’s status. Until the Employment Pass (EP), ONE Pass, or other qualifying pass is issued, no dependant passes can be applied for and no school enrolment can be confirmed. This sequencing is the single most common source of delay in family relocations.
Under the current framework as set out by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM):
- EP holders earning at least SGD 6,000/month (most sectors) may apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for their spouse and unmarried children under 21.
- EP holders earning at least SGD 12,000/month may apply for an LTVP for parents.
- DP holders are not automatically entitled to work — the Letter of Consent (LOC) that formerly allowed DP spouses to work freely was discontinued in 2021.
For full details on DP and LTVP eligibility including what spouses and children are entitled to, see: Dependant’s Pass Singapore 2026: DP, LTVP and LOC Guide. For an overview of EP eligibility, salary thresholds and the COMPASS framework that governs EP applications: Complete Singapore Employment Pass Guide 2026.
Step 2: Housing — Renting vs Buying
For the vast majority of foreign professionals arriving in Singapore on an EP, renting is the only practical option in the first instance. Outright property purchase is legal for foreigners but subject to a 60% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), which effectively price-prohibits purchase for all but the most financially secure households.
The Singapore rental market in 2026 has come off its post-pandemic peak but remains materially higher than 2019 levels. Indicative monthly rents for a landed or condo property suitable for a family of four are:
| Property Type | Size | Monthly Rent Range (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Condo (mid-market, suburban) | 3 BR | SGD 4,800–6,500 |
| Condo (central / expat corridor) | 3 BR | SGD 7,000–12,000 |
| Landed (terrace/semi-detached) | 4–5 BR | SGD 9,000–18,000+ |
Standard lease terms are 12 or 24 months, with a two-month security deposit and a one-month diplomatic clause (allowing early termination if the pass is cancelled). Agent fees are typically one month’s rent for a 12-month lease, split between landlord and tenant by convention though increasingly negotiated. Budget for initial costs hitting in the first 30 days: first month, deposit, agent fee, and setup expenses (furniture if unfurnished, appliances, broadband installation) can reach SGD 20,000–30,000 before you have unpacked.
Step 3: Schools for Children
Singapore’s school landscape for expat families divides into three tiers: international schools, local government schools (open to PR and Citizen children only, with limited places for non-residents), and a small number of independent schools that accept a quota of international students.
International schools are the default for most EP-holder families. Annual tuition fees range from SGD 25,000 to SGD 50,000+ per child per year depending on the school and year group. Popular choices include the United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), Tanglin Trust School, the Singapore American School, and Dulwich College Singapore, among many others. Many schools have waiting lists — particularly at primary school entry — of six to 18 months. If your children are school-age, apply to schools before submitting your EP application, not after arrival.
Local government schools charge substantially lower fees (SGD 550–750 per month for non-Citizen children plus a SGD 13 Activity Fee) but priority allocation goes to Singapore Citizens, PRs, and then non-residents, in that order. Vacancies in popular schools are rare. If your family is planning to pursue PR, enrolling children in local schools strengthens the integration narrative — but admission is not guaranteed. See the Ministry of Education (MOE) website for registration phases and timelines.
Key school-related costs to budget: annual fees, registration fees, uniforms, books, school bus, extra-curricular activities, and examination fees (for IB or A-Level years). A family with two children in international schools should budget SGD 70,000–100,000 per year in school costs alone.
Step 4: Healthcare and Insurance
Singapore’s healthcare system is world-class. For expat families, the relevant point is that you will not benefit from government subsidies (which are reserved for Citizens and PRs) and must plan for full private healthcare costs from day one.
Most employers provide an outpatient and hospitalisation benefit under the employment package — but the scope and annual limits vary widely. Before arriving, verify:
- Whether the employer plan covers the DP spouse and children or only the EP holder;
- Whether there is a pre-existing condition exclusion period;
- What the annual hospitalisation limit is (SGD 200,000 is a common benchmark for a family; serious illness can exceed this quickly);
- Whether the plan covers medical evacuation for conditions that Singapore cannot treat.
If the employer plan does not cover the full family, a private integrated health shield plan for a family of four will cost between SGD 10,000 and SGD 15,000 per year. Do not arrive without coverage — even a routine A&E visit at a private hospital in Singapore will generate a bill of SGD 800–2,000.
Step 5: Hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker
Singapore is one of very few countries where hiring a live-in domestic helper is normalised across income levels, and for dual-income expat families with young children, an FDW is often the practical answer to childcare and household management. The rules are set by MOM.
Key requirements and costs as at 16 May 2026:
- Employer eligibility: You must earn at least SGD 2,000/month (for most nationalities of helper) or meet MOM’s alternative eligibility criteria (disability, young child, or aged parent in the household).
- Levy: SGD 300/month (standard, non-concessionary rate). Concessionary rate of SGD 60/month applies if you have a child under 16, an elderly person above 67, or a person with disabilities in the household.
- Security bond: SGD 5,000 per helper (usually arranged through insurance at SGD 60–120/year).
- Medical insurance: Minimum SGD 15,000 annual coverage for the helper, plus personal accident insurance — costs approximately SGD 300–400/year.
- Agency fee: SGD 1,000–2,000 one-off for placement through a licensed agency.
- Monthly salary: SGD 550–750 for helpers from the Philippines and Indonesia (the two most common source countries), plus food and accommodation.
Total first-year cost of employing an FDW is typically SGD 15,000–20,000 including placement fees, levy, and salary. From year two, the recurring cost drops to SGD 10,000–13,000 per year. All FDW arrangements must be managed through a MOM-licensed employment agency for the initial placement.
Step 6: Banking
Opening a bank account in Singapore is straightforward once your EP is in hand. Singapore’s three major local banks — DBS, OCBC, and UOB — all offer expat-friendly account products with English-language service and online banking. Required documents: employment pass, passport, proof of local residential address (tenancy agreement), and an initial deposit (SGD 1,000–3,000 depending on the account product).
Most EP holders can open a current or savings account within one to two weeks of EP issuance. Some international banks (HSBC, Standard Chartered, Citibank) offer global account relationships that can be convenient if you maintain accounts in your home country — worth considering if you have ongoing financial obligations abroad.
Note that CPF contributions are not required for EP holders. PRs and Citizens contribute mandatory CPF; if your family is on the Singapore PR application pathway, factor CPF contributions into your net-income planning from the point of PR approval.
Step 7: Driving Licence and Transport
Singapore drives on the left and uses a Class 3 licence system. Foreign driving licences can be converted to a Singapore licence at the Traffic Police — without a driving test — for licence holders from most major countries (Australia, UK, US, Japan, among others). The conversion process takes approximately two to four weeks and costs SGD 50–100 in administrative fees.
If your country is not on the Traffic Police’s direct-conversion list, you will need to pass a driving test. The practical test queue in Singapore is currently six to twelve months — a detail worth knowing before you plan your transport arrangements.
Public transport in Singapore (MRT, buses, GrabCar) is excellent and covers most locations. Many expat families find a single car sufficient, particularly if the daily commute is by MRT. Car ownership in Singapore is expensive: Certificate of Entitlement (COE) costs for a standard family car currently run SGD 80,000–100,000 on top of the market price of the vehicle.
Building Toward PR: Integrating the Family Move with a Long-Term Strategy
For most foreign professionals, Singapore is not a two-year assignment — it is the beginning of a longer residential strategy. If PR is on the horizon, decisions made at the relocation stage have long-term consequences. Enrolling children in local schools, making voluntary CPF contributions, maintaining an uninterrupted employment record, and building genuine community ties all feed into the holistic assessment that ICA applies when you eventually submit a PR application.
For a full overview of the PR application process, schemes, and ICA’s assessment criteria, see: The Complete Singapore PR Pathway Guide 2026. For cost-of-living figures in greater detail, our companion article Cost of Living in Singapore for Expats: 2026 Numbers provides a category-by-category breakdown.
How LBEA and Raffles Corporate Services Support Family Relocations
A family relocation to Singapore touches employment passes, dependant passes, school planning, housing, FDW hire, and — ultimately — the PR and citizenship journey. Singapore Employment Agency (Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd, Licence No. 19C9790) handles the MOM-licensed side: EP applications, S Pass, dependant passes, FDW employment agency services, and PR preparation. For incorporation, company secretarial support, and registered office services for business-owners making the move, our related company Raffles Corporate Services provides end-to-end corporate support alongside the family relocation.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency