Singapore remains one of the most straightforward countries in the world for a professional family to relocate to — if you know what to organise and in what order. The physical move is rarely the hard part. The challenge lies in understanding which dependent family members qualify for which pass types, how to navigate school enrolment, what healthcare cover you actually need (not the minimum), how to find housing in a rental market that has been expensive since 2022, and how to set up the financial infrastructure that makes daily life run smoothly. A relocating to Singapore family guide needs to cover all of this practically, not just the visa categories.
This article is written for the relocating professional — typically an Employment Pass holder or incoming EP applicant — whose family is moving with them. We cover Dependant’s Pass eligibility, schools, healthcare, housing, Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) hire, banking and driving, with specific 2026 figures where relevant.
If you are relocating from a specific country, our Dubai to Singapore relocation guide 2026 covers the tax reset and visa process in detail for that corridor.
Step 1: Securing the Right Pass for Your Family
Who Can Bring Family Members to Singapore?
The ability to sponsor dependent family members in Singapore depends on your own pass type and, for most passes, your salary. The key rules as at 18 May 2026 are:
- Employment Pass (EP) holders earning SGD 6,000 or more per month may apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for their spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age. Per the Ministry of Manpower, EP holders earning below SGD 6,000 per month are not eligible to sponsor family members on a DP.
- ONE Pass holders may sponsor dependants on the same basis as EP holders at the equivalent salary level.
- S Pass holders may not apply for Dependant’s Passes. Family members of S Pass holders may be eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) under certain circumstances, subject to ICA’s assessment.
The Dependant’s Pass covers a spouse and unmarried children under 21. Older unmarried children, or children above 21, may be eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass if they are full-time students in Singapore. Parents of the EP holder cannot be sponsored by the EP holder directly — only Singapore citizens and permanent residents may sponsor parents on an LTVP. This catches many families by surprise: an EP holder’s parents cannot come to Singapore on a long-term basis on the strength of the EP holder’s pass alone.
For a comprehensive breakdown of all dependent pass types, including LTVP eligibility for extended family members, see our Dependant’s Pass and LTVP Singapore 2026 guide.
Applying for Dependant’s Passes
The cleanest approach is to apply for the DP at the same time as the principal EP application, through the EP Online portal. This means the family can arrive in Singapore with their passes already approved. If you need to apply for the DP after the EP is issued, the process is the same — apply through EP Online, and most DP applications are approved within one to three weeks once the principal EP has been issued.
Step 2: Finding Housing
The private condominium is the standard housing choice for relocating foreign professionals. EP holders and DP holders may rent or purchase private residential property in Singapore; buying property as a foreigner involves Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 60% for non-PRs, which makes purchase financially unviable for most new arrivals. Renting is the default.
Singapore’s private rental market stabilised somewhat in 2025 after the sharp post-COVID run-up, but remains materially above 2019 levels. As a practical reference for 2026:
- A 2-bedroom condominium in core central areas (Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, River Valley): SGD 5,500–SGD 8,000 per month.
- A 3-bedroom condominium in established suburban areas (Buona Vista, Holland Village, Bishan, Clementi): SGD 5,000–SGD 7,500 per month.
- A 4-bedroom condominium with space for a live-in Foreign Domestic Worker: SGD 7,000–SGD 12,000 per month depending on location, age of development and amenities.
HDB flats (public housing) are not available to foreigners for purchase. Foreigners may rent HDB flats from HDB-approved landlords, subject to HDB subletting rules, which specify nationality quotas for some flat types. HDB renting can offer cost savings but requires more research into quota availability.
Begin your housing search at least six to eight weeks before your arrival date. Good units in popular schools’ catchment areas rent quickly.
Step 3: Schools for Children
School enrolment is one of the highest-stakes decisions for relocating families, and one of the most time-sensitive. Singapore has three main school-type options for expat children:
International Schools
International schools are the most common choice for expat families and offer continuity with the curriculum the child has been following (IB, British, American, Australian, etc.). Annual tuition fees typically range from SGD 20,000 to SGD 40,000 per year for most international schools, with some elite schools reaching SGD 50,000+. Waiting lists for popular international schools — particularly at the primary and secondary levels — can extend to 12–18 months. Apply as soon as you have your In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter; do not wait for the DP to be physically issued.
Local Government Schools
Singapore’s national schools (MOE schools) are available to Dependant’s Pass holders, but admission is through a balloting system and competition for places at well-regarded schools is intense. Fees for foreign students are significantly lower than international school tuition — typically SGD 500–SGD 800 per month. Children from DP families may benefit from immersion in Singapore’s rigorous curriculum if the family expects to stay long-term and the child is young enough to adapt. MOE schools follow the Singapore syllabus; English is the medium of instruction, with a Mother Tongue language as a second language.
Hybrid and Programme Schools
Several schools in Singapore offer hybrid programmes — Singapore curriculum combined with international qualifications such as the IB Diploma or Cambridge IGCSE. These tend to be less expensive than full international schools while providing an internationally recognised qualification.
Step 4: Healthcare for Dependant’s Pass Holders
This is the most important healthcare planning point for relocating families: Dependant’s Pass holders are not covered by Singapore’s MediShield Life national health insurance scheme. MediShield Life covers only Singapore citizens and permanent residents. EP holders themselves also do not receive MediShield Life coverage.
Singapore’s public hospitals and polyclinics charge foreign patients at unsubsidised rates, which are still reasonable by global standards but not trivial. Per the Ministry of Health, a standard inpatient day at a public hospital at foreigner rates ranges from SGD 400 to SGD 1,200+ depending on ward class and treatment. A comprehensive private health insurance plan for a family of four typically costs SGD 4,000–SGD 10,000 per year depending on coverage level, deductibles and insurer.
Check whether your employer’s benefits package includes family medical cover and, if so, what the annual limits and exclusions are. Pre-existing conditions are often excluded or subject to waiting periods. If you have children with ongoing medical needs, verify coverage carefully before arriving.
For a detailed overview of costs and financial planning for expats in Singapore, see our cost of living Singapore expats 2026 guide.
Step 5: Hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker
Many dual-income expat families in Singapore employ a live-in Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW) — commonly referred to as a “helper” — to support childcare and household management. Singapore’s FDW framework, administered by MOM, involves the following key elements for employers:
- Work Permit: the FDW holds a Work Permit issued by MOM.
- Security bond: SGD 5,000 (typically insured via an approved insurer for SGD 120–200/year).
- Monthly levy: SGD 300/month (basic rate). Levy concessions apply for households with young children (under 16), elderly members (65+) or persons with disabilities — the concessionary rate is SGD 60/month.
- Mandatory medical insurance: minimum SGD 15,000 hospitalisation and surgical coverage per year. Most FDW insurance packages also include personal accident coverage and repatriation.
- Pre-employment medical examination: required before the Work Permit is issued.
- Six-monthly medical examinations: ongoing during employment.
- Rest day: at least one rest day per week; employers and FDWs may agree on compensation if the FDW works on the rest day.
Total monthly cost of employing a FDW typically ranges from SGD 900 to SGD 1,400, including salary (SGD 550–SGD 700 for new hires), levy, insurance amortised monthly, and employer CPF (not applicable — FDWs are not covered by CPF). All-in costs for a first-year hire including agency placement fees can be significantly higher.
Step 6: Banking and Financial Setup
Opening a bank account in Singapore requires a valid pass (your EP and the DP for your family members) and a Singapore residential address. The major retail banks — DBS, OCBC, UOB, Citibank, HSBC, Standard Chartered — all offer accounts suitable for expat families, with varying minimum balance requirements and fee structures.
Most banks now offer online account opening with in-branch identity verification. The process typically takes one to three business days from completing the online application. Bring your passport, pass card and proof of address (a signed tenancy agreement or utility bill) when visiting the branch.
Dependant’s Pass holders may open bank accounts independently using their pass and supporting documents. They do not need to be added to the principal holder’s account.
Step 7: Driving Licence Conversion
Singapore Traffic Police (TP) allows holders of foreign driving licences to drive in Singapore for up to 12 months. After that, you must convert your foreign licence to a Singapore Class 3 (manual) or Class 3A (automatic) licence. The conversion process for most foreign licences — including UK, Australian, US, European and most Asian licences — requires passing the Basic Theory Test (BTT) only, without a practical driving test. Some licence origins do require a full practical test; check the current TP requirements for your specific country of licence issuance.
Conclusion: Start Planning at Least Three Months Ahead
A Singapore family relocation is manageable when approached systematically. The pass applications, school waiting lists, housing search and healthcare arrangements all take time — begin each as early as possible, ideally three to four months before your planned arrival date. The Singapore Employment Pass Guide 2026 covers the pass application process in detail and is a useful starting reference for the employment element of the relocation.
For families or companies planning a Singapore relocation, Little Big Employment Agency (LBEA) is a MOM-licensed employment agency that assists with pass applications, dependent pass sponsorship and employment agency referrals. Companies relocating to Singapore who need to establish a corporate entity alongside the move should also engage Raffles Corporate Services, which provides Singapore company incorporation, corporate secretarial services and work pass applications as an integrated relocation support offering.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency