Relocating to Singapore with your family in 2026 means navigating one of Asia’s most liveable — and most expensive — cities, with its own distinct rules on schools, healthcare, housing, domestic help, banking and tax. The good news: Singapore’s systems are well-organised, the infrastructure is excellent, and the vast majority of the practical setup can be completed within your first 30 days. The challenge is knowing the right sequence, the real costs, and the decisions that need to be made months before you arrive. This guide covers all of it — in the order you will need it when relocating to Singapore in 2026.
If your Singapore move is part of a company transfer or new employment, your first step is securing the right work pass. A Singapore Employment Pass (EP) is the most common pass for professionals relocating with a family. Our Complete Singapore Employment Pass Guide 2026 explains EP eligibility, the COMPASS framework, and timelines in detail. Once you have your EP In-Principle Approval (IPA), much of the rest of this guide becomes actionable.
Step 1: Visas for your family
Your EP IPA is your visa. Your spouse and children need their own passes. The two main family passes are:
Dependant’s Pass (DP): Available to the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an EP holder, or S Pass holder earning at least SGD 6,000/month. The DP allows the family member to reside in Singapore but does not automatically permit them to work. A Letter of Consent (LOC) from MOM allows a DP holder to work for a specific employer. See our Dependant’s Pass Singapore 2026 Guide for full details on DP eligibility, LOC requirements, and the LTVP+ upgrade pathway for spouses who want to work.
Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP): Issued to common-law or unmarried partners, step-children, and parents of EP holders in some circumstances. The LTVP is sponsored by the EP holder and reviewed by ICA on a case-by-case basis. It does not automatically confer the right to work.
Apply for DP and LTVP through the EP Online portal at the same time as, or immediately after, submitting your EP application. Processing typically takes one to two weeks once the EP is approved.
Step 2: Schools — plan this six to twelve months early
School placement is the most time-sensitive element of a Singapore family relocation, and the one most commonly underestimated. Singapore’s best international schools operate near capacity year-round, with waiting lists for popular year groups stretching twelve to eighteen months at certain campuses.
International schools
Most families relocating to Singapore for a short-term or mid-term assignment choose international schools. Fees in 2026 range from approximately SGD 26,000 to SGD 54,000 per year depending on school, year group, and curriculum (IB, British, American, French). Budget for additional one-off enrolment fees of SGD 3,000 to SGD 5,000 per school, plus annual extras (uniform, bus, meals) of approximately SGD 4,000 to SGD 7,000. Popular international schools include the Singapore American School, United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA), Tanglin Trust School, and the Australian International School.
Children on Dependant’s Passes who enrol at an EduTrust-certified international school do not require a separate Student Pass. If your child is on another visa status or is a foreign national applying from overseas, a Student Pass from ICA’s student pass e-Service is required, and only EduTrust-certified schools may enrol Student Pass holders.
MOE local schools
Foreign children may apply to Ministry of Education (MOE) government schools, but must pass the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS), held annually in October. Non-citizen fees apply: approximately SGD 400 to SGD 600 per month at primary level for EP holders, compared to SGD 0 for Citizens. Teaching at MOE schools combines English with Mandarin as a second language, which can be demanding for children without prior Mandarin exposure. MOE schools are nonetheless an excellent integration pathway for families planning to stay in Singapore long-term and apply for PR.
Step 3: Housing
Singapore’s rental market has stabilised since its post-pandemic peak but remains materially above 2019 levels. EP holders and their families almost universally live in private condominiums — HDB flat rentals are restricted to certain nationality and quota conditions that often exclude newly arrived EP holders.
Indicative monthly rental costs for a private condominium in 2026 (unfurnished, excluding utilities):
| Configuration | Central/Core CBD | Mid-range (East/West/North) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-bedroom (45–55 m²) | SGD 3,500–5,000 | SGD 2,800–3,800 |
| 2-bedroom (75–90 m²) | SGD 5,500–8,000 | SGD 3,800–5,500 |
| 3-bedroom (120–150 m²) | SGD 8,000–14,000 | SGD 5,000–8,000 |
| 4-bedroom (180–250 m²) | SGD 12,000–22,000 | SGD 7,500–13,000 |
Leases are typically signed for 12 or 24 months. A security deposit of two months’ rent is standard (one month for 12-month leases at some landlords). Your EP IPA letter is accepted as proof of status for lease signing; you do not need the physical EP card. Work with a licensed property agent registered with the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA); agent fees are typically paid by the landlord (one month’s rent per year of lease).
Foreigners purchasing residential property in Singapore pay Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 60% on top of the standard Buyer’s Stamp Duty — making owner-occupancy economically unviable for most expats on EP-level salaries. Renting is standard.
Step 4: Healthcare
Singapore’s healthcare system is consistently ranked among the best in the world. For EP holders and their dependants, access to healthcare is through private insurance — MediShield Life (Singapore’s national health insurance scheme) is available only to Singapore Citizens and PRs, not to EP or Dependant’s Pass holders.
Most employers include group medical insurance in EP holder packages that covers the EP holder and, sometimes, dependants. If your employer’s policy does not cover your spouse and children, purchase a private international health insurance plan before arriving. Annual premiums for a family of four typically range from SGD 4,000 to SGD 12,000 depending on coverage, deductibles, and whether dental and outpatient coverage is included.
Public hospitals (SGH, NUH, CGH, TTSH, NKF) are excellent and accept foreign patients; without MediShield Life, you pay the full unsubsidised private rate. Polyclinics — the government’s primary care network — are significantly cheaper for day-to-day GP visits and are open to all residents regardless of pass type, but again at unsubsidised rates for non-citizens. Private GP clinics and specialist clinics are available throughout the island with no appointment delays for most specialities.
PRs are covered by MediShield Life from the date of PR grant and begin paying MediShield Life premiums. For more on what this means for your family’s finances post-PR, see our CPF for PRs and New Citizens 2026 guide.
Step 5: Hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW)
Approximately 250,000 Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs, commonly called maids or helpers) work in Singapore. For families with young children, elderly family members, or both parents working full-time, an FDW is an extremely common household arrangement and a Singapore-specific advantage unavailable in most other global cities.
Key employer obligations and costs for an FDW in 2026:
- Levy: SGD 300 per month (standard) or SGD 60 per month (concessionary, available if your household includes a child under 16, a person aged 67 or above, or a person with disabilities). Payable to MOM monthly.
- Medical insurance: Mandatory minimum SGD 60,000/year per FDW covering hospitalisation and day surgery (increased from SGD 15,000 in 2023). Employers typically pay SGD 300–500/year for this insurance.
- Security bond: SGD 5,000 security bond required at the time of issuance of the FDW’s Work Permit. Most agencies arrange an insurance-backed bond for approximately SGD 80–150 as an alternative to cash deposit.
- Monthly salary: Typically SGD 650–1,000 per month for experienced FDWs from the Philippines, Indonesia and Myanmar. Experienced helpers with specific skills (infant care, elder care, cooking) command higher salaries.
- Agency fee: First-time transfers typically involve an agency placement fee of SGD 1,500–2,500. For direct hires or transfers, fees are lower.
FDW rules, rest day requirements, and employer obligations are governed by MOM. Employers should review MOM’s FDW employer obligations page before hiring. See also our Singapore Foreign Worker Levy 2026 guide for the broader levy framework context.
Step 6: Banking and finances
Opening a Singapore bank account is straightforward for EP holders. DBS, UOB, OCBC, Standard Chartered, HSBC and Citi all open accounts for EP holders. You will need: your passport, your EP IPA letter or physical EP card (once issued), a residential address proof (your tenancy agreement is sufficient), and sometimes your employment contract.
Most banks allow EP holders to open accounts digitally or at a branch with same-day or next-day activation. DBS and POSB accounts are linked to PayNow (Singapore’s instant payment network), which is essential for daily payments to hawker centres, taxis, and service providers. Transferwise (now Wise) and Revolut are commonly used for international transfers given Singapore’s banking infrastructure’s high local convenience but high international transfer fees.
Singapore has no capital gains tax and no inheritance tax. Personal income tax is progressive from 0% to 24% for tax residents. EP holders who work in Singapore for 183 days or more in a calendar year are treated as tax residents and pay resident rates from the first dollar earned. For expats arriving mid-year, the partial-year residency rule applies. Your employer handles withholding under IRAS’ AIS (Auto-Inclusion Scheme) for most salaried employees.
Step 7: Getting around Singapore
Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network connects all major residential, commercial and industrial areas, supplemented by an extensive bus network. For families with school-age children, MRT and school buses are the primary daily commute modes. The EZ-Link card or SimplyGo contactless payment work on all public transport.
Owning a car in Singapore involves a Certificate of Entitlement (COE), which is publicly auctioned and currently costs SGD 80,000 to SGD 110,000 for a small-to-mid car category, valid for 10 years. Add vehicle purchase price, road tax, insurance and parking, and monthly car ownership costs typically exceed SGD 2,000–3,500 for a modest vehicle. Most expat families in Singapore do not own a car and use Grab (the regional Uber equivalent) instead.
Overseas driving licences can be converted to Singapore licences without a test for holders of licences from most countries. Visit One Motoring (LTA) for the conversion process.
Planning for the long term: PR and citizenship
Many families who relocate to Singapore for work end up making it a permanent home. Once you have been here for two to three years and established strong community and professional roots, a PR application becomes viable. Singapore has increased its PR intake to approximately 40,000 per year from 2026 onwards, making this the most favourable PR environment in over a decade. For a full guide to the PR application process, ICA’s holistic assessment, and the path from PR to citizenship, see our Complete Singapore PR Application Guide 2026.
For families coming from Dubai, we also have a dedicated guide on the specific tax reset, visa strategy and schooling decisions involved in a Dubai to Singapore Relocation in 2026.
If your company is also incorporating in Singapore or setting up a regional office, our colleagues at Raffles Corporate Services handle Singapore company incorporation, corporate secretarial services, payroll, accounting and tax for businesses of all sizes. LBEA and RCS regularly work together on end-to-end corporate relocations.
To discuss your Employment Pass application, Dependant’s Pass strategy, or PR pathway as part of your Singapore relocation, contact Singapore Employment Agency — Little Big Employment Agency’s licensed employment and immigration advisory service (MOM Licence No. 19C9790).
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency