Relocating to Singapore as a family is one of the most logistically demanding moves a professional can make. The city-state rewards preparation: those who start the school search, housing hunt, and visa process in parallel — rather than sequentially — consistently report a smoother transition. Those who leave schooling and housing to after arrival often find themselves scrambling in an expensive interim situation. This guide, written for families with children and accompanying spouses, covers the complete 2026 landscape: work passes, Dependant’s Passes, international schools, housing, healthcare, Foreign Domestic Workers, banking, and the practical first-week checklist.
If you are relocating to Singapore as a family in 2026, plan to begin the process at least four months before your intended arrival date. The pass application unlocks everything else.
Step 1: Securing the Work Pass — The Legal Foundation
Without an approved work pass, you cannot sign a lease, open a bank account, or register your children for school. The Employment Pass (EP) is the most common work pass for relocating professionals. As at 2026, the qualifying salary for a new EP application is SGD 5,600 per month for most sectors and SGD 6,200 per month for Financial Services, per the Ministry of Manpower.
EP holders earning at or above the qualifying salary threshold are eligible to apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for a spouse and for unmarried children under 21. The Dependant’s Pass enables the family to accompany the EP holder in Singapore legally and — for DP holders of EP holders earning SGD 6,000 per month or more — the right to work with a Letter of Consent from an employer.
The cleanest approach is to apply for the EP and Dependant’s Passes simultaneously, or to apply for the Dependant’s Passes immediately after the EP is approved. This minimises the gap between the principal EP holder’s arrival and the family’s entry. The full process is covered in the complete Singapore Employment Pass guide for 2026.
Relocating to Singapore Family Guide 2026: Schools
For most relocating families with school-age children, international schools are the default path. Singapore’s public schools are not open to most non-citizen, non-PR children, and those who do gain access face a highly competitive admission system. The international school landscape in Singapore is extensive — with over 60 accredited institutions offering curricula ranging from the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Cambridge IGCSE to US, British, and Australian national programmes.
School Fees
International school fees in Singapore range from approximately SGD 20,000 to SGD 62,000 per child per year at established institutions, plus registration and application fees. Schools at the upper end of the range (for example, the United World College of South East Asia and the Singapore American School) are internationally recognised and have waiting lists of 6–18 months for most year groups. Apply well before your planned arrival — ideally at the same time you begin the EP process.
Admission Timelines
Many families underestimate how early international school applications must be submitted. For popular schools, the admission timeline from application to confirmed place routinely runs 6–18 months. Families targeting arrival in August (the start of the school year) should submit applications no later than the preceding October. Families arriving mid-year can often find places more readily, but popular schools may still have waiting lists year-round.
Singapore’s Local Schools and the International Student Track
Some families consider enrolling children in Singapore’s highly regarded public or government-aided schools. Entry through the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS) is available for non-citizens aged 7–16 seeking admission to Primary 2 to Secondary 4. AEIS tests are held annually in September, with a supplementary exercise in February. Performance at AEIS is strongly correlated with English and Mathematics proficiency; families from non-English-medium education systems should factor in preparation time.
Housing for Expat Families in Singapore
Singapore offers three main housing categories for relocating families: HDB public housing, private condominiums, and landed property (houses and terraced homes). Most professional families with children settle in private condominiums — particularly in the Bukit Timah, Holland Village, Novena, and Tanjong Pagar areas — for a combination of space, school proximity, and facilities. Expatriate families with school-age children typically prioritise proximity to the chosen international school over all other factors.
Rental Market in 2026
Singapore’s rental market remains firm. A 3-bedroom condominium in the core expat districts (Bukit Timah, Holland Village, Orchard, River Valley) runs SGD 7,000–12,000 per month depending on age, size, and facilities. More affordable options in Jurong West, Woodlands, and the east of the island are available from SGD 3,500–5,500 for a 3-bedroom apartment, though these typically involve longer commutes to the main international school clusters.
Lease terms are typically 12 or 24 months. Expect to pay one month’s deposit (sometimes two for shorter tenancies), with the agent’s commission typically equivalent to one month’s rent for a 2-year lease. The EP holder must have received their pass approval — or at minimum the In-Principle Approval letter — before most landlords will commit to a tenancy agreement. More information on cost of living in Singapore for expats in 2026 covers housing and accommodation costs in detail.
Can Foreigners Buy Property?
EP holders and foreigners may purchase private residential property (condominiums, apartments) in Singapore. They may not purchase HDB flats or landed property without specific approval. An Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 60% applies to foreigners purchasing residential property — a significant cost that makes renting the practical choice for most first-assignment expats. The Singapore property buying guide for foreigners covers the ABSD calculation and the purchase process in detail.
Healthcare for Relocating Families
Singapore’s healthcare system is excellent by international standards. Public hospitals and polyclinics provide subsidised healthcare for Singapore citizens and permanent residents; EP holders and their dependants access the private system or the public system at non-subsidised rates.
International Health Insurance
Most employer packages include group health insurance covering at least inpatient care. Comprehensive international health insurance for a family of four — covering inpatient, outpatient, and specialist consultations — typically costs SGD 8,000–20,000 per year depending on coverage level and pre-existing conditions. If your employer’s policy does not cover outpatient and dental, a supplemental policy is advisable. Private GP consultations in Singapore cost SGD 50–80; specialist visits SGD 150–280.
MediShield Life and MediSave
EP holders are not required to contribute to MediShield Life (Singapore’s national health insurance scheme) or MediSave. These CPF-linked schemes apply to Singapore citizens and PRs. EP holders who become Singapore PRs will begin CPF contributions — including MediSave contributions — from the month they receive PR status.
Hiring a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW)
Many families relocating to Singapore with young children choose to hire a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW, also commonly referred to as a helper or maid). Singapore has a well-established FDW programme administered by the Ministry of Manpower.
The costs associated with hiring an FDW in 2026 are as follows:
- Monthly levy: SGD 300 per month (standard rate); SGD 60 per month (concessionary rate for households with a Singapore Citizen child under 16, or an elderly person aged 67 or above in the household)
- Mandatory medical insurance: SGD 350–600 per year (as required by MOM)
- One-time placement and settling-in costs: SGD 1,500–3,500, comprising agency fees, FDW’s flight, settling-in programme fee, and medical examination on arrival
- Monthly salary: SGD 600–900 depending on nationality and experience
Total monthly cost including levy, insurance amortisation, and salary is typically SGD 1,000–1,500 per month plus meals and personal allowance. Employers are fully responsible for the FDW’s medical care, including the mandatory six-monthly medical screening (6ME).
Banking in Singapore
Opening a Singapore bank account is a straightforward but sequenced process. Banks require proof of Singapore immigration status — either the EP card itself, or (before the card is issued) the Notice of Approval and the In-Principle Approval letter — together with a residential address in Singapore, typically evidenced by a tenancy agreement.
The major retail banks in Singapore — DBS, UOB, OCBC, Standard Chartered, HSBC, and Citi — all have well-established EP-holder account opening processes. DBS and UOB have the largest ATM and branch networks and the most comprehensive digital banking platforms in Singapore. Most accounts can be opened digitally once immigration status is confirmed, without requiring an in-person branch visit.
Multi-currency accounts are particularly useful for expat families who retain financial obligations (mortgages, investments, family support) in their home country. DBS, Standard Chartered, and HSBC offer multi-currency or global account products suitable for this purpose.
Driving Licence Conversion
Driving licence holders from most countries can convert their home licence to a Singapore driving licence. The conversion process varies by country of origin:
- Holders of licences from countries with bilateral recognition agreements (including UK, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and ASEAN member states) can convert directly at the Singapore Traffic Police without a driving test
- Holders of licences from other countries (including the US, India, and most of Europe) must pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) and may need to take a driving evaluation before conversion
The full conversion process and test requirements are set out in the Singapore driving licence conversion guide for 2026. Families intending to drive in Singapore should begin this process within the first three months of arrival — you may drive on your foreign licence for 12 months, but conversion should not be left until the last moment.
Arrival Week Checklist
The practical order of events in the first week after arrival matters. A workable sequence for a relocating family:
Day 1–2: Register at the EP eService portal (if the EP card has not been collected at ICA prior to arrival). Complete the Immigration Formalities Acknowledgement for dependants on Dependant’s Passes.
Day 3–5: Sign the tenancy agreement (if not already done pre-arrival) and begin the bank account opening process with the lease as proof of address. Collect the EP card and DP cards from ICA or the designated collection point.
Week 2: Begin the school registration process. Contact the FDW agency if a helper has been arranged. Register with a private GP or family clinic in the vicinity of your home. Begin the driving licence conversion process if needed.
For companies sending employees to Singapore as part of a broader relocation or regional expansion, the JS-SEZ and cross-border employment guide covers HR considerations for those also setting up Johor operations alongside Singapore entities.
Conclusion
Relocating to Singapore with a family in 2026 is eminently manageable — but it rewards those who front-load the administrative work. The EP and Dependant’s Pass applications, the school search, and the housing search should run in parallel, not in sequence. Starting any of these four months out gives you the runway to respond to waiting lists, document requests, and accommodation availability without arriving into a half-prepared situation.
Singapore Employment Agency (Little Big Employment Agency Pte Ltd, EA Licence 19C9790) assists relocating professionals and their employers with Employment Pass applications, Dependant’s Pass applications, and the full range of MOM-licensed immigration services. For company incorporation, registered office, and end-to-end Singapore business setup, Raffles Corporate Services supports businesses and individuals at every stage of their Singapore journey.
— The Editorial Team, Little Big Employment Agency