Singapore Dependant's Pass (DP) 2026: Eligibility, Work Rights, LOC, Fees & Schooling

Standard D P

• Legally married spouse of an eligible EP or S Pass holder.
• Unmarried child below 21 years old, including a legally adopted child.

Common Law Spouse

A common-law spouse is generally not eligible for the standard EP/S Pass DP. Depending on the main pass category and the relationship evidence, an LTVP may be the applicable family pass.

Age Rule

The standard child DP category is for unmarried children below 21. Once a child is married or reaches the relevant age boundary, another pass or immigration arrangement may be required.

Adopted Children

Legally adopted unmarried children below 21 can qualify under the standard DP route.

Special Cases

MOM publishes separate rules for stepchildren, handicapped children aged 21 and above, parents and other family relationships under Long-Term Visit Pass or other routes.

General Rule

A DP itself is not an unrestricted work permit. A DP holder who wishes to work for an organisation needs the appropriate work authorisation.

Employment Pass

A prospective employer can apply for an Employment Pass if the DP holder independently meets the prevailing EP qualifying criteria. If an EP is issued, the person receives the work and stay privileges of the EP and no longer depends on the DP for the underlying stay.

S Pass

A prospective employer can apply for an S Pass if the DP holder meets the prevailing S Pass qualifying criteria. If an S Pass is issued, the person receives S Pass work and stay privileges and the DP should be cancelled before the S Pass is issued.

Dp Work Permit

Volunteering

A DP holder does not need a work pass for unpaid charitable volunteer activities where the activity falls within MOM's stated exemption.

Purpose

A business-owner LOC permits an eligible DP holder to operate an ACRA-registered business in Singapore. It is not a general work authorisation for a DP holder who simply wants an ordinary salaried job.

Eligible Business Owners

• Sole proprietor
• Partner
• Company director with at least 30% shareholding in the company
• Member in a Company Limited by Guarantee

First Time Rule

The DP holder must be eligible as the relevant business owner and can apply for the LOC while the DP has the required validity. MOM's published eligibility page does not make the employment of a local worker a universal first-time LOC condition.

Renewal Rule

For LOC renewal, the DP holder must have at least 3 months of DP validity remaining and the business must have hired at least one Singaporean or Permanent Resident who earns at least the prevailing Local Qualifying Salary and has received CPF contributions for at least 3 consecutive months before the renewal application.

Current Local Qualifying Salary

From 1 July 2026, the Local Qualifying Salary for a full-time local employee is S$1,800 per month. This replaced the previous S$1,600 threshold.

Loc Fee

Free.

Loc Processing

Within 4 weeks for most applications.

First Time Duration

For a first-time candidate, the LOC lasts for whichever is shorter: one year from issue or the expiry date of the DP.

Renewal Duration

Subsequent LOC renewals can run up to the expiry of the DP.

Work Start Rule

The DP holder can only start operating the business after the LOC has been approved.

Cancellation Rule

The LOC ceases to be valid when the DP is cancelled or expires or when the business is no longer active. The business owner must cancel the LOC when the business becomes inactive.

Standard Rule

For standard EP and S Pass dependants, the DP duration is tied to the validity of the main work pass or the duration requested, whichever is shorter.

Renewal

Employers can generally start applying to renew a DP up to 6 months before it expires and must apply before expiry.

E P And S Pass Application Timing

MOM currently states that most DP applications for EP and S Pass dependants are processed within 3 weeks.

P E P And Entre Pass Timing

For dependants of PEP and EntrePass holders, MOM currently states that most applications are processed within 6 weeks on the general DP application page.

One Pass Timing

For ONE Pass dependants, MOM currently states that most DP applications are processed within 4 weeks.

Important Correction

There is no universal rule that a DP is simply 'aligned up to 2 or 3 years'. The actual period depends on the applicable main-pass category, requested duration and MOM's approval.

Standard E P Or S Pass

One Pass

Newborn

A baby born in Singapore to a qualifying work-pass holder has separate ICA and immigration timing requirements. Parents should follow the current newborn instructions rather than treating the case as a normal overseas dependant application.

Standard

• Copy of the dependant's passport personal particulars page.
• For a legally married spouse, a copy of the marriage certificate.
• For an unmarried child below 21, a copy of the official birth certificate stating the parents' names.
• For an unmarried legally adopted child below 21, a copy of the adoption order or other relevant adoption documents.
• English translations where the original supporting document is not in English; MOM requires the original document and English translation to be uploaded together as one file.
• Any additional documents requested by MOM during assessment.

Vaccination

Passport Validity

The dependant's passport must meet the relevant travel and pass-issuance requirements. A universal statement that every DP passport must have exactly 6 months' validity should not replace the current MOM and entry requirements.

Document Not Universal

• A current employment contract of the main pass holder is not listed by MOM as a universal core DP document for every standard application.
• An employer's statement of fixed salary is not a substitute for MOM's actual main-pass eligibility and salary records.
• The vaccination verification document is conditional, not a document for every DP applicant.

International Schools

DP children may attend Singapore international or private schools subject to the school's own admissions requirements, available places and applicable education regulations.

Moe Schools

Holding a DP does not itself guarantee admission to a Singapore MOE school. International students who seek admission to mainstream government and government-aided schools must follow MOE's applicable admission route and meet its eligibility and placement conditions.

A E I S

AEIS is one route used by eligible international students seeking admission to Primary 2-5 or Secondary 1-3 in mainstream MOE schools for the following academic year. It is an admissions exercise rather than a DP entitlement.

Primary School

For primary-school applications, MOE's current foreign-student admissions framework and the relevant AEIS or other admissions mechanism should be checked for the child's age and intended entry level.

Secondary School

For secondary-school entry, international students may use the relevant AEIS or S-AEIS route where eligible, subject to MOE's current criteria.

Placement And Fees

MOE school admission, placement, school fees and miscellaneous fees are separate from immigration-status issuance and can depend on the student's nationality, residency status and school type.

Rule

DP-Work Permit holders are subject to the relevant Work Permit quota and levy.

Current Levy Examples

Warning

Levy tiers and quota rules can depend on sector and workforce composition. Employers should use MOM's current quota calculator rather than assume the lowest rate applies in every company.