A Dependant Pass (DP) visa, is a temporary relocation visa given to the family of a foreigner who is working in Singapore and holding a work pass of type Employment Pass, Entrepreneur Pass, or S Pass. A Dependent Pass holder’s status in Singapore is tied to the work pass holder. As long as the work pass holder is gainfully employed in Singapore, the DP holder is eligible to live in the country as well as leave and enter Singapore freely without having to apply for a Singapore visa every time.
DP Eligibility Requirements
Spouse and unmarried children below 21 years age (including legally adapted) of work visa holders (Employment Pass, EntrePass, PEP, or S pass holders) are eligible to apply for Dependent Pass visa. If an EP holder’s baby is born in Singapore, the parent will receive a letter from the hospital. This letter should be submitted to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, which will issue the baby with a Social Visit Pass valid for 42 days. Within this time, the EP holder must apply for the baby’s Dependant’s Pass. While Fiancée of an EP holder is not eligible to apply for Dependent Pass, she is eligible to apply for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP).
Employment Eligibility For DP Holders
You are allowed to work in Singapore as a DP holder (except if your EP holder is an S pass holder) as long as your potential employer is willing to apply for a Letter of Consent (LOC). The employer should complete the Letter of Consent Application Form (a simple one page form), which can be downloaded from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website, and submit the application via fax or by post to MOM. It takes about three weeks to receive the result of your DP visa application and usually the result is positive especially when economy is doing well . The Letter of Consent expires at the same time as your Dependant Pass; therefore you should renew the LOC whenever your DP is renewed.
Studying For DP Holders
Children on Dependant Pass can enroll either in local or international K-12 schools in Singapore without the need to apply for a student visa. However Dependent Pass holders are required to apply for student visa if they wish to pursue post-secondary education in Singapore and the duration of the course is longer than the duration of the Dependent Pass visa.
Application Procedure & Timeline
The DP visa application and the supporting documents can be submitted together with the Employment Pass application or separately at a later time. Just like EP application, the DP application must also be sponsored by the employer of the EP holder. The application can be submitted either online or by post. For electronic applications, the employer can go through EP Online, which is an online portal set up to efficiently process employment pass and related applications. A separate DP visa application is required for each eligible member of the family. If all the papers are in order, approval of a Dependent Pass is nothing more than a formality. If the DP application was submitted together with the EP application, the outcome will be known at the same time and the DP passes can be collected together with the Employment Pass. If the DP visa application was filed separately, for applications filed online the outcome is known in one week whereas for applications filed by post, it takes about three weeks.
Documents Required
Along with the completed Dependent Pass Application Form, the following supporting documents must be submitted:
- A copy of the personal particulars page of passport.
- For spouse, a copy of the official marriage certificate.
- For child, a copy of the birth certificate.
- For an adopted child, a copy of the adoption certificate.
- A recent passport-sized photo.
For children under 16, the parent should sign the DP visa form on behalf of the child. Also, certificates that are not in English must be translated by a certified translator. The original language certificate copy must also be submitted.
Approval & Collection Of Dependent Pass
Once the DP visa has been approved, an In-Principle-Approval (IPA) letter will be sent to the EP holder’s employer. The DP holder must be in Singapore in order to collect the pass. The DP holder can either personally visit MOM office or send an authorized representative to collect the Dependant Pass. The following documents will be required at the time of collecting the Dependent Pass:
- In-Principle-Approval letter.
- Passport with at least two blank visa pages available.
- Any other documents as requested in the IPA letter such as medical test report, embarkation/disembarkation card, etc.
Dependent Passes can be collected from MOM office from Monday to Fridays between 8am and 4pm and on Saturday before 12pm. Same day collection is possible if you submit the documents before 3pm on weekdays and 11am on Saturday. The process usually takes about three hours.
Renewal
Dependent Pass Renewal Forms will be sent to the employer together with the EP Renewal Form. Your DP will expire at the same time as your EP holder’s pass. Both can be renewed together but the DP cannot be renewed before the EP. Like the initial application, renewals can be done either through EP Online or by post. Upon successful outcome of the DP visa renewal application, a letter will be sent to the employer's address. The collection procedure is the same as the first-time application.
Permanent Residence
If you are a DP holder, you are eligible to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Singapore together with your EP holder. If the PR application of EP holder is approved, your PR application will be approved as well.
Final Thoughts
A Dependant Pass family visa is an excellent concept that allows the eligible family members of an Employment Pass holder to live in Singapore. The DP visa is flexible enough to allow you to work and study in Singapore and is also the path to eventual permanent residence, should you desire it.
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