Singapore Dependant Pass (Family Visa) Guide

A Singapore Dependant Pass (DP) is a family relocation visa issued to spouse and unmarried children (below 21 years) of foreign employees holding a work pass of type Employment Pass, Entrepreneur Pass, or S Pass. A seperate DP application must be filed for each eligible family member.

A Dependant 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.

Who can apply?

Spouse and unmarried children below 21 years age (including legally adopted) of work visa holders (Employment Pass, EntrePass, PEP, or S pass holders) are eligible to apply for Dependent Pass visa. If an Employment Pass 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 Employment Pass holder must apply for the baby’s Dependant’s Pass.

While the Fiancée of an Employment Pass holder is not eligible to apply for a Dependant Pass, the Fiancée is usually eligible to apply for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) subject to certain conditions.

Documents required

Along with the completed Dependant 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.
• Educational details of the DP applicant, if any
• School enrollment details in an educational institute in Singapore, if any
• Salary details for the most recent employment held, if any

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.

Application procedure and timeline

The Dependant Pass visa application and the supporting documents can be submitted together with the Employment Pass application or separately at a later time. Just like the Employment Pass application, the DP application must also be sponsored by the employer of the EP holder. A separate DP visa application is required for each eligible member of the family. If all paperwork is 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 at a later date, the processing time can vary between 1-3 weeks.

Once the family visa has been approved, an In-Principle-Approval (IPA) letter will be issued. The DP applicant must be in Singapore in order to collect the 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.

Renewals

Dependant Pass renewal form will be sent to the employer together with the Employment Pass renewal form. Both employment pass and dependent passes can be renewed together.

Can dependent pass holders work in Singapore?

You are allowed to work in Singapore as a DP holder (except if the 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 and submit to authorities. It takes about 2-3 weeks to receive an outcome from authorities. The Letter of Consent expires at the same time as your Dependant Pass; therefore you should renew the LOC whenever your DP is renewed.

Can dependent pass holders study in Singapore?

A child on a Dependant Pass can enroll either in local or international K-12 schools in Singapore without the need to apply for a student visa. However Dependant Pass holders are required to apply for student visa if they wish to pursue higher education in Singapore. 

Permanent residence

If you are a Dependent Pass holder, you are eligible to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Singapore together with Employment Pass holder. If the Employment Pass holder's PR application is approved, your PR application will be approved as well.

Final thoughts

A Dependant Pass family visa in Singapore is an excellent concept that allows the eligible family members of an Employment Pass holder to live in Singapore. The Dependant Pass 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.

Other Related Topics

Singapore Immigration | EntrePass | Employment Pass