A common-law spouse of an Employment Pass (EP) or S Pass holder in Singapore does not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass (DP). MOM’s published eligibility pages route a common-law spouse to the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP). The DP is reserved for a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including those legally adopted.
That split decides which application route a family uses. Both routes share one salary condition: the main pass holder must earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $6,000. Parents qualify for an LTVP only if the holder earns at least $12,000.
Who can sponsor family members
According to MOM, the main pass holder must:
- Hold an EP or S Pass.
- Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $6,000.
- Be sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company, usually the employer.
MOM measures that $6,000 on the pass holder’s own salary. Combined household income does not count.
The employer or an appointed employment agent submits the family application. It can be filed together with the main work pass application, or separately later.
Dependant’s Pass: the legally married route
The DP covers:
- A legally married spouse.
- Unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children.
MOM’s published DP eligibility page does not list a common-law or de facto relationship as a qualifying basis.
Long-Term Visit Pass: common-law spouse and other relatives
The LTVP covers the family members outside the DP scope:
- Common-law spouse.
- Unmarried step-children under 21.
- Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above.
- Parents — only where the pass holder earns a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000.
The LTVP is tied to the main work pass. MOM states the duration is the shorter of the main pass validity or the period requested, and the pass can be renewed. No foreign worker levy or quota applies to the LTVP. MOM notes that eligible LTVP holders may be able to work in Singapore, on conditions it sets out separately.
Salary thresholds: family pass versus main pass
The $6,000 family threshold is separate from the salary required for the main EP or S Pass itself.
For an EP, MOM’s Stage 1 qualifying salary starts at $5,600 for all sectors except financial services, rising with age to $10,700 at 45 and above. In financial services it starts at $6,200 and rises to $11,800. From 1 January 2027, for new applications, the minimum rises to $6,000 (all sectors except financial services) and $6,600 (financial services), with the age-scaled ceilings moving to $11,500 and $12,700. Renewals of passes expiring before 1 January 2028 stay on the current table.
For an S Pass, the current minimum qualifying salary is $3,300, rising with age to $4,800 at 45 and above, or $3,800 to $5,650 in financial services. From 1 January 2027, for new applications, the minimum becomes $3,600 (all sectors except financial services) and $4,000 (financial services).
Because the family threshold is a flat $6,000, the pass type and the holder’s own salary together determine which relative can be sponsored. A holder at exactly $6,000 can sponsor a legally married spouse or a young child for a DP, or a common-law spouse for an LTVP. Parents remain out of reach until the holder reaches $12,000.
Preparation sequence for employers
The following is operational advice, not an MOM rule.
First, confirm the main pass holder’s fixed monthly salary meets $6,000. Second, confirm the family member’s category matches the DP or LTVP scope. Third, check whether the main pass holder applied as an overseas intra-corporate transferee under WTO GATS or an applicable FTA. Fourth, have the employer or appointed agent prepare a separate application for each family member. Fifth, submit the family application with the main pass application or separately. Sixth, wait for the in-principle approval letter before the family member travels. Seventh, get the pass issued after arrival. Eighth, register fingerprints and photo if required. Ninth, receive the pass card at the address provided five working days after registration or document verification.
One exclusion to check early
MOM states that family members of EP holders who applied as an overseas intra-corporate transferee under WTO GATS or an applicable FTA are not eligible for a DP or LTVP, except where specifically covered by the applicable FTA and meeting the prevailing criteria. Employers should settle this point before submitting an application.
What MOM’s published pages do not state
MOM’s public eligibility pages describe who qualifies and the salary thresholds. They do not publish a checklist of specific relationship-evidence items for a common-law spouse. They also do not publish weighted scoring, quotas, or processing-time commitments for family pass applications. Applicants who need the document list should use the LTVP and DP “documents required” pages rather than rely on anything not on an official page.
