Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders can sponsor certain family members for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) or Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) if they meet the salary and sponsorship requirements set by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Who Can Sponsor Family Members
An EP or S Pass holder must meet both conditions to sponsor family members:
- Hold a valid Employment Pass or S Pass
- Earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000
The salary threshold is based on the sponsor’s individual fixed monthly salary, not combined household income. The sponsor must also be employed by an established, Singapore-registered company (usually the employer).
Fixed monthly salary means basic salary plus fixed allowances. It excludes variable payments such as overtime, bonuses, and stock options.
Dependant’s Pass Eligibility
Family members eligible for a Dependant’s Pass:
- Legally married spouse
- Unmarried children under 21 years old, including legally adopted children
Long-Term Visit Pass Eligibility
Family members eligible for a Long-Term Visit Pass:
- Common-law spouse
- Unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above
- Unmarried step-children under 21 years old
- Parents — only if the EP holder earns at least $12,000 fixed monthly salary
S Pass holders cannot sponsor parents for LTVP; this is only available to EP holders meeting the $12,000 threshold.
Application Process
The employer (or appointed employment agent) must submit a separate application for each family member. Applications can be submitted:
- Together with the main pass (EP or S Pass) application, or
- Separately at a later date
Each application is assessed individually. The DP or LTVP duration is tied to the main pass holder’s pass validity.
Key Differences: DP vs LTVP
| Feature | Dependant’s Pass | Long-Term Visit Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible family members | Spouse, children <21 | Common-law spouse, step-children, handicapped children 21+, parents (EP only, $12k+) |
| Work authorization | Requires separate work authorization | Requires separate work authorization |
| Sponsor salary threshold | $6,000 | $6,000 (parents require $12,000 EP holder) |
Note: Holding a DP or LTVP does not automatically grant the right to work. Family members who wish to work must obtain separate work authorization. Refer to MOM’s official pages for current work authorization requirements for DP/LTVP holders.
Salary Thresholds for Main Pass Holders
Employment Pass
- All sectors (except financial services): $5,600 minimum, rising progressively with age to $10,700 at age 45+
- Financial services: $6,200 minimum, rising progressively with age to $11,800 at age 45+
- From 1 Jan 2027 (new applications) / 1 Jan 2028 (renewals): Minimums increase to $6,000 / $6,600 respectively, with age progression to $11,500 / $12,700 at 45+
S Pass
- All sectors (except financial services): $3,300 minimum, rising progressively with age to $4,800 at age 45+
- Financial services: $3,800 minimum, rising progressively with age to $5,650 at age 45+
- From 1 Jan 2027 (new applications) / 1 Jan 2028 (renewals): Minimums increase to $3,600 / $4,000 respectively, with age progression to $5,100 / $5,650 at 45+
Important: The $6,000 family sponsorship threshold is separate from the EP/S Pass qualifying salary. A pass holder may qualify for their own pass at a lower salary but cannot sponsor family members until reaching $6,000 fixed monthly salary.
S Pass Additional Requirements
Employers of S Pass holders must also comply with:
- Dependency Ratio Ceiling (quota): Maximum ratio of foreign workers to total workforce varies by sector (Services: 35%, Manufacturing: 60%, Construction/Process: 83.3%, Marine shipyard: 75%)
- S Pass sub-quota: Capped at 10% of total workforce in Services; 15% in other sectors
- Monthly levy: $650 per S Pass holder (harmonized across all sectors since 1 Sep 2025)
- Medical insurance: Mandatory for all S Pass holders
- Primary Care Plan (PCP): Required for workers in dormitories (7+ occupants) or Construction, Marine, Process (CMP) sectors
EP holders are not subject to quota or levy.
