Aged parents and a common-law spouse enter Singapore under the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), not the Dependant’s Pass (DP). The salary you must show depends on the relative you sponsor. This article sets out the minimum fixed monthly salary MOM applies to Employment Pass (EP) and S Pass holders who bring these family members in.
Which pass covers which family member
The pass type is fixed by the relationship. A Dependant’s Pass (DP) covers a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children. A Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) covers a common-law spouse, unmarried step-children under 21, unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above, and parents.
Both EP and S Pass holders who meet the salary rule can sponsor these relatives. The sponsor must be sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company, usually the employer.
Salary threshold for a common-law spouse: $6,000
A common-law spouse requires a Long-Term Visit Pass. The sponsoring EP or S Pass holder must earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000.
This $6,000 floor applies to both EP and S Pass holders. It is measured on your own salary, not the combined income of the household.
Salary threshold for aged parents: $12,000, EP only
Parents can only come in on a Long-Term Visit Pass. The rule is narrow: only an EP holder earning a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000 may sponsor parents.
The Long-Term Visit Pass for parents requires a fixed monthly salary of at least $12,000 from an eligible Employment Pass or S Pass holder.
Salary threshold for step-children and other LTVP relatives: $6,000
Unmarried step-children under 21 and unmarried handicapped children aged 21 and above also enter on the LTVP. The sponsoring EP or S Pass holder must earn at least $6,000 a month.
The $6,000 rule for these relatives matches the floor for a common-law spouse. It is tested on the sponsor’s individual salary.
What the $6,000 floor also unlocks
The same $6,000 minimum that supports an LTVP for a common-law spouse also supports a Dependant’s Pass for a legally married spouse and for unmarried children under 21. The DP and the LTVP share the $6,000 salary base for EP and S Pass holders.
Parents remain the exception. They require the higher $12,000 figure and an EP, with no DP route available.
Who can be the sponsor
The sponsor must hold a valid Employment Pass or S Pass. The sponsor must also be sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company, typically the employer.
The salary threshold is based on the sponsor’s salary, not the combined household income. If the sponsor changes employer or pass, the family passes must be re-established against the new sponsor and salary evidence.
How to apply
The employer or an appointed employment agent lodges the family pass applications. A separate application is required for each family member.
The LTVP application can be submitted together with the main EP or S Pass application, or separately at a later date. For parents, the $12,000 salary must be met by the EP holder when the application is made.
Duration and renewal
An LTVP’s duration is tied to the validity of the main work pass, or up to the duration requested, whichever is shorter. The pass is renewable.
LTVP holders may be eligible to work in Singapore under the relevant rules. No foreign worker levy or quota applies to the LTVP itself.
