Dependant’s Pass: who can apply and the salary threshold
Employment Pass (EP) holders with a fixed monthly salary of S$6,000 may apply for a Dependant’s Pass (DP) for a lawful spouse and unmarried children under 21 (including legally adopted children).
The sponsoring company must be a registered, actively operating entity in Singapore (normally the EP holder’s employer).
Official pages: DP eligibility and EP family passes overview.
Long-Term Visit Pass: who it covers and the higher salary line
The same EP holder (fixed monthly salary ≥ S$6,000) may apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for the following relatives:
- Non-lawful spouse
- Unmarried disabled children above 21
- Unmarried stepchildren under 21
- Parents — only if the EP holder’s fixed monthly salary is ≥ S$12,000
Official pages: LTVP eligibility and LTVP key facts.
The two-stage EP framework: salary threshold + COMPASS points
Stage 1: EP qualifying salary (rising with age)
| Sector | Current minimum salary from 2025 (age 23) | Age 45 and above | New applications/renewals minimum salary from 2027 (age 23) | Age 45 and above |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-financial services | S$5,600 | S$10,700 | S$6,000 | S$11,500 |
| Financial services | S$6,200 | S$11,800 | S$6,600 | S$12,700 |
Salaries rise year by year with age; the full breakdown is at EP eligibility.
Failing Stage 1 salary alone disqualifies the EP application, regardless of COMPASS score.
Stage 2: COMPASS (Complementarity Assessment Framework) points system (need ≥ 40 points)
Four foundational criteria (C1–C4) + two bonus criteria (C5, C6):
| Criterion | Core rule | Max points |
|---|---|---|
| C1 Salary | Candidate’s fixed monthly salary vs same-sector, same-age local PMET percentile | 20 |
| C2 Qualifications | Degree from a top-100 global university / Singapore autonomous university = 20 points; other recognised bachelor’s degree = 10 points; no degree = 0 points | 20 |
| C3 Diversity | Company PMET headcount < 25 = default 10 points; ≥ 25 scored by candidate’s nationality share (<5% = 20, 5% to under 25% = 10, ≥25% = 0) | 20 |
| C4 Support for local employment | Company PMET headcount < 25 = default 10 points; ≥ 25 scored by local PMET share vs sector percentile (≥50th percentile = 20, 20th to under 50th percentile = 10, <20th percentile = 0) | 20 |
| C5 Skills bonus (SOL) | Role on the Shortage Occupation List and candidate’s nationality share < 1/3 = 20 points; ≥ 1/3 = 10 points | 20 |
| C6 Strategic economic priorities | Participation in an eligible government partnership programme = 10 points, for up to 3 years | 10 |
COMPASS exemption: fixed monthly salary ≥ S$22,500, intra-corporate transferee, or employment of 1 month or less.
Official page: EP eligibility and COMPASS details.
EP key facts at a glance
- Who it is for: Foreign professionals, managers and executives with a Singapore job offer
- Applicant: Employer or appointed employment agent (overseas companies need a local sponsor)
- Pass duration: First issue up to 2 years, renewal up to 3 years; senior talent in shortage skills roles up to 5 years
- Renewable: Yes
- Medical insurance: Voluntary for employer
- No foreign worker levy, no quota
- Related legislation: Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, Employment Pass Conditions
Official page: EP key facts.
EP holders applying for permanent resident (PR): eligibility, fees, processing time
Eligibility: Holding an EP or S Pass allows you to submit a PR application to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on your own.
Assessment factors: Family ties, economic contribution, qualifications, age, household profile, length of residence and similar factors; the authorities publish no weighting or quota for each factor.
Fees:
- On submission: S$100 per person
- On approval: S$20 entry permit + S$50 five-year Re-Entry Permit (REP) + S$50 identity card
Processing time: About 6 months with complete documents; individual cases may take longer.
National Service (NS) liability: All male PR applicants approved (including those sponsored by parents or approved as students) must serve; deferment is not allowed at the university stage.
Official page: ICA PR application.
PR to citizenship: eligibility, fees, processing time
Eligibility:
- PR for ≥ 2 years and aged 21 or above (may apply together with spouse and unmarried children under 21)
- PR for ≥ 2 years and married to a Singapore citizen for ≥ 2 years
- Unmarried children under 21 (legitimate or adopted), with one parent a citizen
- PR student studying in Singapore, residing > 3 years (including ≥ 1 year as PR), and having passed at least one national exam or completed the Integrated Programme
- Aged parents (child is a citizen and ≥ 21 years old)
Fees:
- Adult PR and their children: S$100 on submission, on approval S$70 citizenship certificate + S$10 identity card (age 15 and above)
- Citizen child born overseas: S$18 on submission (including citizenship certificate), S$10 identity card on approval
Processing time: Adult about 12 months; citizen child born overseas about 1 month.
After approval: Those aged 16–60 must complete the compulsory Singapore Citizenship Journey.
Official page: ICA citizenship application.
Practical steps for readers (not official rules)
- Check the EP holder’s last 6 months of payslips to confirm the fixed monthly salary meets S$6,000 (for DP/LTVP) or S$12,000 (for parents’ LTVP).
- Use the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)‘s online SAT (Self-Assessment Tool) to preview EP and COMPASS outcomes before deciding whether to file a formal application.
- Arrange qualification verification early: C2 requires qualification certificates and verification documents; qualifications from mainland China go through CHSI, Taiwan through Ministry of Education verification, Hong Kong are mostly recognised but private institutions may need extra verification.
- Align dependants’ status: DP/LTVP validity follows the main pass; when the main pass is renewed or changed, submit the dependants’ renewal/change applications together to avoid a status gap.
- PR planning: EP holders may apply for PR after 6 months; keep complete CPF (Central Provident Fund) contribution records and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) tax payment records as proof of economic contribution.
- Male applicants must read the CMPB (Central Manpower Base) website’s National Service guidance before deciding whether to start a PR/citizenship application.
