Singapore DP and LTVP guide

If you hold a Singapore work pass and want your family to live with you, a short visit visa is not the right tool because it is intended for short stays. For family to settle for the longer term, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) issues two passes: the Dependant's Pass (DP) for immediate family, and the Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) for relatives who fall outside the DP rules.

Both are sponsored by the work-pass holder and applied for by the employer or an appointed agent. Eligibility hinges on who you are bringing and whether the sponsor meets MOM's current pass and salary conditions, which should be confirmed on mom.gov.sg before relying on any saved summary.

The Dependant's Pass is for the immediate family of eligible Employment Pass, S Pass or EntrePass holders: a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children. To sponsor a DP, the work-pass holder generally has to meet MOM's prevailing salary and pass conditions.

Who it does not cover matters just as much. Common-law or unmarried partners, stepchildren, parents and in-laws, and children aged 21 or over are not eligible for a DP. Where eligibility exists, they use the LTVP route instead.

The LTVP covers family members who do not qualify for a DP but meet MOM's criteria. Examples include a common-law spouse, a stepchild or handicapped child, or, where the work-pass holder earns enough, a parent. The salary bar for sponsoring parents is higher than for a spouse, and approval is assessed strictly against the documents provided.

An important limitation: an LTVP does not by itself allow the holder to work. Taking up employment requires a separate authorisation or work pass.

The work-pass holder's employer or an appointed agent submits the DP or LTVP application to MOM. If it is approved, MOM issues an In-Principle Approval; the family member travels to Singapore and completes issuance, after which the pass card is delivered. MOM currently separates timing by sponsor type: dependants of EP or S Pass holders are usually handled faster than dependants of EP (Sponsorship), PEP or EntrePass holders. Verify the latest processing times on mom.gov.sg before making travel plans.

A DP holder who wants to work needs their own work pass; the previous Letter of Consent route has been replaced, so an employer arranges the appropriate pass through MOM. The family pass and the right to work are separate questions. Holding a DP does not on its own permit employment.

Salary thresholds, eligible relationships and processing times can change, and they affect whether an application succeeds. The authoritative source is MOM's Dependant's Pass and LTVP guidance, not a forum post or an old summary. Use this page to understand the options, then verify your exact case on mom.gov.sg.