Dependant’s Pass / Letter of Consent

All foreigners intending to start work in Singapore must obtain a valid work visa to do so. There are many types of work visas, each with specific rules and regulations governed by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

	New Application	Renewals
Online Application for Dependant Pass Exclude MOM Application & Issuance Fee @ $335	$400	$300
Application for Letter of Consent (including Appeal Process)	$400	$300

The fee quoted above are excluding GST and any out-of-pocket expenses.

Visa	Minimum Salary	Requirements
Entrepreneur Pass	N/A	Entrepreneurs looking to relocate and start a business in Singapore
Work Permit	N/A	Semi-skilled foreign workers from approved source countries working in the construction, manufacturing, service, process, or marine shipyard sector
S Pass	$2,300	Holds a degree, diploma or technical certificate with basic requirement of at least 1 year of full-time study and relevant work experience
Employment Pass	$3,600	Professional, manager or executive roles
Dependent’s Pass	N/A	Spouse or children of Employment Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, S Pass and EntrePass holders

A Singapore Dependant’s Pass (DP) is a visa issued to certain family members of Employment Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, S Pass and EntrePass holders.

A Dependant’s Pass is usually valid for up to 2 years, depending on the validity of the main work pass.

Employment Pass and S Pass holders must fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible to apply for a Dependant’s Pass for their family members:

• Earn a fixed monthly salary of $6,000 or more.
• Sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company

For EntrePass holders, read the requirements here that must be fulfilled in order to be eligible for a Dependant’s Pass application.

If the pass holder meets the above requirements, the following family members are eligible to apply for a Dependant’s Pass:

• Legally married spouse
• Unmarried children under the age of 21, including children who are legally adopted

Note: Other family members not listed may be eligible for a Long Term Visit Pass instead.

The following documents are required for the application of Dependant’s Pass:

• A completed Dependant’s Pass application form
• Copy of the personal particulars page of the dependant’s passport
• A recent passport sized photo
• Copy of the marriage certificate (for legally married spouse)
• Copy of the parent’s passport personal particulars page (for children)
• Copy of birth certificate (for children)
• Copy of adoption order (if the child is legally adopted)
• Verification of Vaccination Requirements (for children)

Note: all documents must be in English or with an English translation done by a certified translation body.

A Dependant’s Pass application will be processed within 3 weeks (if applied online) to 8 weeks (if applied manually), unless additional information is required.

The application procedure is as follows:

1. The application is submitted, along with its supporting documents. It can be submitted along with the main pass holder’s pass application or at a later date. Each family member will have to submit a separate application. Dependants of Sponsorship Employment Pass, Personalised Employment Pass (PEP) or EntrePass holders must submit a manual application.
2. Upon approval, an in-principle approval (IPA) letter will be issued. It serves as a pre-approved single entry visa for the dependant to enter Singapore.
3. The dependant must visit Singapore within 2 months (for dependants of S Pass holder) or 6 months (for dependants of Employment Pass holder) to request for the issuing of Dependant’s Pass.
4. Upon receiving the notification letter confirming the issuance of Dependant’s Pass, the dependant must register his or her fingerprints and complete photo-taking at the stated MOM centre.
5. Upon registration, the Dependant’s Pass will be delivered within 4 working days.

In the event that the Dependant’s Pass application is unsuccessful, the applicant can file an appeal within 90 days of the rejection notice. The appeal will take at least 3 weeks to process.

Note: Please do not hesitate to bring your situation to us in the case of a rejection. Timcole, a professional firm with vast experience in work-pass services, can assist in investigating why your Dependant’s Pass application is unsuccessful. Based on the reasons provided by the MOM, we will refine your application and submit an appeal on your behalf.

Eligible Employment Pass and S Pass holders can make a request to their companies to apply for a Dependant’s Pass for their babies born in Singapore.

After the baby is born, the hospital will provide the parent with a Notification of Live Birth and Advisory Note from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). The advisory note serves as a Special Pass for the newborn to stay in Singapore for 6 weeks. Within the time period, a birth certificate and passport must be applied.

When the newborn’s passport is ready, the pass holder can make a request to their employer for the application of a Dependant’s Pass. If the passport is not yet ready for collection by 6 weeks, a request for the extension of the newborn’s Special Pass should also be made.

In the event that the Dependant’s Pass application for the newborn is unsuccessful, the pass holder should proceed with one of the following options:

• Ensure that the newborn leaves Singapore before the Special Pass expires.
• Apply a visit pass from the ICA for the newborn.

A Dependant’s Pass can be renewed six months before it expires. The processing will take 3 weeks (if applied online) to 8 weeks (if applied manually for dependants of EP sponsorship and EntrePass holders).

Note: The MOM must receive the renewal application at least 2 weeks before the pass’s expiry date. Otherwise, the pass holder will be required to apply for a new pass.

Upon approval, the validity of the renewed pass depends on the validity of the main pass holder.

Renewals are not guaranteed and each application is evaluated against the MOM current eligibility criteria. It is highly recommended to apply early.

To renew a Dependant’s Pass:

1. Submit the application renewal along with its supporting documents.
2. Upon approval, an In-Principle Approval (IPA) letter will be received.
3. Follow the instructions in the IPA to apply for the issuing of the pass.
4. Receive a notification letter which determines whether a new pass will be issued or to continue using the existing card.

The Dependant’s Pass holder must notify MOM of the following changes:

• Change in residential address
• Change in personal particulars
  • Name
  • Nationality
  • Date of birth
  • Marital status
  • Gender
  • Country of birth or origin
  • Malaysian ID details

The Dependant’s Pass holder must apply for a new card within one week if the card is lost, damaged or stolen. If the Dependant’s Pass card was stolen, a police report must also be included in the application.

If the Dependant’s Pass holder is overseas during the event, he or she must notify MOM immediately and a letter will be issued for the pass holder to enter Singapore.

A charge will be made for the card replacement. For a damaged card, the cost will be S$60 and for a lost card, the cost is S$100 for the first loss and S$300 for any subsequent loss.

Upon approval, the new Dependant’s Pass card can be collected within 4 working days.

The Dependant’s Pass holder must cancel the pass if:

• The main pass holder has become a Singapore permanent resident.
• The Dependant’s Pass holder is leaving Singapore to reside in another country.

If the Dependant’s Pass holder has already left Singapore permanently before the cancellation, the pass must be cancelled within one week from the pass holder’s date of departure.

The cancellation is immediate and any related Letter of Consent or Work Permit will be automatically cancelled.

Upon cancellation, the Dependant’s Pass card must be returned to the following address through mailing:

Work Pass Division, Ministry of Manpower, 18 Havelock Road, Singapore 059764

Dependant’s Pass holders can apply for permanent residence together with the main work pass holder. If the main work pass holder’s PR application is approved, so will the PR application for the Dependant’s Pass holder.

Child Dependant’s Pass holders do not need to apply for a student visa in order to study in Singapore. They have the option to enroll in a local or international school, though local school will give priorities to Singapore citizens and permanent residents.

Adult Dependant’s Pass holders who wish to pursue higher education in Singapore will require a student visa to do so.

Dependant’s Pass holders who wish to work in Singapore must gain approval from the MOM. To do so, for dependants of Employment Pass, Personalised Employment Pass and EntrePass holders, potential employers must apply for a Letter of Consent. For dependants of S Pass holders, potential employers must apply for a Work Permit, S Pass or Employment Pass.

Dependant’s Pass holders who have successfully applied for a Work Permit, Employment Pass or S Pass must cancel their original Dependant’s Pass.

The Letter of Consent serves as a working pass for eligible Dependant’s Pass, LTVP and LTVP+ holders who wish to work in Singapore. No foreign worker levy or quota is required to hire a Letter of Consent holder.

To be eligible to apply for a Letter of Consent, you must be one of the following:

• A Dependant’s Pass holder who is a dependant of an Employment, EntrePass or Personalised Employment Pass holder.
• An LTVP or LTVP+ holder who is married to a Singaporean or permanent resident.
• A child LTVP holder whose parent is a Singaporean or permanent resident.

Note: A dependant of an S Pass holder is not eligible to apply for a Letter of Consent and should apply for a Work Permit, S Pass or Employment Pass instead.

Candidates who fulfil the above requirements must also have a current Singapore job offer with their LTVP, LTVP+ or Dependant’s Pass valid for at least 3 months.

Upon approval of a letter of consent, the duration granted will depend on the expiry date of the LTVP, LTVP+ or Dependant’s Pass.

A Letter of Consent application will be processed within 3 weeks (for Dependant’s Pass holders) or within 1 week (for LTVP or LTVP+ holders), unless additional information is required.

The application procedure is as follows:

1. The application is submitted, along with its supporting documents. A written consent from the candidate will be required.
2. Upon approval, the applicant will receive a Letter of Consent.

Note: The candidate can only start work when he or she receives the Letter of Consent.

It is possible to renew a Letter of Consent and it can be renewed 6 months before it expires.

Note: LTVP and LTVP+ holders must check that their pass is valid for at least 3 months before renewing their Letter of Consent.

In the event that the Letter of Consent is lost, the pass holder or employer must notify MOM.

If the LOC holder stops working for a company, the Letter of Consent must be cancelled within 1 week after the holder’s last day of notice. The cancellation is immediate.

Before the cancellation of the Letter of Consent, the employer must:

• Seek tax clearance from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS)
• Settle any outstanding salary payment, or other employment issues

Timcole is one of the leading company incorporation and accounting firm based in Singapore. Our wide range of professional services serve as a one-stop solution for your business, offering you the most affordable price for services conducted with the highest level of excellency.

We also assist Singapore companies with work pass applications. Our extensive experience in providing work pass services can assure you a streamline process and lessen the extra work burden on your side. Contact us for a consultation today.