Complete Guide to Singapore Dependent Pass

If you already have an employment pass in Singapore, you will undoubtedly be willing to bring your family to Singapore with you. A dependent pass is one of those passes that enable you to bring your family member to Singapore ( i.e., only close relatives).

With the DP holders, one gets the permit to work and live in Singapore. Here in this comprehensive guide, you will get complete information about the Singapore dependent pass and what you need to do to get this pass.

What is a Dependent pass (DP)?

Singapore dependent pass is defined as a type of visa pass that allows you to work and live in Singapore. But, this pass can be issued only to the immediate family members of the current Singapore work pass holder, which includes an S pass, personalized employment pass holders, entre pass, and employment pass.

But, even if you have a work pass, you still need to meet some of the salary requirements to get liable for the dependent pass for your family members.

If you are successfully settled and living in Singapore enjoying a highly paid job, then you would be surely willing to welcome your most close family member to Singapore( spouse, kids) to live with you. But, of course, this can only be possible if you have the dependent pass.

Bringing your family members to Singapore through the dependent pass is not for those who are the domestic maid work pass or worker work pass holder.

Key facts about the Singapore dependent pass

• If you have a dependent pass, you won’t have to apply for any separate Singapore entry visa as the dependent pass holder can enter and leave Singapore when required.
• A dependent pass is valid until your work pass’s validity, as your dependent pass is based on your work pass.
• Not everyone is permitted to apply for the dependent pass. For example, this pass can only be applied by the authorized employment agent or a work pass holder such as corporate services provider.
• The one who has the ownership of the dependent pass are allowed to use live and work in Singapore. However, the holder also gets the LOC from the ministry of manpower (MOM) Singapore.
• The renewal period of this pass is up to 6 months in advance, accompanied by its employment pass on behalf of which the dependent pass was issued.

Who can apply for a Dependent Pass (DP)?

Only the immediate family members such as Employment Pass (EP), Entre Pass, S Pass, and Personalized Employment Pass Holders gets eligible apply for Dependent Pass (DP):

Now the question is who are the one eligible to for getting a dependent pass. Then the family member of the work pass holder such as personalized employment pass, S Pass, EntrePass, and employment pass holder are eligible to apply for the dependent pass:

• Children – Children who are unmarried and are less than 21 years of age (required to show the birth certificate along with both the parent’s name)
• Legally adopted children’s with less than 21 years of age also gets eligible to apply for the dependent pass( but they required to show the valid adoption certificate and the details of parents/guardian)
• Spouse – Should be legally married (required to show the marriage certificate).

Point to remember: A common law pass (i.e., live-in relationship) with the Singapore main pass holder did not qualify to apply for the dependent pass. Moreover, they are liable to receive the Long term social visit pass (LTSVP) if they follow the several terms and conditions set by the Singapore government. You can also refer to the Singapore translator to Translate Long Term Visit Pass in your preferred language.

Newborn baby in Singapore

If the baby is born in Singapore, the hospital authority provides the live birth notification and an advisory note from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (IMA). All these provided documents enable you to register the birth certificate. Also, you can call it a special pass that enables your newborn bay to stay in Singapore for six weeks.

With these six weeks, the guardian/parents of the newborn baby must get the baby’s passport from the high commission or embassy. Hence, with this, the newborn child will get the citizenship of that country where his/her parents belong. It is not like that if the baby is taking birth in Singapore, they will automatically get the citizenship of Singapore. To obtain Singapore citizenship, one of the parents of the child should be a Singapore citizen.

What are the eligibility requirements Dependent pass (DP)?

If you are a work pass holder and working for any employer in Singapore 

• Your fixed monthly salary should be at least S$6,000 to get liable to bring your immediate family member like your spouse and children to Singapore. 

If you are a personal employment pass-holder 

• There is no special or additional personal employment requirement for the dependent pass, as PEP criteria cover all the requirements for a dependent pass. 

Documents needed for the Dependent pass (DP) application?

To obtain a dependent pass, your employment company or agent sponsor will need to submit the documents to the authority along with the Singapore dependent pass application. Also, you will require Cheap Translation Services to make sure that you are submitting the right documents. 

Some of them are as follows:

• The correct name of the dependent should fill the Singapore dependent pass application. 
• Physical copy of the particular personal page accompanies by the work pass holder’s passport. 

Some of the additional physical copy of the required documents as proof of relation:

• Birth certificate (for children)
• Adoption certificate (For adopted child)
• Official marriage certificate ( for spouse)
• Complete details of the education or any of the educational certificates;
• Registration documents in a school or any of the educational institutions in Singapore. 
• Salary proof of the most recent employment in Singapore, if any. 

Addition points to remember:

• Documents and certificates in the English language have to be translated by the Certified Translation Services provider. After translation, you should submit it with an original copy. 
• The children’s application form will less than 16 years of age needs to be signed by the parents on their behalf. 

Application Procedure for DP Singapore

Either an employment agent or a Singapore company applies for your dependent pass on your behalf. Some of the steps by step application procedure of Dependent pass Singapore are as follows:

Step 1. Submit Completed Application

• The first step in submitting the dependent pass application is using the EP online for the dependents of employment pass holders or S pass holders.
• And manually for the dependents of S Pass and personalized employment pass holders and EntrePass.
• You have to pay S$70 as an application fee.
• The time taken by the MOM to process the application is three weeks.

Step 2. Approval Letter by MOM

If your application gets approved, You will receive an In-principle Approval Letter( IPA) from MOM through EP Online. After receiving the letter, the applicants need to visit Singapore and request the issuance of DP.

Step 3. Issue the DP Card

The applying should be present in Singapore for issuing the DP card. As you need to submit few documents using EP Online:

For the issuance of the Dependent pass, the applying candidate needs to be in Singapore. As they will be required to submit the few documents using EP online:

• Passport details
• Details of the short term visa or immigration pass
• Valid contact details of the person ( for email and SMS alert)
• Permanent or valid local address for the delivery of the DP card.
• Payment of Pay S$150 per person.

Some of the additional documents might ask by the ministry of manpower (MOM) :

• A completed declaration form along with the applicant’s IPA letter.
• A filled health declaration form or a medical examination.
• Embarkation/Disembarkation card.

Step 4. Notification Letter by MOM

After getting the DP card, the applicant gets a valid notification letter or can be used for up to one month. Moreover, it enables the candidates to work in Singapore. Also, they can easily move in and out of Singapore.

Step 5. Registering Fingerprints & Photo

As per the notification letter by MOM, the applicants must register the fingerprints and click the photographs. The applicants have to schedule an appointment to visit the employment pass service center.

• Dependents of the Entre Pass, PEP, or EP holders must get it done within two weeks.
• And for the dependent of the S pass holders required to complete it within one week.

Some of the additional documents that need to be carried mentioned below:

• Original passport
• Notification letter
• Appointment letter
• Required documents are included in the IPA & notification letters.

Step 6. DP Card Delivery

After getting the required documents, MOM issues a DP immediately. Thus, you get the delivery of the DP card within 4 working days.

How to appeal if the Dependent Pass (DP) application is rejected?

It rarely happens that your dependent pass gets rejected, but if it happens, then there are two possible reasons for rejection:

1) You might not have met the mentioned salary requirements

2) Not having a required document of marriage certificate or a birth certificate. 

• If the rejection happens, the employer agent or employee is required to appeal against it. Then, within three months, they have to find out the issues due to which rejection happened. Also, they have to provide new information. 
• The appealing request needs to the submitted online to the MOM, which may take up to 3 weeks to process. 

How to get renewal of dependent pass?

The validity period of the dependent pass depends on the primary Singapore work pass on which it usually depends. Therefore, it means that its renewal depends upon the renewal of the main employment pass. 

To get the renewal of the DP, the main pass holder’s employment agent or the employer has to submit a renewal application to MOM. You can apply for the renewal prior to the six months of the pass expiry date. 

In case of the dependents of the S pass, PEP or the EP holder are required to submit their DP renewal request through the EP online portal. 

And if your Dependent pass gets renews, the dependent will recieve an in-principle letter from the agency. 

How to cancel a dependent pass?

If you cancel your main pass on which your dependent pass was issued, your Dependent pass will automatically get canceled. Some of the other reason why DP holder cancels their pass:

• They might have obtained and S pass or an Employment passes. 
• They might have made their mind to leave Singapore. 
• The main work pass has obtained a permanent residency. 

The agent of the employer of the main pass holder needs to apply to the MOM for the DP cancellation. The dependent pass holder has to return the card within a week. After returning the card, the MOM will issue a short-term visit pass to leave the country. 

Replacing a Lost, Stolen, Damaged DP Card

If your dependent pass is lost, stolen, or damaged, then you should quickly get a replacement for the card. 

The main pass holder agency or any company must request to replace the card within a week. If the DP holders are foreign residents, they should notify the MOM in this regard as they will issue you the letter that will allow you to enter Singapore. 

If your DP card is stolen, your request must include the police report in English. 

FAQs for Singapore Dependent Pass

Can I start my own business in Singapore if I obtain the dependent pass?

Yes, you can. The applicant with a dependent pass gets eligible to work as a director of the Company. To do that, the DP holder needs to request for employment pass after the company’s registration. 

After you become the EP holder, you can work as a company director, and hence your dependent pass will be terminated. 

What is the validity period of the Dependent pass?

Your dependent pass is valid until your main work pass remains valid. 

How can one apply for the dependent pass( DP) card replacement? Is it free?

If you are looking for the replacement of the Dependent Pass(DP) card, you will have to submit the application to the MOM website through the EP online. No, it’s not free; the applicant needs to pay the S$60 fee if your card is damaged and S$100 fee if you have lost the card for the first time or S $300 replacement charge if you have lost the card more than a time. Remember, these fees can’t be refunded. 

Are DP holder children allowed to visit the local public schools in Singapore?

Yes, DP holder children can register in both public and private schools. Moreover, the admission depends upon the vacancies in a particular school. The school authorities admit the students in school as the priority, and the dependent pass holder gives the last priority. 

• The citizens of Singapore 
• Permanent residents and lastly 
• Dependent pass holders.