Relocating to Singapore: Types of Employment and Family Passes

Written by: Marissa Saini

Whether you’re hiring foreign talents to work in Singapore individually or along with their entire family, it is important to know the necessary paperwork needed when relocating to Singapore. Foreign professionals can only work and live in Singapore if they hold a valid pass issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).

In this article, we’ll explain the different employment passes you need to process as well as the necessary family passes when moving to Singapore with their spouse and/or children.

Singapore Work Passes

The different work passes in Singapore are split into two main categories:

• Professionals
• Skilled and semi-skilled workers

You need to take note that only foreign talents who hold a pass under the professional category and/or earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000 based on salary, and not based on combined household income can move to Singapore with their family.

Who is eligible for the pass for professionals?

Foreign professionals, managers, and executives who intend to work in Singapore are eligible for an Employment Pass.

The Employment Pass is for foreign professionals who:

• Have a job offer in Singapore.
• Work in a managerial, executive or specialised job.
• Earn a fixed monthly salary of at least $3,600 (older, more experienced candidates need higher salaries).
• Have acceptable qualifications, usually a good university degree, professional qualifications or specialised skills.

What are the different types of Employment Pass?

The employee’s monthly income determines which pass they are eligible for.

There are three categories for Employment Pass:

Family Passes

There are four pass types for families, namely Dependant’s Pass, Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP), Pre-approved Level of Consent (PLOC), and Letter of Consent (LOC).

1. Dependant’s Pass

The Dependant’s Pass allows the immediate family member of the pass holder to reside in Singapore together. To be eligible for this pass, the dependant should be the pass holder’s legally married spouse and/or unmarried children who are under the age of 21.

The foreign professionals can apply for a Dependant’s Pass for their family if they meet these requirements:

• Hold an Employment Pass or S Pass.
• Earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $6,000.
• Are sponsored by an established, Singapore-registered company (usually the employer).

2. Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP)

LTVP allows the family of a P1 or P2 Employment Pass holder to reside in Singapore together with the employment pass holder.

The pass is eligible for:

• Common-law spouse
• Children with disabilities aged 21 and above
• Stepchildren under 21 years old
• Parent or parent-in-law eligible only for employees earning a monthly salary starting from $12,000

3. Letter of Consent

There are two categories;

Pre-approved Letter of Consent (PLOC)

PLOC is for eligible non-citizen/foreign spouses or children of a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident who is holding or eligible for an LTVP. This pre-approves the holder to work in Singapore.

To apply, one needs to be applying for or in the process of renewing the LTVP.

Letter of Consent (LOC)

In contrast to PLOC, the employer needs to apply for the LOC, for eligible spouses or children of Employment Pass Holders with a Dependant’s Pass or an LTVP from the ICA. This allows the holder to work in Singapore.

As the recruiter or HR personnel, it’s vital to know the right documents as navigating the visa and immigration process is not something to take lightly. Consult this list closely to ensure the relocation goes off without a hitch.

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Sources: gov.sg, MOM – Work Passes