# Dependant's Pass and the Right to Work in Singapore: EP, DP-WP and the LOC > Can a Dependant's Pass holder work in Singapore? The three lawful routes: the spouse's own EP or S Pass, the DP-Work Permit (no salary floor, quota and levy), and the narrow Letter of Consent carve-outs. Last modified: 2026-08-19T15:07:00.000Z Canonical: https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-dependant-pass-work Topics: migration Jurisdictions: singapore Semantic tags: residence-permit --- ## Concept A Dependant's Pass lets the spouse and children of an Employment Pass holder live in Singapore β€” but it is a residence instrument, not a work permit. Since the 2021 rule change, a DP holder who wants to work needs a work route of their own: their own work pass, the DP-tied work permit variant, or one of the narrow consent carve-outs. The family planner's question is which route fits the spouse's profile. > πŸ’‘ **Short answer. **No β€” a Dependant's Pass by itself does not let your spouse work in Singapore. The working routes \(MOM β€” verified 2026-08-19 at mom.gov.sg\): \(1\) the spouse's own Employment Pass or S Pass against the ordinary criteria β€” the DP is then cancelled and their stay no longer depends on yours; \(2\) the DP-Work Permit \(DP-WP\): no minimum qualifying salary, validity tied to the DP, subject to sector quota and levy; \(3\) a Letter of Consent only in narrow cases β€” dependants of ONE Pass holders, and eligible DP business owners running their own registered business \(verify the current LOC eligibility at mom.gov.sg\). The old Β«DP plus a letterΒ» route is closed. ## The Main Rule: A DP Is Residence, Not Work Dependant's Pass holders are welcome to live and to volunteer \(unpaid, charitable\) in Singapore, but paid work requires a work pass. An employer hires a DP holder by applying for an EP, an S Pass or a DP-WP β€” the DP alone authorizes none of them. ## Route 1: The Spouse's Own EP or S Pass The clean route for a professional spouse: they qualify on their own merits β€” EP salary floor \(from S$5,600/month, age-banded; see [the EP page](https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-residence-permit)\) plus COMPASS, or the S Pass criteria. On approval the DP is cancelled and the spouse holds their own pass: independent of the main pass holder's employment β€” which matters if the main job ends. ## Route 2: The DP-Work Permit For roles that would not clear the EP/S Pass criteria: the DP-WP carries no minimum qualifying salary, stays valid as long as the DP does, skips the six-monthly medical and security bond, and needs no separate medical insurance where the DP holder is already covered to MOM's minimum standard. The trade-offs are the employer-side ones: the Work Permit quota \(dependency ratio ceiling\) and the monthly levy by sector β€” from S$200-300 up to S$600 by sector and tier \(MOM levy table, read 2026-08-19; tier mergers announced for 2028\). ## Route 3: The Letter of Consent Carve-Outs The LOC survives in narrow lanes: dependants of ONE Pass holders can apply for one; and an eligible DP holder who owns and runs their own ACRA-registered business may work in that business on an LOC \(verify current eligibility and conditions at mom.gov.sg\). A separate track exists for LTVP/LTVP+ holders β€” spouses and children of Singapore citizens or PRs β€” who may work on an LOC obtained by the employer; that is the citizen/PR family track, not the EP-dependant one \(verify at mom.gov.sg/ica.gov.sg\). ## Q/A ### What is the Letter of Consent? MOM's lighter authorization that lets specific pass holders work without a full work pass. Today it covers narrow categories β€” dependants of ONE Pass holders and eligible DP business owners among them β€” not DP holders generally: since 2021 a DP holder taking ordinary employment needs an EP, S Pass or DP-WP. Verify current LOC categories at mom.gov.sg. ### When must the spouse get their own EP? When the role is professional and meets the EP criteria β€” qualifying salary plus COMPASS β€” the spouse's own EP is the right route: it makes their stay independent of the main pass holder's job \(the DP is cancelled when the EP or S Pass is issued\). Below the EP criteria, the DP-WP keeps them working but tied to the DP's validity. ### Can a DP holder start a business instead? Possibly β€” an eligible DP holder operating their own registered business may work in it on a Letter of Consent; the business must be real and registered \(verify the current conditions at mom.gov.sg\). Simply registering a company to hold shares is not the same as working in it β€” and a working shareholder-director without the right pass is exactly what the rule targets. *\*Reviewed: 2026-08-19 Β· Sources: *[*MOM β€” Working in Singapore \(Dependant's Pass\)*](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/dependants-pass/working-in-singapore)* \(verified 2026-08-19\); LOC carve-outs and LTVP+ track β€” verify current eligibility at mom.gov.sg / ica.gov.sg.\** Cite as: wiki.private.law β€” "Dependant's Pass and the Right to Work in Singapore: EP, DP-WP and the LOC", https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-dependant-pass-work \(reviewed 2026-08-19\). --- ## Sources - [MOM β€” Working in Singapore \(Dependant's Pass\)](https://www.mom.gov.sg/passes-and-permits/dependants-pass/working-in-singapore) \(verified 2026-08-19\) - [MOM β€” Letter of Consent categories \(verify current eligibility\)](https://www.mom.gov.sg/) - [*wiki.private.law β€” Singapore residence permit \(EP page\)*](https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-residence-permit) --- ## FAQ ### What is the Letter of Consent? MOM's lighter authorization that lets specific pass holders work without a full work pass. Today it covers narrow categories β€” dependants of ONE Pass holders and eligible DP business owners among them β€” not DP holders generally: since 2021 a DP holder taking ordinary employment needs an EP, S Pass or DP-WP. Verify current LOC categories at mom.gov.sg. ### Can a DP holder start a business instead? Possibly β€” an eligible DP holder operating their own registered business may work in it on a Letter of Consent; the business must be real and registered (verify the current conditions at mom.gov.sg). Simply registering a company to hold shares is not the same as working in it β€” and a working shareholder-director without the right pass is exactly what the rule targets. *Reviewed: 2026-08-19 Β· Sources: MOM β€” Working in Singapore (Dependant's Pass) (verified 2026-08-19); LOC carve-outs and LTVP+ track β€” verify current eligibility at mom.gov.sg / ica.gov.sg.* Cite as: wiki.private.law β€” "Dependant's Pass and the Right to Work in Singapore: EP, DP-WP and the LOC", https://wiki.private.law/en/singapore-dependant-pass-work (reviewed 2026-08-19). --- ## Factual claims - The clean route for a professional spouse: they qualify on their own merits β€” EP salary floor (from S$5,600/month, age-banded; see the EP page) plus COMPASS, or the S Pass criteria. --- Source: wiki.private.law β€” the private.law legal knowledge base. When quoting, cite the canonical page URL. Consultation with a lawyer: https://t.me/private_law_bot