Long-Term Visit Pass

What the Long-Term Visit Pass is

The Long-Term Visit Pass, universally shortened to the LTVP, is a pass that allows certain family members to live in Singapore on a long-term basis. It is best understood as the companion to the Dependant’s Pass: where the Dependant’s Pass covers the immediate legal family of a work pass holder, the LTVP covers the wider family and relationships that fall outside the Dependant’s Pass.

So the LTVP exists to allow family members who do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass to live in Singapore with their sponsor. This includes a common-law spouse, an unmarried handicapped child, an unmarried child or step-child over 21, and parents. Like the Dependant’s Pass, the LTVP is tied to a sponsor, whose eligibility supports it, and its validity generally follows the sponsor. Understanding the LTVP as the pass for family members outside the Dependant’s Pass, sponsored by an eligible work pass holder or a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, is the starting point for this guide.

Who qualifies for an LTVP

The LTVP is for family members who do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass, covering a range of relationships wider than the Dependant’s Pass. The main categories are a common-law spouse, an unmarried handicapped child, an unmarried child or step-child over 21, and the sponsor’s parents.

These are family members who fall outside the Dependant’s Pass, which is limited to the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21. The LTVP extends the ability to bring family to these wider relationships. Which family members can be brought, and the requirements, depend on the sponsor and the relationship, examined in the eligibility guide.

Who can sponsor an LTVP

An LTVP can be sponsored by two kinds of sponsor. The first is an eligible work pass holder, an Employment Pass, S Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, ONE Pass or EntrePass holder, often needing a higher salary than for a Dependant’s Pass, and a still-higher salary to sponsor parents. The second is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, for their foreign spouse, child, parent or step-child.

So the LTVP serves both foreign work pass holders bringing wider family, and Singapore citizens and permanent residents bringing their foreign family members. This dual sponsorship reflects the LTVP’s role in allowing a range of family members to live in Singapore, whether the sponsor is a foreign professional or a Singaporean or permanent resident. The requirements differ depending on the sponsor and the family member, but the essential point is that both eligible work pass holders and Singapore citizens or permanent residents can sponsor an LTVP for the appropriate family members. This makes the LTVP a versatile family pass, examined further in this guide.

The LTVP compared with the Dependant's Pass

The clearest way to understand the LTVP is against the Dependant’s Pass, since the two are companion passes covering different family members. The Dependant’s Pass is for the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of a work pass holder; the LTVP is for the wider family who fall outside that.

So the choice between the two depends on the family member. A legally married spouse and young unmarried children go on Dependant’s Passes; a common-law partner, an older or handicapped child, or parents go on the LTVP. Understanding which pass fits which family member is essential for a sponsor bringing various relatives. The two passes together cover a professional’s or Singaporean’s family, with the LTVP filling the gap the Dependant’s Pass leaves.

The common-law spouse

One important use of the LTVP is for a common-law spouse, a partner in a genuine relationship who is not legally married to the sponsor. Because the Dependant’s Pass requires a legal marriage, a common-law spouse does not qualify for it, and the LTVP is the route for such a partner.

So a sponsor in a genuine long-term relationship but not legally married can look to the LTVP to bring their partner, where the Dependant’s Pass is not available. The LTVP recognises genuine relationships that fall outside legal marriage, allowing the partner to live in Singapore with the sponsor. The genuineness of the relationship is relevant, since the LTVP for a common-law spouse is for a real, committed partnership rather than a legal marriage. Understanding that a common-law spouse goes on the LTVP, not the Dependant’s Pass, is important for unmarried couples. The LTVP provides the route for a genuine partner who is not legally married, filling the gap the Dependant’s Pass, with its legal marriage requirement, leaves for such couples.

The unmarried handicapped child

The LTVP is also the route for an unmarried handicapped child of the sponsor. A handicapped child, who may not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass in the same way as an unmarried child under 21, can be brought on an LTVP, allowing the sponsor to have their handicapped child with them in Singapore.

So a sponsor with a handicapped child can look to the LTVP to bring them, recognising the particular situation of a handicapped child who needs to remain with their family. This reflects a compassionate provision, allowing a handicapped child to live with their family in Singapore on the LTVP where the Dependant’s Pass may not apply. The LTVP thus supports families with a handicapped child in keeping the family together. Understanding that an unmarried handicapped child can be brought on the LTVP is important for families in this situation, providing a route for the handicapped child to remain with their family in Singapore. The LTVP’s coverage of a handicapped child reflects its role in accommodating family members whose situations fall outside the Dependant’s Pass.

The unmarried child or step-child over 21

An unmarried child or step-child of the sponsor who is over 21 does not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass, which is limited to children under 21, but may be brought on an LTVP. This allows a sponsor to keep an older unmarried child with them in Singapore.

So a sponsor with an unmarried child or step-child over 21 can look to the LTVP, where the Dependant’s Pass no longer applies once the child has reached 21. This is relevant when a child on a Dependant’s Pass ages out at 21, since the LTVP may then be the route for them to remain. The LTVP thus provides continuity for an older unmarried child, allowing them to remain with their family in Singapore beyond the Dependant’s Pass age limit. Understanding that an unmarried child over 21 may be brought on the LTVP is important for families with older children, and particularly for those whose child is ageing out of a Dependant’s Pass. The LTVP covers this situation, extending the family’s ability to keep an older unmarried child with them.

Parents

The LTVP is also the route for a sponsor to bring their parents to Singapore. Sponsoring parents on an LTVP typically requires a higher salary than sponsoring other family members, reflecting the greater support involved, so it is generally available to higher-earning sponsors.

So a work pass holder wishing to bring their parents can look to the LTVP, provided they meet the higher salary expected for sponsoring parents. This allows a professional to have their parents with them in Singapore, supporting family togetherness across generations. The higher salary requirement for parents reflects that supporting parents is a significant undertaking, so the ability to sponsor parents is generally reserved for higher earners. Understanding that parents can be brought on the LTVP, subject to the higher salary requirement, is important for a professional wishing to bring their parents to Singapore. The LTVP provides the route for parents, extending the family a sponsor can bring beyond the immediate spouse and children to the older generation, for sponsors who earn enough to support them.

Sponsorship by a work pass holder

One route to sponsoring an LTVP is as an eligible work pass holder. A holder of an Employment Pass, S Pass, Personalised Employment Pass, ONE Pass or EntrePass can sponsor an LTVP for the appropriate family members, often needing a higher salary than for a Dependant’s Pass, and higher still for parents.

So a foreign professional working in Singapore can bring wider family on the LTVP, alongside bringing their immediate family on Dependant’s Passes. The salary requirements for the LTVP are generally higher than for the Dependant’s Pass, reflecting the wider family relationships and, for parents, the greater support involved. A work pass holder wishing to sponsor an LTVP should confirm they meet the relevant salary requirement for the family member concerned. Understanding that an eligible work pass holder can sponsor an LTVP, subject to the higher salary requirements, helps a professional plan to bring wider family to Singapore. The LTVP extends the family a work pass holder can bring, beyond the immediate family covered by the Dependant’s Pass, to the wider relationships the LTVP covers.

Sponsorship by a Singapore citizen or PR

The other route to sponsoring an LTVP is as a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, for their foreign family members. A Singaporean or permanent resident can sponsor an LTVP for their foreign spouse, child, parent or step-child, allowing their foreign family to live with them in Singapore.

So the LTVP is not only for foreign professionals bringing family, but also for Singapore citizens and permanent residents bringing their foreign family members. This is important for a Singaporean or permanent resident with a foreign spouse, child or parent, who can sponsor them on an LTVP to live in Singapore. This route reflects the LTVP’s role in supporting Singaporean and permanent resident families with foreign members. Understanding that a Singapore citizen or permanent resident can sponsor an LTVP for their foreign family helps such families keep together in Singapore. The LTVP thus serves a dual purpose: allowing foreign professionals to bring wider family, and allowing Singaporeans and permanent residents to bring their foreign family members, both on the same versatile pass.

Working on an LTVP

Like the Dependant’s Pass, the LTVP does not automatically permit the holder to work. However, an LTVP holder may in some cases be able to work through a Letter of Consent, particularly a spouse of a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. The ability to work depends on the situation.

So an LTVP holder wishing to work should understand that the LTVP does not by itself permit work, but that a Letter of Consent may be available in some cases, allowing them to work. This is particularly relevant for the spouse of a Singapore citizen or permanent resident on an LTVP, who may be able to obtain a Letter of Consent to work. Whether an LTVP holder can work through a Letter of Consent depends on their specific situation and the applicable rules. Understanding that an LTVP holder may be able to work via a Letter of Consent in some cases, but not automatically, is important for an LTVP holder wishing to be employed. As with the Dependant’s Pass, some form of work authorisation beyond the LTVP itself is needed to work.

The LTVP is tied to the sponsor

Like the Dependant’s Pass, the LTVP is tied to the sponsor. For a work pass holder sponsor, the LTVP depends on the sponsor’s work pass; for a Singapore citizen or permanent resident sponsor, it depends on the sponsor’s status. The LTVP’s validity generally follows the sponsor.

So the LTVP holder’s ability to remain in Singapore depends on the sponsor. Where the sponsor is a work pass holder, the LTVP is affected if the sponsor’s pass ends, much as a Dependant’s Pass is. Where the sponsor is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, the LTVP depends on the sponsor’s continuing status and sponsorship. This derivative nature means the LTVP holder’s status rests on the sponsor. An LTVP holder and their sponsor should understand that the pass is tied to the sponsor, and that its validity follows the sponsor. Understanding the derivative nature of the LTVP helps a family appreciate that the LTVP holder’s status depends on the sponsor, whether a work pass holder or a Singapore citizen or permanent resident.

The genuineness of the relationship

As with the Dependant’s Pass, the LTVP rests on a genuine family relationship or partnership between the sponsor and the LTVP holder. Whether a common-law spouse, a child, or a parent, the relationship must be genuine, and the application must evidence it.

So an LTVP application, like a Dependant’s Pass application, must establish the genuine relationship between the sponsor and the family member. For a common-law spouse, this means evidencing the genuine relationship; for a child or parent, the family relationship. The genuineness of the relationship is central, since the LTVP is for genuine family members and partners. An application must authentically establish the relationship on which the LTVP rests. Understanding that the LTVP rests on a genuine relationship helps a family approach the application by clearly and authentically evidencing their genuine relationship, whether a partnership, a parent-child relationship, or another family tie. The genuineness of the relationship is what the LTVP, like the Dependant’s Pass, is built around.

The salary requirements

For a work pass holder sponsoring an LTVP, the salary requirements are generally higher than for a Dependant’s Pass, and higher still for sponsoring parents. This reflects the wider family relationships the LTVP covers and, for parents, the greater support involved.

So a work pass holder wishing to sponsor an LTVP should confirm they meet the relevant salary requirement, which may be higher than the threshold for a Dependant’s Pass, and higher again for parents. The salary requirement is a genuine gate on sponsoring wider family: a sponsor must earn enough to support the family member concerned. For parents in particular, the higher salary requirement means sponsoring parents is generally available only to higher earners. Understanding the salary requirements for the LTVP, and that they are generally higher than for the Dependant’s Pass and higher still for parents, helps a work pass holder assess whether they can sponsor the wider family they wish to bring. The salary requirements ensure the sponsor can support the family members brought on the LTVP.

Who does not qualify

While the LTVP covers a wide range of family members, not every relationship qualifies, and the specific eligibility depends on the sponsor and the family member. The LTVP covers the relationships noted, a common-law spouse, a handicapped child, a child over 21, and parents, but the requirements vary and must be met.

So a sponsor wishing to bring a particular family member should confirm that the relationship is one the LTVP covers and that they meet the requirements, including any salary requirement, for sponsoring that family member. Not every conceivable family relationship is covered, and the requirements for those that are covered must be satisfied. Understanding the scope of the LTVP, and confirming that a particular family member and relationship qualify, helps a sponsor plan realistically to bring the family they wish. Where a family member does not qualify for either a Dependant’s Pass or an LTVP, the sponsor may need to consider other options. The LTVP covers a wide but defined range of family relationships, and a sponsor should confirm their particular family member fits within it.

The purpose of the LTVP

The LTVP serves the purpose of allowing family members who do not qualify for a Dependant’s Pass to live in Singapore. By covering the wider family, a common-law spouse, a handicapped child, an older child, parents, the LTVP supports family togetherness beyond the immediate legal family the Dependant’s Pass covers.

This purpose explains the pass’s design. It covers the relationships that fall outside the Dependant’s Pass, extending the ability to bring family. It can be sponsored by work pass holders and by Singapore citizens and permanent residents, reflecting its role for both foreign professionals and Singaporean families. And it carries salary requirements for work pass holder sponsors, ensuring support. Understanding the purpose of the LTVP, to allow the wider family to live in Singapore, helps make sense of its features. It is the companion to the Dependant’s Pass, together allowing a sponsor to bring both their immediate legal family and their wider family to Singapore, on the appropriate pass for each.

The LTVP for a spouse of a citizen or PR

An important use of the LTVP is for the foreign spouse of a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. A Singaporean or permanent resident with a foreign husband or wife can sponsor them on an LTVP, allowing the foreign spouse to live in Singapore with them.

This is significant for the many families where a Singaporean or permanent resident has a foreign spouse. The LTVP allows the foreign spouse to reside in Singapore, supporting the family living together. Notably, the foreign spouse of a Singapore citizen or permanent resident may in some cases be able to work through a Letter of Consent, making the LTVP particularly valuable for such couples. Understanding that a Singapore citizen or permanent resident can sponsor their foreign spouse on an LTVP, who may be able to work, is important for these families. The LTVP is a key pass for Singaporean and permanent resident families with a foreign spouse, allowing the couple to build their life together in Singapore, and it is often a step on the way to the foreign spouse pursuing permanent residence in due course.

The LTVP and permanent residence

For families living in Singapore on an LTVP, permanent residence may be a longer-term consideration, offering a more secure, independent status. This is particularly relevant for the foreign spouse of a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, for whom PR can be a natural next step.

The LTVP does not itself confer PR, but a family member living in Singapore on an LTVP, particularly a foreign spouse of a Singaporean or permanent resident, may build toward a PR application over time. PR would provide a more secure status not tied to the sponsor in the way the LTVP is. For a foreign spouse of a Singapore citizen, in particular, pursuing PR is a common path, moving from the LTVP to a more permanent status. So for families on an LTVP, permanent residence can be an attractive longer-term goal. The PR route has its own dedicated guides; the connection here is that an LTVP holder, especially a foreign spouse of a Singaporean or permanent resident, may build toward permanent residence for a more secure, independent status over time.

The value of the LTVP for families

The LTVP is genuinely valuable for families, because it extends the ability to bring family to Singapore beyond the immediate legal family the Dependant’s Pass covers. It allows a common-law spouse, a handicapped child, an older child, or parents to live with the sponsor, supporting family togetherness across a wider range of relationships.

For a professional or a Singaporean with wider family, this value is significant. It means a common-law partner need not be left behind, a handicapped or older child can remain with the family, and parents can be brought to Singapore. The LTVP thus supports families in staying together across the relationships that fall outside the Dependant’s Pass. For Singapore, it helps retain talent and support families, since professionals and Singaporeans are better able to keep their wider families together. Understanding the value of the LTVP, in extending family togetherness to the wider relationships, helps a family appreciate what the pass makes possible: keeping a wider range of family together in Singapore than the Dependant’s Pass alone would allow. It is a genuine enabler of family togetherness.

Bringing parents to support the family

A common motivation for bringing parents on an LTVP is to have them close for family support, whether for the parents’ own care or to help with the sponsor’s family. Bringing parents to Singapore allows a professional to care for their parents or have them help with grandchildren, keeping the extended family together.

So a professional wishing to have their parents close, whether to support the parents in their older age or to have them help with the family, can look to the LTVP, subject to the higher salary requirement for parents. This supports the multi-generational family living together in Singapore. The higher salary requirement reflects the significant undertaking of supporting parents, but for those who meet it, the LTVP allows the extended family to be together. Understanding that parents can be brought on the LTVP to support the family, subject to the salary requirement, helps a professional plan to keep their extended family together in Singapore. The ability to bring parents is a valuable aspect of the LTVP for families who wish to have the older generation with them, whether for the parents’ care or the family’s support.

Bringing multiple family members

A sponsor may wish to bring multiple family members, some on Dependant’s Passes and others on LTVPs. A professional might bring their legally married spouse and young children on Dependant’s Passes, and their parents or an older child on LTVPs, using the appropriate pass for each family member.

So a sponsor planning to bring various family members should identify the right pass for each: the Dependant’s Pass for the immediate legal family, and the LTVP for the wider family who fall outside it. The salary requirements differ, with the LTVP generally higher and parents higher still, so a sponsor should confirm they meet the requirements for all the family members they wish to bring. Bringing multiple family members across both passes requires planning to ensure each is on the right pass and the sponsor meets the requirements. Understanding that a sponsor may use both the Dependant’s Pass and the LTVP for different family members helps a sponsor plan to bring their whole family, immediate and wider, to Singapore on the appropriate passes. The two passes together allow a sponsor to keep their broader family together.

The LTVP application

An LTVP application is made by or through the sponsor, whether a work pass holder or a Singapore citizen or permanent resident, and rests on the sponsor’s eligibility and the genuine family relationship. The application establishes the sponsor’s eligibility and the relationship with the LTVP holder.

So an LTVP application, like a Dependant’s Pass application, is built around the sponsor and the genuine relationship. For a work pass holder sponsor, this centres on their pass and salary; for a citizen or permanent resident sponsor, on their status. In both cases, the genuine relationship with the family member, a common-law partnership, a parent-child relationship, or another tie, must be evidenced. The detailed application process, documents, timeline and fees, is covered in the dedicated child guides in this cluster. The essential point is that the LTVP application is built around the sponsor’s eligibility and the genuine family relationship, much as the Dependant’s Pass application is, adapted to the wider relationships and the citizen or permanent resident sponsorship route the LTVP covers.

Validity and renewal

The validity of an LTVP generally follows the sponsor. For a work pass holder sponsor, it is generally aligned with the sponsor’s pass; for a citizen or permanent resident sponsor, it relates to the sponsorship. The LTVP is renewed in connection with the sponsor’s continuing eligibility or status.

So an LTVP, like a Dependant’s Pass, is not on an independent timeline but follows the sponsor. It must be renewed before expiry, in connection with the sponsor’s pass or status. A family should be aware of the LTVP’s validity and arrange renewal in good time. The renewal depends on the sponsor’s continuing eligibility, a work pass holder maintaining their pass, or a citizen or permanent resident maintaining their sponsorship. Understanding that the LTVP’s validity follows the sponsor and that it must be renewed in connection with the sponsor helps a family maintain the pass. The renewal of the LTVP is examined in the dedicated renewal guide; the principle is that, like the Dependant’s Pass, the LTVP runs in connection with the sponsor and must be renewed accordingly.

If the sponsor's situation changes

Because the LTVP is tied to the sponsor, a change in the sponsor’s situation affects it. For a work pass holder sponsor, if their pass ends, the LTVP is affected, much as a Dependant’s Pass is. For a citizen or permanent resident sponsor, the LTVP depends on their continuing sponsorship.

So a family should understand that the LTVP holder’s status depends on the sponsor, and that a change in the sponsor’s situation, a work pass ending, or a change in the citizen or permanent resident sponsor’s circumstances, can affect the LTVP. Where a work pass holder sponsor changes jobs, the LTVP would need to be maintained in connection with the sponsor’s new pass. A sponsor whose situation is changing should consider the effect on the LTVP holder’s status and plan accordingly. Understanding that the LTVP is affected by changes in the sponsor’s situation helps a family manage the pass through such changes, ensuring the LTVP holder’s status is maintained where the sponsor’s situation allows. The derivative nature of the LTVP means the sponsor’s circumstances are central to the family member’s status.

Common misconceptions about the LTVP

Several misconceptions surround the LTVP. One is that it is only for work pass holders; in fact Singapore citizens and permanent residents can also sponsor it for their foreign family. Another is that it covers the same family as the Dependant’s Pass; in fact it covers the wider family who fall outside the Dependant’s Pass.

A further misconception is that an LTVP holder can work freely; in fact work requires a Letter of Consent in the cases where it is available, and is not automatic. And another is that the LTVP is an independent status; in fact it is tied to the sponsor. Clearing up these misconceptions is important, because approaching the LTVP on a mistaken understanding leads to confusion. The LTVP is a versatile family pass for the wider family, sponsored by work pass holders or by Singapore citizens and permanent residents, tied to the sponsor, and permitting work only through a Letter of Consent where available. Understanding it accurately is the foundation for using it well, whether as a professional bringing wider family or a Singaporean or permanent resident bringing foreign family.

Planning to bring wider family

A sponsor planning to bring wider family on an LTVP should approach it systematically. First, confirm they can sponsor: an eligible work pass with the relevant salary, or Singapore citizen or permanent resident status. Second, confirm the particular family member qualifies for an LTVP and identify the requirements.

Third, for a work pass holder, confirm they meet the salary requirement for the family member concerned, which is higher for parents. Fourth, prepare the application with evidence of the sponsor’s eligibility and the genuine relationship. Planning systematically helps a sponsor bring their wider family smoothly, ensuring they can sponsor, the family member qualifies, and the application is well-prepared. A sponsor who plans to bring wider family with these considerations in view can keep their broader family together in Singapore. The detailed steps are covered in the child guides; the pillar sets out the framework for planning to bring the wider family the LTVP covers, alongside the immediate family the Dependant’s Pass covers.

The LTVP and the Dependant's Pass together

The LTVP and the Dependant’s Pass are best understood together, as companion passes that between them cover a sponsor’s family. The Dependant’s Pass covers the immediate legal family, the legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21; the LTVP covers the wider family outside that.

So a sponsor bringing family uses the two passes together, the Dependant’s Pass for those it covers and the LTVP for the rest. A professional might bring their spouse and young children on Dependant’s Passes and their parents on LTVPs; a Singaporean might bring their foreign spouse and parents on LTVPs. Understanding the two passes as a complementary pair helps a sponsor see how to bring their whole family, using the appropriate pass for each member. Together, the Dependant’s Pass and the LTVP provide a comprehensive framework for bringing family to Singapore, covering both the immediate legal family and the wider relationships. A sponsor should understand both to plan bringing their family, matching each family member to the pass that fits their relationship.

Explore the LTVP in detail

This pillar gives the overview. The child guides in this cluster go deeper into each part of the LTVP: the eligibility criteria, the application process, the documents required, the processing time, the fees, renewal, checking status, issuance, and what to do if an application is unsuccessful, including rejection and appeal. Together they form a complete guide to the pass.

Whether you are a work pass holder wishing to bring wider family, a Singapore citizen or permanent resident bringing foreign family, or checking whether a particular family member qualifies, the detailed guides provide the specifics. Start with the eligibility, confirming which family members qualify and the requirements, then work through the application, documents and timeline. The LTVP lets a sponsor bring family who fall outside the Dependant’s Pass, and these guides are designed to help you understand and use it.

Frequently asked questions

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