Higher salary cap for foreign workers looking to bring family over

Foreign workers working in the Republic will face a higher salary bar in order to bring their family members over under the Dependant's or Long Term Visit Pass from Sep 1 this year. 

According to an advisory on the Ministry of Manpower's website, it said that work pass holders will need to earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of S$5,000 to sponsor their spouse or children to stay here on the Dependant's Pass, up from the current S$4,000. 

Similarly, work pass holders will need to earn at least S$10,000 to sponsor the stay of their parents here on the Long Term Visit's Pass, up from the current S$8,000, it added.

"As part of periodic updating, MOM has reviewed the qualifying salary criteria for work pass holders to sponsor dependants," the ministry said. "This is to ensure that sponsors are able to upkeep their dependants in Singapore."

New applications for Dependant's Pass and Long Term Visit Pass made before Sep 1 will be assessed on pre-Sep 1 criteria, while renewal of existing passes will also be assessed on the current criteria provided the main pass holder remains with the same employer, MOM added. 

The last time a similar review was carried out was in September 2012, when MOM said S Pass and EP holders who earn at least S$4,000 can sponsor their spouses and children, while only P1 Pass holders can sponsor their parents.