Can Dependent Pass Holder Start A Business In Singapore

Starting a business in Singapore as a Dependent Pass (DP) holder is not difficult. The incorporation of a Singapore business can be done by a DP holder if the DP holder’s spouse or parent is either an Employment Pass or EntrePass holder.

Dependant Pass
Open a bank account

In order to get a Dependant Pass,

The spouse must be legally married to the Employment Pass holder
Child must be under the age of 21 years old
If the child is adopted, legal documents of the adoption must be provided

As a DP holder, you can own a Private Limited Company (Pte Ltd) in Singapore. There are several advantages choosing to incorporate a Private Limited Company. A Pte Ltd enjoys more favorable tax rates, legal protection and easier access to capital. The downside of a Private Limited Company is they come with high compliance and operation costs.

Unfortunately, DP holders cannot open a bank account of their own. They normally share a joint account with their working spouse. If they want to open a bank account, they will then need to apply for an Employment Pass. Paul Hype Page can assist you with this.

However, there is a point that you need to take note. If your spouse is a holder of the Singapore S Pass, you will not be able to qualify to obtain a DP.

A child or marriage partner of an individual holding an Employment Pass (EP) can get a Letter of Consent so as to start a business or get employment.

DP holders can work in Singapore once their employer obtains a Letter of Consent from the Ministry of Manpower (MoM).

The Letter of Consent is an official document given by the MOM to permit qualified DP, Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) holders to look for employment or run a business in Singapore.

For you to qualify to obtain the LOC from MoM, you must meet the following conditions. You must,

Hold a valid DP valid for a minimum of 3 months
Have a job offer by an employer in Singapore
Must be an immediate family member of an Employment Pass holder

Although you have the LOC and you are able to start a business in Singapore with your DP, you are still unable to be a director of the company.

Do note that in order to be a Director in the Private Limited Company in Singapore, you would have to apply for an Employment Pass. Therefore, out professional advice to you is to first register your company, and then apply for an Employment Pass after the company has been incorporated so that you can be the director for the company.

What is a Dependant Pass?

Dependant Pass (DP) is a permit that allows spouses and kids of individuals who possess an Employment Pass or SPass to join them in Singapore. Legally married partners and children who are under the age of 21 are allowed to apply for this permit. However, holders of the employment pass must be earning a minimum of S$6,000 per month (as of 1 January 2018) for them to bring their dependents into this country.

NOTE: If a member of your immediate family (spouse and children) is a holder of the Singapore S Pass, he or she will not qualify for a Dependant Permit (DP).

An individual with a DP is eligible for employment in any organization or industry in Singapore. The marriage partner of an individual with employment pass (EP) can get a Letter of Consent to work in Singapore.

Before you can be issued with a Dependant Pass, you must meet certain criteria:

What is a Letter of Consent? - To work in Singapore

You can apply for a Letter of Consent to work in Singapore if you are an eligible Dependant’s Pass holder, or an LTVP/LTVP+ holder who is the spouse or unmarried child of a Singaporean or permanent resident.
This is an official document (LOC) given by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to permit qualified Dependant Pass, Long Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or Long-Term Visit Pass Plus (LTVP+) holders to look for employment.

However, if you want to start a business, you should apply for Employment Pass instead.

Eligibility for the Letter of Consent (LOC)

For you to qualify for LOC you must meet the following conditions:

You must hold a valid Dependant Pass valid for a minimum of three months
You must have a job offer by an employer in Singapore
You must be an immediate family member of an EP holder.

It is imperative to point out that your employment as an LOC holder depends on the employment status of your spouse. This means that if your marriage partner gets laid off or is relocated from Singapore, you will also lose your LOC status. However, if your employer can directly secure an EP for you, meaning that you will not depend on the status of the Employment Pass of your spouse, you will not lose your right to work in Singapore.

The requirements for an E pass are strict; through background checks will be done to ascertain your educational, professional and criminal backgrounds. This is done to ensure that your application meets all the laid down requirements and procedures. The processing time for a letter of consent takes approximately one week.

With a Letter of Consent, you can now work in Singapore.

(Note that LOC can not be a director of the company or own the company).

Should you decide to be your own boss, we will encourage you to setup your company and work with employment pass

The Definition of Long-term Visit Pass

This is an official document issued by the Ministry of Manpower to the immediate family including step-child or a child with a disability of a valid E pass or S pass holder. This permit is meant for those individuals who wish to relocate their family members to Singapore. However, for this pass to be issued, you must meet certain conditions:

If you meet all the above requirements, you can secure a Long Term Visit Pass for the following members of your family:

Common-law spouse
Children with disability who are not married and are above the age of 21 years
Single step-children if any and they must be under the age of 21 years
Your parents, if you earn a fixed minimum monthly income of $12,000 (as of 1 January 2018)

Long-term Visit Pass+

This is a new scheme (LTVP+) was recently introduced by the country’s Immigrations and Checkpoints Authority.

LTVP+ allows foreign spouses of Singapore nationals to stay a longer period and also to benefit from the healthcare services and employment opportunities (with LOC) in the country.

What are the benefits of employing DP holders (using LOC) to Singapore Companies?

Increased manpower

Singapore companies will benefit from increased labor force. Those with these documents can be employed by different sectors in the country hence boosting productivity in the country and the economy as a whole.

Reduced operating costs

Due to the shortage of manpower in the country, the Singapore-based companies will experience a decrease in operating costs. Initially, the workforce was understaffed forcing the companies to increase their salaries to maintain them. But with an additional workforce, the costs will go down.

Reduced overhead costs

Since Letter of Consent holders are not considered as expatriates, there will be an increase in Singapore’s labor pool. This will enable future employers to save a lot of money spent on government levies especially when they decide to employ individuals who have LTVP and LTVP+ permits.

Paul Hype Page & Co – Acra service provider and Asean Chartered Accountant.

Paul Hype Page & Co. have 3 physical offices in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia

Our Firm Goal is to assist Foreigner and Foreign Companies to set up business in Asean.

How we can help you:

Step 1- Listen to your Business plan and Relocation needs.

Step 2- Analysis your Singapore Tax Planning

Step 3- Recommend the most suited type of Company Incorporation , Open Bank account and

Work Visa

Step 4- Arrange for your Spouse and Children Visa

Step 5- Assist as your company to hire staffs and handle all HR matters

Step 6- Every financial year end, we assist you with your yearly Acra Financial and Tax Compliance

Step 7- Assist you to expand business to Malaysia, Indonesia , Vietnam and Thailand.