Singapore and Malaysia: Employment Pass, Dependant's Pass and Your Child's School

This article is for parents preparing a work move to Singapore or Malaysia who want to plan their child's school and family visa together. It summarises official government guidance as of 29 October 2026. Salary thresholds, application dates and fees can change. This article does not judge which visa suits your family.

Singapore: the Employment Pass and the Dependant's Pass

Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) describes the Employment Pass (EP) as allowing foreign professionals, managers, executives and technicians to work in Singapore. The EP page, last updated on 27 August 2026, says candidates must earn at least S$5,600 a month. Employers must advertise on MyCareersFuture before applying. The same page also has a section on family passes.

Family passes have their own rule. MOM's Dependant's Pass eligibility page says EP or S Pass holders earning a fixed monthly salary of at least S$6,000 can apply for a Dependant's Pass (DP) for a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including adopted children. This is as of March 2024. The EP minimum salary and the DP salary requirement are different figures, so check each one separately.

Singapore: the DP and your child's school

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) says DP holders do not need a Student's Pass for full-time studies while the pass is valid. If the DP expires or is cancelled, a Student's Pass must be applied for. In other words, a child's schooling is tied to the parent's EP status and the child's DP validity. If your contract might change mid-year, look into this early.

Singapore government schools: AEIS

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), international students who want a place in a government primary or secondary school sit the AEIS or S-AEIS tests in Singapore. The 2026 AEIS tests ran from 1 to 3 September. S-AEIS applications open in early January 2027, with tests from late February to early March.

The AEIS application page says, as of its update on 17 July 2026, that applications for the 2026 AEIS have closed. The steps are:

1. Create a child account on the Candidates Portal.
2. Read the instructions to candidates.
3. Submit the online application.
4. Upload the documents.
5. Pay the fee.

Documents include a birth certificate and a passport bio-data page valid for at least 6 months. Primary applicants also need a statement of results for a Cambridge English Qualifications test taken from July 2025. The fees are S$340 for primary and S$630 for secondary. They are non-refundable and attract GST.

MOE's international students page gives the following 2026 monthly fees, announced in October 2023:

• Non-ASEAN international students: S$1,035 (primary), S$2,190 (secondary)
• ASEAN students: S$595 (primary), S$1,090 (secondary)

Malaysia: the Employment Pass and the Dependant Pass

According to the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) of Malaysia's Immigration Department, Employment Pass holders can apply for a Dependant Pass for their spouse and for children under 18, including adopted children. Note that the child age limit is lower than Singapore's DP (under 21).

One point matters here. The ESD page does not say whether a child on a Dependant Pass needs a separate student pass to attend international school. Do not guess. Ask ESD or the school directly.

Checklist

• Have you checked the EP salary requirement and the DP salary requirement separately on the official pages?
• Is your child within the age limit: under 21 for Singapore's DP, under 18 for Malaysia's Dependant Pass?
• In Singapore, have you checked how the DP validity lines up with the school calendar?
• If you are considering a Singapore government school, have you checked the AEIS and S-AEIS dates, documents and fees?
• Have you put the monthly school fees, which differ by nationality, into your budget?
• In Malaysia, have you asked ESD or the school whether a separate student pass is needed?
• Are your documents ready, including passport validity and the birth certificate?
• Do you remember that salary thresholds, dates and fees can change, and have you checked the latest notices?

Ask the school

• Which immigration documents do you need for admission, and by when?
• If a parent's pass or the family pass changes or ends, what steps does the school require?
• (Malaysia) Besides the Dependant Pass, does the school require any student-related permit?
• What are the dates for entrance tests, assessments and waiting lists?
• Which costs apply besides tuition, such as registration fees?

Always confirm your own situation with the official authority or an immigration professional.