ICA vs MOM LTVP in Singapore: Eligibility, Processing Time and Application Route

Quick answer: the sponsor decides the route. If your family member in Singapore is a citizen or PR, you deal with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). If they are in Singapore on an Employment Pass or S Pass, you deal with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). The two routes have different eligibility rules, sponsors, fees and timelines.

This page only explains which route applies. For eligibility, documents, fees and the full process, start with the Singapore LTVP application guide.

Your sponsor’s status decides whether you apply to ICA or MOM

Find your situation below. The sponsor is the person in Singapore you are related to.

Your situation	Route
Legally married to a Singapore citizen or PR	ICA LTVP. See the spouse guide
Engaged to a Singapore citizen, not married yet	ICA’s Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment first. See the PMLA guide
Unmarried child under 21 of a Singapore citizen or PR	ICA LTVP
Parent of a Singapore citizen or PR (not a parent-in-law)	ICA LTVP
Parent or grandparent of a child on a Student’s Pass	ICA LTVP (one applicant per child)
Legally married spouse or child under 21 of an EP or S Pass holder	MOM Dependant’s Pass, not an LTVP. See LTVP vs Dependant’s Pass
Common-law spouse of an EP or S Pass holder	MOM LTVP
Step-child under 21, or handicapped child aged 21+, of an EP or S Pass holder	MOM LTVP
Parent of an EP or S Pass holder earning S$12,000+	MOM LTVP

Sources: ICA’s eligibility list and MOM’s eligibility page.^[1][2]

ICA and MOM differ on sponsor, salary rule, channel and speed

ICA has no single salary threshold and takes 6 weeks for most cases. MOM requires a S$6,000 salary and takes 3 weeks for most EP and S Pass dependants.

Question	ICA LTVP	MOM LTVP
Who is the sponsor?	A Singapore citizen or PR. For a parent whose citizen or PR child is under 21, another citizen or PR aged 21+ sponsors.[1]	The employer or appointed employment agent of the EP or S Pass holder. The main pass holder applies directly on the PEP and EntrePass routes.[3]
Salary rule	No single published threshold. ICA looks at the whole case, including family ties, economic contribution, age and length of residency.[1]	Main pass holder earns at least S$6,000 fixed monthly salary and is sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company. Parents need S$12,000+.[2]
Where is it submitted?	ICA e-Service, with the sponsor and every applicant logging in with Singpass.[1]	MOM’s EP eService on the myMOM Portal, for EP and S Pass dependants.[3]
Typical processing time	Within 6 weeks for most. Up to 6 months for a citizen’s foreign spouse without a PMLA; 6 weeks with one.[1]	Within 3 weeks for EP and S Pass dependants. Within 6 weeks for EP (Sponsorship) and 8 weeks for PEP and EntrePass dependants.[3]
Fees	S$45 to apply, S$60 on issue.[1]	S$105 to apply, S$225 on issue.[3]
What controls how long the pass lasts?	The category, the sponsor’s status and the period ICA grants.	Tied to the main work pass, or the period requested if shorter.[4]
Can the holder work?	Spouses and children: with a Letter of Consent or PLOC. Parents: on a Work Permit.[5]	Only with their own Employment Pass, S Pass or Work Permit.[6]

The ICA route serves families of Singapore citizens and PRs

The citizen or PR sponsor files on ICA e-Service, and every applicant confirms the form with Singpass.^[1]

Check that the applicant fits one of ICA’s groups and who must sponsor. A spouse is sponsored by the citizen or PR spouse. A child is sponsored by the citizen or PR parent. Singpass approval can take 2 to 5 working days, so register everyone before starting.^[1]

Couples who are not married yet can apply for the free Pre-Marriage LTVP Assessment. It is not an LTVP approval, but it shortens the later spouse application from up to 6 months to 6 weeks.^[1] Foreign spouses of citizens who have a Singaporean child, or who have been married for at least three years, may also qualify for the longer LTVP+.

The MOM route serves family the Dependant’s Pass does not cover

For EP and S Pass holders, the employer applies, and the LTVP is only for family who cannot get a Dependant’s Pass.^[2][3]

The employer or its employment agent submits through MOM’s EP eService, either with the main work pass application or later. Each family member needs a separate application.^[3] PEP, EntrePass and EP (Sponsorship) holders use different channels and timelines, so do not copy the EP and S Pass process for those cases.^[3]

Check your sponsor’s pass before you file anything

The sponsor’s status, not the type of relationship, decides which authority you apply to.

• Choose ICA when your sponsor is a Singapore citizen or PR and you fit one of ICA’s groups.
• Choose MOM when your sponsor is an EP or S Pass holder and you fit one of MOM’s LTVP groups.
• Don’t assume every spouse gets the same pass. A legally married spouse, a common-law spouse, a child, a parent and a student’s accompanying parent can each fall under different rules.

For documents, fees, work rights and the step-by-step process, go to the Singapore LTVP application guide. If an application was refused, read why LTVP applications are rejected. Not sure which route fits your family? E&H Immigration’s LTVP service can confirm the route and prepare the application.

Sources & References

1. Becoming a Long-Term Visit Pass Holder — Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
2. Eligibility for Long-Term Visit Pass — Ministry of Manpower
3. Apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass — Ministry of Manpower
4. Key facts on Long-Term Visit Pass — Ministry of Manpower
5. Work passes for holders of Long-Term Visit Passes issued by ICA — Ministry of Manpower
6. Working in Singapore for Long-Term Visit Pass holders — Ministry of Manpower