Guide · updated 2026-10-16
Teaching abroad with a family
Your family usually enters on a dependant visa tied to your work pass, and the rules differ by country. In Singapore, spouses and unmarried children under 21 can qualify if your fixed monthly salary is at least S$6,000.
Taking a partner and children abroad changes the practical questions. You need to know whether they can get visas through your job, whether a partner can work, and what the school offers for your own children. The answers come from the destination country's immigration rules, not from the recruiter or the advert.
The facts below come from official government pages, using Singapore as a worked example and the UK government's travel advice for the Gulf. Rules and thresholds change, so treat the figures as a snapshot and confirm with the immigration authority.
Dependant visas are tied to your work pass
In most countries the family route depends on your own immigration status. Singapore's Ministry of Manpower says its Dependant's Pass allows spouses and children of Employment Pass or S Pass holders to join them. Teachers should note that the pass the school applies for is the one that determines what the family can apply for.
On eligibility, the Ministry says the main pass holder must be sponsored by an established Singapore-registered company, usually the employer, and must earn a fixed monthly salary of S$6,000, based on their own pay and not combined household income. The dependants it names are a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21, including legally adopted children.
Check the salary threshold against the offer
A threshold like Singapore's is one reason to read the contract carefully. Whether you qualify to bring your family may depend on the basic salary stated in your work pass application, not on benefits or allowances. Ask the school what salary figure it will declare and whether it has sponsored teachers with dependants before.
Singapore's Ministry also notes that family of some Employment Pass holders who applied as overseas intra-corporate transferees under certain trade agreements are not eligible for the Dependant's Pass. That is not a teacher issue, but it shows why you check the rule for your own pass type rather than assume.
Can a partner work?
The answer is set country by country. The Singapore page on the Dependant's Pass says there are work pass options for Dependant's Pass holders who wish to work, and refers readers to a separate working in Singapore section for details. It does not say a dependant can work automatically.
In the UAE, GOV.UK's entry requirements say that working on a visit visa can bring a fine, a prison sentence or deportation, and that someone who entered Dubai on a visit visa needs a probationary work permit from the Ministry of Labour before working. The page does not cover children or dependants, so it refers you to the UAE Embassy in the UK. Do not let a partner start work until the correct permit is in place.
What to ask the school about your own children
We found no official source that sets what a school must offer a teacher's children, so treat it as a negotiated term. Ask whether children can attend the school you will teach at, whether there is any fee reduction, whether a place is guaranteed, and which year groups and curricula are available. Get the answers in the contract or an offer letter, not by phone.
Also ask who pays for family flights, family health cover and the dependant visa fees, as these are common gaps between an offer for a single teacher and one for a family. For the UAE, GOV.UK adds that residence visa applicants must take a blood test, which is relevant to every adult applicant in the household.
Questions teachers ask
Can my spouse and children join me on a teaching visa?
Often through a dependant route linked to your work pass, but rules differ by country. Singapore's Dependant's Pass covers a legally married spouse and unmarried children under 21 of qualifying pass holders.
Is there a minimum salary to bring dependants to Singapore?
The Ministry of Manpower states a fixed monthly salary of S$6,000 for the Dependant's Pass, based on your own salary, not household income. Check the current page before applying.
Can my partner work abroad on a dependant visa?
It depends on the country. Singapore says there are work pass options for Dependant's Pass holders, not an automatic right. In the UAE, GOV.UK warns that working on a visit visa risks a fine, prison or deportation.
Do international schools give teachers' children free places?
We found no official source stating a general rule, so it is a matter for your contract. Ask for any fee reduction or guaranteed place in writing before you accept.