KiFAS: fee help for Citizen families, in detail
The Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme is what makes an MOE Kindergarten place genuinely affordable for lower-income Singapore Citizen families. Here is who qualifies, how much it takes off, the Start-Up Grant, and how to apply.
Last reviewed against official sources: 7 July 2026
KiFAS at a glance
What it is
A means-tested subsidy, run by ECDA, that lowers the monthly MK (and Anchor Operator) fee for Singapore Citizen children.
Who qualifies
Singapore Citizen children in households with gross monthly income of S$12,000 or less (or per-capita income S$3,000 or less for households of five or more).
How much
Tiered by income. At the lowest tier it brings the Citizen fee down to around S$1/month, instead of the S$160 full fee.
Start-Up Grant
Up to S$240/year towards registration, deposit, uniform, insurance and materials, for the lowest-income Citizen families.
How to apply
No separate form to chase. The kindergarten helps you apply when your child enrols.
PRs
PRs and foreigners do not qualify, which is why the PR fee stays at S$320/month.
What KiFAS is
The Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) is a means-tested subsidy, run by ECDA, that lowers the monthly fee for Singapore Citizen children at MOE Kindergartens (and Anchor Operator preschools). It applies to the school fee.
Who qualifies
The child must be a Singapore Citizen, and your gross monthly household income must be S$12,000 or less. For larger households of five or more, a per-capita income of S$3,000 or less can be used instead. PRs and foreigners do not qualify, which is why the PR fee stays at S$320.
How much it takes off, by income
The subsidy is tiered: largest for the lowest incomes, tapering as household income approaches S$12,000. Here is what a Singapore Citizen family actually pays each month at an MOE Kindergarten after KiFAS, band by band. Households of five or more can qualify on per-capita income (household income divided by the number of people) instead of gross household income, whichever gives more help.
| Gross monthly household income | Or per-capita income (Households of 5 or more people) | You pay / month |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000 and below | $750 and below | $1 |
| $3,001 - $4,500 | $751 - $1,125 | $12 |
| $4,501 - $6,000 | $1,126 - $1,500 | $55 |
| $6,001 - $7,500 | $1,501 - $1,875 | $75 |
| $7,501 - $9,000 | $1,876 - $2,250 | $95 |
| $9,001 - $10,500 | $2,251 - $2,625 | $115 |
| $10,501 - $12,000 | $2,626 - $3,000 | $145 |
| Above $12,000 | Above $3,000 | $160 (full fee) |
Two worked examples
One working parent earning S$4,200 a month falls in the S$3,001–S$4,500 band, so the MK fee is S$12 a month instead of S$160 — a saving of about S$148 every month, roughly S$1,800 across a school year.
Two parents and four children with a combined S$8,000 a month have a per-capita income of about S$1,333 (S$8,000 ÷ 6). That per-capita band means they pay S$55 a month, less than the S$95 their gross income alone would give. For larger families, the per-capita route usually wins.
The Start-Up Grant
The lowest-income families can also get a KiFAS Start-Up Grant of up to S$240 a year towards registration fees, deposit, uniform, insurance and materials. It is for Citizen children with gross monthly household income of S$1,900 or less (or per-capita income of S$650 or less).
How to apply
There is no separate online form for parents to chase: the kindergarten helps you apply for KiFAS when your child enrols, and the Start-Up Grant is submitted at the same time. Later years' grant applications also go through the kindergarten.
New to MOE Kindergarten as a whole? Start with our MOE Kindergarten guide, which covers fees, hours, the curriculum and the Phase 2A link to Primary 1. For how to actually secure a place, see the K1 registration guide.
Common questions
What is KiFAS and do we qualify? +
The Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme subsidises MOE Kindergarten (and Anchor Operator) fees for Singapore Citizen children where gross monthly household income is S$12,000 or less (or per-capita income S$3,000 or less for households of five or more). Subsidies are tiered by income, and families on ComCare or in HDB public rental flats get the maximum. There is also a start-up grant for the lowest-income families to cover enrolment costs.
How low can the fee actually go? +
At the lowest tier, for a household earning around S$3,000 a month or below, KiFAS brings a Citizen family's MK fee down to roughly S$1 a month instead of the S$160 full fee. The amount for the income bands in between depends on where you fall, so check the current KiFAS subsidy table on ECDA's site for your tier.
Does KiFAS cover Kindergarten Care (KCare) too? +
No. KiFAS applies to the kindergarten school fee. The extended-day care service has its own separate help: every Singapore Citizen child in KCare gets a Basic Subsidy, with an income-tiered Additional Subsidy on top. See our KCare guide for that.
Do I need to apply for KiFAS separately online? +
No. There is no separate online form for parents to chase. The kindergarten helps you apply for KiFAS when your child enrols, and the Start-Up Grant is submitted at the same time. Later years' grant applications also go through the kindergarten.
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