Pet Microchip

All cats and dogs entering Singapore from any country must first be identified with an ISO compliant pet microchip that is non-encrypted. If your pet's microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, you can bring your own microchip scanner.

Country Categories

Requirements differ according to what country your pet has spent the past 6 months living in. Find your country's category:

Schedule I: Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom

Schedule II: Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (except Ceuta and Melilla), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Caledonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, United States of America (including Hawaii and Guam)

Note: All bolded countries will be reclassified to Schedule II after 10 July 2024

Schedule III: All other countries not listed in Schedule I or II.

Vaccinations

If entering Singapore from a Schedule I country, a rabies vaccination is not required; however, other vaccinations are required (read on).

If entering Singapore from Schedule II or Schedule III counties, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated for rabies not less than 28 days prior to the administration of a rabies titer (serology) test.

For dogs and cats entering Singapore from all countries:

In the case of dogs that are 16 weeks of age and above, your dog must be vaccinated not less than 2 weeks prior to export against Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvoviral infection. For dogs younger than 16 weeks of age, see step 8 below.

In the case of cats that are 16 weeks of age and above, your cat must be vaccinated not less than 2 weeks prior to export against Cat Flu (Feline calicivirus and Feline viral rhinotracheitis) and Cat enteritis (ie Feline panleukopaenia/ Feline parvovirus). For cats less than 16 weeks of age, see step 8 below.

Rabies Titer Test

If entering Singapore from a Schedule II or Schedule III country, a rabies titer test must be administered more than 28 days after the most recent and valid rabies vaccination. The test must be administered more than 90 days after rabies vaccination and less than 12 months of export

All rabies vaccinations must be kept current after the blood sample for the titer test is taken.

Rabies titer tests are not required for pets from Category I countries meeting residency requirements.

Pet Health Certificate

Within 7 days of entry, a licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the pet health certificate for Singapore. The certificate must be endorsed by the governmental agency in the origination country responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Your pet's microchip number must be reflected on the health and rabies certificates.

For Schedule I countries, the health certificate must reflect that no cases of rabies have been reported in the country for at least six (6) months prior to date of export. Your veterinarian must also attest that your pet continuously resided in or was born in a Schedule I country.

Import Licenses

Importers must apply for a dog license as well as an import license from the the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) at least 30 days prior to your pet entering Singapore from any country.

All pets are subject to a Goods and Services Tax (GST) when entering Singapore unless GST relief is granted or the total of the cost, insurance and freight does not exceed S$400..

Ticks & Tapeworm Treatment

Before your cat or dog can enter Singapore from any country, it must have be treated against internal and external parasites within 2 and 7 days of export.

Quarantine

There will be no quarantine for pets entering Singapore from Schedule I countries if residency requirements have been met.

If your pet is entering Singapore from a Schedule II country, it will not be subject to quarantine as long as requirements have been met and the purpose of the transport is personal, no exchange of ownership is involved and the owner enters Singapore with or within 5 days of their pet. If these requirements are not met, then 10 days of home quarantine will be imposed.

If your pet is entering from a Schedule III country, it will be subject to 30 days of quarantine.

All quarantine is served in the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station. Reservations for quarantine will need to be made at least 3 months ahead of entry.

Entering Singapore

Pets should enter Singapore via the Singapore Changi Airport or the Tuas Checkpoint from Malaysia.

Notice must be given at least 5 working days in advance of arrival to the AVS so they will be available to inspect your pet upon landing.

If your pet is entering Singapore from a Schedule I or Schedule II country, a captain's declaration must also accompany your pet stating that it departed from a country in its schedule (see step 2), that no other dogs or cats from countries in other categories were boarded, and that there were no layovers in countries not included in the category. If changes of aircraft are necessary, prior permission is required from AVA and your pet cannot leave the secure area of the airport in the layover country.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Transiting Singapore by Air

Any pet transiting the Singapore Changi Airport with a layover of more than 4 hours will be subject to inspection by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Station.

Pets changing airline companies in Singapore will likely need to clear customs and conform to the regulations as stated above.

Puppies and Kittens

In the case of a dog under sixteen (16) weeks of age, your dog must be vaccinated against canine distemper, canine hepatitis and canine parvovirus infection with at least two (2) vaccinations, four (4) weeks apart, and the second vaccination must be given at least two (2) weeks prior to export.

In the case of cats that are less than sixtreen (16) weeks of age, your cat must be vaccinated against feline calicivirus and feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline enteritis (ie feline panleukopaenia/ feline parvovirus) not less than 2 weeks prior to export.

All puppies and kittens should be vaccinated for rabies at or older than 12 weeks of age.

Banned Breeds

The following breeds of dogs and their crosses are not allowed to be imported into Singapore - Pit Bull (which includes the American Pit Bull Terrier also known as the American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the American Bulldog, and crosses between them and with other breeds) Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Akita, Dogo Argentino, Boerboel, Fila Brasileiro, Perro de Presa Canario and their crosses.

There are also additional restrictions on owning the following breeds while residing in Singapore: Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd Dog with its related breeds such as the Belgian Shepherd Dog and the East European Shepherd Dog, Mastiffs including the Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso and Dogue De Bordeaux, and crosses between any of the above breeds and other breeds.

Both Bengal and Savannah cats must have proof of being 5th generation or greater.

Exporting Pets from Singapore

An export permit from AVS is required to export your pet from Singapore. All relevant documentation for the destination country must be presented

All animals leaving Singapore, then returning, are subject to the same requirements as pets entering the first time.

Other Animals

All small mammals will need a customs permit, import license, veterinary health certificate and will be subject to 14 days of quarantine at the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station when entering Singapore.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Assistance?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

 

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