Singapore Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Singapore pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport includes proof of residency, microchip, rabies vaccination, titer test results (some countries), import permit, and captain’s declaration issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Import Regulations

Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. Wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, cannot be imported under these regulations.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that handles the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Singapore

There will be a quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Singapore. The duration of quarantine will depend on the classification of the country of origin. More information below.

Singapore Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Singapore must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Country Classifications

Singapore classifies countries as either Category A, Category B, Category C or Category D. Import regulations will depend on the classification of the origination country.

Category A Countries: Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom

Category B Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Caledonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and United States of America (Guam & Hawaii only)

Category C Countries: Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, United States of America (except Guam & Hawaii)

Category D Countries: All those countries not listed above

Pet owners should identify the classification of their origination country before reviewing import regulations for Singapore.

Step 2: Pet Microchip

Your pet must first be identified with a microchip which meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785. This is a 15-digit non-encrypted pet microchip that operates at 134.2 kHz. It must be implanted at the same time or prior to the rabies vaccination.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer or your government’s database.

Step 3: Vaccinations

Proof of current rabies vaccination is required to import a dog or cat from all countries except Category A countries.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign and stamp:

• a rabies certificate or
• government-issued vaccination booklet or
• EU Pet Passport

If entering Singapore from a Category A country, a rabies vaccination is not required; however, other vaccinations are required.

If entering Singapore from a Category B county, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated for rabies not less than 30 days and not more than 12 months prior to entry. A rabies titer test is required.

If entering Singapore from a Category C country, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated for rabies more than three months prior to import. A titer test will be required. If your pet was vaccinated more than 4 months before the titer test was administered, it must be vaccinated again after the titer test and not more than 30 days prior to export.

If entering Singapore from a Category D country, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated for rabies at least six months prior to export. A blood titer test is also required.

Other Vaccinations

All dogs must be vaccinated against canine distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus.

All cats must be vaccinated against Cat Flu (Feline calicivirus and Feline viral rhinotracheitis) and Cat enteritis (feline panleukopenia/ feline parvovirus).

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A Rabies titer test, also known as a serology test, measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. It is administered by a licensed veterinarian and the blood sample must be sent to an approved laboratory for processing.

There are several different types of rabies titer test. Singapore will accept either:

• The Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) or
• The Rapid Fluorescent Foci Inhibition Test (RFFIT)

According to Singapore import regulations, one of these test is required from all countries except Category A Countries.

If entering Singapore from a Category B country, a rabies titer test must be administered more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination.

If entering Singapore from a Category C and D country, a blood titer test must be administered more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination and within 6 months of export.

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

A Rabies titer test, also known as a serology test measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. It is administered by a licensed veterinarian and the blood sample must be sent to an approved laboratory for processing.

Step 5: Parasite Treatments

All dogs and cats must be treated against internal and external parasites shortly prior to travel by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country. Products must be approved by veterinary services.

Step 6: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original pet health certificate issued shortly prior to travel. The certificate is issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country and includes at a minimum:

For category A 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.

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Singapore within seven days of entry.

Most countries, including Singapore, require that this certificate be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

Step 7: Permits and Licenses

All pet dogs entering Singapore will require a dog license a minimum of 30 days prior to import. The license must be received prior to the application for an import permit. Both licenses can be applied for online.

Commercial imports and pet animals other than dogs and cats (birds, guinea pigs, rabbits) will also require an import permit.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Singapore

Puppies and kittens can enter Singapore only if they originate in a Category A country and must be at least 12 weeks of age at the time of export. In the case of a dog under sixteen (16) weeks of age, your dog must be vaccinated against Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvoviral 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.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned for Import to Singapore

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. Both Bengal and Savannah cats must be 5th generation or greater.

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.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Singapore

Quarantine will be imposed as follows:

• If your pet is entering Singapore from a Category A or B country, it will not be subject to quarantine if requirements have been met.
• If your pet is entering Singapore from a Category C country it will be subject to 10 days of quarantine if the titer test was done 4 months or more prior to import and your pet was re-vaccinated after the test, else it will be subject to 30 days of quarantine.
• If your pet is entering from a Category D 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 by Air

Pets should enter Singapore via the Singapore Changi Airport or the Tuas Checkpoint from Malaysia. Notification must be provided at least 5 days in advance when entering by land.

Dogs and cats can fly to Singapore in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

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. Any pet changing airline companies in Singapore will be subject to requirements to enter the country.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?

Flights to Singapore should be direct or transit through a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted third country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

Importers must inform veterinary officials at least five days in advance as they will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of any signs of illness that can be transmitted to humans when evaluated at the entry airport. Importers will need to pay for further veterinary testing at this time if the health of your cat or dog is not acceptable.

If your pet is entering Singapore from a Category A or B country, an airline declaration must also accompany your pet stating that it departed from a country in its category (see step 1), 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 layovers are necessary, prior permission is required from AVA and your pet cannot leave the secure area of the airport in the layover country.

Importing Other Animals to Singapore

All pets other than cats and dogs (ferrets, rabbits, and birds) will need an import permit and health certificate to enter Singapore.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is important if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If so, you will have to submit additional permit applications.

Over 180 nations participate and enforce CITES rules and protections.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Singapore?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Singapore at minimal cost. Our instructions are current and always verified before sending to you. Unlimited email support is included.

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Current Information

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 or
• return your pet to the country of origin, or
• euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Singapore pet import requirements.