Dog or cat from Ecuador to Singapore: official requirements

1. Get ready

   1. Age ruleEntering Singapore

      At least 12 weeks old at export

      Your dog or cat must be at least 12 weeks old on the day it leaves for Singapore.

      Details and the official words

      “Your dog/cat must be at least twelve (12) weeks of age at the time of export.”

   2. IdentificationEntering Singapore

      ISO microchip

      Your pet must have an ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 (Annex A) microchip, and the number must appear on every vaccination and treatment record.

      Details and the official words

      “Ensure that your dog or cat is microchipped according to International Standards Organisation (ISO) Standard 11784 or ISO Standard 11785 Annex A.”

   3. VaccinationEntering Singapore

      Rabies vaccination

      Your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination (inactivated or recombinant vaccine) — a valid primary vaccination and up-to-date boosters.

      Details and the official words

      “The dog or cat must have a valid vaccination against rabies using an inactivated vaccine or recombinant vaccine acceptable to NParks/AVS.”

   4. VaccinationEntering Singapore

      Core vaccinations

      Dogs: valid vaccinations against canine distemper, adenovirus type 1 and parvovirus type 2. Cats: calicivirus, herpesvirus-1 and panleukopaenia. They must be given at least 2 weeks before export. Bring the records (with microchip number, dates, vaccine brand and batch, vet's signature).

      Details and the official words

      Schedule I (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom): a dog or cat under 16 weeks old needs at least two vaccinations, the first no earlier than 6 weeks of age and the second at least 2 weeks before export.

      “in the case of a dog, the dog was vaccinated according to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations and not less than two (2) weeks prior to export against Canine Distemper virus, Canine Adenovirus type 1 and Canine Parvovirus type 2.”

      “in the case of a cat, the cat was vaccinated according to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations and not less than two (2) weeks prior to export against Feline calicivirus, Feline Herpesvirus-1 and Feline Panleukopaenia virus.”

      “in the case of a dog under sixteen (16) weeks of age, the dog was vaccinated according to manufacturer’s recommendations against Canine Distemper virus, Canine Adenovirus type 1 and Canine Parvovirus type 2 with at least two (2) vaccinations, with the first vaccination administered at no earlier than 6 weeks of age, and the second vaccination must be given at least two (2) weeks prior to export”

      “These must be supported by vaccination records upon arrival in Singapore.”

   5. Blood testEntering Singapore

      Rabies blood test (serology)

      A blood sample at least 28 days after a valid rabies vaccination, tested at a WOAH reference laboratory or an approved lab in a Schedule I/II country (result at least 0.5 IU/ml). Your pet can only be exported at least 90 days — and no more than 12 months — after the sample date.

      Details and the official words

      If your pet's rabies boosters never lapsed, the sample can be taken soon after a booster.

      “The dog or cat must undergo blood sampling for rabies serology at least 28 days after a valid vaccination against rabies.”

      “The blood sampling must be done at least 90 days and within 12 months prior to the date of export.”

   6. PermitEntering Singapore

      Dog or cat licence (PALS)

      Get a dog or cat licence on the Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) — you need it before you can apply for the import licence.

      Details and the official words

      “To import a dog or cat, you must obtain a dog or cat licence before applying for an import licence.”

   7. PermitEntering Singapore

      Import licence

      Apply on the GoBusiness Licensing Portal (S$50, issued in 2 working days; S$100 express, 1 working day). It's valid for 90 days from issue with no extension, so your pet must arrive within that time. Mixed breeds need a colour photo.

      Details and the official words

      “An import licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. Vet examLeaving Ecuador

      Health check by a vet registered with Agrocalidad (valid 10 days)

      A vet registered with Agrocalidad examines your pet and enters the health certification online in Agrocalidad's GUIA system, checking your destination's requirements. The health certification is valid for 10 days. The vet attaches the original vaccination card (vaccines and dates, microchip date, sterilisation if any, internal and external parasite treatments) and any extra document your destination asks for.

      Details and the official words

      “La certificación de salud animal tendrá una vigencia de 10 días, la información de la inspección clínica será ingresada en línea mediante el Sistema GUIA habilitado para cada médico veterinario registrado ante la Agencia, donde deberá cumplir las exigencias sanitarias establecidas por el país destino.”

      “El Médico Veterinario Registrado ante AGROCALIDAD deberá adjuntar los siguientes requisitos en el sistema GUIA y aquellos adicionales que establezca el país de destino en formato PDF.”

      “Carnet de vacunas original, debe incluir las fechas y vacunas aplicadas, fecha de aplicación del microchip y esterilización (si corresponde), así como, las fechas de las desparasitaciones internas y externas.”

   2. TreatmentEntering Singapore

      Internal and external parasite treatment

      Between 2 and 7 days before export, your vet treats your pet for internal and external parasites and completes Sections I–III of Singapore's veterinary certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Between 2 and 7 days of export, send your dog or cat for parasite treatments and complete the veterinary health certificate.”

      “the dog/cat has been treated with a product effective against external parasites (fleas and ticks) between 2 and 7 days of export”

   3. PaperworkEcuador and Singapore

      Veterinary health certificate endorsed by an official vet

      Use Singapore's certificate template for your country's Schedule. Your vet completes Sections I–III; your country's official government veterinarian endorses Section IV. The certificate must be dated no more than 7 days before export and is valid for 7 days.

      Details and the official words

      Agrocalidad export health certificate: Once the request is approved, you collect the paper certificate at the Agrocalidad office or exit border post your vet chose. Its dates follow the destination's rules for the certificate.

      “Request the exporting country’s official government veterinarian to endorse Section IV of the same veterinary certificate.”

      “a veterinary certificate (in accordance with the attached template) bearing a date not more than seven (7) days prior to export”

      “a veterinary certificate (in accordance with the attached template) bearing a date not more than seven (7) days prior to export”

      “a veterinary certificate (in accordance with the attached template) bearing a date not more than seven (7) days prior to export”

      “CERTIFICATION VALIDITY: This certification is valid for seven (7) days.”

      “Una vez aprobada su solicitud podrá retirar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación, de forma física en la oficina de la Agencia o punto fronterizo de salida que seleccionó en la solicitud.”

   4. Official stampLeaving Ecuador

      Your vet requests Agrocalidad's export health certificate, at least 72 hours before the trip

      Your registered vet sends the request for the export health certificate in GUIA at least 72 hours before the trip and chooses the Agrocalidad office (or exit border post) where you collect the paper certificate, giving the request number. It costs USD 28.90 per animal, debited from the vet's GUIA account: settle it with your vet.

      Details and the official words

      “Para poder solicitar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación de animales de compañía convencionales el Médico veterinario registrado, deberá enviar la solicitud 72 horas previas al viaje y seleccionar la oficina de AGROCALIDAD más cercana para retirar el documento en físico.”

      “Recordar que el valor del Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación emitido por la Agencia es de $28,90 dólares por animal”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. On arrivalEntering Singapore

      Book the border inspection

      Book your pet's arrival inspection at least 5 days before it arrives (with the import licence number and flight details). Without a booking you pay S$133 per hour.

      Details and the official words

      “five days before the animal’s arrival, or earlier”

      “The owner or agent must make an appointment for the pet’s inspection at least 5 working days before the arrival of the animal”

   2. QuarantineEntering Singapore

      Book 30 days' quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Centre

      Pets from Schedule III countries stay at least 30 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre and are vaccinated against rabies on arrival. Reserve the space in the Quarantine Management System (QMS) once the serology result is ready, with your pet's vaccination records.

      Details and the official words

      “For animals arriving from Schedule III countries, post-arrival quarantine of at least 30-days at AQC is required.”

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Ecuador (dogs).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip, vet examination within 10 days before the trip, internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding and rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before) and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Ecuador (cats).

The trip back asks for 7 steps: older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip, vet examination within 10 days before the trip, internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding and rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before) and more.