Dog or cat from Serbia 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 testSerbia and 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.

      Antibody test at the Pasteur Institute, Novi Sad: If your destination asks for a rabies antibody test, Serbia's export form asks for the FAVN test report from the Pasteur Institute in Novi Sad.

      “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.”

      “Извештај о испитивању на антитела на беснило ФАВН тестом”

      “За псе и мачке када то земља увозница захтев”

      “Пастеров институт, Нови Сад”

   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 Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   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. PaperworkSerbia 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

      Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      “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.”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

   2. 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”

   3. 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 Serbia (dogs).

The trip back asks for 4 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry, serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days and AVS export licence (GoBusiness).

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

The trip back asks for 4 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry, serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days and AVS export licence (GoBusiness).