Bringing a dog or cat into Singapore

The short version

• Rabies blood test for some origins
• Import permit needed
• Quarantine possible

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

Singapore sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (Singapore: rabies risk schedules for dog and cat imports, checked 2026-10-08).

• Older guides use 'Categories A–D'; AVS now uses Schedules I–III.
• Spain is Schedule II except Ceuta (ES-CE) and Melilla (ES-ML).
• Several EU members (e.g. PL, HU, HR, RO, BG, LT) are not listed and therefore fall into Schedule III.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. Identification

   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.”

2. Age rule

   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.”

3. Vaccination

   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.”

4. Permit

   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.”

5. Permit

   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.”

6. On arrival

   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”

7. Treatment

   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”

8. Paperwork

   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

   “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.”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel or Schedule III — rabies vaccination + serology + at least 30 days' quarantine

   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.”

2. Blood test

   Rabies blood test (serology)

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel or Schedule III — rabies vaccination + serology + at least 30 days' quarantine

   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.”

3. Quarantine

   Book 30 days' quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Centre

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Schedule III — rabies vaccination + serology + at least 30 days' quarantine

   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.”

4. Quarantine

   10-day home quarantine (pet not arriving with you)

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel and someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it)

   Because your pet isn't arriving within 5 days of you, it needs at least 10 days of home quarantine (with a smart collar tag, S$29 per day). Apply for home quarantine first — AVS replies within 5 working days — then apply for the import licence.

   Details and the official words

   No quarantine is needed only if the pet arrives within 5 days of you AND has lived with you at the same address for more than 6 months.

   “A minimum 10-day home quarantine is required for pets imported using a personal import license that do not satisfy the conditions above.”

5. Transport

   Airline captain's declaration

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Schedule I — no rabies vaccination, serology or quarantine or Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel

   Ask your airline for the signed captain's declaration (template in Singapore's veterinary conditions) and hand it in at the arrival inspection. It's also what allows a transit through a Schedule III country.

   Details and the official words

   “you also need to obtain a signed captain's declaration form endorsed by the transporting airline(s).”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed

  Pets imported on a commercial licence (for sale or a change of owner) have different quarantine rules in Singapore. We don't cover commercial imports yet.

Restricted breeds

Not allowed into Singapore: Pit Bull types (incl. American Staffordshire and Staffordshire Bull Terriers), American Bulldog, Akita, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and their crosses; and 1st–4th generation Bengal or Savannah cat crosses. Housing rules also limit pets (an HDB flat: 2 cats or 1 non-specified dog).

Good to know

• Your pet has been in a Schedule III country in the last 6 months. Singapore looks at where the pet has lived: unless it has lived in its current (Schedule I/II) country for 6 months, it's treated as a Schedule III import (30 days' quarantine).When: The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule I — no rabies vaccination, serology or quarantine or Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel and your pet has been in a place in the group “Schedule III — rabies vaccination + serology + at least 30 days' quarantine” in the last 6 months
• Singapore's veterinary conditions say your pet must have lived continuously in the country it leaves from (or in another Schedule I or II country) for at least 6 months before export, or since birth. The official vets certify this.When: The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule I — no rabies vaccination, serology or quarantine or Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel
• A pet imported for a transfer of ownership (adopted, rescued, or bought or obtained overseas less than 6 months before export) needs at least 10 days of home quarantine even if it arrives with you.When: The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule II — rabies vaccination + serology; quarantine depends on owner travel
• For Schedule I countries, the certificate states that no case of rabies has been reported in the country for at least 24 months before export.When: The country you travel from is in the group: Schedule I — no rabies vaccination, serology or quarantine
• Even if your pet flies in the cabin, bring a rigid IATA-standard crate: soft bags aren't allowed for the transfer to the quarantine station.
• You may need a Customs In-Payment (GST) permit before arrival — check Singapore Customs' rules for personal pets.