Importing Pets & Animals to Singapore

Information on the permits, paperwork and vaccinations needed when travelling with your pet to Singapore. What to do before you leave, on arrival and details of the quarantine process. Also a list of breeds not permitted on the island.

The import of personal pets must comply with the veterinary conditions of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), which includes requirements such as health certification, quarantine and inspection by the AVA.

Singapore has stringent rules to guard against the risk of rabies infection on the island. The import requirements differ depending where an animal is coming from. Countries are divided into five categories depending on rabies risk and import requirements.

Categories are:

Category A: Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom
Category B: Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA (Guam and Hawaii only)
Category C1 and C2: Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Spain, United States of America (except Guam and Hawaii)
Note: Category C is split into C1 and C2 in which conditions vary depending on the vaccination history of the animal
Category D: All other countries

All dogs and cats and personal pets imported into Singapore are required to be kept in quarantine for at least 30 days on arrival, unless they are imported from Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland or the UK, in which case there are no quarantine requirements.

Comprehensive information on importing a pet, with updates and alerts is available from the AVA website: Click here
AVA provides detailed checklists on the process to be followed for animals falling into each of those categories: Click here

Importing a Personal Pet: The Process

The entire process of moving a pet to Singapore can be delegated to a local pet moving service which handles the paperwork, meets the pet at the airport and provides transport to the quarantine kennels.

See The AngloFILE directory Pet Travel & Kennels

While specifics of the process vary depending on the animal's country of origin, the following are included:

Import Licence from the AVA, issued within the 30 days prior to the import. Airlines will not let an animal on the plane unless they have seen a copy of the import licence.

Application forms for importing animals can be downloaded at the website of the AVA: Click here
Allow two working days to process the permit after submitting the completed application form. The import permit is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. A surcharge will be imposed if the permit is required to be processed within a period shorter than two working days

International Health Certificate certified by a licensed veterinarian in the exporting country. This must be issued no more than seven days prior to arrival in Singapore.
Vaccination Certificates: all pet dogs and cats arriving ino Singapore must be vaccinated and treated for internal and external parasites
- Dogs must have had a rabies vaccination or booster shot between one year and six months prior to travel. (For example, if the date of travel is in December, the shot must have been administered between 1 January and 1 July of the same year.)
ISO-compatible microchip matching their veterinary papers. Dogs that do not have a readable microchip will be given one, at the owner's expense

Dog breeds that may not be imported into Singapore

These breeds (and any crosses of these breeds) are not allowed in Singapore:

American Pit Bull Terrier (and related breeds)
Akita
Neapolitan Mastiff
Tosas
Dogo Argentino
Fila Brazilero

Procedure for Getting an Animal into Singapore

Refer to the country-relevant category check list made available by AVA to ensure all the documents are in order:

Checklist for Category A: Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom
Checklist for Category B: Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA (Guam and Hawaii only)
Checklist for Sub-Category C1 and Checklist for Sub-Category C2: Belgium, Canada, Netherlands, Spain, United States of America (except Guam and Hawaii)
Checklist for Category D: All other countries

Before departure

If travelling on the same plane as a pet, try to send them as "excess baggage" rather than as "cargo". This is generally much cheaper. Not all airlines allow this, so be sure to check ahead of time; if possible get any agreement in writing.

Allow plenty of time to check in as the authorities must examine health certificates, import licences and quarantine papers, before allowing travel.

The Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) inspects all arriving live animals before releasing them to the owner or the SAQS quarantine station. Contact CAPQ one working day prior to travel to arrange the pet's arrival. If the pet arrives after the station is closed, it is taken to a holding facility until the next working day - it's strongly advised to ensure that arrival is expected at least two hours before CAQP closing time.

Confirm the reservation at Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS) if quarantine is required.

Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station
At: Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), Gate C7, Airport Cargo Road, Changi Airfreight Centre, Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine, Singapore 918104
Open: Monday to Saturday 08:00-13:00 and 14:00-10:30. Closed Sundays and public holidays
Tel: (65) 6545 7522
Fax: (65) 6545 3023
Website
Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station
At: 10 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769197
Tel: (65) 6482 2724

On arrival

On arrival at Changi airport (before going through customs) check to ensure that the pet has arrived safely.

The animal is transported to the CAPQ in the Airfreight Centre where it undergoes a veterinary inspection, the microchip is checked and import certificate stamped. It is then released to the owner, or if quarantine is required, it is collected by a SAQS official. SAQS does one collection round per day, usually in the morning. If the pet misses the collection it is taken to a holding area until the next scheduled pick-up. Contact SAQS to find out scheduled collection times.

Note: If travelling on the same plane as the pet from a quarantine-free country, then after passing through immigration, go to Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) in the airport cargo area where the pet can be collected and taken to the CAPQ for checks before release from the airport.

A small fee in tax must be paid before a pet can leave the airport. This is paid at the at the Customs house near the exit. The pet's value should be declared and if this is under $400 (2010 rates) no fee is due. If there are vet certificates stating a dog is sterilised, the dog licence fee is reduced.

The dog owner/handler will require passport or identification to follow through these processes.

Quarantine

Imported pet dogs and cats requiring quarantine are kept at the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS); animals are kept at the expense of their owners. Air-conditioned or non-air-conditioned kennels and catteries are available. Fees must be paid on admission. Pet owners will be charged for the transport from the airport and a rabies vaccination (if necessary). When a dog is released from quarantine, it must be licensed.

Note: There is limited quarantine space available and a booking must be made at least three months in advance to ensure a place.

For full details on the facility and registration: Click here
Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station
At: 10 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769197
Tel: (65) 6482 2724
Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station
At: Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA), Gate C7, Airport Cargo Road, Changi Airfreight Centre, Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine, Singapore 918104
Tel: (65) 6545 7522
Fax: (65) 6545 3023
Website
See "Dog Licensing" in the AngloINFO Information Page Essential Animal Information

Further Information

Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)
At: 5 Maxwell Road , Tower Block, MND Complex, Singapore 069110
e-mail
Website
Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine (CAPQ)
At: Changi Airport Cargo Complex
Tel: 6545 7522/3
Fax: 6545-3023
Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station
At: 10 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769197
Tel: 6482 2724
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) publishes very clear, general guidelines on flying pet dogs or cats internationally: Click here
AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Exporting Pets & Animals from Singapore
AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Essential Animal Information