Home › Pet travel › Singapore
Bringing a Dog or Cat to Singapore
Singapore sorts countries into three schedules. Pets from the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand (Schedule I) need no rabies vaccine or antibody test. Pets from the US, Canada, Japan and most EU countries (Schedule II) need an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccine, an antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/ml taken 90 days to 12 months before export, an import licence and a health certificate within 7 days of export. Schedule II pets avoid quarantine if they arrive within 5 days of the owner and have lived with them for more than 6 months.
Requirements at a glance
| Country schedule | I: UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand. II: US, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and most of the EU. III: everywhere else |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784/11785; the number on every vaccination and treatment record |
| Rabies vaccine | Schedules II and III: valid inactivated or recombinant vaccine |
| Antibody test | Schedules II and III: 0.5 IU/ml or more, 28+ days after vaccination and 90 days to 12 months before export |
| Core vaccines | At least 2 weeks before export |
| Import licence | Through GoBusiness after the PALS pet licence; S$50 (2 working days) or S$100 (1 working day); valid 90 days |
| Health certificate | 2 to 7 days before export, with flea, tick and worm treatments; endorsed by a government vet |
| Quarantine | Schedule I: none. Schedule II: none if conditions are met, else 10+ days at home. Schedule III: 30+ days at the AVS centre |
| Minimum age | 12 weeks at export |
| Plan ahead | About 4 months from Schedule II without a current rabies vaccine |
Step-by-step timeline
- 4 months before (Schedule II)Microchip, then rabies vaccine. The pet must also have lived in a Schedule I or II country for the 6 months before export, or since birth.
- 28+ days after vaccinationBlood sample for the rabies antibody test. Export is allowed from 90 days after the sample, up to 12 months.
- Weeks beforeApply for the pet licence on PALS, then the import licence on GoBusiness. The licence is valid for 90 days and cannot be extended.
- 5 working days beforeBook the border control inspection at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station. Without a booking the fee is S$133 per hour.
- 2 to 7 days beforeFlea, tick and worm treatments and the health certificate from your vet, endorsed by the official government vet. Get the airline's captain's declaration.
- ArrivalInspection at Changi Airfreight Centre. Pets in the cabin need a rigid IATA crate; soft bags are not allowed for the transfer.
Dogs vs cats
Dogs and cats follow the same steps with different core vaccines. Banned dogs include Pit Bull types (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog), Akita, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario and their crosses. First- to fourth-generation Bengal and Savannah cats are banned.
Common mistakes
- Assuming a short trip abroad avoids the rules. Pets returning to Singapore are treated like first-time imports, including the 90-day wait after the blood test.
- Letting the import licence expire. It is valid for 90 days with no extension.
- Transiting a Schedule III country without the captain's declaration.
- Arriving more than 5 days after the owner, which means at least 10 days of home quarantine for Schedule II pets.
Official source: AVS (NParks): importing dogs and cats
Other destinations
🇪🇺 EU🇬🇧 UK🇺🇸 US🇨🇦 Canada🇯🇵 Japan🇦🇺 Australia🌺 Hawaii🇳🇿 New Zealand🇹🇭 Thailand🇵🇭 Philippines🇮🇩 Indonesia & Bali🇲🇽 Mexico🇨🇷 Costa Rica🇮🇪 Ireland🇰🇷 South Korea🇭🇰 Hong Kong🇦🇪 UAE🇨🇳 China🇮🇳 India
Frequently asked questions
Does my dog need quarantine in Singapore?
Not from Schedule I countries such as the UK. From Schedule II countries such as the US, not if the pet arrives within 5 days of the owner and has lived with them for more than 6 months; otherwise at least 10 days of home quarantine. Schedule III pets need at least 30 days at the government quarantine centre.
How long does it take to bring a dog to Singapore from the US?
About 4 months if the rabies vaccine has to be given first: 28 days until the blood test, then 90 days after it. With a current vaccine, about 3 months from the blood test.
Can my pet fly in the cabin to Singapore?
Yes, but you also need a rigid IATA-approved crate, because soft bags are not allowed for the transfer to the quarantine station.
How much is the Singapore pet import licence?
S$50 for the normal service, issued in 2 working days, or S$100 for express, issued in 1 working day.
Sources
Rules change. Always confirm with the official source above and your vet before you travel or change a vaccine plan.