Importing Pets & Animals to Singapore

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Importing Pets & Animals to Singapore

The entire process of moving a pet to Singapore can be delegated to a local pet moving service which will handle the paperwork, meet the pet at the airport and provide transport to the quarantine kennels.

Requirements

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.

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

The process

To import a pet, the following must be done:

• Obtain an 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
• Get an 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. All dogs arriving into Singapore must be vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvo Virus
• 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.)
• All dogs brought into Singapore must be implanted with an ISO-compatible microchip matching their veterinary papers to cut down on the risk of rabies and other diseases. Dogs that do not have a readable microchip will be given one, at the owner's expense
• Further information from AVA: Click here

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

Before travelling

After obtaining the import licence and health certificate and meeting the other requirements mentioned above, follow the steps below to bring your pet into Singapore:

• Make flight arrangements. Avoid arriving after 13:00 on Saturday, or on Sundays and Public Holidays as the quarantine station is closed
• Make reservations at the Jurong quarantine station (see below)
• Make sure the travel container meets airline specifications
• Contact Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine at the airport one working day prior to travel to let them know of the pet's arrival
  • Tel: 6266 0939

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. Call the airline several times and talk to different people about their services and requirements, and if possible get any agreement in writing.

Allow plenty of time to check in as the authorities will want to see all documents, such as health certificates, import licences, and quarantine papers, before allowing travel.

On arrival

On arrival at Changi airport (before going through customs) check to ensure that the pet has arrived safely. If arrival is in the evening the animal will be transported to a temporary holding facility.

The pet will receive an examination before it is allowed through customs. It will then be picked up by a quarantine official and transported to the quarantine station.

The quarantine station only does one pick-up per day, usually in the morning. Check with the quarantine station what time pick-up is scheduled for and if possible arrange to arrive before this time, Monday through Friday. Otherwise the pet will be taken to a holding area until the next scheduled pick-up.

A small fee in tax must be paid before the pet can leave the airport.

A passport will be needed to get through the many processes of getting a pet into Singapore.

Quarantine

All dogs and cats imported into Singapore are required to be kept in quarantine for at least 30 days on arrival, unless they are imported from Australia, Ireland, New Zealand or the UK.

Dogs and Cats are kept in quarantine at the Jurong Animal Quarantine Station, Animals are kept at the expense of their owners.

There is a choice of kennels, air-conditioned and non air-conditioned. Contact the kennels to specify any requirements.

Fees must be paid in cash 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.

• Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station
  At: 10 Lorong Chencharu, Singapore 769197
  Tel: 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

Singapore laws and Further Information

Contact:

• 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

Related Information

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Exporting Pets & Animals from Singapore
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Essential Animal Information