Moving a Pet to Singapore
Rules and Regulations for International Pet Shipping
What Pet Travel Documents Are Needed to Travel to Singapore?
Singapore has some strict requirements when it comes to importing cats and dogs. As long as you are well-prepared and your pet follows all the rules, then your move to Singapore should be smooth sailing.
We've outlined the basic requirements for moving cats and dogs from the USA to Singapore on this page but you can also find the requirements on the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) website.
Like many countries, Singapore has varying requirements depending on your pet's country of origin.
Microchip
All cats and dogs are required to have an ISO-compatible microchip before rabies vaccinations and blood testing. The chip number must be readable at every vet visit and must be reported accurately on all of your pet's paperwork. If your pet has more than one microchip, then all readable chip numbers should be listed on your pet's paperwork.
Rabies Vaccinations
Cats and dogs must receive a rabies vaccination at least 28 days before the rabies titer blood test.
The administering veterinarian must be USDA-Accredited and the original-ink signed vaccination certificate must travel with your pet.
Rabies Titer Blood Test
Dogs and cats must complete a rabies titer blood test at least 28 days after the rabies vaccination and between 90 days and 12 months prior to export.
The blood must be drawn by a USDA-Accredited veterinarian and the sample must be sent to a World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) reference laboratory or USDA-Approved laboratory (such as Kansas State University).
The blood test result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml to be considered passing for import to Singapore.
Other Vaccinations
The following vaccinations are required for cats and dogs entering Singapore.
Cats
- FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) - Must be vaccinated according to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations at least two weeks prior to export
- Other recommended vaccines:
- Feline Leukemia
Dogs
- DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza) - Must be vaccinated according to the vaccine manufacturer’s recommendations at least two weeks prior to export.
- Other recommended vaccines:
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
- Leptospirosis
- CIV (Canine Influenza Virus)
*If your dog or cat will be under 2 years old at the intended arrival time, Singapore and our vet team will require full details of their puppy or kitten distemper vaccines as well as the aforementioned vaccines. These puppy or kitten vaccines are typically a 2-4 dose series, ranging from 2-4 weeks apart and must be given based on the manufacturer's guidelines.
Import Permit
Dogs and cats entering Singapore must have an import permit (license). The import permit is valid for 30 days once issued. If you hire Starwood to assist with your pet's travels, we can handle this on your behalf.
**Dogs are also required to obtain a dog license prior to applying for the import license.
Other Required Treatments
Cats and dogs must be treated with an external parasite (fleas and ticks) treatment and an internal parasites(nematodes and cestodes) treatment between 2 and 7 days prior to export. The active ingredients and the date of the treatments must be reported on the health certificate.
International Health Certificate
The Singapore Health Certificate must be completed and signed by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 7 days prior to travel and must be endorsed by the USDA. You cannot use the standard USDA APHIS 7001 Form. You must use the Singapore-specific health certificate available on the USDA-APHIS website.
If you hire Starwood to assist with your pet's relocation, we can take care of the final exam, paperwork, and USDA endorsement on your behalf.
Photo of Pet
While Singapore does not require you to submit a photo of your pet along with their other documentation, if your dog or cat is mixed with a banned breed, we will ask you for photos and additional documentation to ensure it will not be a problem to import your pet to Singapore.
What Are the Pet Restrictions for Singapore?
Residency Requirement
Dogs and cats must have lived in the country of export for at least the last six months, or since birth.Banned Breeds
Singapore does not allow the import of the following dog breeds or mixes of these breeds:
- Pit Bull (including American Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull, and Pit Bull Terrier)
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- American Bulldog
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Tosa
- Akita
- Dogo Argentino
- Boerboel
- Fila Brasileiro
- Perro de Presa Canario
The following cat breeds and their mixes are not allowed into Singapore unless you have documentation proving they are at least 5th generation.
- Bengal cat (and crosses) - must be at least 5 generations removed from Prionailurus bengalensis
- Savannah cat (and crosses) - must be at least 5 generations removed from Leptailurus serval
Age Restrictions
Dogs and cats must be at least 3 months old before they can receive their first rabies vaccination.
Do I Need a Microchip for My Pet to Travel to Singapore?
All pets must have a microchip that is ISO-compatible (Avid, Trovan, Destron, etc.) If your dog or cat already has a non-ISO microchip (or a number that starts with 999) your vet can implant a second one. Microchips must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is done because the number must appear on all of your pet’s health and import documentation.
What Are the Quarantine Requirements for a Pet Traveling to Singapore?
Personal cats and dogs may not have to be quarantined under certain conditions. If the conditions below apply, then they must be home quarantined for 10 days upon arrival:
- The owner is arriving more than 5 days before or after the pet
- The cat or dog is being imported for a transfer of ownership (ex: adoption, rescue, being rehomed, or purchased overseas and being sent to Singapore)
Cats and dogs being imported commercially must be quarantined for at least 10 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre.
Are There Any Area Specific Pet Requirements in Singapore?
Some residential areas in Singapore have regulations regarding pet ownership. You will need to check with your intended residence regarding how many cats or dogs you can have as well as what breeds will be accepted.
In general, a Housing Development Board (HDB) residential flat will only allow 1 non-restricted dog, but no cats. Non-HDB residential premises may allow up to 3 non-restricted dogs or 1 restricted breed of dog. The rules for cats may vary, so you'll need to check with your building management.
Our Singapore pet shipping services include:
- Door-to-door transport
- Assistance with health certificates, import certificates, and other travel documents needed for animal transport to Singapore (outlined above)
- USDA endorsement of all relevant documents where required
- IATA-compliant flight kennels provided with personalized labels, identification ,
and emergency notification instructions - Customs clearance and delivery to your home
- Quarantine arrangements
- Local pet taxi service to and from the airport, your home, veterinarian, kennel, or groomer
- Travel consultation and flight reservations
We will inform you of your pet's full itinerary before the trip and we will update you as your pet travels to Singapore.