Moving Your Pet to Singapore
What the Process Actually Looks Like
Singapore is a well-organized destination for pet relocation — the requirements are clear, the process is predictable, and there’s no open-ended quarantine for most moves. But it’s more involved than it first appears. The US falls under Singapore’s Schedule II category, which means a rabies titer test is required, and the 90-day pre-export window on that test drives a 4–5 month minimum timeline. Here’s what the process involves, how long it takes, and what Global Tails handles on your behalf.
How Will Your Pet Travel?
In-cabin is technically possible for very small pets, but in practice not a realistic option on US-Singapore routing. Singapore Airlines does not allow pets in the cabin at all — only trained assistance animals. A small number of European carriers (Lufthansa, Swiss) occasionally permit in-cabin pets on connecting routes, but this cannot be relied on as a travel strategy. For moves from the US, plan on excess baggage or manifest cargo.
In-cabin
Excess baggage means your pet travels in the cargo hold on the same flight as you. This is the typical option for medium-sized pets. You’ll book directly with your airline — confirm weight limits for pet plus crate with your carrier before booking. Two restrictions apply: airlines generally do not accept brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds — such as Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers, Shih Tzus, or Persian cats — as excess baggage due to breathing risk. Many carriers also restrict breeds classified as strong or aggressive. For those pets, manifest cargo is the right path.
Excess baggage
Manifest cargo means your pet travels as freight, unaccompanied, on a flight that may or may not be yours. This is the standard option for larger pets, restricted breeds, or situations where the owner isn’t on the same flight. Global Tails handles the cargo booking and check-in at the cargo facility, and coordinates with your Singapore import agent on import requirements and arrival clearance.
Manifest Cargo
The requirements are clear and the steps are well-defined, but the titer test and its 90-day preexport window mean you can’t start close to your travel date and expect to make it work. The other key item: dogs require two licenses before they can enter — a dog license and an import license, applied for in that order — and the import license must be in hand before your pet travels.
Complexity level: Moderate
Recommended start time: 5+ months before travel
Titer test required: Yes — dogs and cats
Post-arrival quarantine: None if arriving within 5 days of owner and pet has lived with owner for 6+ months; otherwise minimum 10-day home quarantine applies
Is Singapore Difficult for Pet Relocation?
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Entry Point
All pets enter Singapore through Changi Airport (SIN), where the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ) handles arrival inspection.
Step-by-Step: How Pet Relocation to Singapore Works
Step 1 — Microchip
Your pet must have an ISO-standard microchip. The microchip number must appear on every vaccination record, health certificate, and license document — a mismatch will flag at inspection. Your pet must also be at least 12 weeks old at the time of export.
If your pet isn’t chipped yet, this is the first appointment to schedule.
Step 2 — Vaccinations
Rabies: Your pet must have a current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian, using an inactivated or recombinant vaccine. The vaccination certificate must include the microchip number, veterinarian’s name and signature, and the name and address of the practice.
Core vaccinations (DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats) are also required and must remain valid through arrival. All vaccinations must be supported by records upon arrival.
Step 3 — Rabies Titer Test
At least 28 days after the rabies vaccination, your pet’s blood is drawn for a rabies serology test. The result must meet AVS’s threshold. The blood must be drawn at a WOAH reference laboratory or an approved laboratory in a Schedule I or II country — Kansas State University (KSU) Rabies Laboratory qualifies.
The health certificate will also need to certify that your pet has been continuously resident in the US (or another Schedule I/II country) for at least 6 months before export, or since birth. For most personal moves this is not an issue — but if your pet was recently purchased or acquired, flag it early.
The critical timing constraint: the blood draw must happen at least 90 days before your pet’s export date. Combined with the 28-day post-vaccination window, this drives the 5-month minimum start time. The test result is valid for 12 months from the blood draw date.
Step 4 — Licenses
For dogs: A dog license must be obtained first through Singapore’s Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS), then an import license via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal. The import license must be applied for within 90 days of your pet’s arrival — it is valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and processes in 2 working days (standard) or 1 working day (express). Apply once your travel date is confirmed. If your dog is a mixed breed, a color photo showing face and body must be included to confirm it’s not a prohibited breed.
For cats: An import license only — no dog license required. You can apply for the licenses yourself, or Global Tails can connect you with an import agent who will assist with the applications.
Customs GST Permit: A Customs In-Payment (GST) permit is also required before your pet arrives in Singapore. This is handled by your import agent — they’ll coordinate with Singapore Customs as part of the clearance process.
Step 5 — Book Inspection Appointment
An AVS inspection appointment must be booked at least 5 working days before your pet’s arrival via the AVS e-services portal — this is arranged by your import agent. Pets arriving without a prior appointment are subject to an inspection fee of S$133 per hour or part thereof.
Step 6 — Parasite Treatment and Health Certificate
Between 2 and 7 days before export, your pet must receive internal and external parasite treatment, and a USDA-accredited veterinarian completes Singapore’s specific health certificate form. An official government veterinarian then endorses the certificate. It is then submitted to USDAAPHIS for endorsement via VEHCS. Full digital endorsement is accepted for Singapore.
For Schedule II countries (which includes the US), a captain’s declaration form is required — completed by airline staff confirming the pet traveled in a sealed crate with no contact with other animals. This is handled at the airline level and coordinated as part of the booking process.
A printed, APHIS-endorsed copy of the health certificate must physically accompany your pet during travel.
Step 7 — Travel Day
Since April 2026, all CAPQ clearance procedures must be handled by an AVS-recognised pet agent — pet owners are not permitted to enter Changi Airfreight Centre where CAPQ is located. Global Tails works with an AVS-recognised Singapore import agent on every case; they are present at Changi to receive your pet and manage the inspection process.
If your pet is traveling as excess baggage, you will hand them over in a rigid IATA-compliant hard crate at the Lost & Found counter in the arrival hall — soft bags are not accepted for the transfer to CAPQ. Your import agent coordinates this handover and takes it from there.
Your import agent will present your pet’s import license, endorsed health certificate, vaccination records, titer test results, and Airway Bill to CAPQ officers. When everything is in order, the full clearance process — from aircraft to release — takes around 4–5 hours. 3
One important planning note: CAPQ is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and Singapore public holidays — arrivals on those days are not accepted. We plan all flights around weekday arrival windows.
Post-Arrival: Quarantine Conditions
For US-origin pets (Schedule II), no quarantine applies if your pet arrives within 5 days of your own entry into Singapore and the move is not a transfer of ownership. A minimum 10-day home quarantine applies if either of the following is true:
1. Your pet arrives more than 5 days after your own entry into Singapore, or
2. The move involves a transfer of ownership — including adopted, rescued, or purchased animals brought to Singapore less than 6 months before export.
To claim the no-quarantine exemption, AVS will require proof that your pet has lived with you continuously for at least 6 months. Documentation should be dated at least 6 months before export and show both owner and pet details including the microchip number — vet records, adoption papers, or similar. If your records don’t clearly show this, flag it early so we have time to gather the right documentation.
AVS uses smart collar tags to monitor home quarantine compliance; fees apply per animal per day. Home quarantine must be applied for and approved before the import license is issued. Commercial imports require 10 days at the AVS Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC).
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What Documents Travel With Your Pet
Import license (from AVS via GoBusiness)
Dog license (dogs only, from PALS)
USDA-endorsed Singapore health certificate (via VEHCS)
Airway Bill (AWB) — manifest cargo only
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Captain’s declaration form (endorsed by airline at check-in)
Rabies titer test results
Vaccination records (rabies + core vaccines, with microchip number)
Common Questions
5 months is the realistic minimum. The titer test blood draw must happen at least 90 days before travel, and the rabies vaccination must precede that by at least 28 days. Add time for licensing and health certificate timing, and 5 months gives you workable room. Starting earlier is always better.
Not automatically. If you and your pet arrive within 5 days of each other and your pet has lived with you for at least 6 months, no quarantine is required — AVS will inspect and clear your pet on arrival. You’ll need documentation showing that co-residency, dated at least 6 months before export. If those conditions aren’t met, a 10-day home quarantine 4 applies, with smart collar monitoring and a daily fee. We’ll confirm which path applies when we review your case.
Singapore prohibits certain breeds entirely: Pit Bull types (including American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and American Bulldog), Akita, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Perro De Presa Canario, and crosses of any of the above. These breeds cannot be imported.
A separate category of “specified breeds” — including Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and related breeds, and Mastiffs (including Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, and Dogue De Bordeaux) — can be imported but come with additional conditions: only one is permitted per premises, the dog must be leashed and muzzled in public, and the owner must hold a $100,000 insurance policy and post a $2,000 banker’s guarantee. If your dog is a mix and not clearly on either list, AVS will review a photo as part of the import license application.
First to fourth generation Bengal or Savannah crosses are not permitted. Fifth generation and beyond are allowed, but you’ll need documentary proof of the generational lineage.
Singapore limits the number of pets per residence. HDB flats (Singapore’s government public housing) allow 1 non-specified dog and up to 2 cats. Private residences allow up to 3 dogs and cats combined, with no more than 1 “specified dog.” Confirm the limits for your residence type before committing to the move.
We coordinate the license applications, titer test scheduling, health certificate timing, APHIS endorsement, and inspection booking. Since April 2026, an AVS-recognised agent is required by law for all CAPQ clearance — we work with a Singaporebased import agent for this, and can connect you with one as part of the process. A few steps happen at your local vet — the vaccination appointments and titer blood draw. We’ll tell you exactly what to ask for and when to schedule it.
A Note on Timing
The titer test is what most people underestimate. With a 28-day post-vaccination window and a 90-day pre-export requirement, the blood draw alone needs to be planned well over 3 months before travel. Add the licensing lead time and health certificate window, and 5 months is a genuine minimum — not a cushion.
Start the conversation with us as early as you know Singapore is the destination. We’ll check your pet’s current records and tell you exactly where you stand.
Ready to Get Started?
Singapore is very manageable with the right timeline. The best first step is a conversation.
Requirements sourced from Singapore’s Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) and USDA-APHIS. Last verified: July 2026. Requirements can change without notice — we verify current conditions for every case before proceeding.