Is Singapore a good place to travel or relocate to with dogs and/or cats?

Here are reviews and import details to help you see if Singapore is a good place to travel with your pets.

Official Singapore government website on importing pets – AVS

Official government website on pets coming from the US to Singapore

How to Bring a Dog and/or Cat to  Singapore?

Singapore is Rabies Free, so they have strict requirements and regulations about bringing pets in from other countries.  This post will be a great introduction, but you will need to carefully review all the processes from the official websites above to ensure you will be allowed to enter.

If you are relocating to Singapore it makes sense to go through these hurdles.  This is not an ideal country to bring your pet on a vacation.  

Singapore is unique by having 4 categories of countries based on rabies risk and different procedures depending on which category you are bringing your dog or cat from.

This post will include the requirements for bringing a dog or cat in from the

• United States and Canada (Category C) and
• Hawaii, Guam, and many parts of the EU (Category B)

Importing a Pet to Singapore from a “Category C” Country Such as the United States or Canada

Category C 

Definition: Countries/Regions of export with controlled risk or low incidence of rabies

List of included countries:

• Canada
• Cyprus
• Estonia

• Greece (with effect from 2 Dec 2022)

• Latvia
• Republic of Korea
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Taiwan
• United States of America (except Guam and Hawaii)

See the regulations and flow chart created by the Singapore Government to show the process.

Medical Requirements to Bring a Dog or Cat to Singapore from a “Category C” Country: 

Rabies

The method you chose determines the length of your pet’s quarantine

• Category C1: The dog/cat must have a valid vaccination against rabies using an inactivated vaccine at least four months prior to export. A valid primary vaccination and/or up-to-date booster(s). The dog/cat must have a rabies titer test (blood test) 1 month after the above vaccination and within six months prior to export. (2) Following the blood draw for the rabies titer test, the dog/cat must be vaccinated again. This additional vaccination must not be less than one (1) month prior to export.
• Category C2: The dog/cat must have a valid vaccination against rabies using an inactivated vaccine three months prior to export. This refers to a valid primary vaccination and/or up-to-date booster(s). The dog/cat must have a blood sample taken and tested for the rabies titer test one month after the above vaccination and within six months prior to export.

Other Vaccines

Vaccines must be given at least 2 weeks before going to Singapore

• Dog: Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, and Canine Parvoviral infection.
• Cat: Cat Flu and Cat enteritis

Parasites

Treatment against parasites no more than 7 and no less than 2 days before import.

• External – fleas and ticks
• Internal – nematodes and cetodes

Documentation Required:

Import Permit

You need a dog license issued by the National Parks Board/Animal & Veterinary Service (NParks/AVS). Once that is approved, apply for the import license.  You can get it 30 days in advance.

5 (working) days before arrival, make an appointment for the pet’s inspection through the Intelligent Food Approval & Safety Tracking System (iFAST)

Health Certificate

An official government health certificate that includes the verification of the rabies vaccine and rabies titration test is required.

The certificate can’t be more than 7 days before the export of the pet.

Singapore Quarantine Requirements for “Category C” Countries:

Based on the rabies vaccine

• Category C1: quarantine at least 10 days
• Category C2: quarantine at least 30 days

Importing a Pet to Singapore from a “Category B” Country Such as Many Countries in the EU and Hawaii

Countries/Region of export with negligible risk of rabies

Category B

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bermuda
• Cayman Islands
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong SAR
• Iceland
• Italy
• Japan
• Jersey
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• New Caledonia
• Norway
• Portugal
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• The Netherlands
• USA (Guam and Hawaii only)

See the regulations and flow chart created by the Singapore Government to show the process.

Medical Requirements to Bring a Dog or Cat to Singapore from a “Category B” Country: 

Rabies

The dog/cat must have valid vaccination against rabies using an inactivated vaccine at least one 1 month prior to export. This refers to a valid primary vaccination and/or up-to-date booster(s)

Rabies Titer (blood test) is required at least 1 month after the vaccination. Keep vaccines up to date after the blood test.

Other Vaccines

Vaccines must be given at least 2 weeks before going to Singapore

• Dog: Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvoviral infection.
• Cat: Cat Flu and Cat enteritis

Parasites

Treatment against parasites no more than 7 and no less than 2 days before import.

• External – fleas and ticks
• Internal – nematodes and cetodes

Documentation Required:

Health Certificate

An official government health certificate that includes the verification of the rabies vaccine and rabies titration test is required.

The certificate can’t be more than 7 days before the export of the pet.

Import Permit

You need a dog license issued by the National Parks Board/Animal & Veterinary Service (NParks/AVS). Once that is approved, apply for the import license.  You can get it 30 days in advance.

5 (working) days before arrival, make an appointment for the pet’s inspection through the Intelligent Food Approval & Safety Tracking System (iFAST)

Singapore Quarantine Requirements for “Category B” Countries:

No quarantine if all documentation is in order and the pet looks healthy during the exam.

Additional Considerations

Singapore Pet Microchip Requirements: 

ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785.

Singapore Dog and Cat Breed Restrictions:

• Pit Bull, including:
  • American Pit Bull Terrier (also known as American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier).
  • American Staffordshire Terrier.
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
  • American Bulldog.
  • Crosses of these and other breeds.
• Akita.
• Boerboel.
• Dogo Argentino.
• Fila Brasileiro.
• Neapolitan Mastiff.
• Tosa.
• Perro De Presa Canario.
• Crosses of any of the above breeds.
• Cats – First to fourth-generation Bengal or Savannah cat crosses*.

The dogs below can be brought with additional insurance of $100,000USD and a guarantee of $2000

Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd Dog with its related breeds such as the Belgian Shepherd Dog and the East European Shepherd Dog, Mastiffs including the Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso and Dogue De Bordeaux, and crosses between any of the above breeds and other breeds:

Number of pet restrictions based on HDB Residential Flats: 

Singapore restricts the number of pets allowed in certain types of housing.  Only 1 dog from the list of approved small-dog breeds is allowed in HDB Residential Flats.  For Non-HDB Residential Flats, up to 3 small dogs are allowed and 1 Scheduled dog and perhaps a cat depending on building management rules.

Is this country considered high-risk rabies for entry into the US?

No, this country is rabies-free

Is this country considered high rabies for entry into EU countries?

No, this country is rabies-free

Are you flying to Singapore?

Read Flying with a Dog Under the Airplane Seat: The Ultimate Guide

Read Flying with a Big Dog: Travel Tips for Ease & Safety

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This information was last updated March 2023. If you notice any errors or updates, please let us know by contacting us here.