Pet travel from the United States to Singapore
Welcome! This page will guide you through the rules and requirements for traveling internationally with your pet.
Before You Start the Process
Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian
With help from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, you can learn more about your destination country's entry requirements for pets, including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments. We recommend creating a schedule to make sure you meet all requirements within the specified timeframe.
Gather This Information for Your USDA-Accredited Veterinarian
- The type of pet traveling
- The destination country
- If applicable, countries where your pet will stop (for customs clearance or upon leaving the airport or seaport) on the way to the destination country
- The date of departure from the United States
- Whether the pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane
- Note: If you're traveling with a pet bird or exotic animal, you may need to work with additional agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1.41 MB) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Read These Resources
- Pet Travel Guidance for Pets Traveling to Another Country From the United States
- In Spanish (En Español): Guía de viaje para mascotas que viajan a otro país desde Estados Unidos
- In Chinese (用中文（表達): 宠物出国旅行指南
- Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling With Your Pet
Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type
Visit Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) web-site for the most recent requirements and more detailed information.
Dogs and cats must be identified with a microchip that is ISO compliant (11784 and 11785). If your dog/cat is implanted with a microchip which is not ISO compliant, you must provide a reader which is able to read the microchip at the point of entry into Singapore.
Must be administered by a USDA accredited veterinarian. The rabies vaccination certificate(s) should include the following information:
- Microchip number of the pet
- Name and signature of veterinarian that vaccinated the pet
- Name and address of veterinary practice
Each pet must be accompanied by a valid import license and dog license (for dogs) issued by the veterinary authority (AVA) in Singapore.
- Dogs – The owner or agent must apply for a dog license prior to applying for the import license. Both licenses must be submitted thirty (30) days prior to arrival of the dog in Singapore.
- Cats – The owner or agent must obtain an import license by submitting an application thirty (30) days prior to arrival of the cat in Singapore.
- Application Process (AVA Singapore)
The following links will take you to the Animal & Veterinary Service of Singapore website for the most up-to-date versions of model health certificates for U.S. origin pet dogs and cats from Guam and Hawaii (Category B), and from the rest of the United States (Category C):
The owner or agent must make an appointment for the pet’s inspection at least 5 working days before the arrival of the animal by submitting an online booking request via AVA’s Intelligent Food Approval & Safety Tracking System (iFAST).
Visit the Aninal & Veterinary Service (AVS) of Singapore website for the most recent requirements and more detailed information: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/bringing-animals-into-singapore-and-exporting/import-export-and-transhipment-of-other-animals/ornamental-birds.
Ornamental birds are intended for purposes other than consumption, and include pet birds and birds for breeding. Examples of ornamental birds are guinea fowls, partridges, parrots, parakeets, budgerigars, cockatoos, doves, peafowls, swans and finches.
Pet owners and commercial traders are required to meet AVA’s requirements when importing, exporting or transshipping ornamental birds into, out of or via Singapore.
Additional permits are required to import, export or re-export endangered ornamental birds listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Examples of endangered ornamental birds include macaws, cockatoos and all except 4 species of parrots*.
For more information on the endangered animal species listed under CITES, please see the CITES appendices.
*Certain parrots are listed as highly endangered species under CITES Appendix I. This listing means that commercial import, export or re-export of the bird is not allowed unless the bird is bred in captivity in operations or farms that are registered with the CITES or used for non-commercial purposes. The 4 non-CITES listed parrot species are the Peach-Faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis), Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and Ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri).
Follow the steps provided below to import ornamental pet birds into Singapore.
The import of birds from countries affected by Notifiable Avian Influenza is not allowed. Refer to the “Importing Ornamental Birds” section (step #1) of the AVA’s website for the list of countries and regions from which bird imports are currently prohibited.
For consignments of birds originating from non-bird flu affected countries and transiting via bird flu affected countries before coming to Singapore, please seek AVA’s permission for the travel route.
Do note that the transit via bird flu affected countries must not exceed 6 hours.
Ensure that the ornamental birds fulfill the Veterinary Conditions for Birds (Other than Domestic Birds).
This step only applies if you are importing CITES-listed ornamental birds.
Requirements to import CITES listed, endangered ornamental birds:
Check the CITES listed species list.
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- a CITES import permit from AVA, and
- a CITES export/re-export permit from the country of export
| STEP | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| STEP 1: | Obtain a CITES export/re-export permit from the competent authority of the country of export. |
| STEP 2: | Obtain a CITES import permit from AVA by applying online via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website. Please note that you will need to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific CITES permit application service. The CITES import permit is valid for 90 days. |
| STEP 3: | Pay a fee of $12 per permit per species. The permits are subject to a minimum of $60 per consignment. |
View the step-by-step guide to apply for an import license.
Apply for an import license via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website to bring ornamental birds into Singapore.
- Please note that you will need to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific import licensing service.
The license is valid for 30 days from date of issue.
Customs Clearance Permit
Each consignment must be accompanied by a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) for import clearance at the port of entry. You can obtain a CCP online via TradeNet.
You will need to provide the appropriate HS codes and product codes. For the list of products codes, see Product Codes for TradeNet.
Each consignment of ornamental birds must be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate (438.86 KB) issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS.
Make an appointment for an ornamental bird inspection by submitting an online booking request via AVA’s Intelligent Food Approval & Safety Tracking System (iFAST).
- Submit your request at least 5 days before arrival.
- Pets arriving for inspections without any prior appointment will be subject to an $80.00 inspection fee.
At the port of entry in Singapore, the birds and supporting documents will be inspected by an AVA Officer. Your consignment will be released if the documents are in order and birds are healthy.
Small mammals include rabbits, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and chinchillas.
Visit the Aninal & Veterinary Service (AVS) of Singapore website for the most recent requirements and more detailed information:
You can bring in small mammals from any country as long as your consignments meet AVA’s import requirements.
Below is an overview of the steps to follow when importing small mammals. Download AVA’s Veterinary Conditions of Small Mammals for more details on the import requirements.
Ensure that the small mammals intended for import fulfill the veterinary conditions stated in the Veterinary Conditions of Small Mammals.
Veterinary Conditions include treatment for parasites, no signs of certain diseases, etc. As some conditions carry specific timeframes, do read the conditions carefully.
Please note that personal pet owners have to have kept their small mammals as pets continuously since birth or for the past 6 months immediately prior to export.
All small mammals have to be placed under quarantine for a period of 2 weeks on arrival in Singapore. Please prepare proof of ownership if you have owned your small mammal for more than 6 months and attach it to your import license application.
For all others, please go to Animal Quarantine & AVA Border Control Checkpoints for more info on SAQS and reserving quarantine space.
Import Permits
Apply for an import license via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website to bring small mammals into Singapore. The license is valid for 30 days from date of issue.
View the step-by-step guide to apply an import license.
Please note that you will need to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific import licensing service.
Singapore Customs permit
Singapore Customs requires all pet owners bringing their pets into Singapore to apply for a customs permit via TradeNet for checkpoint clearance.
For enquiries on the customs permit, please contact Singapore Customs officers at:
- Tel: (65) 6355 2000
- Email: customs_documentation@customs.gov.sg
AVA requires each imported consignment of small mammals to be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS.
All small mammals arriving in Singapore must undergo inspection at AVA’s border control office (Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station or Tuas Checkpoint).
See Animal Quarantine & AVA Border Control Checkpointsfor more information on making an appointment for inspection.
Your imported small mammals will undergo veterinary inspection upon arrival in Singapore. Upon clearing customs, the animals will be transported to the quarantine facility.
See Animal Quarantine & AVA Border Control Checkpoints for more information on the arrival procedures.
For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommend that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.
Country of Destination Contact Information
Information for Accredited Veterinarians
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