Pet Travel From the United States to Singapore

Last Modified: December 03, 2024

Electronic Signature ACCEPTED; Original Ink Endorsement REQUIRED

For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Original ink endorsement REQUIRED

USDA-accredited veterinarians can electronically issue health certificates and use VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System) to submit them to USDA for endorsement.

USDA must ink-sign and emboss the health certificate.

What This Means for You

Accredited Veterinarians: Use the links below to access or get help with VEHCS. Learn more about how to issue export health certificates.

Animal Owners/Shippers: You can arrange to have your health certificate returned by mail (a prepaid, preaddressed return label must be provided during certificate submission). The endorsed health certificate—ink-signed and embossed—must accompany the animal(s) during shipment or travel.

VEHCS Help | VEHCS Guide (7.58 MB) | VEHCS Login

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

Carefully read ALL of the requirements related to your pet on this page.

This page provides the most recent entry requirements and can change without notice.
It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to make sure the pet has met all health requirements of the destination country before issuing a health certificate.
Failure to meet the requirements may result in problems gaining certificate endorsement or difficulties upon arrival in the destination country.
Health certificates must be legible, accurate, and complete.

Pet Dogs and Cats

Visit Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) web-site for the most recent requirements and more detailed information.

STEP 1: Microchip

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.

STEP 2: Rabies Vaccination

All rabies vaccinations must be administered by a licensed 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

STEP 3: Licenses

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)

STEP 4: Export Health Certificate Information

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.

Dogs and Cats from Guam and Hawaii ONLY

Dogs and Cats from USA (except for Guam and Hawaii) (365.89 KB)

STEP 5: Notification of Arrival

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).

Pet Birds

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.

Factsheet on Importing Ornamental Birds

STEP 1: Check the Avian Influenza status of the country of export (i.e. source country).

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.

STEP 2: Ensure the ornamental birds fulfill AVA Veterinary Conditions

Ensure that the ornamental birds fulfill the Veterinary Conditions for Birds (Other than Domestic Birds).

STEP 3: Apply for CITES import permit

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.

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.

STEP 4: Apply for Customs Clearance Permit

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.

STEP 5: Obtain Veterinary Health Certificate

Each consignment of ornamental birds must be accompanied by a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS.

STEP 6: Inspection Upon Arrival in Singapore

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.

Pet Small Mammals

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.

STEP 1: Ensure the small mammals fulfill AVA Veterinary Conditions

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.

STEP 2: Reserve quarantine space with AVA

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.

STEP 3: Apply for Singapore Customs clearance

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

STEP 4: Obtain Veterinary Health Certificate

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.

STEP 5: Make an appointment for border control inspection

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.

STEP 6: Inspection and quarantine upon arrival in Singapore

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.

Other Pets

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

World Organisation for Animal Health: Members

U.S. Department of State: Foreign Embassies and Consulates

Important Travel Considerations

Considerations for airline travel and cruises:

Airlines and shipping lines have their own policies and requirements for transporting pets. Check with your airline or shipping representative to determine what requirements they may have.

Learn how you can improve the safety of dogs and cats during air travel.

View additional information for pet owners, airlines, and others about APHIS endorsement of international health certificates (239.52 KB).

If pets or support animals accompany you on a cruise, you must comply with entry rules for every country or port where your pet or support animal exits the ship.

Will you be returning to the United States with your pet?

View APHIS Requirements

ALERT: If you're traveling with a dog, be aware that the CDC has additional requirements for bringing a dog into the United States. You must follow CDC's requirements, or your dog will not be allowed to enter the United States.

If you are transiting (passing through) the European Union:

If your pet is traveling through (transiting) a country in the European Union (EU) on the way to a third, non-EU country, you will also need a transit health certificate for your pet for the EU. The transit health certificate will be the same as if your pet’s final destination was the EU country. Use the information and steps above under “Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type” to determine which health certificate should be used. View a list of EU countries.

Need Help?

Read an overview of the process for taking your pet to another country and related resources.

View frequently asked questions about traveling with your pet.

Still Have Questions?

All Contacts

Looking for Another Country?

Find your destination country requirements by using the dropdown menu below. If your country is not listed in the menu, visit Pet Travel: Unknown Requirements.