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Country entry guide · Asia

Traveling to Singapore with your dog

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult (depends on origin) ⏱ Several months to prepare

Singapore welcomes dogs, but it runs its own import scheme through the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS, part of NParks) — not the EU framework. What you must prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from, which AVS sorts into three rabies-risk schedules. Every dog needs an ISO microchip, a dog licence and an AVS import licence. Dogs from Schedule I countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the UK) skip the rabies blood test and quarantine. Dogs from Schedule II countries (most of the EU, the USA, Canada, Japan and others) need a rabies vaccination and a serology test, and often a short home quarantine. Dogs from any other country (Schedule III) face a rabies antibody test and a minimum 30-day quarantine. Some breeds are banned outright. This guide explains each case.

📋 At a glance

Dogs allowed	Yes (except banned breeds)
Microchip	Required
Rabies vaccination	Required (Schedule II & III)
Rabies antibody test	Required from Schedule II & III origins
Import & dog licence	Required (AVS)
Veterinary health certificate	Required
Quarantine	Conditional by schedule (up to 30 days)

⚠️ Important

MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Only a veterinarian and Singapore's AVS can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.

Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.

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Find a flight to Singapore

Compare the airlines that accept dogs and check their conditions.

🔎 Find a flight to Singapore

🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided

1
Country of destination — Singapore★★★★★
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Country of departure★★★★★
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Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆

✅ Entry requirements

Requirement	Required?	Exceptions	Official reference
ISO microchip	Required	No tattoo alternative is accepted.	AVS — Importing dogs and cats
Rabies vaccination	Required (Schedule II & III)	Schedule III dogs are also re-vaccinated against rabies on arrival in Singapore.	AVS — Schedule II & III veterinary conditions
Rabies antibody (serology) test	Required (Schedule II & III)	Not required for Schedule I countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom).	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 3
Core vaccinations	Required	Follow the vaccine manufacturer's recommendations on validity and dosing.	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 4
Dog licence	Required	Specified (Part 2) dogs need extra conditions: muzzle, insurance and a banker's guarantee.	AVS — Applying for dog and cat licences
AVS import licence	Required	Mixed/cross-breed dogs must include a colour photo showing face and body to confirm the dog is not a prohibited breed.	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 7
Veterinary health certificate	Required	The animal must be free from any clinical sign of contagious or infectious disease and fit for travel.	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 10
External & internal parasite treatment	Required	—	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 10
Customs GST permit	Required	—	Singapore Customs — Importing personal pets
Border inspection appointment	Required	Arriving without an appointment incurs an inspection fee of S$133 per hour or part thereof.	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 9
Minimum age	≥12 weeks at export	With the serology waiting periods, dogs from Schedule II/III are effectively much older before they can enter.	AVS — Preparing to bring dogs and cats into Singapore
Quarantine	Conditional by schedule	Schedule II exemption needs a personal import, the pet brought within 5 days of the owner's entry, and 6+ months living at the owner's address.	AVS — Importing dogs and cats, step 5

🗓 In what order, and when

Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.

ISO microchipISO 11784 / 11785 microchip implanted before vaccinations; the number must appear on every vaccination and treatment record.
Rabies vaccinationValid inactivated or recombinant vaccine acceptable to AVS; not required for Schedule I countries.
Rabies antibody (serology) testBlood sampled at least 28 days after a valid vaccination, and at least 90 days and within 12 months before export, at a WOAH reference or approved Schedule I/II lab.
Core vaccinationsDogs: valid vaccination against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 1 and canine parvovirus type 2, supported by records on arrival.
Dog licenceA dog licence must be obtained on the Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) before applying for the import licence.
AVS import licenceImport licence via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal (S$50 normal / S$100 express); valid 90 days from issue and applied for within 90 days of arrival.
Veterinary health certificateCompleted 2–7 days before export: treating vet certifies conditions and fitness (Sections I–III); the exporting country's government vet endorses Section IV.
External & internal parasite treatmentAdministered between 2 and 7 days before export and recorded on the health certificate.
Customs GST permitA Customs In-Payment (GST) permit is needed before arrival; obtained via a local forwarding agent within 14 days of arrival.
Border inspection appointmentBook an inspection at least 5 days before arrival; dogs by air are inspected at Changi (CAPQ), by land at Tuas Checkpoint.
Minimum ageThe dog must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of export.
QuarantineSchedule I: none. Schedule II: may be exempt, otherwise minimum 10-day home quarantine (or 10 days at AQC for commercial imports). Schedule III: minimum 30 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre.

🌍 The different cases

Schedule I — no blood test, no quarantine

From Schedule I countries (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, United Kingdom), your dog needs an ISO microchip, valid core vaccinations, a dog licence, an AVS import licence and an endorsed health certificate — but no rabies vaccination, no serology test and no quarantine, provided all conditions are fully met.

⏱ Schedule I (Australia, NZ, Ireland, UK): a few weeks — no blood test and no quarantine, just microchip, core vaccinations, licences and a health certificate.

Schedule II — vaccination, blood test, often 10-day quarantine

From Schedule II countries (most of the EU, USA, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Switzerland and others), add a rabies vaccination and a serology test taken at least 28 days after vaccination and at least 90 days before export. A minimum 10-day home quarantine applies unless the personal-import exemption is met (pet brought within 5 days of the owner's entry and 6+ months at the owner's address).

⏱ Schedule II (most EU, USA, Canada, Japan…): about 4–5 months — serology at least 28 days after vaccination, then a 90-day wait before export; often a 10-day home quarantine.

Schedule III — titre + minimum 30-day quarantine

From any other country (Schedule III), your dog needs the rabies vaccination and serology test, then a post-arrival quarantine of at least 30 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC), booked in advance via the Quarantine Management System. Dogs from Schedule III are also re-vaccinated against rabies on arrival.

⏱ Schedule III (all other countries): about 4–6 months plus a minimum 30-day quarantine at the AQC on arrival, with a rabies re-vaccination on arrival.

🛬 Arrival

What happens when your dog reaches Singapore depends on its schedule and the checkpoint of entry.

Dogs arriving by air are inspected at Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ); dogs by land at Tuas Checkpoint.
You must book the border inspection at least 5 days before arrival; arriving without an appointment incurs a fee of S$133 per hour or part thereof.
Present the AVS import licence at check-in; for Schedule I and II origins you also need a captain's declaration form endorsed by the airline.
Schedule II dogs without the exemption go to home quarantine (minimum 10 days, smart collar tag); Schedule III dogs go to the AQC for at least 30 days.
Large pet containers exceeding 82 x 64 x 58 cm must be collected in person at CAPQ or Tuas, otherwise transfer to a private contractor incurs extra fees.
If documents or veterinary conditions are not met, the dog can be refused, quarantined further, re-exported or, for banned breeds, denied entry entirely.

🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)

Singapore is a listed country, so no rabies titer is needed to return — but AVS (NParks) must endorse the EU health certificate and issue an export licence.

⚠️ Start before you leave Obtain the AVS export licence via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal (valid 90 days), and request the pre-export inspection at least 5 days before departure.
On site, before the flight A licensed vet completes the EU health certificate; AVS then endorses it (allow about 2 working days — no express service for endorsement).

⚠️ Plan the licence and endorsement together — neither is instant, and the endorsement has no express option.

🔗 Authority: AVS (NParks)

🚫 Restricted dogs

Singapore lists potentially dangerous breeds in the First Schedule of the Animals and Birds (Licensing and Control of Cats and Dogs) Rules 2024 as 'Specified Dogs', split into Part 1 (banned from import) and Part 2 (allowed with extra conditions).

Category 1

Banned from import (Part 1): Pit Bull (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog), Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel, Perro de Presa Canario, and crosses of any of these. These breeds are not allowed into Singapore for sale, temporary visit or permanent stay, except those already licensed.

Category 2

Allowed with conditions (Part 2): Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and related breeds (Belgian, East European Shepherd), Mastiffs (Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux) and their crosses. These require muzzle and leash in public, third-party insurance of at least S$100,000, a S$2,000 banker's guarantee and training; only one such dog is allowed per non-HDB residence.

If you import a mixed or cross-breed dog, you must submit a colour photo of its face and body so AVS can confirm it is not a prohibited breed. HDB flats also restrict which breeds may be kept.

✈️ Airlines flying to Singapore with a dog

Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.

Singapore Airlines🇸🇬 1 airport Hold United Airlines 1 airport Cabin Air Canada 1 airport Cabin Lufthansa 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg Turkish Airlines 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg British Airways 1 airport Cargo only

+30 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 3 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →

🛂 Airports in Singapore

Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.

Singapore SIN

Singapore with a dog: common questions

Singapore: What does my dog need to enter?

Singapore requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination, Rabies antibody (serology) test, Core vaccinations, Dog licence.

Singapore: Is a rabies antibody test required?

Singapore — Rabies antibody (serology) test: Required (Schedule II & III). Blood sampled at least 28 days after a valid vaccination, and at least 90 days and within 12 months before export, at a WOAH reference or approved Schedule I/II lab.

Singapore: Are any dog breeds banned?

Singapore: How long does it take to prepare a dog?

Schedule I (Australia, NZ, Ireland, UK): a few weeks — no blood test and no quarantine, just microchip, core vaccinations, licences and a health certificate. Schedule III (all other countries): about 4–6 months plus a minimum 30-day quarantine at the AQC on arrival, with a rabies re-vaccination on arrival.

Singapore: What is needed to leave with a dog?