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Bringing a dog from the United States to Singapore
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | Implant an ISO 11784 / 11785 Annex A microchip. The number must appear on every vaccination and treatment record. Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old at export. | Before anything else |
| Rabies vaccination | A valid rabies vaccination with an inactivated or recombinant vaccine acceptable to AVS, kept up to date per the manufacturer's schedule. | Before the serology test |
| Rabies serology test | Blood drawn at least 28 days after the rabies vaccination, and at least 90 days — but no more than 12 months — before the export date. The test must be run by a WOAH reference laboratory or an approved laboratory in a Schedule I or II country (Kansas State University qualifies), and the result must be at least 0.5 IU/mL. | ≥90 days before export |
| Core vaccinations | Valid vaccination against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus type 1 and canine parvovirus type 2, supported by records you present on arrival. | Valid on arrival |
| Licences — dog licence first, then import licence | Obtain a dog licence on AVS's Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) before applying for the import licence. Then apply for the import licence on the GoBusiness Licensing Portal (personal licence S$50, valid 90 days from issue; USDA's guidance is to have the licences submitted 30 days before arrival). Depending on how your dog travels, a Singapore Customs GST in-payment permit may also be required before arrival. | ≥30 days before arrival |
| Book the arrival inspection | Book the border-control inspection appointment at Changi Animal and Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ) at least 5 days before arrival through AVS e-services — arriving without an appointment costs an inspection fee of S$133 per hour or part thereof. | ≥5 days before arrival |
| Parasite treatment + health certificate | Between 2 and 7 days before export: internal and external parasite treatments, and the AVS veterinary health certificate completed by your USDA-accredited vet (Sections I–III) and endorsed by USDA (Section IV), certifying your dog meets the Schedule II conditions. You will also need the airline's signed captain's declaration, and you present the import licence at flight check-in. | Final 2–7 days |
Your preparation timeline
- 1~5 months out — Microchip, rabies vaccination, core vaccinations up to date
- 2≥4 months out — Serology blood draw (≥28 days after vaccination) — the sample must age at least 90 days before export
- 3≥30 days out — PALS dog licence, then the AVS import licence on GoBusiness
- 4Final week — Book the CAPQ inspection (≥5 days out); parasite treatments and the endorsed health certificate 2–7 days before export
- 5Arrival — Inspection at CAPQ — released without quarantine if the exemption conditions are met
Costs you can plan for
Singapore publishes its fees, so budget them exactly: import licence S$50 (S$100 express) via GoBusiness, and S$133 per hour if you ever need an inspection without a pre-booked appointment. If home quarantine applies, AVS charges an upfront S$29 per animal per day for the smart collar tag used to monitor it. Add the US-side costs — vaccinations, the serology test, USDA endorsement — and air freight, which is usually the largest item.
Questions people ask about this route
Is the US a Schedule II or Schedule III country for Singapore?
Schedule II. The USA is printed on AVS's own Schedule II list. Some third-party sites claim US pets face 'Category III' rules and a mandatory 30-day quarantine — that contradicts AVS's published conditions: 30-day quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Centre is the Schedule III outcome, not the US one.
Will my dog be quarantined on arrival?
Not if both conditions are met: your dog enters Singapore within 5 days of your own entry, and it has lived with you at the same address for more than 6 months. If either condition fails, a personal import serves a minimum 10-day home quarantine (applied for via AVS's FormSG link); pets on a commercial import licence serve at least 10 days at the quarantine centre instead.
Are any dog breeds banned in Singapore?
Yes. AVS prohibits pit bull types (including the American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and American Bulldog) and their crosses, plus the Akita, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario and crosses of any of them. Separately, only specified breeds may be kept in HDB flats — check your housing before you start.
Why does Singapore take five months when Korea takes weeks?
The serology timetable. Singapore requires the blood sample to be drawn at least 28 days after vaccination and then to age at least 90 days before export — a built-in wait of about four months before licences and the final-week certificate. Korea uses the same 0.5 IU/mL threshold but sets no wait after sampling.
Related guides
- Bringing a cat from the United States to Singapore
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.