Making the Move: A Comprehensive Guide to Relocating Your Pet to Singapore

By the Jason’s Pet Relocation team · Last updated 15 September 2026

Bringing your pet to Singapore is a rewarding but tightly regulated process, and getting it right starts with understanding the rules before you book a flight. Whether you are importing a cat or a dog, the move is overseen by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of the National Parks Board (NParks). ^[1] The core steps are the same for most owners: microchip your pet, meet the vaccination and rabies requirements for your country’s rabies-risk schedule, obtain the right licences and permits, book quarantine if it applies, and arrange compliant travel. This guide walks through each stage in order, so you know what to do and why. If you would rather hand the paperwork to a specialist, our pet import services cover every step from first enquiry to arrival.

In This Guide

• Why the right process matters
• Check your pet’s eligibility first
• The rabies-risk schedules explained
• Documents and health requirements
• Quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC)
• New for 2026: you now need an AVS-recognised pet agent
• Bringing your pet from Malaysia
• Travel and arrival day
• A realistic timeline
• Helping your pet settle into Singapore
• Why work with an AVS-recognised pet relocation agent
• Moving a pet out of Singapore?
• Getting started

Why the right process matters

Singapore keeps strict border controls on pets for two reasons: animal welfare and the country’s hard-won rabies-free status. For your pet, following the correct process is not box-ticking; it is what stands between a smooth arrival and the outcomes every owner dreads, being refused entry, held at the border, or placed in far longer quarantine than necessary. Unlike people, a pet has no say in the move and no way of understanding why its world has suddenly changed, so thorough preparation is genuinely the kindest thing you can do for them.

Rules can also change, especially after disease outbreaks abroad, so confirm the current requirements with AVS close to your travel date. The other reason to take the process seriously is timing. Some schedules require a vaccinate, blood-test and wait sequence that can run to around six months from start to finish. Miss a step or leave it too late, and you may not be able to fly on your planned date. The single most common mistake owners make is starting too close to the move, so treat the timeline as the backbone of your plan and work backwards from your intended arrival.

Check your pet’s eligibility first

Before you fix any dates, confirm two things: that your pet can be imported at all, and where you will legally be able to keep it once you arrive. Checking this early prevents expensive surprises.

Microchip and age

Every dog and cat must carry an ISO-standard microchip (ISO 11784 or 11785), and the number on that chip must match every vaccination and treatment record you submit. If the numbers do not line up, AVS cannot verify that the paperwork belongs to your animal, and that mismatch alone can hold up a licence. Your pet must also be at least twelve weeks old at the time of export, as set out in the NParks import guidance. ^[1]

Your country’s rabies-risk schedule

This is the single biggest factor in your entire move, so establish it first. AVS places every country into a rabies-risk schedule, Schedule I, II or III, and that schedule decides which vaccinations your pet needs, whether it needs a rabies antibody blood test, and how long, if at all, it must spend in quarantine. Two pets from two different countries can face completely different timelines and costs purely because of their schedule. Confirm your country’s current schedule against the AVS rabies-risk schedules before you commit to anything else, because everything else in your plan flows from it.

Dog breeds

Not every dog can be brought in. Some breeds are prohibited from import and ownership altogether, including Pit Bull types, Akita, Boerboel, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa and Perro de Presa Canario, and no licence will be issued for them. Certain “Specified” breeds, such as Rottweilers, Dobermanns and mastiffs, are allowed only under extra conditions like insurance, a banker’s guarantee and muzzling in public, and they are not permitted in HDB flats. If you are bringing a mixed or cross-breed dog, AVS’s breed rules require a clear colour photo showing the dog’s face and body so it can confirm the animal is not a prohibited breed.

Where you can keep your pet

Housing rules differ sharply by property type, and they changed recently. In an HDB flat you may keep one dog of an approved breed or up to two cats; non-HDB homes allow up to three cats or dogs in total. Cats are a recent addition: HDB lifted its long-standing ban and now allows licensed cats in flats, so older guides that say cats are not permitted are out of date. All pet cats must be microchipped and licensed through the AVS Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) under HDB’s cat licensing framework. ^[2] The AVS housing limits set out how many pets each property type allows. Confirm the rules for your specific home before you move, especially if you are renting. Cat owners can find more in our guide to Singapore’s cat import rules.

The rabies-risk schedules explained

Because the schedule drives everything, it is worth knowing what each one means. The table below summarises the three schedules, and the detail underneath covers the parts that trip owners up. Always confirm the exact conditions for your country against the AVS import conditions, as classifications and quarantine rules are reviewed and can change.

Schedule II is worth a closer look because quarantine is not automatic. If your pet is brought into Singapore within five days of your own entry and has lived with you at the same address for more than six months, no post-arrival quarantine is required; otherwise a minimum ten-day home quarantine applies, which you arrange with AVS. Commercial imports serve a minimum ten days at the AQC, per the AVS import requirements. The serology test (RNATT) timing is what drives the lead time for Schedule II and III: the blood sample must be taken at least 28 days after the rabies vaccination, and at least 90 days and within 12 months before export, which is why these moves need months of preparation.

Documents and health requirements

The paperwork is where most moves either run smoothly or stall, and the order matters as much as the documents themselves. Here is what you will typically need and why each item exists.

• Dog or cat licence via PALS. You apply for the animal licence before the import licence, because AVS links the two. For dogs, the approved dog licence must be attached to the import licence application.
• AVS import licence. Applied for through the GoBusiness Licensing Portal, this is your core permission to bring the animal in. It costs S$50 for normal service, is valid for 90 days, and the AVS licensing guidance advises applying around 30 days before arrival so it aligns with your flight.
• ISO microchip. Implanted before the rabies vaccination, so the vaccination record can be tied to the chip number.
• Rabies vaccination and RNATT. The vaccination is required for Schedule II and III, with the serology test on top of it, on the timing described above.
• Core vaccinations. Dogs need protection against distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus) and parvovirus; cats against feline panleukopaenia, calicivirus and herpesvirus. Bring the records, as they are checked.
• Parasite treatment. External and internal treatment, done 2 to 7 days before export and recorded on the veterinary certificate.
• Veterinary health certificate. Completed by your vet and endorsed by the export country’s government veterinary authority, certifying your pet is healthy and fit to fly.
• Customs (GST) permit. A Customs In-Payment (GST) permit is needed before arrival and is valid for 10 working days from approval. If you are moving residence to Singapore, you may qualify for GST relief through Singapore Customs. ^[3]

If that list looks daunting, it is because each document has its own issuing body and timing. Getting them in the wrong order, for example applying for the import licence before the dog licence is approved, is a frequent cause of delay. For a step-by-step view, see our guide to Singapore’s pet import rules.

Quarantine at the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC)

Whether your pet is quarantined depends on its schedule. Schedule I pets are exempt if fully compliant. Schedule II pets usually avoid quarantine, or serve a minimum ten-day home quarantine if they do not meet the arrival-timing and residency conditions. Schedule III pets serve a minimum 30 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC) and are vaccinated against rabies on arrival. Quarantine is booked in advance through the Quarantine Management System (QMS), with your pet’s rabies and general vaccination records provided at booking, and daily accommodation fees apply. ^[4] The schedule that applies to your pet is set by AVS. Because slots fill up, reserve as early as your paperwork allows.

New for 2026: you now need an AVS-recognised pet agent

This is the most important recent change and it affects almost every owner. From 1 April 2026, AVS’s CAPQ notice requires pet owners to appoint an AVS-recognised pet agent to handle import clearance at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ), and the operating hours there have been adjusted. In plain terms, you can no longer clear your own pet at CAPQ; a recognised agent must present your pet and complete clearance for you. For most families this removes a stressful, technical task from arrival day, but it does mean engaging an agent is now part of the process rather than optional. We explain what the change means, and how to prepare for it, in our dedicated guide to the 2026 CAPQ rules. Owners bringing a dog should also read what’s changed for dog import.

Bringing your pet from Malaysia

A common assumption is that bringing a pet across the Causeway from Malaysia is a simple drive. It is not. Because Malaysia is not on Singapore’s Schedule I or II lists, it falls under Schedule III, which means rabies vaccination, a serology test and a minimum 30-day quarantine at the AQC, plus a rabies vaccination on arrival, under the AVS Schedule III conditions. You still need a Singapore AVS import licence and a veterinary health certificate from Malaysia’s Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), and land arrivals are cleared at Tuas Checkpoint. Confirm the current requirements and approved route with AVS before you plan, because this is far from a quick crossing.

Travel and arrival day

With the paperwork in hand, attention turns to the flight itself. Choose a pet-friendly airline and check the details that actually affect your pet: whether direct flights are available, the airline’s climate and temperature policy, and whether your pet travels in the cabin or as manifest cargo; our guide to airlines allowing in-cabin pets covers which carriers do what. Use an IATA-compliant travel crate that is the correct size, and let your pet get used to it in the weeks before travel so it feels like a familiar den rather than a strange box. Note that even pets flying in-cabin must be transferred to a rigid IATA crate for clearance at CAPQ, not a soft carrier.

A word of caution on sedation. Older advice sometimes suggests sedating pets for flights, but most airlines and the International Air Transport Association advise against it, because sedation can affect breathing and balance at altitude. Speak to your vet, and only sedate if they specifically recommend it. On the Singapore side, book the border-control inspection at least five days before arrival; turning up without an appointment attracts an inspection fee of S$133 per hour or part thereof. From 1 April 2026, your appointed AVS-recognised agent handles the clearance at CAPQ, as the CAPQ clearance procedures set out. ^[5] Finally, complete the customs declaration so your pet is exempted from GST where applicable. If you need onward pet transport to your new home, we can arrange that too.

A realistic timeline

Every move is different, but a rough shape helps. For rabies-free Schedule I countries with a settled pet, the process is relatively quick and driven mainly by licence and booking lead times. For Schedule II and III countries, plan for months, not weeks: the vaccinate, serology and wait sequence, and, for Schedule III, the need to reserve an AQC quarantine slot in advance, mean starting around six months ahead is sensible. Work backwards from your intended arrival date, get the animal licence and import licence in the right order about a month before travel, appoint your AVS-recognised agent early, and build in a buffer for anything that needs re-doing. Starting early is the surest way to keep your options open.

Helping your pet settle into Singapore

Arrival is not the finish line; it is the start of your pet’s adjustment to a new home. Singapore’s warm, humid climate and unfamiliar sights and smells take time to get used to, and a pet that has just endured a long journey may be anxious for a while. Set up a familiar space first, with their own bed, toys and blanket and a routine close to the one they knew, so there is a point of stability from day one.

From there, introduce the neighbourhood gradually with short walks that grow longer as their confidence builds, and let them take in the new sounds at their own pace. Once they are more settled, socialisation at dog runs such as Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, West Coast, Simpang Bedok and Tampines Central Park helps them feel part of the local pet community. Use positive reinforcement, enrichment toys and puzzle feeders to ease anxiety, keep up regular veterinary checks, and lean on local pet groups for advice as you settle into life as a pet owner in Singapore.

Why work with an AVS-recognised pet relocation agent

AVS rules change often, and a single missed step, an out-of-order licence, an expired permit, or a quarantine slot booked too late, can delay or block your pet’s entry. With the 2026 requirement to appoint an AVS-recognised agent for CAPQ clearance, professional help has moved from a convenience to part of the process itself. As an AVS-recognised agent, Jason’s Pet Relocation handles the whole journey: consultation and coordination, quarantine reservation, permit applications, customs and AVS clearance, and airline clearance in Singapore. We have relocated pets into and out of Singapore for over a decade and hold membership of the International Pet and Animal Transport Association (IPATA) and the Animal Transportation Association (ATA), and we work to IATA’s Live Animals Regulations (LAR). Those standards mean your pet’s move is handled safely and in compliance at every stage, so you can focus on keeping your pet calm while we manage the administration. Tell us about your move through our online quote form and we will map out the steps for your specific situation.

Moving a pet out of Singapore?

This guide covers bringing a pet into Singapore. If you are moving in the other direction, the requirements depend on your destination country’s rules, and you will also need a Singapore export licence, which costs S$50 and is valid for 90 days, per the AVS export guidance. ^[6] See our pet export services and our step-by-step guide to exporting your pet from Singapore, or contact us for a plan tailored to where you are heading.

Getting started

Bringing your pet to Singapore comes down to preparation in the right order: establish your rabies-risk schedule, line up the documents and licences as AVS requires, reserve quarantine early if it applies, and appoint an AVS-recognised agent for the 2026 CAPQ clearance. Do those things, and your pet’s arrival can be as calm as your own. If you would like the whole process handled for you, request a quote and our team will take it from there.

 

 

Resources

[1] NParks / AVS – Importing dogs and cats

[2] HDB / AVS – Pet Cat Licensing Scheme to Start on 1 September 2024

[3] Singapore Customs – Importing personal pets for change of residence (GST)

[4] NParks / AVS – Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC)

[5] NParks / AVS – Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ)

[6] NParks / AVS – Exporting dogs and cats