What to do before leaving Singapore with your Pets
Planning on taking dogs or cats out of Singapore? Whether you are relocating to another country, taking your pet along on an overseas vacation or exporting animals for commercial purposes, you are required to meet certain import and export requirements.
1. Check the pet import requirements of your country of destination
Find out the import requirements of your country of destination. Some countries may require certain vaccinations, laboratory tests or Veterinary Health Certification before your pet can enter.
You can get the import requirements from the website of the relevant government authority of the destination country.
2. Apply for an AVA Export Licence
Apply for an AVA Export Licence via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website within 30 days of leaving Singapore. Note that the licence is only valid for 30 days.
For a step-by-step guide to apply an export licence, please click https://www.ava.gov.sg/e-services
| Type of licence | Cost and validity |
|---|---|
| Licence to Import/Export/Transship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics (Commercial) | S$87 (normal service, issuance within 2 working days of submission of complete documents)S$174 (express service, issuance within 1 working day of submission of complete documents)Valid for 30 days from Each licence allows you to export 1 consignment |
| Licence to Import/Export/Transship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics (Personal) | S$50 (normal service, issuance within 2 working days of submission of complete documents)S$100 (express service, issuance within 1 working day of submission of complete documents)Valid for 30 days from date of issuance |
3. Obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate
This step only applies if your country of destination requires a Veterinary Health Certificate.
Obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate issued by a private veterinarian by bringing your pet to any AVA-licensed veterinarian for examination. The certification statements needed on the health certificate, as well as its validity period, will depend on the requirements of your destination country.
Your country of destination may also require the Veterinary Health Certificate to be issued or endorsed by an official government veterinarian. There are 3 types of Veterinary Health Certificates you can obtain from AVA.
(a) Endorsement of importing country’s Veterinary Health Certificate template
This refers to the manual endorsement of the importing country’s Veterinary Health Certificate template. You can obtain this template from the website of the relevant authority of your country of destination.
How to apply
- Bring your pet and the Veterinary Health Certificate template to a private veterinarian, who will complete and sign the certificate during the examination.
- Make an online application via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and have the Veterinary Health Certificate template endorsed at AVA. Please retain the application number for reference and collection.
For a step-by-step guide to apply a veterinary health certificate, please click https://www.ava.gov.sg/e-services - Please note that you will need to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific service for your required Veterinary Health Certificate endorsement.
- Collect the official veterinary endorsement from AVA at:
| Address | Operating Hours: |
|---|---|
| AVA Service Centre (shared with BCA) Jem, 52 Jurong Gateway Road #06-01 Singapore 608550 | |
| Mon – Thu | 8.30am – 12.30pm 1.30pm – 5.30pm |
| Fri | 8.30am – 12.30pm 1.30pm – 5.00pm |
| Closed on Sat, Sun and Public Holidays |
Please note that our last queue ticket will be issued 30 minutes before the Centre’s closing time & lunch hour. Customers are advised to arrive ahead of time to avoid any disappointment or being turned away.
Please bring:
- the original completed Veterinary Health Certificate template,
- the original vaccination records and laboratory test results (if applicable), and
- your application number.
(b) AVA electronically-issued watermarked Veterinary Health Certificate
This refers to the conversion of the veterinary health certificate issued by a private veterinarian into an electronically-issued official watermarked Veterinary Health Certificate.
How to apply
- Bring your pet to a private veterinarian for an examination and to obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate.
- Make an online application via the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website for the watermarked Veterinary Health Certificate. Please retain the application number for reference and collection.
Please note that you will need to log in to the LicenceOne (AVA e-Licensing) website and locate the specific service for your required Veterinary Health Certificate endorsement.
Attach the following supporting documents to your application:- the signed veterinary health certificate,
- the vaccination records and laboratory test results (if applicable), and
- your application number.
- Collect the Veterinary Health Certificate from AVA or print it yourself using a watermark-enabled printer. The Veterinary Health Certificate bears an optical watermark and electronic
signature, and is printed in black and white. For more details, please see our template. - Note that the AVA watermarked veterinary health certificate is valid only 7 days from its date of issue.
(c) Endorsement of Veterinary Health Certificate issued by private veterinarian
This refers to the endorsement of the Veterinary Health Certificate to show that the veterinarian who issued the certificate is licensed by AVA.
How to apply
- Bring your pet to a private veterinarian for an examination and to obtain a Veterinary Health Certificate.
- Bring the original signed Veterinary Health Certificate to AVA for endorsement. The process will take 1 working day.
AVA is located at:
Jem, 52 Jurong Gateway Road #06-01
Singapore 608550
Operating Hours
Mon – Thu 8.30am – 12.30pm, 1.30pm – 5.30pm
Fri8.30am – 12.30pm1.30pm – 5.00pm
Closed on Sat, Sun and Public HolidaysPlease note that our last queue ticket will be issued 30 minutes before the Centre’s closing time & lunch hour. Customers are advised to arrive ahead of time to avoid any disappointment or being turned away.
4. Make an appointment for pre-export inspection
This step applies to all commercial exporters and pet owners whose country of destination requires pre-export inspection.
Make an appointment for your pet’s 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 departure. Pets that need inspections before departure but without any prior appointment will be subject to inspection fee.
The inspection should be held at least 4 hours before departure time to allow sufficient time to transport your pet to the cargo terminal. Note that the inspection must be done during CAPQ operating hours.
| Address | Operating Hours |
|---|---|
| Gate C7, Airport Cargo Road Changi Airfreight Centre Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Singapore 918104 | Monday – Saturday: 8:00am – 1:00pm 2:00pm – 10:30pm Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays |
| Contact | How to get there* |
|---|---|
| Tel: (65) 6545 7523 Fax: (65) 6545 3023 | Bus: 9, 19 and 89 (alight at the 3rd bus stop after Police Pass Office, along Airline Road) MRT: Bedok (transfer to bus 9), Tampines (transfer to bus 19) *This travel information is meant for commuters without pets, as animals are not allows on buses and MRT trains. Download the detailed directions to CAPQ |
5. Make Arrangements with Ground Handling Agents
Contact your selected airline for the pre-export arrangements with the Ground Handling Agent prior to your pet’s departure. There are 2 Ground Handling Agents for this purpose:
- SATS Gateway Pte Ltd
- DNATA Singapore
Before you transport your pet to the Ground Handling Agent on the day of departure, please ensure that the animal is accompanied by:
- a copy of your AVA Export Licence,
- the original Veterinary Health Certificate that meets the requirements of the country of destination, and
- any other additional supporting documents required by the country of destination.
| SATS Location | DNATA Location |
|---|---|
| SATS Terminal 5 20 Airport Boulevard, Singapore Changi Airport Singapore 918141 | DNATA Outbound Terminal 50 Airport Boulevard, Singapore Changi Airport Singapore 819658 |
Source: https://www.ava.gov.sg/explore-by-sections/pets-and-animals/bringing-animals-into-singapore-exporting/exporting-dogs-cats