Destination Profile: Singapore

Last verified: 24 February 2026
Competent health authority: Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) / National Parks Board (NParks)
Official URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/bringing-animals-into-singapore-and-exporting/bringing-in-combined-cats-and-dogs/preparing-to-bring-in-cats-and-dogs

Global destination classification

Regulatory model

Model A: mandatory routine quarantine. Singapore requires a mandatory stay at Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS) for all animals from Category C and D countries, to monitor exotic diseases and rabies. For Category D — which includes Peru and all of Latin America — the minimum quarantine is 30 days at SAQS, with costs fully borne by the owner (AVS Import Health Standard).

Rabies status of destination country

Canine rabies-free. Singapore is rabies-free. For this reason entry controls are among the strictest in the world: protecting that status is the central aim of the entire AVS category system.
Source: WOAH — https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/

Country-of-origin classification system

Yes. AVS classifies all countries into four categories according to rabies risk: A (rabies-free, simplified process), B (low risk, RNATT and reduced quarantine), C (intermediate risk) and D (uncontrolled risk, full process with mandatory 30-day quarantine). Peru is Category D. All Latin American countries share this category: Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. No Latin American country is currently classified in higher categories for simplified direct entry.
Category D country list verification URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/bringing-animals-into-singapore-and-exporting/bringing-in-combined-cats-and-dogs/category-d-countries

Requirements for dogs — Category D

Microchip

— Required standard: ISO 11784/11785, 15 digits (AVS Step-by-Step Guide).
— Must it be implanted before the vaccine? Yes. Identification must be chronologically prior to any official clinical act. It is the first mandatory milestone of the process and its implantation date must be recorded on the SENASA certificate.
— If the chip was implanted later: prior vaccines are not recognised by AVS. The full vaccination schedule must be restarted after implantation. The entire 6-month calendar starts from scratch.

Rabies vaccine

— Mandatory: Yes. AVS requires two documented doses of rabies vaccine for Category D: primary vaccination and booster (AVS Category D Requirements).
— Minimum age for vaccination: 3 months (90 days).
— Period between first and second dose: the second dose must be given at least 30 days after the first.
— Post-second dose period: the most recent dose must have been administered at least 30 days before travel.
— Recognised validity: the final dose must be within 12 months before arrival in Singapore.
— Accepted vaccine types: inactivated vaccines from internationally recognised brands.
— If expired: the animal will not be processed for quarantine-ready entry and will face extended quarantine at SAQS.

Rabies serological titre (RNATT)

— Mandatory: Yes, for Category D animals from Peru and all of Latin America (AVS Import Requirements).
— Minimum threshold: 0.5 IU/mL.
— Minimum period for sample extraction: at least 30 days after the second dose of rabies vaccine.
— Critical waiting period: the sample must be taken at least 6 months before arrival in Singapore to minimise quarantine to the 30-day minimum (AVS Quarantine Rules). This 6-month period from sample extraction to landing is what makes Singapore the destination with the longest process in this collection. If the animal arrives before day 181 from extraction, quarantine may be extended beyond the mandatory 30 days.
— The relevant counter: sample extraction date.
— Accredited laboratories: laboratories approved by WOAH or by the authority of the country of origin. There is no accredited laboratory in Peru. Samples must be sent to Kansas State University (USA), Laboklin (Germany) or others accredited by WOAH. Verify directly with AVS which laboratories it specifically recognises.
— If the result is below the threshold: mandatory re-vaccination and repeat test 30 days later. The 6-month calendar restarts from the new extraction.

Other vaccines required by Singapore

AVS requires valid multiple vaccines at the time of arrival for Category D. For dogs: Distemper, Infectious canine hepatitis and Parvovirus (AVS Health Requirements). SENASA — Peru’s official animal health authority — also requires a complete vaccination scheme to issue the export certificate. Verify directly at https://www.gob.pe/senasa before starting the process from Peru.

Antiparasitic treatments

Mandatory, both internal and external (AVS Step 6). This is the strictest window in the entire collection for antiparasitics.

— External treatment: product effective against fleas and ticks.
— Internal treatment: product effective against nematodes and cestodes, including Praziquantel.
— Mandatory and strict time window: applied strictly between 2 and 7 days before landing in Singapore. A treatment applied 8 days before or 1 day before is outside the valid window. This 5-day window is the most restrictive of all destinations in this collection.
— Who applies and documents: registered veterinarian signing the health certificate. The exact date of application of each treatment must be recorded on the certificate.

Health certificate

— Official name: Veterinary Health Certificate in the AVS annex format for Category D.
— Who can issue it: official veterinarian of the health authority of the country of origin. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). In Colombia: ICA. In Ecuador: AGROCALIDAD.
— Validity time window: issued within 7 days before arrival in Singapore.
— Does it require endorsement? Yes, by the official health authority of the country of origin.
— The certificate must record: ISO microchip number with implantation date, the two rabies vaccine doses with dates and batches, RNATT result with laboratory name and extraction date, valid multiple vaccines, and antiparasitic treatments with application dates within the 2- to 7-day window.

Official entry document

— Exact name: Import Permit issued by AVS / NParks.
— Who issues it: AVS through the GoBusiness portal.
— How to process it: application through the official GoBusiness portal with all prior health documents. URL: https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/
— Minimum processing period: at least 30 days before the projected travel date.
— Precondition for processing: the SAQS slot reservation must be confirmed before applying for the Import Permit. Without SAQS reservation the system does not allow proceeding on GoBusiness.

Mandatory digital forms

Yes. The process has two mandatory digital steps in order: first, reservation of the slot at Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS) through the AVS QMS system; second, application for the Import Permit through the GoBusiness portal (https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/). Both must be completed before the flight.

Quarantine

— Mandatory: Yes, 30 days minimum for Category D animals (AVS Quarantine Policy).
— Facilities: Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS), Singapore. It is the only official quarantine centre for pets in Singapore.
— Cost: at the owner’s expense. Approximately 600–800 SGD plus inspection fees. The slot must be reserved in advance as capacity is frequently at full.
— What can extend the 30 days: RNATT performed at a laboratory not recognised by AVS, arrival before day 181 from sample extraction, incomplete documentation, or clinical suspicion during the stay.

Breed restrictions

The following breeds and their crosses are prohibited from entering Singapore: Pit Bull Terrier, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasileiro (AVS Banned Breeds List). Large breeds such as German Shepherd and Rottweiler are conditional: they require owner endorsement and mandatory muzzle. Verify directly with AVS before starting the process with any large or similar morphology to the banned breeds.

Minimum age for entry

6 months. The accumulation of mandatory periods (minimum age for first vaccine, 30 days between first and second dose, 30 days post-second dose for RNATT, 6 months from extraction) makes the effective minimum age for entry from Peru approximately 6 months (AVS).

Transport mode

Manifest Cargo only for Category D animals. AVS does not allow entry of Category D pets as excess baggage (AVIH) or in cabin. The animal must arrive as manifest cargo at Changi Airport cargo terminal (AVS Guidelines).

Requirements for cats — Category D

Microchip

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Rabies vaccine

Same as dogs — see previous section. Two doses mandatory for Category D.

Serological titre (RNATT)

Mandatory for cats from Peru (AVS). Same 0.5 IU/mL threshold and same 6-month-from-extraction rule before landing.

Other vaccines required by Singapore

For cats: valid Feline Triple (Feline panleukopenia, Feline viral rhinotracheitis and Feline calicivirus) (AVS Health Requirements). SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) requires this same scheme to issue the export certificate from Peru.

Antiparasitic treatments

Same as dogs — see previous section. Mandatory 2- to 7-day window before landing applies equally to cats.

Health certificate

Same as dogs — see previous section. Issued within 7 days before arrival, endorsed by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) in Peru.

Official entry document

Same as dogs — Import Permit via GoBusiness with prior SAQS reservation.

Mandatory digital forms

Same as dogs — QMS reservation at SAQS and then Import Permit on GoBusiness.

Quarantine

Same as dogs — 30 days minimum at SAQS for Category D. At the owner’s expense.

Breed restrictions

Not identified in primary regulations consulted for common domestic cats.

Minimum age for entry

Same as dogs — 6 months effective due to accumulation of periods.

Transport mode

Manifest Cargo only — same as dogs.

Variations by country of origin

Differentiated requirements by origin? Yes, with four distinct categories (A, B, C and D).

Risk classification system

AVS four-category list based on the rabies status of the country of origin and recognised bilateral health agreements. Category D is the most restrictive: mandatory RNATT, 6-month post-extraction wait, mandatory 30-day quarantine and Manifest Cargo as the only transport mode.
Verification URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/bringing-animals-into-singapore-and-exporting/bringing-in-combined-cats-and-dogs/category-d-countries

Situation of Peru and Latin America

All Latin American countries are in Category D. There is no Latin American country in categories A, B or C allowing a simplified process.

Difference between categories

Category A (Australia, NZ, UK) does not require rabies vaccine or RNATT and has no routine quarantine. Category B (Japan, USA) requires RNATT but quarantine is only 10 days. Category D (Peru and Latin America) requires RNATT with 6-month post-extraction wait and mandatory 30-day quarantine with no exception.

What sets Singapore apart from all other destinations in this collection

Singapore has the longest post-RNATT waiting period of all destinations in this collection: 6 months. Australia requires 180 days (equivalent). The EU and UK require 90 days. China and South Korea do not require a wait. And unlike South Africa (where quarantine is 14 days), Singapore requires 30 days. The combination of 6 months’ post-RNATT wait plus mandatory 30-day quarantine makes this the longest process in the entire collection when post-arrival time is included.

Common errors

ERROR 1: Not reserving the SAQS slot early enough

What happens: the owner processes all health documents but cannot get an available slot at Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station for the projected flight date.
Regulatory consequence: the Import Permit is denied or the animal cannot board because there is no SAQS slot (AVS).
How to prevent it: make the SAQS slot reservation the first step of the process, at least 3 months before the projected flight. Without a confirmed SAQS reservation no other procedure can proceed.

ERROR 2: RNATT performed at a laboratory not recognised by AVS

What happens: the sample is sent to a laboratory that has EU or WOAH accreditation but is not specifically recognised by AVS for Category D.
Regulatory consequence: the result is void. The animal must repeat the test in Singapore and quarantine is extended beyond the mandatory 30 days.
How to prevent it: verify that the laboratory is recognised by AVS before sending the sample. The list of laboratories recognised by AVS may differ from the EU, UK or GACC China list. Verify directly with AVS which laboratories it accepts.

ERROR 3: Antiparasitic treatment outside the 2- to 7-day window

What happens: the veterinarian applies the treatment 10 days before the flight thinking it is within the period.
Regulatory consequence: the animal must be re-treated at SAQS at additional cost to the owner (AVS Step 6).
How to prevent it: apply antiparasitic treatments strictly between day 2 and day 7 before landing at Changi. Calculate the application date backwards from the flight date.

ERROR 4: Attempting to enter by land from Malaysia or at a point other than Changi

What happens: the owner attempts to cross with the pet via the land bridge from Johor Bahru to Singapore.
Regulatory consequence: immediate entry refusal and possible confiscation of the animal. The only authorised entry point for Category D pets is Changi cargo terminal (AVS Guidelines).
How to prevent it: the animal must arrive by air as Manifest Cargo at Changi International Airport (SIN).

ERROR 5: Inconsistency between microchip number on the certificate and the RNATT

What happens: a digit of the microchip number was transcribed incorrectly on the health certificate, the RNATT or the Import Permit, so the three documents do not match.
Regulatory consequence: the animal is held at Changi airport until resolution, which may require consular steps.
How to prevent it: scan the chip physically in front of the official SENASA veterinarian before sealing the certificate. The three documents (health certificate, RNATT result and Import Permit) must show exactly the same 15-digit number.

ERROR 6: Flying before day 181 from RNATT sample extraction

What happens: the owner miscalculates the calendar and the animal lands at Changi on day 175 from sample extraction, five days before the 6-month threshold.
Regulatory consequence: quarantine at SAQS is extended beyond the minimum 30 days until the missing period is completed, at additional cost to the owner (AVS Quarantine Rules).
How to prevent it: calculate the minimum flight date by counting exactly 181 days from the RNATT sample extraction date. Add a 5-day margin for logistical contingencies.

Minimum calendar from scratch

The process to Singapore from Peru is the longest in the entire collection when quarantine at destination is included. The exact order of milestones is fixed.

— Day 0: SAQS (Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station) slot reservation via AVS QMS system. This is the first step, not the last. Without a confirmed SAQS slot, the rest of the process cannot proceed.
— Day 1: ISO microchip implantation + first dose of rabies vaccine + multiple vaccines (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus for dogs; Feline Triple for cats). Minimum age 90 days completed.
— Day 31: second dose of rabies vaccine (booster), at least 30 days after the first.
— Day 61: sample extraction for RNATT, at least 30 days after the second dose. Send to laboratory recognised by AVS (Kansas State University, Laboklin or other verified with AVS).
— Day 75–80 (approximate): receipt of positive RNATT result (≥ 0.5 IU/mL).
— Day 150: Import Permit application through the GoBusiness portal (https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/) with all accumulated documents and confirmed SAQS slot. At least 30 days before the flight.
— Day 174–175: Veterinary Health Certificate issued by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) within 7 days before the flight. Application of antiparasitic treatments (internal and external) between day 2 and day 7 before landing.
— Day 181: flight to Singapore in Manifest Cargo. On arrival: direct transfer to SAQS. Start of 30-day quarantine.
— Day 211: end of quarantine and release of the animal if everything is in order during the 30 days at SAQS.
— Minimum total time: 6 months from the start of the process until the flight. With 30 days’ quarantine in Singapore: approximately 7 months from scratch until the animal is home.

Authorised entry points

Yes, there is an absolute restriction. The only authorised entry point for Category D pets is the cargo terminal of Changi International Airport:

There is no other authorised entry point for pets from Category D countries. Land entry from Malaysia is not permitted for Category D.
Official URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets

Directory of authorities

Cited current regulations

1. Animals and Birds Act (Singapore) — Main legal framework regulating the import, quarantine and disease control of animals in Singapore. URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs — Verified: 24 February 2026.
2. Animals and Birds (Importation) Rules — Quarantine specifications by country categories, including Category D periods and requirements. URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs — Verified: 24 February 2026.
3. AVS Import Health Standard for Cats and Dogs (2024-2026) — Official AVS operational standard for the import of dogs and cats, including the A–D category system, RNATT requirements, quarantine protocols and the banned breeds list. URL: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/bringing-animals-into-singapore-and-exporting/bringing-in-combined-cats-and-dogs/preparing-to-bring-in-cats-and-dogs — Verified: 24 February 2026.

Singapore is the most methodical destination in the entire collection: every step has its day and order, and none can be brought forward or delayed. The 6-month clock from sample extraction is fixed, and the 30-day quarantine at Sembawang is guaranteed regardless of the quality of the file. But the element most owners underestimate is the SAQS slot reservation: facilities have limited capacity and without that slot the GoBusiness system will not allow processing the Import Permit. An owner who starts the vaccination process on day 0 without having reserved space at SAQS may reach day 150 with a perfect file and no possible flight date because there is no available slot in the following months. The slot reservation is the first step, not the last. And the 2- to 7-day antiparasitic treatment window is the most restrictive in the entire collection: not one day before nor one day after. That requires perfect synchronisation between the application date in Lima and the flight date.

This profile was verified against primary official sources on February 24, 2026. Requirements may change without prior notice. Always verify directly with Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) / National Parks Board (NParks) and SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) before initiating any export process from Peru.