Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Singapore to the US: CDC requirements, Singapore’s AVS export process, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
2–4 weeks minimum; 6–8 weeks recommended
$600–$1,500 USD (DIY, cat or small dog)
None required (mainland US); required (Hawaii and Guam)
Because Singapore is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form for US entry — no rabies vaccination certificate and no quarantine. Singapore’s own AVS export licence is a separate requirement on the origin side.
Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Singapore to the US: CDC requirements, Singapore’s AVS export process, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
The CDC does not require a US health certificate for dogs from Singapore, a low-risk country. Singapore Airlines, however, requires a certificate of good health from a licensed vet for all pets.
A Licensed Veterinarian in Singapore
The certificate is issued by a licensed private veterinarian in Singapore. AVS can optionally endorse it, or issue a QR-verifiable version via the GoBusiness portal.
Not Required
Singapore’s CDC low-risk classification means the standard low-risk pathway applies for dogs, which does not involve a USDA-endorsed health certificate.
7 Days (If Using the AVS QR-Verifiable Certificate)
AVS’s optional QR-verifiable certificate is valid for only 7 days from issue — time it carefully against your departure date. The CDC Dog Import Form itself is separately valid for 6 months.
Required
AVS’s Option A endorsement requires original supporting documents submitted to its drop-off box; Option B, the QR-verifiable certificate, is submitted digitally via GoBusiness instead.
→ Implant the ISO microchip before the rabies vaccination
→ Singapore requires an AVS export licence for every pet leaving the country, applied for via GoBusiness within 90 days of departure
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form for US entry
→ Pets under 32 kg combined with their carrier can travel as checked baggage on Singapore Airlines — no cargo agent needed
→ Singapore Airlines does not accept pets to or from Houston
Singapore Airlines
Cargo
$200–$600 per piece (checked baggage, estimated)
32 kg combined (pet + carrier)
Small to medium pets under 32 kg
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
The CDC considers any rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted to be invalid.
Singapore Airlines does not accept pets on flights to or from Houston (IAH/HOU).
Singapore Airlines' restricted breeds list is extensive and includes many popular breeds, for both dogs and cats.
The 32 kg combined weight limit (pet plus crate) is strict, and larger dogs often exceed it.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Roughly $600–$1,500 USD for a cat or small dog traveling as checked baggage (microchip, optional vaccination, AVS licence, health certificate, Singapore Airlines fee); $2,200–$6,700+ USD for a large dog or full professional relocation service.
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt (dogs only — printed or on your phone)
→ Microchip implant record (confirming the chip was implanted before any rabies vaccination)
→ AVS export licence (issued via GoBusiness; valid 90 days)
→ Veterinary health certificate (required by Singapore Airlines; optionally endorsed by AVS)
→ Fit-to-fly vet certificate (required by Singapore Airlines)
→ Rabies vaccination certificate (not required by CDC or AVS; may be required by airline or destination state)
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ Singapore is not on the CDC’s list of high-risk countries for dog rabies.
→ Hawaii and Guam have separate quarantine requirements not covered in this guide.
→ A free online form required for all dogs entering the United States, introduced August 1, 2024.
→ Each dog requires its own form; the receipt is valid for 6 months.
→ Show the receipt at the US port of entry — printed or on your phone.
→ Dogs from Singapore don’t need a traditional US health certificate; this form is the primary entry document.
→ No — Singapore Airlines doesn’t allow pets in the passenger cabin, except trained assistance dogs.
→ Pets under 32 kg combined with the crate travel as checked baggage in the temperature-controlled hold, on the same flight as the owner.
→ Depends on weight — 32 kg or less combined (pet plus crate) can travel as checked baggage, provided you’re on the same flight.
→ Over 32 kg, or not traveling on the same flight, requires cargo agent arrangements.
→ Not required by the CDC (Singapore is rabies-free) or by Singapore’s AVS.
→ Your airline or destination US state may still require it.
→ If vaccinating, the vaccine must come after microchipping and after your dog is at least 12 weeks old.
→ A permit issued by Singapore’s Animal and Veterinary Service allowing you to export your pet.
→ Apply online via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal within 90 days of departure.
→ Processing takes 1–2 working days; the licence is valid for 90 days from issue.
→ 2–4 weeks may be achievable if your pet is already microchipped and healthy.
→ Most owners allow 6–8 weeks for vet scheduling, AVS paperwork, and Singapore Airlines’ 14-day booking requirement.
→ Much shorter than the reverse direction, which requires rabies vaccination, titre testing, and a waiting period.
→ This guide doesn’t cover Hawaii.
→ Hawaii has strict quarantine requirements entirely separate from mainland US entry rules.
→ Contact the Hawaii Department of Agriculture directly before making plans.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Moving a pet from Singapore to the United States is one of the simplest international pet relocations, because Singapore has been rabies-free since 1953 and is not classified as a CDC high-risk country. It’s also one of the few routes where most pets don’t need to travel as dedicated air cargo at all.
Unlike cargo-only routes, Singapore Airlines allows pets weighing 32 kg or less (combined with their carrier) to travel as checked baggage on the same flight as their owner, in the aircraft’s temperature-controlled hold. This is a genuine practical advantage — it avoids the separate cargo-agent booking process that heavier pets, and pets on many other routes, require. Pets over 32 kg combined still need cargo arrangements.
Moving a pet from the US to Singapore is considerably more involved than moving one from Singapore to the US. If you’ve researched the US→Singapore direction, expect this move to be simpler: no rabies titre test and no waiting period before entry apply here. Many online searches about “Singapore pet relocation” describe the reverse direction — double-check you’re reading the correct one.
Singapore’s Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) requires an export licence for every pet leaving the country, applied for online via the GoBusiness portal within 90 days of departure. Processing is fast — 1–2 working days — and there’s no mandatory multi-week waiting period like some other countries impose. Dog owners also need a valid Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS) licence, which must be cancelled once the dog is exported.
Singapore Airlines does not fly pets to or from Houston (IAH/HOU). If you’re relocating to Houston or elsewhere in Texas, plan to fly into an alternative gateway airport and arrange onward transport for your pet.
Singapore Airlines’ brachycephalic breed restriction list covers many popular breeds, for both dogs and cats. If your pet is on that list, it cannot travel as checked baggage or standard cargo with Singapore Airlines — you’ll need to work with an IPATA-member pet relocation specialist to explore alternatives.
Many owners manage this route on their own — the US side has minimal requirements, and AVS’s online process is straightforward. Professional help is worth considering if your pet is a restricted breed, exceeds the 32 kg checked-baggage threshold and needs cargo arrangements, or you’re simply short on time to manage the AVS and airline booking timeline yourself.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
