Dogs in Singapore: rules, tax and travel

Every pet dog and cat must be licensed with AVS and microchipped, and housing type limits how many you can keep. Imports follow one of three country schedules.

Rules are national; HDB and private housing types set the number of animals allowed.

Breed rules

Where	Rule	Breeds and notes
Whole country	Import banned	American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel, Presa Canario, crosses of any of these AVS: Part 1 specified dogs (except those already licensed) are not allowed into Singapore for sale, visit or stay. [1]
Whole country	Insurance required	American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel, Presa Canario, crosses of any of these Part 1 licensing conditions: leashed and muzzled in public, sterilised over 6 months, insurance of at least 100,000 SGD, 5,000 SGD banker's guarantee, obedience training. [2]
Whole country	Insurance required	Bull Terrier, Dobermann, Rottweiler, German Shepherd Dog, Belgian Shepherd, East European Shepherd, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux, Mastiffs and crosses of any of these Part 2 licensing conditions: leashed and muzzled in public, insurance of at least 100,000 SGD, 2,000 SGD banker's guarantee, obedience training. [2]

Registration and microchip

Registration

Pet dogs must be licensed with the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) and have their microchip registered.[3]

Microchip

Compulsory for licensed pet dogs: the microchip must be registered with AVS. Imported animals need an ISO 11784/11785 chip.[3]

Dog tax and licence

Dog tax

There is no dog tax, but a licence fee applies. For the first three animals a one-year licence costs S$15 if sterilised and S$90 if not; a one-time lifetime licence for a sterilised animal costs S$35. A 10% rebate applies to online or GIRO payment.[4]

typical 15 SGD, 15 to 230 SGD a year

Licence or owner test

A dog licence from AVS is required. Specified dogs have extra licensing conditions.[5]

Leash and muzzle

Leash and muzzle

Dogs must be leashed and properly supervised in public. Specified breeds face extra measures such as muzzling.[6]

Other rules

HDB flats: one dog of an approved small breed (no Specified dogs). Private homes: up to 3 cats and dogs in total, with prior AVS approval for more. Breaking HDB limits can bring a fine of up to S$4,000.[7]

Travelling to Singapore with a dog

From an EU country

Most EU countries (for example Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden) are Schedule II. Ireland is Schedule I. Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Ceuta and Melilla are Schedule III. Needed: ISO microchip, age 12 weeks or more, health certificate 2 to 7 days before export, and a pet licence plus import licence (S$50) beforehand.[8]

From outside the EU

Same schedule system: Schedule I (Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, UK) needs no vaccine or titre; Schedule II covers places such as Canada, Japan, Norway, Switzerland and the USA; every other country is Schedule III. Import licence S$50 normal or S$100 express, valid 90 days.[8]

Rabies antibody test

Schedules II and III: rabies vaccine, then a titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml from a sample taken at least 28 days after vaccination, at least 90 days and within 12 months before export. Schedule I needs none.[8]

Quarantine

Schedule I: none. Schedule II: none if the pet arrives within 5 days of the owner and has lived at the same address over 6 months, otherwise at least 10 days at home or at AQC. Schedule III: at least 30 days at AQC.[8]

Not confirmed yet: Liability insurance, Tapeworm treatment. We only show what an official or named source states.

Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.