Bringing a dog or cat from Ireland to Singapore
Under Singapore's rules, pets from Ireland are in the group “Schedule I”. A dog from Ireland needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine, an import permit and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine if every rule is met. There is no long waiting period, so a few weeks of preparation is usually enough.
About Singapore: Singapore now sorts countries into three Schedules (the old Categories A–D are gone). Pets from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK need no rabies vaccine and skip quarantine. Pets from the listed Schedule II countries (US, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, much of the EU) need a vaccine and titer test but usually no quarantine. Everyone else does at least 30 days at the government quarantine centre. You need a cat/dog licence and an import licence before arrival.
Schedule I Paperwork only
- Titer test
- Not required
- Wait after blood test
- —
- Import permit
- Required
- Quarantine
- None if rules are met
No long wait: No rabies vaccine or titer. The pet must have lived 6 months (or since birth) in a Schedule I country.
Step by step
Microchip the pet
Use an ISO 11784/11785 chip, or bring your own reader. A government-approved vet confirms the chip within 7 days before export.
Give core vaccines
Dogs need distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus vaccines; cats need calicivirus, herpesvirus and panleukopenia (FVRCP). Finish them at least 14 days before export.
Get a cat/dog licence and an import licence
Apply on the NParks eservices site for the pet licence first, then the import licence (valid 90 days).
Book the arrival inspection
Book the inspection at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) at least 5 working days before arrival, and get Customs GST approval.
Parasite treatment and certificate within 7 days
Treat for internal and external parasites 2–7 days before export. A government-approved vet examines the pet and signs the certificate within 7 days of export, and an official vet endorses it.
Fly in and clear at CAPQ
The pet is taken to CAPQ for inspection. Arrive at least 3 hours before CAPQ closes, or the pet is held overnight.
No quarantine if all conditions are met and the pet is healthy on arrival. Pets that don't comply may be quarantined.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same pathway as dogs. Cats need FVRCP (calicivirus, herpesvirus, panleukopenia) instead of the dog core vaccines. First- to fourth-generation Bengal or Savannah crosses are banned. Cats also need a licence; cat licensing fees match dogs' from 1 September 2026.
- Banned breeds
- Pit Bull types (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog) and crosses, Akita and crosses, Boerboel and crosses, Dogo Argentino and crosses, Fila Brasileiro and crosses, Neapolitan Mastiff and crosses, Tosa and crosses, Perro de Presa Canario and crosses, Cats: F1–F4 Bengal or Savannah crosses
- How many pets
- Limited by residence and licensing rules, not by import. HDB flats allow 1 dog of an HDB-approved breed and no 'specified' (large/guard) dogs. Private homes allow up to 3 dogs, of which only 1 may be a specified breed.
- Parasite treatment
- External (fleas/ticks) and internal (nematodes/cestodes) treatment 2–7 days before export, with the product and date recorded on the certificate
- Arrival
- Changi Airport. Pets go to the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine (CAPQ) at Changi Airfreight Centre for inspection, as manifested cargo or as accompanied pets surrendered at Lost & Found. Book the inspection 5+ working days ahead; unbooked inspections cost extra.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to bring a dog from Ireland to Singapore?
Ireland counts as "Schedule I" for Singapore. There is no rabies blood test or long wait. No rabies vaccine or titer. The pet must have lived 6 months (or since birth) in a Schedule I country. Allow a few weeks for the vet visits and the health certificate.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from Ireland to Singapore?
No. Pets from Ireland do not need a titer test for Singapore if the other rules are met.
Will my pet be quarantined in Singapore?
Not if every rule is met. No quarantine if all conditions are met and the pet is healthy on arrival. Pets that don't comply may be quarantined.
Do I need an import permit?
Yes. Singapore requires an import permit, and you need to apply or notify at least 5 days before arrival.
Are the rules the same for cats?
Same pathway as dogs. Cats need FVRCP (calicivirus, herpesvirus, panleukopenia) instead of the dog core vaccines. First- to fourth-generation Bengal or Savannah crosses are banned. Cats also need a licence; cat licensing fees match dogs' from 1 September 2026.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: Singapore pet import rules.