Singapore
United States
Pet relocation from Singapore to the United States
Singapore is not on the CDC's high-risk list, so most dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The step families miss is USDA's: Singapore is on APHIS's screwworm list, and dogs need an official certificate signed within five days of the flight.
At a glance
Rules on this page apply to: dogs and cats.
- CDC status
- Singapore is not a high-risk country; the dog needs a Dog Import Form receipt.
- Dog age
- At least 6 months old on arrival in the US.
- Screwworm
- Dogs need a Singapore official-vet certificate, inspected within 5 days before shipment.
- AVS export license
- S$50 (2 working days) or S$100 (1 working day); valid 90 days.
- Cats
- No federal rabies proof or health certificate; must appear healthy.
- Watch out
- A trip to Malaysia in the last 6 months makes a dog high-risk for the CDC.
Who this guide is for
This page is for families moving a dog or cat from Singapore to the United States: Americans returning home after a posting, Singapore residents relocating for work, and anyone whose pet has lived in Singapore for the last six months. It covers what AVS needs on the way out and what the CDC, USDA APHIS and US Customs and Border Protection check on the way in.
If your pet spent time in Malaysia or another country recently, read the CDC section carefully: it can change everything.
What we coordinate
We check your dog's history against the CDC rules, file the Dog Import Form with you, arrange the AVS export license, and plan the vet visit so the APHIS screwworm inspection falls inside its five-day window. We confirm the airline, the aircraft and the mode, and plan the arrival at the US airport. Collection at the Singapore end, boarding and delivery in the US are provided through local partners where available.
Coming back to the US from Singapore?
Get My Free Quote (opens the enquiry form in a new tab)Dogs and cats: very different on arrival
The US treats dogs and cats very differently. Dogs fall under the CDC's dog import rules and USDA's screwworm and other entry rules. Cats have no federal rabies or health-certificate requirement: the CDC asks only that a cat appear healthy, and APHIS states it has no animal health requirements for pet cats. Airlines and some states set their own rules for cats, so cats still need planning, just less paperwork.
Timeline
For a healthy adult dog that has only been in Singapore, two to four weeks is usually enough on the official side:
- Four weeks or more out: confirm the airline booking and the US arrival airport; file the CDC Dog Import Form.
- About two weeks out: apply for the AVS export license (two working days normal, one working day express).
- Within five days of the flight: the screwworm inspection and certificate by a Singapore government veterinarian.
- Departure: documents with the pet; the Dog Import Form receipt shown to the airline and to CBP.
The airline booking is usually the real constraint, not the paperwork.
CDC rules for dogs from Singapore
Singapore is not on the CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. A dog that has only been in Singapore or other low-risk or rabies-free countries during the six months before entry must:
- be at least six months old;
- have a microchip detectable by a universal scanner;
- have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt (free, one per dog), valid for six months for entries from the same departure country;
- appear healthy on arrival.
It may enter at any US airport, seaport or land border.
Malaysia is on the CDC's high-risk list. A dog that has been in Malaysia during the six months before US entry, even for a weekend drive across the Causeway, must meet the high-risk rules. The same applies to a layover where the dog clears customs in a high-risk country. A dog that does not meet those rules is refused and returned at the owner's expense.
Our CDC dog import rules guide explains both paths.
Microchip
The CDC accepts any microchip that a universal scanner can read; ISO is not required. Make sure the number on the Dog Import Form matches the chip exactly; we check the reading against the records before departure.
Rabies vaccination
For a low-risk dog, the CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination at entry, though it recommends vaccination for every dog. Airlines and US states may still ask for a current certificate, so bring one. Cats do not need rabies proof for federal entry.
Titer test
No rabies titer test is required by the CDC or USDA for a dog coming from Singapore under the low-risk path. A titer becomes relevant only for a dog that was in a high-risk country (such as Malaysia) and was vaccinated outside the US, or for state rules such as Hawaii's, which we check for your case.
Permits: AVS export license
The US issues no import permit for a pet dog or cat. On the Singapore side, AVS requires an export license, applied for on the GoBusiness Licensing Portal: S$50 for normal service (two working days after complete submission) or S$100 express (one working day). It is valid for 90 days from issue. After the dog leaves, cancel its dog license on PALS.
Health certificate
AVS issues a veterinary certificate only if the destination requires one. Two routes exist: AVS endorses a certificate completed by a private vet (S$23, two working days, no express), or AVS issues a QR-verifiable certificate that is valid for seven days. For US entry, the certificate that matters is the screwworm statement for dogs (below). Some airlines also ask for a recent health certificate.
Official endorsement: the screwworm certificate
USDA APHIS lists Singapore among regions affected by screwworm (region status page, modified October 27, 2026). A dog from such a region must arrive with a certificate signed by a full-time salaried veterinary official of the region of origin, stating that the dog was inspected for screwworm within five days before shipment and found free of it (or was treated until free). APHIS has no set template for this certificate.
In Singapore that means an AVS government veterinarian, not a private clinic alone. We arrange the inspection and the statement with AVS so it is dated inside the five-day window. Cats are not covered by this rule. Singapore is listed by APHIS as free of foot-and-mouth disease, so the arrival bathing rule for dogs from FMD-affected regions does not apply.
Airlines
Airline policies change; we confirm the carrier, aircraft and mode for your pet before booking. Singapore Airlines, for example, accepts cats and dogs at least three months old as checked baggage, requires the AVS export license and an indemnity form for pets leaving Singapore, routes pets over 32 kg with the crate through a cargo agent, and refuses a published list of breeds, including many snub-nosed dogs and cats. It asks for contact at least two weeks before departure.
Cabin, checked baggage or cargo
The options depend on the airline, the aircraft and your pet's size. Many long-haul carriers do not allow pets in the cabin on these routes, and large dogs generally travel as cargo. Avoid routings that make your dog clear customs in a high-risk country. Our guide to cabin, checked baggage and cargo compares the three.
Arrival in the US
At the US airport, CBP processes the arrival together with the other federal agencies. Dogs must be healthy and match their paperwork: Dog Import Form receipt, screwworm certificate and microchip. CBP recommends contacting the port of arrival before importing a pet, and notes that pets taken out of the US and brought back may face the same requirements as first-time arrivals. Our US airports page covers the main gateways.
Quarantine
There is no federal quarantine for a compliant low-risk dog or a healthy cat from Singapore. Quarantine can apply under state rules (Hawaii, Guam) or if a dog arrives without what the CDC or APHIS requires.
State and territory rules
Federal rules are only part of the picture. The CDC notes that all cats arriving in Hawaii and Guam, even from the mainland, are subject to locally imposed quarantine requirements, and dogs bound for either should not be booked until we have checked the Hawaii Department of Agriculture's or Guam's current conditions for your dates. For other states, we confirm the destination state's entry and licensing rules with you.
What drives the cost
Official Singapore fees are modest (export license S$50 or S$100; manual endorsement S$23). Most of the cost comes from the flight mode, crate size, the vet and AVS screwworm inspection, collection in Singapore and delivery in the US. We quote on your pet and dates.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting the screwworm certificate because "Singapore is low-risk": the CDC and APHIS lists are different lists.
- A weekend trip to Johor or a layover in Kuala Lumpur within six months of the move.
- Arriving with a puppy under six months old.
- Booking a connection that forces a customs clearance in a high-risk hub.
- Leaving the AVS export license to the last two days before the flight.
Questions about this route
Does my dog need a rabies titer test to enter the US from Singapore?
No, not under the CDC low-risk path. A titer only comes into play if your dog was in a high-risk country such as Malaysia and was vaccinated outside the US, or under state rules like Hawaii's.
Why does my dog need a screwworm certificate from Singapore?
USDA APHIS lists Singapore as a region affected by screwworm. Dogs from listed regions need a certificate from a government veterinarian stating they were inspected within five days before shipment.
We drove to Malaysia with our dog three months ago. Does that matter?
Yes. Malaysia is on the CDC high-risk list, so your dog must meet the high-risk rules on US entry. Tell us early: those rules take time.
What does my cat need to enter the US?
Federally, only to appear healthy. Airlines may ask for a health certificate, and Hawaii and Guam have their own quarantine rules for cats.
Is the CDC Dog Import Form receipt reusable?
It is valid for six months for entries from the same departure country. Fly from a different country, or after a stay in a high-risk country, and you need a new form.
Official sources
The requirements on this page come from these authorities.
- NParks AVS — Exporting dogs and cats from Singapore (last updated October 19, 2026)
- NParks AVS — Importing dogs and cats (FAQ: travel to Malaysia; Schedule III)
- CDC — High-risk countries for dog rabies (Apr. 15, 2026)
- CDC — Entry requirements for dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries (July 22, 2024)
- CDC — Layovers (Apr. 29, 2026)
- CDC — FAQs on dog importations (updated Aug. 27, 2026)
- CDC — Bringing a cat into the United States (Aug. 22, 2025)
- USDA APHIS — Bring a pet dog into the United States (last modified April 1, 2026)
- USDA APHIS — Animal health status of regions (last modified October 27, 2026): Singapore listed as screwworm-affected; FMD-free subject to 9 CFR 94.11
- USDA APHIS — Bring a pet cat into the United States (last modified December 24, 2025)
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Bringing pets and wildlife into the United States (last modified Oct. 1, 2026)
- Singapore Airlines — Travelling with pets
Requirements last verified against these sources on .
Requirements change. Before anything is booked, we confirm each one again with the authorities, the airline and your veterinarian for your pet and your dates.
Going the other way?
Other destinations
Coming back to the US from Singapore?
Send us your dog's or cat's details and your travel window. We will check the CDC path and the screwworm timing first.
Takes a few minutes. No account needed.