The process
Nine steps, planned backward from arrival.
Importing is a sequence of dated gates. Miss one and the whole timeline shifts. Here is the full path, who handles each step, and where the hard deadlines fall.
Initial consultation & schedule check
We confirm your origin country's AVS schedule, map the full timeline backward from your target arrival, and flag every dated requirement before the clock starts.
Microchip & rabies vaccination
Your pet is microchipped (ISO 11784/11785) and given a rabies vaccination. The microchip must be read and recorded before the vaccine for it to count.
Starts the 28-day clock before blood can be drawn
Rabies serology blood draw (RNATT)
At least 28 days after vaccination, blood is drawn and sent to an approved lab. A result of ≥0.5 IU/ml is required to proceed.
Starts the 90-day wait before export to Schedule II/III
AVS import licence application
We lodge the import licence application with AVS against your pet's records and target travel window, and track it through to approval.
Flight booking & IATA crate sourcing
We book cargo space on an approved route and source an IATA Live Animals Regulations-compliant crate sized to your pet, with time to acclimatise.
Pre-export vet visit
A licensed vet in the origin country examines your pet and issues the export health certificate and endorsements required for entry.
Health certificate valid for a fixed window before travel
CAPQ inspection appointment booked
We reserve your pet's inspection slot at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine facility, matched to the flight's scheduled arrival.
Flight arrival, CAPQ clearance, transport
We receive your pet at Changi Airfreight Centre, complete inspection, customs and GST, and load for transport in climate-controlled comfort.
Owners cannot enter CAPQ from 1 April 2026 — only an AVS-recognised agent can clear your pet
Door delivery to your home
Your pet is delivered to your door the same day, settled in, with all stamped documents handed over for your records.
Variations
Your route may differ.
The timeline above is the common Schedule II path. These are the most frequent variations we manage.
Schedule I (rabies-free)
From the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand, serology and the 90-day wait fall away. The timeline can compress to a few months.
Schedule III (high risk)
A minimum 30-day stay at the Animal Quarantine Centre is added on arrival. We handle booking, transfer and welfare checks throughout.
Home quarantine
Triggered by a long owner-pet gap or under six months of ownership. We set up a compliant 10-day home isolation and the inspection that ends it.
Direct breeder purchase
Buying from an overseas breeder adds origin coordination — collection, boarding and vet visits — which the full relocation tier covers.
Timing questions
When the clock matters.
What is the shortest possible timeline?
From a Schedule II or III country, roughly four months at best: the serology blood draw must be at least 28 days after the rabies vaccination, and export at least 90 days after the blood draw. Schedule I countries skip serology, so the limit is usually the paperwork and flight availability.
Can the serology result expire before my pet flies?
Yes. The blood sample must be taken no more than 12 months before export. If travel slips beyond that, the test has to be repeated and the 90-day wait starts again, which is why we plan the blood draw around a realistic flight date.
What if the flight lands late or on a Sunday?
Arrivals must not fall on a Sunday or public holiday. Choose a flight landing at least three hours before CAPQ closes. Pets arriving after hours wait overnight in the ground handler's air-conditioned animal room and are cleared the next operating day.
Does my pet have to have lived in the origin country for a while?
For Schedule I and II imports, yes: at least six months immediately before export, or since birth. A recently bought or recently moved pet may need a different route, so tell us early.
The full AVS requirements, including country lists and banned breeds, are on our Singapore import rules page.
Ready when you are
Let's map your timeline together.
Send us your origin country and target arrival date and we'll plot every gate backward, so nothing surprises you.