Getting a transshipment licence in Singapore is required if you plan to transit in Singapore with your pet. Even if your layover is only short, even 1 hour, this is a Government requirement. Without the transshipment licence you will not be allowed to fly into Singapore. I’ve now applied for 2 licences and this is all the info you need below to obtain one.
The NParks website has all of the information that you need to explain the process. You will need to access the Go Business Licencing website in order to apply for the licence. In the search box type in transship and it will bring up the correct application.
The fee is S$50 for standard service which states 2 working days processing time. Or you can pay S$100 for an express service which gets it within 1 working day. When travelling with your dog you should be preparing well in advance so there shouldn’t really be a need for the express service. However, in reality it takes longer than 2 days to get the actual licence. I got approval within 2 working days, but then you pay and it takes another couple of days before you can print it.
Documents Required
In order to apply for the licence, you are required to prepare one of the following documents for your transshipment licence application:
- A valid veterinary health certificate endorsed by the official government veterinarian of the exporting country, or
- A valid rabies vaccination record of your dog and cat, or
- An import permit issued by the importing country.
When we did our application, we submitted just the rabies vaccine record as we did not yet have the export certificate and we didn’t need an import permit for Europe.
Application
In order to apply for the licence you must either have a Singpass account, or register for a user account. Singpass is only available to Singaporeans or those living in Singapore on a long term visa. So if you are transiting, chances are you don’t live in Singapore. You therefore, need to apply for a new account;
We did have some problems in registering for the account and is is required to send an OTP to your phone. I never received my OTP so couldn’t register. I had to e-mail the helpdesk (licences-helpdesk@crimsonlogic.com.sg) as well as call them (+65 6774 1430) a few times to assist. Eventually the technical team sorted it and I managed to register for the account.
The application requires you to complete all of your personal information and your flight details as well as upload the documents for the dog. We uploaded all of the documents I had at that time.
My first application I submitted on Wednesday at 12pm SG time and I didn’t receive the licence until Monday at 12:30pm SG time which is actually 3 working days. We started to get nervous as we flew on the Tuesday so I had chased but was advised to just be patient. I therefore strongly recommend to do the application well in advance. My second application I submitted on Friday evening and got the approval on Wednesday. I then paid striaght away and I only got the certificate to print on the Monday morning. So it took a full week until I had it available.
Hopefully this information was useful to you. If you are exporting your dog from Singapore, check out my full info on that process here.
Don’t forget to check out my Amazon store (affiliate link) which has all the details all of my recommended products I use then travelling. You can check it out here.
Woof woof, Wylie x
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I hava a question, we’re trying to do the Transshipment. We’re from the Netherlands and we can’t go further because they said the Emergency contact phone number is not a valid number. How do you guys resolve it? We don’t have Singaporean mobile number.
Hey, the last 2 times we’ve done transshipment we’ve used a Thai phone number so they definitely accept overseas numbers. Maybe you need to double check the format? I can’t remember exactly how we input but we originally had some difficulty in getting the OTP as it wasn’t input correctly. If you email the help desk they are usually very helpful to resolve the issue.
We are connecting and Singapore going from the US to Thailand.
For the transshipment license and in Singapore, did you have to show them the blood test for rabies or just the rabies vaccine and rabies certificate of vaccine was sufficient?
We really appreciate your videos and post. It’s really helpful.
If I remember rightly it’s just the rabies vaccine you upload for the transshipment licence. We’ve never had to show any documents at all in Singapore itself, only at check in.
Thank you so much for responding. Your blog and videos are a blessing. It is so hard to get all this information together.
We are moving to Thailand and flying our dog in business class with us connecting at Changi. I watched your video on YouTube.
Yesterday when gathering the info for the transshipment license the rabies serology test report (blood work) came up and I was terrified as it takes 4-7 weeks to get the results back. I have the vaccines records and rabies certificate but don’t have enough time to get the results for this test.
So as far as you can remember you only submitted the rabies vaccination records for the license approval?
Also for what I read in your blog seem like after arrival in Singapore your dog stayed with you and it was an easy transition correct? After reading all the requirement and appointment upon arrival it seems overwhelming.
Thanks again for helping. I truly appreciate you sharing your experience.
Yes if you check the AVA website (https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/bringing-animals-into-singapore-and-exporting/bringing-in-and-transshipping-dogs-and-cats/transshipping-dogs-and-cats-via-singapore) it says
You are required to prepare one of the following documents for your transshipment licence application:
• A valid veterinary health certificate endorsed by the official government veterinarian of the exporting country, or
• A valid rabies vaccination record of your dog and cat, or
• An import permit issued by the importing country.
It doesn’t mention anything about titer test. The titer test is usually required if you are going somewhere after having been in a high risk rabies country. So you are most likely going to need one if you decide to leave Thailand as Thailand is a high risk rabies country. This is quite expensive in Thailand as they have to send to an overseas laboratory (we paid 12,000 baht) so it might be worth doing one before you leave your current country.
Yes in Changi, Wylie stayed with us the whole time, even during the covid times it was very simple. There were no checks when we got off the plane and noone asked for any documents from us at all in Singapore. We were allowed in the lounge but we also went to Wolfgang Puck restaurant one time also when we met a friend who was flying out at the same time.
Who will you be flying with?
Hello,
Sorry for the late reply. We are flying with United Airlines from Vegas to Singapore and then Bangkok Airways to Koh Samui Thailand.
Because of your blog and doing some additional research I was able to contact National Parks and get some additional information. You are correct, they only ask for rabies vaccination records for the transshipment license. No blood test, ufff…
Thanks again for all your info and replying to my messages. I look forward to connecting with you in the future. Safe travels for Mr. Wylie 🙂 Keilla
Here is the email I received from Singapore NPARKS:
Please be informed that a transhipment licence is required for dogs and cats transiting in Singapore for less than 24 hours. Pet owners may submit an online application at GoBusiness Licensing Portal (Licence to Import/Export/Transship for Non-Food Producing Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics (gobusiness.gov.sg)).
Owners are required to prepare one of the following documents for the transhipment licence application:
• A valid veterinary health certificate endorsed by the official government veterinarian of the exporting country, or
• A valid rabies vaccination record of the pet, or
• An import permit issued by the importing country.
Please note that the AVS-issued transhipment licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. The fee is S$50 per licence for normal service (issued within 2 working days from receipt of complete documents).
Applicants will receive an email notification after the application has been approved.
For more information, please visit the AVS website at Transshipping dogs and cats via Singapore (nparks.gov.sg).
Thank you.
Best regards,
Siti Zakiah Senior Executive (Industry Standards & Regulatory) National Parks Board
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Oh enjoy Koh Samui. We used to live there and have some villas there. We will be headed there shortly for a holiday too 😊
Hello! My transshipment license was approved. My flight is on Saturday the 22nd. I have a 6 hour layover in Singapore on Singapore air.
What was your experience in Singapore on a layover ? Did you do a vet inspection?
She has American service animal documents but not ADI service animal. Was pup able to stay with you?
It was fine. We just stayed in the lounge most of the time but one time we went to Wolfgang Puck restaurant too and that was fine as long as he was in his carrier. There’s no vet inspection in Singapore, no one checks any papers except at the check in desk at your origin.
We used the outdoor smoking area for the toilet but be warned people will and do give you funny looks as it’s not really normal to see dogs on planes in Asia so not used to seeing them in the airport.
Hi Mia,
I just saw you message and we have a pretty much similar situation I have a question in regards of transitting your SD. I have a 6hrs layover in Changi and I’m worried how
I have just seen your message and noticed that our situations share some similarities. I have a query regarding the transit process for my assistance dog. With a six-hour layover at Changi Airport, I am concerned about accessing toilet facilities with my assistance dog. Did you take your service dog to the toilet, and if so, where did you take them within the terminal? Are service dogs permitted to accompany their owners inside the terminal for sightseeing?
Hi your dog can accompany you within the airport terminal itself but it’s better to keep them in a carrier if possible as Singapore isn’t very accustomed to service animals. For the toilet, we were advised to use the outdoor smoking area but just to manage expectations, this is not a dedicated pet area so you will probably get funny looks and you will need to wash down any pee and of course pick up any poo as it’s not meant to be for animals to use and Changi doesn’t get many transiting through. So just be conscious of that.
Thanks! We cant wait to be in Koh Samui. You have my email maybe we can get a coffee or something and our dogs can meet up. My husband and I will be happy to meet you guys 🙂
Unfortunately Wylie isn’t coming with us this trip. There’s no easy way to get him to Thailand from Japan so for a short trip it’s not worth it to come. He’s very happy at doggy boarding 🙂