How to Relocate Your Household & Pets to Singapore

Jump right in:

• Vaccinations and Health Requirements For Singapore
• How to Ship Household Items and Belongings to Singapore
• Customs Regulations For Singapore
• Home Goods Storage
• Moving to Singapore With Pets

Vaccinations and Health Requirements For Singapore

If you have a fear of needles, you can breathe easy. There are no vaccinations required to obtain a Singapore employment visa or S Pass. However, it’s highly recommended that anyone living in Singapore is vaccinated per the regulations in their home country. Always consult with your doctor.

While there are no official vaccination requirements for Singapore immigration, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that before entering Singapore you are immunized against:

• Hepatitis A
• Tetanus
• Pertussis (whooping cough
• Diphtheria

Routine vaccines are also not mandatory but considered important to have such as:

• measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• Influenza
• varicella (chicken pox)

If you’re planning on vacationing around Asia, consider getting vaccinated for the following diseases:

• Rabies
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis B
• Tuberculosis

Vaccinations for children: Children under the age of 21 are required to present evidence they’re vaccinated against diphtheria and measles before being granted a dependent or long-term visit pass. If they’re medically unfit for these vaccinations, a doctor’s certificate stating that this is the case will be accepted instead.

Yellow fever: You’re not required to get a yellow fever shot before you go to Singapore. However, if you’ve arrived from a WHO-designated transmission country, you’ll need a yellow fever vaccination and verified certificate.

Middle East respiratory syndrome: Travelers from the Middle East may be screened for MERS upon arrival.

Mosquito-borne diseases in Singapore

Mosquitoes are common in Singapore, especially during the warmer months — it’s part of the package of living in a tropical, Southeast Asian country. There’s a low risk of contracting malaria in Singapore as the country was declared malaria-free in 1982. But you should be aware of the symptoms of dengue fever.

Dengue is an endemic infection in Singapore. Symptoms include a high fever, rash, headaches, and muscle and joint pain. Visit a doctor immediately if you believe you’ve contracted dengue.

How to Ship Household Items and Belongings to Singapore?

There are a few options to ship bulky belongings and furniture to Singapore, including hiring a car to drive through the Johor-Singapore Causeway. But the most realistic and reliable option for expats is shipping. Shipping is ideal because it’s cheaper than moving goods by air and easier to organize in advance than moving goods by car.

• Step one: Choose a reliable company It’s worth researching the shipping company to choose. Not all goods shipment companies are tailored for relocations, just as not all relocation companies are used to dealing with small goods movement for individuals. Search for recent reviews and testimonials, and compare multiple companies.

Be careful to choose a company for its quality, not just price. Common expat stories speak of companies offering a low quote to get your business, then driving up the price by charging fees for hidden extras after your relocation has begun.

-Step two: Choose your service The company you select is likely to have different services. This can include hiring a shipping container for exclusive use or not. If you choose this option, the company might suggest a home survey where an employee will visit your house to find out how many belongings you’re taking with you and their size.

• Step three: Give the details The shipment company will need to know specific details about where they’re sending your goods. They’ll also want to know concrete dates to set a timeline.  For this, you’ll either need to find a home in advance or have a storage unit ready in Singapore for your goods.

• Step four: Pack, send, and receive While some companies will offer a goods wrapping service, most will expect you to have packed your belongings safely and securely for transit. This should be done in before collection. We suggest packing everything carefully and with plenty of protection to prevent any breakages

Customs Regulations For Singapore

Customs regulations are the same for both for air and sea imports. If you don’t follow Singapore customs allowances and regulations, you can face lengthy delays in collecting your belongings or they can even be destroyed. You can collect your goods directly from the PSA Port area.

Importing your household items into Singapore incurs a Goods and Services Tax (GST). To receive relief from this tax, expats transferring residence or migrating to Singapore must submit a Customs In-Non-Payment (GST Relief) form. GST Relief applications should be submitted through the Singapore Customs CAP+ portal

Conditions for relief

• As the owner, you’ve used the goods for at least three months.
• The goods are imported within six months of moving to Singapore.
• Not disposing of the goods for three months after they’ve been imported.

Alcohol, tobacco products, motor vehicles, and items such as private planes and boats are always subject to the GST.

Which items are prohibited and restricted in Singapore?

You can’t bring tobacco, drugs, or chewing gum into Singapore. The country also prevents the following items from being imported:

• Pistol or revolver shaped cigarette lighters
• Items created from a rhinoceros horn or any endangered animal
• Telecommunications equipment, such as scanning receivers.

View the full list at the Singapore Customs website.

Home Goods Storage

Immediately after relocating, you may need long- and short-term storage solutions. Renting storage space in Singapore is possible across the city. It’s best to plan your storage solution in advance to coordinate with your moving company.

When you enquire with a shipping company, make sure you know what’s included in your package. Some storage companies don’t provide pick up or delivery, or even padlocks. Checking for additional and administration charges is also advised.

How to Move to Singapore With Pets?

It’s fine to bring your pets with you to Singapore as long as they’re fit and healthy. However, it’s important to keep in mind how your pet’s age, medical conditions, and ability to deal with the stress of travel will affect them. You should also consider if they’ll be able to cope with the tropical climate.

Important things to check before

• If your pet’s breed is permitted in Singapore
• If your accommodation is appropriate for your pet. While rules for cats in housing are up to individual landlords, Singapore authorities only allow up to three approved small breed dogs per private residence.

Requirements

• Vaccinations Ensure your pets have been vaccinated properly prior to relocating. This includes identifying your country’s rabies risk and vaccinating your pet accordingly, and ensuring they have a serology (titer) test if necessary.
• Rabies Your animal doesn’t need a rabies vaccination if it’s being exported from the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, or Australia. Pets from all other countries should have been vaccinated not less than 30 days and not more than 12 months before entry, with a blood test certificate to prove they don’t carry the virus.
• Quarantine Once you’ve ensured they’re up to date on all necessary vaccinations, you should reserve a quarantine space. This is only required if your dog is from a category C or D country as listed on the Singapore AVS website, which includes the USA, Canada, Netherlands, France, and Germany. Any pets needing to be quarantined will go into the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station (SAQS) upon arrival. They’ll be kept here for up to 30 days. You have to reserve a space through the Quarantine Management System (QMS) at least 3 months before their arrival into Singapore.

Transporting your pets to Singapore

You can bring pets into Singapore in two main ways:

• Fly them into Changi Airport. Operating hours 08:00–13:00 and 14:00–22:30, Monday to Saturday.
• Drive them across the Malaysian border at the Tuas Checkpoint. Operating hours 08:00–10:00, Monday to Saturday.

Taking your dog to Singapore

As long as your dog has the appropriate vaccinations and is an accepted breed, you can bring them with you to Singapore. Necessary vaccinations (excluding rabies) are canine distemper, canine hepatitis, and canine parvoviral infection. This must be supported by vaccination records upon arrival in Singapore.

Expats must obtain a dog license for each pet before importing them. You can learn more about this at the AVS website. Please note that all dogs must be leashed when in public areas.

Banned dog breeds include all forms of Pit Bulls, as well as larger breeds such as Akita and Neapolitan Mastiff. Also banned are:

• Boerboe
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Tosa
• Perro de Presa Canario

Any crosses of these breeds are also prohibited from entering Singapore.

There are also strict rules regarding breeds (and cross breeds) of:

• Doberman Pinscher
• Rottweilers
• German Shepherds
• Mastiffs
• Bull Terriers

Though they’re allowed to enter the country, they must have obedience training. They must always be muzzled in public in addition to being on a lead.

Taking your cat to Singapore

All cats must be vaccinated against cat flu (feline calicivirus and feline viral rhinotracheitis) and cat enteritis. This must be supported by vaccination records upon arrival in Singapore.

Note that it’s illegal to import first to fourth generation Bengal or Savannah cat crosses into Singapore.