Do I need to apply for a transit visa to Singapore?
Citizens of countries that have signed a visa-free regime with Singapore do not need a transit visa.
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Citizens of 35 countries (see the full list of countries below) that do not have a visa-free regime with Singapore do not need to apply for a transit visa. They can apply for a 96-hour Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF):
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Egypt
- Georgia
- India
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kyrgyzstan
- Lebanon
- Libya
- Mali
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- People's Republic of China (PRC)
- Russia
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Yemen
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What is the Singapore Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF)?
Singapore has entered into an agreement with states that require a regular visa to enter the country. This agreement allows travelers transiting through Singapore to enter the country for up to 96 hours.
Visa-free transit is available for citizens of the following countries:
- Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
- Georgia
- India
- People's Republic of China (PRC)
- Turkmenistan and Ukraine
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Citizens of these countries who believe they meet the VFTF requirements must submit their case to the
Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) at the point of entry. It is the ICA that reviews the application and decides whether to allow the traveler to enter Singapore. They have the right to refuse.
If you are approved for visa-free transit, you are allowed to leave the transit zone and stay in Singapore for a maximum of 96 hours. The period cannot be extended under any circumstances.
You can only use the VFTF once, either on a round trip or a return trip.
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Requirements for the Singapore Visa-Free Transit Facility
The requirements for obtaining a VFTF vary depending on your nationality.
1. If you are from India or the People's Republic of China (PRC), you are eligible for VFTF if you meet all of the following conditions:
- You are leaving Singapore by air or sea, regardless of how you arrived. This means that you must have a valid flight, ship or cruise ticket departing within 96 hours.
- You have a valid visa to one of the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Germany
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- The visa is valid for at least one month from the date of entry into force of the VFTF.
If you have a single-entry visa that has expired (i.e. you have already entered the country that issued it), you can still use the VFTF on your return flight. In this case, you must
- Depart directly from the country that issued the visa
- Stop in Singapore for transit.
- Return directly to your home country.
2. If you are a citizen of a country from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS); Georgia, Turkmenistan or Ukraine, you are eligible for the VFTF program if you meet the following criteria:
- You are leaving Singapore by air ONLY, regardless of how you traveled.
- You have a valid airline ticket departing in the next 96 hours.
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In any case, when you apply for entry into the country through the VFTF, you must present the following documents to ICA staff:
A passport that is valid for at least another six months from the date of your departure from Singapore.
Your booked ticket for onward travel (flight or boat, as applicable).
A visa to a third country, if applicable.
Proof that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Singapore.
A completed boarding/disembarkation pass.
Your pet will be quarantined upon entry into Singapore unless it came from a country Singapore deems rabies-free. Unless otherwise noted, the following rules apply to domestic dogs and cats only.
Microchip for pets
All cats and dogs entering Singapore from any country must first be identified with an unencrypted ISO-compliant animal microchip. If your pet's microchip does not meet ISO 11784/11785 standards, you can bring your own microchip scanner.
Categories of countries
Requirements vary depending on which country your pet has lived in for the past 6 months. Find your country category:
Category A: Australia, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, Great Britain.
Category B: Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Iceland, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Caledonia, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, United States of America.
Category C: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Korea (South), Latvia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, United States of America.
Category D: All other countries
Vaccinations
Rabies vaccination is not required when entering Singapore from a Category A country; however, other vaccinations are required.
If you are entering Singapore from a Category B country, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days and no more than 12 months before entry. It is necessary to pass a blood test for titer.
If you are entering Singapore from a Category C country, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated against rabies more than 3 months before entry. It is necessary to pass a blood test for titer. If your animal was vaccinated more than 4 months before titration, it must be revaccinated after titration and no more than 30 days before departure.
If you are entering Singapore from a Category D country, your pet cat or dog must be vaccinated against rabies at least 6 months before departure. It is necessary to pass a blood test for titer.
For dogs and cats entering Singapore from all countries:
For dogs 16 weeks of age and older, your dog must be vaccinated against distemper, canine hepatitis, and canine arbovirus at least 2 weeks before departure. For pets under 16 weeks of age, see step 8 below.
For cats 16 weeks of age and older, your cat must be vaccinated at least 2 weeks before export against Feline Influenza (Feline calicivirus and Feline viral rhinotracheitis) and Feline Enteritis (i.e. Feline Panleukopaenia/ Feline parvovirus).
Titer test for rabies
When entering Singapore from a Category B country, a rabies test must be performed more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination for dogs and cats entering Singapore.
When entering Singapore from Category C and D countries, a blood titer test must be performed more than 30 days after rabies vaccination and within 6 months of departure.
All rabies vaccinations must be up to date after the titration blood sample is drawn.
Health certificate
A veterinary certificate for Singapore must be completed by a licensed veterinarian within 7 days of entry. The certificate must be certified by your state USDA office if your animal is traveling from the US, and by your local CFIA office if your animal is traveling from Canada. If you are not traveling from one of these countries, the health certificate must be certified by your country's government authority responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Your pet's microchip number must appear on the health and rabies certificates.
For Category A countries, the health certificate must state that there have been no cases of rabies registered in the country for at least six months before the date of export.
Import licenses
You must apply for a dog license as well as an import license to the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) at least 30 days before your pet enters Singapore from any country.
Treatment from ticks and tapeworms
Before your cat or dog can enter Singapore from any country, it must be treated for internal and external parasites within 2 and 7 days of departure.
Quarantine
If your pet is entering Singapore from a category A or B country, it is not subject to quarantine provided all requirements are met. If your pet is entering Singapore from a Category D country, it is subject to quarantine for 30 days. If your animal is entering Singapore from a Category C country, the quarantine will be 10 days if the titration was done 4 months or more before entry and your animal was revaccinated after the test, otherwise, the quarantine will be 30 days.
The entire quarantine takes place at the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station. Booking a place in quarantine must be made at least 3 months before entry.
Entry to Singapore
Pets must enter Singapore via Singapore's Changi Airport or Tuas Checkpoint from Malaysia.
Notification must be given at least 5 days before arrival at AVS so that they are ready to inspect the animal upon arrival.
If your pet is entering Singapore from a Category A or B country, you must also attach a declaration from the airline stating that the animal has departed from its category country, that there were no other dogs or cats on board from other category countries, and that there were no transfers in countries not included in this category. If a stopover must be made, prior AVA resolution is required and the animal cannot leave the secure area of the airport in the stopover country.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of signs of human-transmissible diseases upon inspection at the airport of entry. If your dog or cat is clearly unwell, an additional examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.
Transit through Singapore by air
Any pet transiting through Singapore Changi Airport with a layover of more than 4 hours is subject to inspection at the Animal and Plant Quarantine Station.
Pets changing airlines in Singapore will most likely have to clear customs and comply with the regulations above.
Puppies and kittens
Puppies and kittens can only enter Singapore if they come from a Category A country and must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of departure. In the case of a dog under sixteen weeks of age, your dog must be vaccinated against distemper, canine hepatitis, and canine arbovirus with at least two vaccinations four weeks apart, with the second vaccination at least two weeks before departure.
Prohibited breeds
The following dog breeds and their crossbreeds are prohibited from being imported into Singapore. Bengal and Savannah cats must be at least 5th generation.
There are also additional restrictions on owning the following breeds while living in Singapore: Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd and related breeds such as the Belgian Shepherd and East European Shepherd, Mastiffs, including Bully crosses between any of the listed above breeds and other breeds. Savannah cats must be bred in the 5th generation or higher.
Export of pets from Singapore
An export permit from AVS is required to take pets out of Singapore. All relevant documents for the country of destination must be provided.
All animals leaving Singapore and then returning are subject to the same requirements as animals entering Singapore for the first time.
Other animals
All small mammals entering Singapore must have a customs clearance, import license, and veterinary health certificate and must undergo a 14-day quarantine at the Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station.
CITES
If your pet is not a dog, cat, or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should make sure that it is not protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In this case, you will have to apply for additional permissions. More than 180 countries participate in and enforce the CITES Convention.
