Importing or exporting horses

The veterinary conditions for import of horses are listed below. 

• Import of horses from all countries except the Republic of South Africa* 

• Conditions for temporary importation of horses 

• Returning Singapore horses after racing/competition 

*Horses from South Africa cannot be imported into Singapore. 

Apply for and obtain an AVS-issued import licence via GoBusiness Licensing Portal if you want to bring horses into Singapore. This licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue. 

The following documents must be included in your application. 

Mandatory document for all applications: 

• Equine influenza vaccination records (including name of vaccine, date of administration, and dose)

The following documents are not required during import licence applications. However the documents (if applicable) must be presented to AVS for documentation checks and veterinary inspection. 

• Vaccination records for:  

  • Venezuelan, Eastern, and Western equine encephalitis 

  • Rabies

• Laboratory test results for:  

  • Contagious equine metritis 

  • Equine infectious anaemia 

  • Equine viral arteritis 

  • Trypanosomiasis 

  • Piroplasmosis 

  • Hendra 

  • Nipah 

You are required to produce a veterinary health certificate confirming that your horse fulfils the veterinary conditions for import, and is healthy and free from any contagious or infectious disease prior to import.  

Each imported horse is also required that to have an equine passport, which contains the horse’s silhouette and updated vaccination records. 

Step 1: Download and print out the veterinary health certificate template attached in the relevant veterinary conditions for import form.

• Import of horses from all countries except the Republic of South Africa* 

• Conditions for temporary importation of horses 

• Returning Singapore horses after racing/competition 

Step 2: Have your licensed private veterinarian complete the veterinary health certificate template and provide you with the equine passport. The passport must contain the horse’s silhouette and updated vaccination records.

Step 3: Have the completed veterinary health certificate endorsed by the exporting country’s government veterinarian.

Horses are subject to inspection.  

You can book an inspection appointment via this link. Please submit your appointment request at least five days before your consignment’s arrival. 

Bringing animals for inspection without making an appointment will subject you to an inspection fee of S$133 per hour or part thereof.

Your horse must be accompanied by a declaration signed by the master of the ship or the captain of the aircraft. Download and print the declaration template in the relevant veterinary conditions for import form. 

• Import of horses from all countries except the Republic of South Africa* 

• Conditions for temporary importation of horses 

• Returning Singapore horses after racing/competition 

Upon arrival at the port of disembarkation in Singapore, your horse will undergo inspection by our veterinary officer. 

The officer will also examine and verify that the following accompanying documents are in order: 

•  AVS-issued import licence 

• Equine passport 

• Original veterinary health certificate 

• Original laboratory test reports 

• Master’s/captain’s declaration 

If your horse is found to be healthy and the documents are in order, it will be transported to the Singapore Equine Quarantine Station (SEQS) for a minimum 14-day quarantine.

Find out what the import requirements of the destination country are. Some countries mandate that a veterinary health certificate is a condition for entry. 

Information on import requirements can be obtained from the website of the destination country’s relevant government authority. 

Apply for and obtain an AVS-issued export licence via GoBusiness Licensing Portal. This licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.  

This step only applies to you if the destination country mandates that a veterinary health certificate is a condition for entry.

Health certificate requirements differ with each destination country.

Some countries require that a veterinary health certificate be issued by a licensed private veterinarian. The statements needed on the certificate, as well as the certificate’s validity period, will depend on the destination country’s import conditions. 

Other countries require that the veterinary health certificate be issued or endorsed by a government veterinarian (i.e. from us). You can apply for and obtain an AVS-issued veterinary health certificate via GoBusiness Licensing Portal. 

The following documents must be included in your application: 

• Template of the veterinary health certificate required by the destination country 

• Pre-export quarantine or isolation records certified by your licensed private veterinarian 

• Laboratory test results 

• AVS-issued export licence 

A government veterinarian will need to inspect the horses prior to issuance of the AVS-issued veterinary health certificate. 

Prepare the following documents in soft copy: 

• A valid veterinary health certificate from the exporting country.

• An import permit issued by the importing country (if applicable). 

Apply for and obtain the transshipment licence via GoBusiness Licensing Portal, and upload these documents along with your application. 

Travel by air 

During transshipment, horses will be held at the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ) at Terminal 5 of Changi Airfreight Centre.

Please make the necessary arrangements with the ground handling agent prior to the transshipment. Details of the two ground handling agents, SATS Gateway Pte Ltd and DNATA Singapore, are shown below. 

Travel by land 

Inform the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ) office of your consignment’s planned arrival date five days before the actual arrival if your transshipment is by land (i.e. between Singapore and Malaysia). 

Horses transiting Singapore by land may need to be escorted from the port of entry to the port of departure. Please contact us for further information.