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Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS)

Importing ornamental fish

How to import ornamental fish

Last updated 4 February 2026

Use our live chat service (click the Ask AVS button on the bottom right) for real-time responses to questions related to imports, exports and permits of pets.

Ornamental fish refers to ornamental varieties of marine, brackish water, or fresh water: 

  • Fish 

  • Crustacea 

  • Aquatic mollusca 

  • Turtles 

  • Marine sponges 

  • Trepang 

  • Any other form of aquatic life, including the young and eggs of the above 

Fish and fish products intended for human consumption are not considered ornamental fish. 

Generally, only licensed traders are allowed to import, export, or transship ornamental fish. Exceptions apply to travellers taking ornamental fish into or out of Singapore for personal purposes (i.e. as pets). 

Personal allowance for ornamental fish 

If you are transporting ornamental fish into or out of Singapore as pets, you do not need to obtain the licence to import or export ornamental fish. However, you must fulfil the conditions for personal allowance stated in the “Bringing in ornamental fish” section below. 

Please note that the personal allowance only applies to traveller’s baggage and not to items shipped by cargo. 

Bringing in ornamental fish 

You may bring in ornamental fish from any country as long as the required import conditions are met. 

If you intend to bring in ornamental fish in quantities exceeding the stated personal allowances (refer to table below), or are transporting your consignment via cargo, you must obtain an ornamental fish import permit via TradeNet first. 

An ornamental fish import permit from TradeNet is not required if you keep the quantity of ornamental fish within personal allowance limits. However, an AVS-issued import permit may be required instead.  

Ornamental fish brought in by travellers generally fall under two categories:

Species which do not require an AVS-issued ornamental fish import permit  

An ornamental fish import permit is not required for import of the species listed below if the import falls within the personal allowance stated below. 

CITES-listed species 

If you are bringing in species listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you are required to apply for CITES permits before import even though an AVS-issued ornamental fish import permit is not required. 

CITES-listed ornamental fish species include Asian arowanas (Dragon Fish), seahorses, and giant clams. The list of CITES-listed species is available in the CITES appendices. 

Personal allowance limits per species

 Species 

Personal allowance (Maximum amount allowed without an AVS-issued licence. CITES permits are required regardless of quantity of fishes.) 

Asian arowanas (Dragon Fish) 

  • 1 fish in no more than 3 litres of packing water per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 2 pieces allowed in no more than 6 litres of water per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car. 

Hard/CITES corals/Calcareous algae rocks 

  • 5 pieces per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 10 pieces allowed per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car. 

Seahorses 

  • 5 pieces per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 10 pieces allowed per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car. 

Giant clams 

  • 5 pieces per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 10 pieces allowed per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car. 

If you are importing fish of CITES species, please ensure to obtain:  

  1. A CITES export/re-export permit obtained from the exporting/re-exporting country; and

  2. A CITES import permit from NParks. 

Non-CITES listed species 

Personal allowance per type of ornamental fish

Type of ornamental fish 

Personal allowance (Maximum amount allowed without an AVS-issued licence) 

Fish (excluding kois and carps) 

  • 30 pieces packed in no more than 3 litres of water per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 60 pieces allowed in no more than 6 litres of water per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car. 

Non-swimming marine invertebrates (e.g. soft corals, starfish, sea cucumbers, etc.) 

  • 5 pieces weighing not more than 5kg in total, per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 10 pieces weighing not more than 10kg in total allowed per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car. 

Any import combination of the above is allowed, provided the shipment does not exceed 5kg, and the quantity of each item stays within the respective stated limit. 

Species which require an AVS-issued ornamental fish import permit

An AVS-issued ornamental fish import permit is required for import of the species listed below. 

Non-CITES listed species 

Personal allowance per type of ornamental fish

Type of ornamental fish 

Personal allowance (Maximum amount allowed without an AVS-issued licence) 

Kois or carps (Cyprinus carpio) 

  • 30 pieces packed in no more than 3 litres of water per person per trip. 

  • Maximum 60 pieces allowed in no more than 6 litres of water per car. 2 or more persons must be present in the car.

Apply for an AVS-issued import permit before you bring your ornamental fish into Singapore. Please contact us via our contact centre at 1800 476 1600 at least a week prior to your import in order to ensure sufficient time to assess and process this request.

Note to travellers 

The above guidelines apply to species allowed for import under Singapore laws. If you are not sure whether the species you intend to bring in is allowed here, or whether CITES permits are required, do clarify with us before import. 

When in doubt, please declare your items to the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officers.