Importing Dogs to Singapore: Breed and Housing Rules
October 13, 2026
Most guides to importing a dog into Singapore start with the flight, the rabies paperwork and the quarantine question. Those steps matter, but for dogs there is an earlier filter that cats never meet: whether Singapore accepts the breed at all, and whether the home you are moving into is allowed to keep it.
Owners usually discover this late. The vet records are ready, the flight is pencilled in, and only then does someone ask whether a Rottweiler can live in an HDB flat or whether a mixed-breed rescue will be read as a restricted breed. This guide covers those dog-only checks, in the order that saves the most rework. For the general AVS import steps, use our Singapore pet import requirements page.
Step one: is your dog’s breed allowed into Singapore?
AVS groups certain breeds as “Specified dogs” and splits them into two parts. When we checked the AVS pages on 13 October 2026, the position was:
| AVS group | Breeds listed (including their crosses) | Can it be imported? |
|---|---|---|
| Specified dogs, Part 1 | Pit Bull types (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog), Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Boerboel, Perro de Presa Canario | No. AVS states these breeds are currently not allowed into Singapore for sale, a visit or a permanent stay. |
| Specified dogs, Part 2 | Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, German Shepherd Dog and related shepherd breeds, Mastiffs such as Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso and Dogue de Bordeaux | Possible, but only with extra licence conditions and never in an HDB flat. |
| All other breeds | Everything not listed above | Yes, subject to the normal licence and import conditions. |
Crosses count. A dog that is part Akita or part Pit Bull type falls into the same group as the listed breed, which is why AVS asks for a colour photo of mixed or cross-breed dogs in the licence application. If your dog’s records describe it loosely, for example “mixed breed” or “terrier cross”, expect AVS to look at the photo and ask questions. A clear, full-body photo and consistent breed wording across vet records make that review easier.
What a Part 2 breed means in practice
If your dog is a German Shepherd, Doberman, Rottweiler or one of the other Part 2 breeds, the move is still possible, but the licence carries conditions that affect your budget and daily routine. According to AVS, these include:
- a leash and a securely fitted muzzle in public places;
- an insurance policy of at least S$100,000 covering injury and property damage;
- a banker’s guarantee, listed at S$2,000 for Part 2 breeds;
- the training that AVS specifies for Specified dogs.
These amounts come from the AVS page at the time of writing and can change. Arrange the insurance and banker’s guarantee early, because they involve your bank and an insurer, not just your vet.
Step two: will your new home accept the dog?
A dog licence is not permission to keep the dog at a particular address. AVS says this directly, and the housing rules are often the tighter limit:
- HDB flats: one dog per flat, and it must be a breed on HDB’s approved list of small breeds. No Specified dog of any breed may be kept in an HDB flat.
- Private homes (condominiums and landed property): up to three cats or dogs in total, of which only one may be a Specified dog. Going above three needs prior AVS approval.
Condominiums can add their own by-laws on top of this, so ask the management office or your landlord in writing. Get the housing answer before you sign a lease or apply for the dog licence, because a breed that is legal to import can still be impossible to keep at the address you have chosen. If you are still choosing where to live, our Singapore relocation page explains how we plan the arrival side of a move.
Step three: the dog licence comes before the import licence
For dogs, the order of licences catches people out. AVS requires a dog licence, applied for through its online licensing system, PALS, before you can apply for the import licence. First-time applicants are also asked to complete a pet ownership course before applying.
The import licence itself is applied for through the GoBusiness Licensing Portal and, per AVS, is valid for 90 days from issue. That validity window is why the breed and housing checks belong at the start. If the licence application stalls on a breed query, every later date moves with it.
Other dog-relevant points on the AVS import page when we checked: the dog must be at least 12 weeks old at export, must carry an ISO-compatible microchip whose number appears in its vaccination records, and the arrival inspection must be booked at least five days ahead. Rabies vaccination, serology and quarantine depend on the country your dog is coming from, and the full sequence sits on the Singapore import page.
A short pre-booking checklist for dog owners
- Confirm the breed group with AVS, using a clear photo if your dog is mixed or cross-bred.
- Confirm with HDB, your landlord or condominium management that this dog may live at your address.
- For a Part 2 breed, start the insurance and banker’s guarantee.
- Apply for the dog licence, then the import licence, with dates that fit inside the 90-day validity.
- Work through the country-specific veterinary steps and book the arrival inspection.
Cat owners follow a similar import route without the breed and HDB size questions, which is why we cover them separately in importing cats to Singapore. For the wider document list, see our international pet relocation checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring a German Shepherd or Rottweiler to Singapore?
Based on the AVS pages we checked, these are Part 2 Specified dogs, so they can be licensed with extra conditions such as muzzling in public, insurance and a banker’s guarantee. They cannot be kept in an HDB flat. Confirm the current conditions with AVS before planning.
My dog is a mixed breed. Will AVS treat it as a restricted breed?
It depends on what the mix is. Crosses of the listed breeds fall into the same group, and AVS uses the colour photo in the licence application to assess mixed and cross-breed dogs. Keep the breed description consistent across the vet records and ask AVS if you are unsure.
How many dogs can I bring into one home?
For an HDB flat, one dog of an approved small breed. For private premises, up to three cats or dogs in total, with no more than one Specified dog, unless AVS approves more in advance.
Does a dog licence mean my landlord has to accept the dog?
No. AVS states that the licence is not approval to keep the dog at the stated premises. Tenancy terms, condominium by-laws and HDB rules still apply.
If you would like us to review your dog’s breed, records and the Singapore address before you commit to dates, send us your dog’s details and we will map out the sequence with you.