Planning a pet relocation from Laos to Singapore is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Allow about 18-24 weeks; the requirements are detailed but predictable once mapped out. A 30 …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Laos to Singapore
typically takes around 18-24 weeks.
Expect 30 days of quarantine on arrival.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Laos to Singapore import process
01
Before the rabies vaccination.
Confirm the ISO microchip is implanted and scannable.
Responsible: Vet in Laos
02
At least 28 days before the titre blood draw.
Administer or confirm current rabies vaccination.
Responsible: DLF-registered vet
03
28 or more days after vaccination; allow 3-5 weeks for results given shipping.
Draw blood for the WOAH titre test. Samples usually ship out of Laos to a WOAH reference lab or a Schedule I/II country facility, so allow extra time for courier transit.
Responsible: Vet and laboratory
04
Fixed. Cannot be shortened.
Wait the mandatory 90 days from the blood draw date before export.
Responsible: N/A
05
Runs alongside the 90-day wait.
Submit the export application to DLF at least 15 days before the planned export date. Apply for the AVS import licence and appoint an AVS-recognised pet agent in parallel.
Responsible: Owner or agent
06
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo: Lao Airlines Vientiane-Bangkok, then Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines Cargo Bangkok-Singapore.
Responsible: Owner or cargo agent
07
Close to travel.
DLF-endorsed export certificate issued within 7 days of departure.
Responsible: DLF-registered vet
08
Day of arrival onward.
Arrival at SIN, CAPQ inspection, transfer to AQC for the 30-day quarantine.
Responsible: AVS, CAPQ, AQC staff
Requirements
Singapore entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 chip required, fitted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required before export. Because Laos is Schedule III, the pet is also revaccinated against rabies on arrival regardless of the DLF vaccination record.
Rabies titre test
WOAH-prescribed rabies neutralising antibody test, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn at least 28 days after vaccination, at a WOAH reference laboratory or one in a Schedule I or II country. Few laboratories inside Laos handle this test to WOAH standard, so the sample typically ships to Thailand or further afield for processing, adding real time on top of standard turnaround. The result is valid for export between 90 days and 12 months after the draw.
Quarantine
Minimum 30 days at the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC). Current rates (1 December 2025 to 30 November 2026): SGD 26 a day fan-cooled, SGD 35 a day air-conditioned, plus a SGD 75 transfer fee.
DLF-endorsed certificate in AVS format. Mandatory AVS-recognised pet agent for CAPQ clearance from 1 April 2026.
Leaving Laos
Export requirements
Export permit
Export licence required from the Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF). Application must reach DLF at least 15 days before the export date. DLF inspects the animal and issues the Animal Health Certificate and Export Licence together.
Health certificate
Official health certificate from a DLF-registered veterinarian, reformatted to AVS Singapore's certificate model and issued within 7 days of departure.
Costs
What this route typically costs
DLF export licence, inspection and health certificate: USD 80-180
WOAH titre test plus international sample courier: USD 190-330
AQC quarantine, 30 days minimum: SGD 780-1,050, plus SGD 75 transfer fee
AVS-recognised pet agent fee: SGD 500-1,500
IATA-compliant travel crate: SGD 150-500
Cargo VTE to SIN via Bangkok: SGD 1,700-3,200
Total typical range: SGD 3,300-6,300 across a 4-5 month preparation period
Critical points
Scoot operates a nonstop Singapore-Vientiane flight up to seven times a week, but Scoot does not accept any live animal as checked baggage or cargo. Do not assume this convenient direct route can carry a pet; it cannot, and the pet must route via Bangkok on a different carrier entirely.
Laos defaults to AVS Schedule III since it is named on neither Schedule I nor Schedule II, confirmed against avs.nparks.gov.sg, fetched 21 July 2026.
DLF's 15-day export notice is short compared with the 90-day AVS titre wait, so it rarely drives the timeline, but missing it still delays the export licence.
From 1 April 2026, CAPQ clearance for Schedule III arrivals must go through an AVS-recognised pet agent.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Thai Airways via Bangkok
Lao Airlines runs two daily flights between Vientiane and Bangkok, feeding into Thai Airways Cargo's established Bangkok-Singapore service. This is the practical routing, even though a direct nonstop passenger flight between Singapore and Vientiane exists on a different carrier that cannot be used for this purpose.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines Cargo
Handles the Bangkok-Singapore leg with strong live animal infrastructure at Changi, an alternative to Thai Airways for the second half of the journey.
Cargo Only
How Singapore handles incoming pets
Singapore has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
What experienced owners do
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. That nonstop service is operated by Scoot, and Scoot does not accept any live animal as cargo or checked baggage, with no exception beyond service dogs. Pets must route via Bangkok instead, using Lao Airlines for the Vientiane-Bangkok leg and Thai Airways or Singapore Airlines Cargo for the onward leg to Singapore.
AVS names only four Schedule I countries and 31 Schedule II countries. Laos appears on neither, so it defaults to Schedule III, carrying a WOAH titre test, a 90-day wait from the blood draw, and 30 days of quarantine at Singapore’s Animal Quarantine Centre. Confirmed against avs.nparks.gov.sg, fetched 21 July 2026.
The Department of Livestock and Fisheries needs at least 15 days’ notice before the export date. This is far shorter than the 90-day AVS titre wait, so it usually runs in parallel rather than adding to the timeline.
Yes. From 1 April 2026, AVS requires all Schedule III arrivals, including pets from Laos, to be cleared through CAPQ by an AVS-recognised pet agent.
Airline guides
Thai Airways via Bangkok
Singapore Airlines Cargo
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.