Exporting Your Dog from Singapore to Malaysia: Requirements, Breed Checks and Timeline

Exporting your dog from Singapore to Malaysia by land follows the same two-permit process as cats, with one critical addition: your dog's Singapore PALS licence must be cancelled after the crossing. You also need to confirm your dog's breed is not restricted by Malaysian local authorities before you travel — some municipalities in Malaysia impose restrictions on specific breeds that have no equivalent restriction in Singapore.

Singapore-side requirements are sourced from avs.nparks.gov.sg. Malaysia-side requirements should be verified with Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (dvs.gov.my) and with the local authority at your Malaysia destination address.

The Core Process

For the full two-country process covering both dogs and cats, see the complete Singapore to Malaysia pet export guide. This article goes deeper on the dog-specific steps and considerations.

Step 1: Breed Check Before You Start

For most dogs, breed is not an issue. But if your dog falls into one of the categories below, confirm the situation before committing to a timeline.

Singapore Part 1 Prohibited Breeds

The following breeds cannot be kept in Singapore and therefore cannot be exported from here:

• All Pit Bull types (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, and crosses)
• Akita
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Tosa
• Dogo Argentino
• Fila Brasileiro
• Boerboel
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Any cross of the above

If your dog is one of these breeds, you could not have legally kept it in Singapore. This article does not apply.

Singapore Part 2 Specified Dogs

These breeds are legally kept in Singapore but carry additional conditions (muzzling in public, insurance, banker's guarantee):

• Bull Terrier
• Doberman Pinscher
• Rottweiler
• German Shepherd and related breeds
• Mastiffs (Bull Mastiff, Cane Corso, Dogue de Bordeaux)
• Crosses of the above

For Part 2 dogs exporting to Malaysia: Malaysia's national animal legislation does not maintain a single federal list of banned dog breeds. However, local authorities in many Malaysian states and municipalities impose their own breed restrictions. Restrictions on Rottweilers, Dobermans, and similar breeds are common in urban councils.

Before you finalise your Malaysia destination address, contact the local council (majlis perbandaran or majlis bandaraya) for that area and confirm whether your dog's breed is permitted. This is a step that catches owners by surprise — your dog may be cleared at the DVS import level but face a local restriction at the address level.

Step 2: Singapore Export Licence

Apply via the GoBusiness Licensing Portal (gobusiness.gov.sg).

The licence is valid for 90 days from date of issue. Apply within 90 days of your planned crossing date — not too far in advance, or the licence may lapse before you travel.

Step 3: Vaccination and Health Certificate

Rabies Vaccination

Malaysia requires proof of a current rabies vaccination for all dogs entering the country. Confirm your dog's vaccination records are up to date before the health certificate appointment.

If your dog's rabies vaccination has lapsed, your Singapore vet can administer the vaccination. There is no mandatory wait between vaccination and the health certificate appointment for the SG-to-Malaysia land route (unlike Singapore's import rules from Schedule II/III countries, which require titre testing). Verify the current Malaysian requirement with DVS Malaysia.

Microchip

Your dog must have a readable ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip. The chip number must match across all documents: export licence, health certificate, DVS import permit. Have the chip scanned at the health certificate appointment — dead or migrated chips cause problems at the checkpoint.

AVS Health Certificate

A Singapore-licensed private veterinarian examines your dog and completes the health certificate in Malaysia's DVS format. You then submit it to AVS for government endorsement.

Option 3a (Malaysia DVS template, endorsed by AVS):

• Most appropriate for the land route to Malaysia
• Submit original certificate and supporting records to the AVS drop-off box at Singapore Botanic Gardens (Raffles Building)
• AVS endorsement: 2 working days
• Apply via GoBusiness Licensing Portal

Option 3b (QR-verifiable certificate):

• Valid for 7 days from date of issue
• Applied via GoBusiness Licensing Portal after vet signs the base certificate

Time the vet appointment for the 7 to 10 days before your crossing date to stay within the health certificate validity window. Do not get the certificate early to reduce pre-departure stress — an out-of-window certificate will be rejected at JB customs.

What the certificate must include:

• Dog's name, breed, sex, date of birth, colour and markings
• 15-digit microchip number (matching all other documents)
• Rabies vaccination details: brand, batch number, date administered
• Full vaccination history
• Health examination confirming the dog is fit to travel
• Singapore-registered vet's signature and stamp
• AVS government endorsement

Step 4: Malaysia DVS Import Permit

A DVS import permit from Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services must be obtained before your dog crosses the border. This is not something you arrange at the checkpoint — it is applied for in advance via the DVS portal.

Information you will need when applying:

• Dog's species, breed, sex, age, microchip number
• Singapore export licence details
• Health certificate details (once obtained)
• Malaysia destination address

Your Pawsport coordinator handles the DVS permit application as part of the SGD 1,350 all-in package for the SG to Malaysia land route.

Verify current DVS import permit requirements and processing timelines at dvs.gov.my.

Step 5: The Tuas Crossing

The crossing point for pet transport from Singapore to Malaysia by land is Tuas Second Link, not Woodlands Causeway. Tuas is where DVS veterinary officers are stationed to inspect incoming animals.

On the day:

1. Present your Singapore export licence and AVS health certificate to Singapore customs at Tuas
2. Cross into Malaysia
3. Present the Malaysia DVS import permit, AVS health certificate, and all supporting documents to the DVS veterinary officer at the Malaysian checkpoint
4. Your dog is briefly inspected for visible health signs and microchip verification
5. Once cleared, transport continues to your destination

Practical notes for dogs:

• Have a secure, well-ventilated travel carrier or crate for your dog during the crossing
• Bring water and a familiar item to reduce stress, especially for large or anxious dogs
• Leash your dog if it will be outside the crate at any point during document inspection
• Do not feed a full meal immediately before the crossing — travel stress can cause digestive upset

Step 6: Cancel Your Dog's Singapore PALS Licence

After your dog has crossed into Malaysia, cancel the Singapore dog licence in the PALS portal at pals.avs.gov.sg. This is a dog-specific requirement — cats do not currently require PALS registration for the export cancellation step.

Log in with SingPass, locate your dog's licence, and select the export/cancellation option. Keep a record of the cancellation for your own files.

Moving Multiple Dogs

If you are moving more than one dog, each dog requires:

• Its own Singapore export licence (SGD 50 per dog, standard)
• Its own health certificate
• Its own entry on the Malaysia DVS import permit (or separate permits — confirm with DVS Malaysia)

The per-dog documentation requirement is the same regardless of the number of dogs. Plan the timeline to account for multiple vet appointments and AVS endorsements running in parallel.

Timeline for Dog Export to Malaysia

Documents to Bring to the Crossing

• Singapore AVS export licence (original or certified copy)
• AVS-endorsed veterinary health certificate (original)
• Malaysia DVS import permit (printout or digital)
• Rabies vaccination certificate (microchip number must match)
• Full vaccination records
• Microchip implantation certificate or chip scan record

Frequently Asked Questions

My dog is a German Shepherd. Can it move to Malaysia? German Shepherds and related breeds are Part 2 specified dogs in Singapore, which means they are legally kept here with additional conditions. Malaysia does not have a single national ban on German Shepherds, but some local councils restrict them. Before choosing your Malaysia address, contact the local council (majlis perbandaran) for that area to confirm. The Tuas DVS checkpoint does not bar breed-specific dogs — the restriction, if any, is at the local authority level.

My dog has never had a rabies vaccination. Can it still go to Malaysia? Not without one. Malaysia requires proof of rabies vaccination for incoming dogs. Your Singapore vet can administer it, and there is no mandatory titre test wait for the SG-to-Malaysia route (unlike Singapore's own import rules). Allow a few days for vaccination documentation before the health certificate appointment.

Do I need to cancel my dog's PALS licence before or after crossing? After. The PALS licence cancellation is an administrative step you complete once your dog has left Singapore. You do not need to cancel the licence before the crossing.

Can both my dogs travel in one carrier? Only if they are small enough to be safely and comfortably housed together and the carrier meets the space requirements for both. For most medium and large breeds, separate carriers are required. Each dog will also undergo its own document check at the DVS inspection point.

How long does the DVS inspection take at Tuas? When all documents are correct and in order, the inspection is typically brief — the officer verifies documents, confirms the microchip reading, and checks the dog's visible health. Allow 15 to 30 minutes for the inspection process. Incomplete or mismatched documents will extend this significantly.

Do I need a relocation agent for the dog export? You are not legally required to use one. The process involves two agencies in two countries, tight document timing, and a checkpoint where errors cannot be resolved on the spot. The Pawsport SG to Malaysia land package covers the export licence, health certificate, DVS import permit, and JB land transport at a fixed SGD 1,350 all-in per pet.

Moving to Malaysia with your dog? The Pawsport SG to Malaysia land package covers the export licence, health certificate, Malaysia DVS import permit, and land transport at a fixed SGD 1,350 all-in. Contact us to confirm breed acceptance for your specific route and Malaysia destination address.

Sources: Animal and Veterinary Service, Singapore (AVS), AVS Specified Dogs, Malaysia Department of Veterinary Services (DVS). Verify breed acceptance with Malaysia local authorities at your destination address before proceeding.