Crossing Tuas Checkpoint with Your Cat: Land Import Guide from Malaysia (2026)

If you are driving your cat from Malaysia to Singapore, there is one rule you must know before planning your route: cats can only enter Singapore through Tuas Checkpoint — not Woodlands. Arriving at Woodlands with your cat means turning back. The animal inspection facility that processes live pet imports from Malaysia is located at Tuas (the Second Link crossing), and it does not operate at Woodlands Checkpoint.

This guide covers exactly what happens at Tuas Checkpoint, how to book the CAPQ inspection, what documents you need on the day, and what changes with the April 2026 mandatory agent rule.

Why Tuas and Not Woodlands?

Woodlands Checkpoint handles the highest volume of daily crossings on the Johor–Singapore Causeway and does not have a purpose-built facility for live animal inspections. The Centre for Animal & Pharmaceutical Quality (CAPQ) inspection facility for road imports from Malaysia is at Tuas Checkpoint (also known as the Tuas Second Link).

There are no exceptions to this routing requirement. It is not a matter of which checkpoint is more convenient — Tuas is the only checkpoint where AVS can inspect your cat on arrival. If you arrive at Woodlands with your cat, you will need to turn back, cross to the Second Link, and re-enter via Tuas.

Factor in the extra distance when planning. From Johor Bahru city centre, the drive to Tuas Checkpoint is approximately 40–60 minutes depending on traffic, compared to 10–20 minutes to Woodlands. Budget extra time.

The CAPQ Inspection: What It Is

The Centre for Animal & Pharmaceutical Quality (CAPQ) is the AVS-operated facility that inspects live animals entering Singapore. At Tuas, the CAPQ inspection involves:

1. Document verification — AVS staff check your import licence, titre test certificate, vaccination records, and veterinary health certificate
2. Physical inspection — your cat is examined by a veterinary officer to confirm identity (microchip scan), check health status, and verify the documents match the animal
3. Quarantine dispatch — once cleared, your cat is released to transport to the Animal Quarantine Centre (AQC) for the mandatory 30-day quarantine

The inspection takes approximately 30–60 minutes under normal circumstances. Incomplete documentation or microchip discrepancies extend this significantly.

Booking the CAPQ Inspection: iFAST System

You cannot simply arrive at Tuas and expect to have your cat inspected. A pre-booked inspection appointment is required.

Booking system: iFAST (the AVS appointment portal) Lead time: At least 5 business days before your intended arrival date

From April 1, 2026, an AVS-recognised relocation agent must manage the iFAST booking on your behalf. Self-booking of CAPQ inspections for personal pet imports is no longer permitted. See the full details in our guide to Singapore's April 2026 mandatory agent rule.

What information is required for the booking:

• Cat's name, breed, sex, age, microchip number
• Import licence number
• Proposed crossing date and time slot
• Owner contact details
• Agent details (from April 2026)

Book your CAPQ inspection at the same time you arrange your AQC quarantine slot — both need to align with your travel date.

Operating Hours and Restrictions

CAPQ services at Tuas Checkpoint operate on specific days and hours. Services are not available on:

• Sundays
• Singapore Public Holidays

This means you must plan your crossing for a Monday to Saturday that is not a public holiday. If your move date falls on or near a public holiday weekend, you may need to adjust your travel date.

Operating hours: Confirm current hours directly with AVS before booking. Operating windows can change, and specific time slots fill quickly.

Cost of unscheduled inspection: If you arrive without a pre-booked appointment (regardless of reason), AVS charges S$80 per hour for the emergency inspection. This is in addition to all other fees.

What to Have Ready on the Day

Bring every document in original or certified form. Photocopies are not accepted:

• AVS Import Licence — original or certified copy
• Veterinary Health Certificate — issued by DVS-accredited vet in Malaysia, dated within 7 days of travel
• Rabies titre test certificate — showing ≥0.5 IU/mL, with blood draw date clearly stated
• Rabies vaccination certificate — microchip number must appear on this document
• AQC quarantine booking confirmation — reference number and confirmation from AVS
• CAPQ inspection appointment confirmation — your time slot and reference number
• Singapore Customs GST In-Payment Permit — if required (your agent confirms whether this applies)
• Your identity card or passport

Cat travel requirements:

• Your cat must be in an IATA-compliant carrier for the journey
• Ensure the carrier is labelled with your cat's name, your contact details, and the microchip number
• Carry water and allow your cat to rest after the journey

Step-by-Step: What Happens at Tuas

1. Arrive at Tuas Checkpoint Drive to the Tuas Second Link checkpoint. At the Singapore customs arrival area, follow signage for live animal imports. Your agent should be present or meet you at the CAPQ facility.

2. Report to CAPQ facility Present your cat and all documents to CAPQ/AVS staff at your appointed time slot.

3. Document verification AVS staff check the import licence, titre test, vaccination certificate, and health certificate. They verify the microchip number against all records. Any discrepancy at this stage can delay or prevent entry.

4. Physical inspection A veterinary officer examines your cat, scans the microchip, and confirms the animal matches the documents.

5. Conditional clearance Once cleared, your cat is not released to you — they are transferred to the AQC. The CAPQ facility arranges transport (S$75 per cat) from the checkpoint to the quarantine centre.

6. AQC handover From April 2026, your AVS-recognised agent handles the handover to AQC transport. You will be given the AQC contact information and your quarantine booking confirmation. Your cat's 30-day quarantine clock begins on the arrival date.

After the Inspection: The 30-Day Clock Starts

The day your cat arrives at the AQC is Day 1 of the mandatory 30-day quarantine. You cannot collect your cat before this period is complete. AVS does not grant early releases for Schedule III imports from Malaysia.

For full details on what quarantine involves, see our guide to cat quarantine at the AQC.

Common Mistakes at Tuas

Driving to Woodlands. Pets cannot be inspected at Woodlands. The CAPQ animal inspection facility is at Tuas only.

Arriving on a Sunday or public holiday. CAPQ services are unavailable. You must reschedule your crossing.

Arriving without a booking. The S$80/hour surcharge is avoidable with 5 business days' notice. If your travel date changes, update your booking as early as possible.

Documents not matching. The microchip number on the titre test certificate, vaccination record, and health certificate must match. If they don't, inspection is paused while verification is sought. This can cause same-day delays or, in serious cases, refused entry.

Health certificate too old. The DVS certificate must be issued within 7 days of crossing. A certificate dated 8 or 10 days prior is invalid.

The April 2026 Change: Agent Now Mandatory at CAPQ

Before April 1, 2026, owners could manage the Tuas CAPQ process themselves — booking the inspection, presenting documents, and arranging AQC transport. From April 1, 2026, this is no longer permitted.

All pet imports through CAPQ (whether at Tuas or Changi) must be handled by an AVS-recognised pet relocation agent. The agent:

• Books and manages the iFAST inspection appointment
• Presents documents to AVS at the CAPQ facility
• Coordinates AQC transport and handover
• Completes customs documentation

Owners may still travel with their cat to Tuas and be present, but the formal CAPQ submission and AQC handover must be conducted by the agent.

How Pawsport Express Handles the Tuas Process

We book your CAPQ inspection, prepare your document set, coordinate with the Tuas CAPQ facility, and arrange your cat's transport to the AQC. As an AVS-recognised agent, we manage the full checkpoint process so you don't need to navigate iFAST, DVS timing, or CAPQ documentation requirements yourself.

Get a quote for your Malaysia–Singapore cat import.

Information is based on AVS guidelines as of May 2026. Operating hours and procedures should be verified directly with AVS before travel at avs.nparks.gov.sg.