What You Need to Know for Import of Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Animals

What You Need to Know for Import of Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Animals | Singapore Government Singapore Food Agency

Type	Licences/Registrations
Broiler chickens and broiler ducks	Licence to Import Poultry
Day-Old-Chicks (DOCs) and hatching eggs, and other types of poultry (including geese, turkeys, silkies, quails, chukar partridges and pigeons)	Licence to Import / Export / Tranship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics
Sheep, cattle and goats	Licence to Import Sheep and Goats
Pigs	Licence to Import Pigs
Frogs and crustaceans	Licence for Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products Registration to Import Live Frogs for Consumption

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Step 1: Ensure you are eligible

Before you register to import live poultry, livestock, and live animals, you need to fulfil some general requirements. For instance, registration with ACRA is mandatory, and your UEN must be activated with Customs. 

In addition, you must set up a GIRO arrangement with SFA.

For more details, see Requirements for Licence / Permit / Registration for Import / Export.    

You can refer to the List of Local Forwarding Agents on the Singapore Customs website  if you prefer to engage a declaring agent.

Step 2: Ensure the live poultry and livestock comply with import requirements and veterinary conditions

You must ensure that the imports are from approved sources and comply with SFA’s veterinary conditions listed in the table below.

Type	Approved sources	Veterinary Conditions
Live Poultry	Refer to Accreditation Database for Overseas Sources	Veterinary Conditions for the importation of domestic birds Veterinary Conditions for the importation of day-old chicks Veterinary Conditions for the importation of hatching eggs
Livestock	Australia Canada France Ireland Japan New Zealand USA As the approved farms are subject to changes, ensure you check the latest list before importing livestock into Singapore.	Veterinary Conditions for the Importation of Livestock

Type

Approved sources

Veterinary Conditions

Live Poultry

Refer to Accreditation Database for Overseas Sources

Veterinary Conditions for the importation of domestic birds

Veterinary Conditions for the importation of day-old chicks

Veterinary Conditions for the importation of hatching eggs

Livestock

Australia
Canada
France
Ireland
Japan
New Zealand
USA

As the approved farms are subject to changes, ensure you check the latest list before importing livestock into Singapore.

Veterinary Conditions for the Importation of Livestock

Work closely with your overseas supplier to ensure you meet SFA’s veterinary conditions. Your supplier must obtain confirmation from their country/region’s authorities that their exports meet SFA’s veterinary conditions.
You may also engage a veterinary consultant to ensure that your imports comply with SFA’s veterinary requirements.

Step 3: Gather the required information and supporting documents

There are specific requirements that you need to comply with when importing different types of live poultry, livestock and live animals. For more details on the information and supporting documents required for each type of imports, please see

Licence to Import Poultry

Licence to Import / Export / Tranship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics

Licence to Import Sheep and Goats Licence to Import Pigs

Licence for Import/Export/Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products

Registration to Import Live Frogs for Consumption

Step 4: Get a CorpPass

You will need your CorpPass to log into the GoBusiness portal to apply for the licence/registration. If you do not have a CorpPass account, refer to the CorpPass Guide for setup instructions.

Step 5: Apply for the licence/registration

Log into the GoBusiness portal and submit your application.

For Licence to Import Pigs, complete the application form for licence to import pigs and submit it via the SFA Online Feedback Form.

To avoid delays in processing time, ensure you submit a complete application and attach the required supporting documents to your application.

Step 6: Make payment (if applicable)

The fees, if applicable, will be automatically deducted from your bank account via GIRO.

Licence/Registration	Fees	Validity period	Processing time for complete submissions
Licence to Import Poultry	Free	1 year	1 working day
Licence to Import/Export/Tranship Animals, Birds, Eggs and Biologics	$87 per licence	30 days from the date that the licence is issued for 1 consignment	2 working days
Licence to Import Sheep and Goats	Free	1 year	1 working day
Licence to Import Pigs	Free	1 year	SFA will contact you within 5 working days of receiving your application
Licence for Import/Export/ Transhipment of Meat and Fish Products	$84	1 year	1 working day
Registration to Import Live Frogs for Consumption	Free	1 year	1 working day

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Step 1: Obtain Veterinary Health Certificates (VHCs)

Each import consignment must be accompanied by a VHC issued by the relevant veterinary authority of the exporting country/region. VHCs certify that the food or food products comply with Singapore’s import conditions.

The certificate must be dated no more than 7 days prior to import.

To obtain the VHC, work closely with your overseas supplier.

Step 2: Make an appointment for border control inspection

All live poultry, livestock, and live animal imports must undergo inspection at the port of entry upon arrival in Singapore.

Notify the Changi Animal & Plant Quarantine Station (CAPQ) at least 5 days before the planned arrival date of the consignment.

Step 3: Make an appointment for inspection of consignment at slaughterhouse (for live poultry imported to local slaughterhouses only)

An inspection appointment must be made via SFA Inspection and Laboratory e-Services for every consignment of imported live poultry from overseas accredited farms to local slaughterhouses. The inspection appointment must be made at least one day before the planned arrival date.

Refer to this guide on how to make an inspection appointment.

Step 4: Obtain a master’s/captain’s declaration (for livestock only)

Each consignment of livestock such as sheep, goats, and pigs, must be accompanied by a signed declaration from the master of the ship or the captain of the aircraft. The declaration indicates that the imported livestock did not leave the ship/aircraft. More details may be found in the veterinary conditions for the importation of livestock.

Step 5: Undergo inspection

All live poultry, livestock, and live animal consignments must be inspected upon arrival at the port of entry.

The animals and the documents (i.e. CCP, Veterinary Health Certificate, and Captain’s Declaration) will be inspected by border control.

If the documents are in order and the animals are healthy, the livestock will be released, and you can take the animals directly to the approved holding and slaughter premises.

How do I apply for a Special Slaughter Permit for Sheep and Goats (for religious slaughter)?

For every consignment of sheep or goats imported into Singapore for religious slaughter (e.g. Korban), you will need a Special Slaughter Permit. To apply, follow the steps below:

S/N	Steps
1	Complete the application form for permit to slaughter animal(s) other than a licensed slaughterhouse with the required information on the applicant, details of slaughter and place of religious ceremony. The permit is valid only on the specified date of slaughter.
2	SFA will contact you within 3 working days once your application is received. Please submit your application at least one month in advance. You can also contact SFA via the Online Feedback Form to follow up on your application. Processing time starts from the date we receive the complete application with all the required supporting documents and, where required, a satisfactory pre-licensing inspection. Time spent waiting for application with incomplete documentation or information to be re-submitted, as well as scheduling of pre-licensing inspections will not be counted in the processing time. To facilitate timely processing, please ensure that: 1. All applications are completed correctly and in full; 2. All necessary supporting documents are submitted with your application. 3. Prompt responses to SFA's requests for clarification or additional information.
3	Make payment via GIRO: $25 permit $5 per animal

S/N

Steps

Complete the application form for permit to slaughter animal(s) other than a licensed slaughterhouse with the required information on the applicant, details of slaughter and place of religious ceremony.

The permit is valid only on the specified date of slaughter.

SFA will contact you within 3 working days once your application is received. Please submit your application at least one month in advance. You can also contact SFA via the Online Feedback Form to follow up on your application.

Processing time starts from the date we receive the complete application with all the required supporting documents and, where required, a satisfactory pre-licensing inspection.

Time spent waiting for application with incomplete documentation or information to be re-submitted, as well as scheduling of pre-licensing inspections will not be counted in the processing time.

To facilitate timely processing, please ensure that:

1. All applications are completed correctly and in full;
2. All necessary supporting documents are submitted with your application.
3. Prompt responses to SFA's requests for clarification or additional information.

Make payment via GIRO:

$25 permit
$5 per animal

What You Need to Know for Import of Live Poultry, Livestock & Live Animals

Who is allowed to import live poultry, livestock & live animals into Singapore?

Singapore Food Agency

How do I apply for the licence/registration from SFA?

How do I apply for a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP) for every consignment?

What happens after I have obtained my CCP?

How do I apply for a Special Slaughter Permit for Sheep and Goats (for religious slaughter)?

Last Updated 28 May 2026