Pet Shops and Pet Supplies Online: AVS Licensing and Store Setup

Which AVS licence does your pet business need?

The Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), part of NParks, licenses activities involving live animals. What you need depends on what you actually do, not on whether you sell online.

AVS describes the pet shop licence as permission "to use a premise to keep or display pets for sale" (AVS: Applying for a pet shop licence). A supplies-only online store does not do that. If you plan to sell animals later, our general list of licences to sell online in Singapore covers other permits too.

Getting an AVS pet shop licence

If you will sell live animals, the licence comes before anything else. AVS says you must not display or sell animals before receiving it.

1. 1

   Complete the mandatory training

   The applicant (sole proprietor, partner or director) must attend and pass AVS-recognised training on pet welfare and animal management.

2. 2

   Get premises approval

   For HDB commercial premises, a letter of approval or no objection from HDB; otherwise the relevant planning approval. Pet shops cannot run from a home.

3. 3

   Prepare your plans

   A layout plan, an animal management plan covering housing and healthcare, and details of where your animals will come from.

4. 4

   Apply on GoBusiness

   Submit with your ACRA details, NRIC, tenancy agreement or letter of intent, and training certificate.

5. 5

   Pass the premises inspection

   AVS inspects before approving. Read the licence conditions for each animal type before renovating, as they affect enclosures and layout.

Selling animals online: what the licence conditions require

AVS publishes separate licence conditions for dogs and cats, birds, fish, small mammals and other pets (AVS: Licensing conditions). Several affect how you sell online. From the conditions for dogs and cats (effective 15 August 2025):

• The licence number must appear in all advertisements, including those posted online.
• Animals must not be sold to anyone under 16.
• The shop must do pre-sale screening, documented with the Pet Purchase Declaration (PPD); dog and cat buyers complete it online through AVS's PALS system.
• All dogs and cats kept for sale must be licensed with AVS, and the animal is not released until the new owner accepts the ownership transfer in AVS's system.
• Imported animals can only be sold at least 72 hours after arriving in Singapore (unless quarantined at AVS's station).

Importing pet food and treats

Many online pet stores bring in food from overseas brands. AVS says every consignment of pet food, including treats and supplements, must be accompanied by a Cargo Clearance Permit (CCP), which also serves as the AVS import permit. Consignments without one are detained and disposed of (AVS: Importing pet food).

AVS says processing takes one working day. Company registration to import pet food is available on GoBusiness but not mandatory. If you buy from a local distributor instead, they handle the permits.

One store for supplies, refills and grooming bookings

A typical pet business online combines three things: a product catalogue, repeat orders for food and litter, and appointments for grooming or other services. Shopify handles the first two well and can link to a booking tool for the third. Our guide to Shopify store costs in Singapore covers the plan and app fees.

Shopify's subscription considerations list Shopify Payments, PayPal Express, Authorize.net, Adyen and Stripe as supported gateways, and note that local or non-card methods may not be available for subscriptions. For refill boxes, see our subscription box business guide.

Grooming and boarding: what AVS expects

Pet grooming in Singapore has no AVS licensing regime today. AVS revised its Code of Animal Welfare for pet groomers on 3 October 2026, adding minimum standards such as constant physical supervision of tethered animals, and has said licensing of groomers is a separate matter that needs more consultation. Breaching minimum standards in the code can be used as evidence in a prosecution under the Animals and Birds Act.

Boarding is different: overnight pet boarding needs a Pet Boarding Licence. If your grooming business starts offering day-care or overnight stays, check AVS's boarding licence requirements first.

For grooming bookings, collect only what you need: owner name, contact number, pet details and any health notes the groomer should know. Our guide to choosing a booking system compares options that send reminders and take deposits.

Do it yourself or get help?

The licence, training, premises and import permits are yours to arrange with AVS and Singapore Customs. The online side is where we help: a supplies store with refill subscriptions, local delivery, enquiry pages for licensed animal sales showing your licence number, and a booking page for grooming.

Our Shopify Store package (S$1,890) builds the store and subscriptions set-up, and our Online Booking System (S$390) adds grooming appointments with reminders. This page is general information, not legal advice; check current licence conditions with AVS before you start selling animals.