Zac, July 2026.
The list was not helpful.
You've done the right thing. You found the AVS website, located the list of recognised pet import agents, and downloaded the PDF.
And then you opened it.
Names. Some with websites, some without. No indication of specialisation. No reviews. No way to tell who handles your origin country, who does end-to-end versus clearance-only, or who was last active sometime before your pet was born.
This is your official starting point. Welcome.
What the list is — and isn't
AVS publishes the list as a reference and notes carefully that it does not constitute endorsement of any agent. That's an accurate description of what it does and doesn't do.
What it does: confirms these agents have met AVS's recognition criteria at some point. What it doesn't do: tell you if they're still operating, whether they handle your origin country, what their actual scope is, what they charge, or whether the contact details still work.
Some listings have dead websites. Some have email addresses that bounce. Some operate only in one direction. You won't know which is which until you start contacting them.
The quote problem
Once you start reaching out, you'll collect quotes. Quotes that look similar often describe completely different things.
One agent quotes S$800 and means: we show up at CAPQ and hand your pet to transport. You've sorted everything else. Another quotes S$1,200 and means: we manage your import licence, coordinate with your vet, handle the GST permit, do CAPQ clearance, and deliver to your door.
These are not comparable numbers. Unless you ask what's included — line by line — you're comparing apples to something that isn't even fruit.
The going-quiet problem
Agents who are responsive during the sales phase are not always responsive when you need them most — two weeks before your pet flies, when you have a question and replies start taking longer.
This is one of the most consistent complaints about the import process. Test response time before you commit. Ask a detailed question. See how long it takes and whether the answer is specific or a copy-paste.
The partial-service problem
Some agents are excellent at one part of the process and don't do the rest — but won't always say so upfront. Import clearance at CAPQ is one job. Managing the upstream documentation chain — import licence, health certificate timing, titer test coordination, GST permit — is a different job.
If you're coming from Schedule II, the upstream chain is where most errors happen. An agent engaged only from arrival day isn't helping you with the highest-risk part of the process. Know what you need. Ask what they do. Put it in writing.
