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Is your boarder AVS-licensed? How to check

Anyone can type ‘AVS-licensed’ on a website. Here is what the licence really involves — and the official registry that lets you check for yourself.

  • Reviewed July 2026
  • Sources cited inline
  • 4 sections
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At a glance

You can verify whether a dog boarder is licensed in about a minute, using the official AVS Public Registry. That single check separates a real, inspected boarding business from a claim on a webpage. This guide explains what the licence requires and exactly how to confirm it.

“AVS-licensed” on a homepage is marketing. A name on the AVS Public Registry is proof. Always prefer the second.
01

What an AVS pet boarding licence actually requires

A licensed commercial boarder in Singapore has cleared a real bar set by the NParks Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS). The conditions include:

  • Mandatory training in pet welfare and animal management — which the operator must pass, not merely attend.
  • Premises layout plans covering things like cages, a quarantine area, an exercise area, food preparation, washing, ventilation and waste handling.
  • A physical premises inspection before approval.
  • An annual licence fee of S$100.
  • No animals boarded before final approval is granted.

You can read the full conditions on the AVS pet boarding licence page. The point for you as an owner: a licence is not a sticker, it is an inspected, trained, accountable operation.

Section 02

The one check that matters: the AVS Public Registry

This is the central point of the whole page. AVS maintains an official, public list of licensed pet boarding facilities. To verify a boarder, look them up on the AVS Public Registry of AVS-Licensed Pet Boarding Facilities.

  1. Open the AVS Public Registry (linked above).
  2. Search for the boarder’s business name.
  3. If they appear, the licence claim checks out. If they do not, ask them directly for their licence details — and be cautious if the answer is vague.

Why this beats a marketplace badge. Marketplaces list whoever signs up, and listicles rarely verify anything. The registry is the primary source — it is maintained by the regulator, not the operator.

03 Red flags when a licence is claimed

  • “AVS-licensed” on the site but no business name you can find on the registry.
  • Reluctance to give a licence detail when asked plainly.
  • Willingness to take your dog without asking for its licence or vaccination records — licensed boarders operate the other way around.

If any of these show up, slow down. Your dog’s own paperwork matters too: see the dog licence guide for the owner side of the equation.

How we use the registry

We are a directory, not a boarding operator — we hold no premises and no boarding licence. What we do is cross-check every boarder against that same AVS registry before we pass on an enquiry, so you are matched only with operators who are genuinely licensed. The full method is on how we vet boarders.

Bottom line: a boarding business must be licensed before it may board a single animal. If you cannot confirm a boarder on the AVS registry, do not assume — verify or walk away.

Reviewed July 2026 against AVS. The registry is the authoritative source; always confirm a boarder’s current status there before booking.

Keep reading

More straight answers on boarding, licensing and looking after a dog in Singapore. If you are ready to book, start from our main guide to dog boarding in Singapore or compare boarding prices.

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Common questions

Do dog boarders in Singapore need a licence?
Yes. Commercial pet boarding requires a licence from the NParks Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS). Operating a boarding business without one is not permitted.
How do I check if a boarder is AVS-licensed?
Use the official AVS Public Registry of AVS-Licensed Pet Boarding Facilities — a public list maintained by AVS. If a boarder is not on it, do not take a “we’re licensed” claim at face value.
What does a boarder have to do to get licensed?
Among the conditions: pass mandatory pet-welfare and animal-management training, submit premises layout plans, pass a premises inspection, and pay the annual licence fee. No animals may be boarded before final approval.
How much is the boarding licence?
The annual licence fee is S$100. This is the operator’s business licence — separate from your dog’s own licence.
A boarder says they are licensed but has no number — what now?
Treat it as unverified until you find them on the AVS registry. Marketplaces and listicles rarely check; the registry is the ground truth. See how we vet boarders.

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Still deciding?

See how we check every boarder against the official AVS licensed register before we match you.

How we vet boarders
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