Thailand Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Thailand pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination, import permit, and export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Regulations

Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.

Pets in Thailand

In Thailand, pets are valued members of many Thai families, and there is a growing emphasis on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare in the country. Over 60% of Thai households have at least one pet, and the trend is rising.

However, challenges such as stray animal populations and access to veterinary care still exist in some areas. Urban areas like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket have numerous veterinary clinics and hospitals providing medical care for pets. Owners visiting or residing in rural areas should be prepared to travel to urban areas to access testing and treatments required to travel internationally.

Flights to Thailand

Many commercial airlines that provide services to pets flying into Suvarnabhumi International Airport include but are not limited to: Aeroflot, Air France, Air India, All Nippon Airways, Asiana, Bangkok Airlines, Cathay Pacific, El Al, Emirates, Ethiopia Airlines, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Saudia, Thai Airways, Turkish Airways, and Vietnam Airways.

Flights to Thailand should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.

Quarantine for pets entering Thailand

Pets meeting Thailand pet import requirements will be released the same day. Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.

All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Thailand must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Pet Microchip

Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Third, most countries require that pets be microchipped and compliant microchips may be difficult to find should your pet ever leave the country.

Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Thailand. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.

Step 2: Vaccinations

Unless your pet originates in a country that has not had any rabies incidents in the past 12 months, a vaccination card/certificate is required for each pet, clearly displaying your pet’s current rabies vaccination, including the vaccine’s manufacturer, batch number and expiration. The rabies vaccination must have been administered between 21 days and 12 months prior to import.

The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:

a rabies certificate
a government-issued vaccination booklet or
an EU Pet Passport

Other Vaccinations

Additionally, your dog must have been vaccinated against leptospirosis not less than 21 days prior to travel. If not vaccinated, your dog should be tested for leptospirosis with negative result during the 30 (thirty) days prior to the departure. All pets must be vaccinated against other significant infectious or contagious diseases (distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus) with an approved vaccine at least 21 days prior to departure from the originating country. Cats must be vaccinated against Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV).

Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.

Thailand pet import requirements do not require a rabies titer test for cats and dogs from any country. However, all pets originating in countries classified as having a high risk of rabies should always travel with a rabies titer test. In addition, the World Organization of Animal Health classifies Thailand as a high-rabies risk country. As such, if your pet will be returning to the country or origin, this test may be required.

Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.

Step 4: Import Permit

Importers must obtain an Import Permit from the Department of Livestock Development in advance of your pet’s arrival. The license is valid for 60 days. Any live animal transiting Bangkok will need an transit permit.

Step 5: Parasite Treatments

According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites should be administered prior to entering Thailand.

The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are recommended, but not required.

The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.

Step 6: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:

details of your pet and
vaccinations and treatments and
veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.

Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel, does not have any open wounds in the process of healing, and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.

A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the health certificate in English.

A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Thailand

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to 3 months of age. Thailand requires that puppies and kittens are vaccinated no sooner than three months and wait for 30 days prior to entering the country.

Breeds Banned for Import to Thailand

Thailand does not publish a list of banned dog breeds; however, all Pit Bull breeds must be spayed or neutered. It is suggested that you use the services of a local agent to customs clear Pit Bull breeds and their mixes.

Entering Thailand by Air

Dogs and cats can arrive to Thailand by air at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok or Chiang Mai International Airport in Chiang Mai. Pets can also enter Thailand at Phuket, although an import permit is required, and arrangements must be made with veterinary officials for clearance.

Pets can enter in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies. Your pet is not permitted exposure to other animals if they are transiting at any approved intermediate port or airport. They shall not be allowed to leave the precinct of the port except to an officially approved transit quarantine area.

Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.

Your pet is not permitted exposure to other animals if they are transiting at any approved intermediate port or airport. They shall not be allowed to leave the precinct of the port except to an officially approved transit quarantine area.

Importers will need to provide advance notice to the Quarantine Center at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Thailand. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.

Pet dogs and cats will not be quarantined as long as they arrive with a current import permit and all regulations to enter Thailand are met. However, a quarantine officer has the discretionary authority to detain any pets/animals in a quarantine station for a period of at least 30 days upon arrival during which they shall be submitted to tests and/or treatments deemed necessary. The pet owner would assume this expense.

Pets transiting Thailand as air cargo will need a transit permit which must be applied for via an import permit application.

Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Thailand, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.

Arrival in Thailand

Pet dogs and cats will not be quarantined as long as they arrive with a current import permit and all regulations to enter Thailand are met. However, a quarantine officer has the discretionary authority to detain any pets/animals in a quarantine station for a
period of at least 30 days upon arrival during which they shall be submitted to tests and/or treatments deemed necessary. The pet owner would assume this expense.

At check-in, you will present the following documents for the issuance of an import license:

a photocopy of pet owner’s passport,
an original pet vaccination record (and a pet passport, if any),
an original official health certificate and
a photocopy of printed import permit.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Thailand

Rabbits are subject to the same requirements as listed above. All small mammals such ferrets, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hamsters also require an import permit.

Exporting Resident Pets from Thailand

Cats and dogs cannot be exported until they have been microchipped and vaccinated for rabies and wait 30 days. Puppies and kittens must not be vaccinated for rabies until they reach 3 months of age, so the minimum age for export is 4 months of age. Your pet must also
have a health certificate, export permit (when applicable) and all documentation required for the destination country.

All pets to be exported must be inspected 48 hours before departure at the airport before the Export License is granted. The export License and health certificate shall be issued and collected after the inspection, and a copy will be sent to the owner before departure.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.

Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Thailand?

Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for Thailand.

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Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Thailand pet import requirements.