Bringing a Dog or Cat to Thailand: Permit, Rules
A pet travelling with you needs a Department of Livestock Development import permit. Email the quarantine station of your arrival airport no later than 7 business days before departure. Vaccinate at least 21 days before flying. The health certificate is valid for 10 days after endorsement. The entry fee is THB 500 per animal.
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Thailand treats a pet that arrives with you as a controlled import, so the permit comes first and the flight second. Get that order wrong and the animal can be sent back or destroyed without compensation. The rest is a short chain of dated steps that you plan backwards from your departure day.
The permit you need before you fly
The rule comes from Thai Customs.
“สัตว์มีชีวิต” เป็นของต้องกำกัด ดังนั้น สัตว์เลี้ยงที่ผู้โดยสารนำติดตัวเข้ามาด้วย ไม่ได้รับยกเว้นอากร และต้องได้รับอนุญาตนำเข้าจากกรมปศุสัตว์จึงจะนำเข้าได้
“Live animals” are controlled goods, so a pet a passenger brings along is not exempt from duty and may be imported only with an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development.
Thai Customs Department, passenger pet import page
You request the permit by email from the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) of the port where you will arrive. Stations are listed for Suvarnabhumi, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports. Send the request no later than 7 business days before departure.
Attach Form R1/1 from the Department of Livestock Development. The package also needs your passport copy, a clear colour photo of the pet and your flight itinerary.
- Vaccination record, which must be in English.
- Microchip implantation certificate.
The station reviews the documents in about 3 to 7 business days and emails the permit. The permit is valid for 60 days after issuance, so time the request to your flight date.
Vaccines, age and the health certificate
Vaccines must be given at least 21 days before departure. For dogs the list is rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvo and leptospirosis, and for cats it is rabies and feline panleukopenia. A pet must be at least 4 months old, and there is no breed restriction for dogs.
Plan the paperwork backwards. Your vet has to issue an official health certificate that the exporting country’s authority endorses. For dogs and cats that certificate is valid for 10 days after endorsement. We recommend booking the endorsement close to your flight, because the certificate is valid for 10 days only.
The station will not accept a digitally signed or stamped copy, only the original paper with real ink stamps. A rabies blood test certificate is optional at the station. Pets travel in nose-and-paw proof crates.
What happens at the airport
Contact the AQS for veterinary inspection when you arrive. Hand-carried pets are handled at the AQS next to carousel No. 8 at Suvarnabhumi, which is open 24 hours daily. Phuket’s station is open 8:30 am to 4:30 PM, and so is Chiang Mai’s.
The station vet checks the documents and the pet. If no disease is found, the import licence (form R.7) is issued. The station issues a Notice of Import Approval (R-6) and an Import License (R-7). The entry fee is THB 500 per animal, paid in cash.
You then show the pet and the R.7 licence to Customs at the Goods to declare lane to pay duty and take a receipt. The licence lets you and your pet stay as long as you like, but after you leave the country you must apply for it again.
Quarantine: what to expect
A pet with no sign of illness is not quarantined. A quarantine officer still has discretionary authority to detain an animal in a quarantine station. The Department of Livestock Development’s older requirements sheet lists quarantine of at least 30 days at the owner’s cost. We recommend asking the station in your permit email which rule it applies, and building a buffer into your plans until you hear back.
Timeline at a glance
| Step | Timing |
|---|---|
| Permit request by email | No later than 7 business days before departure |
| Station review | About 3 to 7 business days |
| Vaccines | At least 21 days before departure |
| Health certificate | Valid 10 days after endorsement |
| Permit validity | 60 days after issuance |
| Entry fee | THB 500 per animal, cash |
For the rest of your move, see our moving to Thailand guide. If your pet bites someone or you are scratched, read what to do about rabies after a dog bite. Bring-in rules for other items are in our guide to what not to bring into Thailand, and a travel insurance guide covers you, not your pet.
Step by step
- Email the quarantine station for an import permitSend Form R1/1 with your passport copy, pet photo, itinerary, English vaccination record and microchip certificate. Do it no later than 7 business days before departure.
- Wait for the permitThe station reviews the documents in about 3 to 7 business days, and the permit is valid for 60 days after issuance.
- Vaccinate the petGive the required vaccines at least 21 days before departure.
- Get the health certificate endorsedAn official health certificate must be endorsed by the exporting country's authority and is valid for 10 days for dogs and cats.
- Contact the quarantine station on arrivalAsk the station for the veterinary inspection and bring the originals and a printout of the permit.
- Pay the fee and clear CustomsPay THB 500 per animal in cash, then show the pet and the R.7 licence at the Goods to declare lane.
Not confirmed: Quarantine: the Department of Livestock Development requirements sheet still lists at least 30 days at the owner's cost, while the station's own steps say a healthy pet is not quarantined. Email the station before you book to confirm which applies to your pet. Rules for pets flying from outside North America are not covered here.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to bring my dog or cat into Thailand?
Yes. A live animal is a controlled item, so a pet arriving with a passenger needs an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development. You request it by email from the quarantine station of your arrival airport.
Is there a breed ban for dogs?
There is no breed restriction for dogs coming into Thailand.
How old must my pet be?
At least 4 months old.
How long is the health certificate valid?
For dogs and cats it is valid for 10 days after endorsement. A digitally signed or stamped copy is not accepted, only the original paper with real ink stamps.
Does my pet go into quarantine?
A pet showing no sign of illness is not quarantined, though a quarantine officer has discretionary authority to detain any animal. Ask the station before you book, because an older requirements sheet lists 30 days.
How much is the entry fee?
THB 500 per animal, paid in cash at the station.
What happens if I skip the procedure?
Failure to follow the import procedures may result in the animal being returned to its country of origin or destroyed without compensation.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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