Bringing a dog or cat to Thailand

1. 01One of the following
   1. 1a
      Import permit
      In advance: apply to the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) of the arrival airport for the notice of import approval (form R.6, called the "import permit") at least 7 working days before arrival — through the DLD e-Movement system or by e-mail (Suvarnabhumi: qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th) with form R1/1, a copy of the owner's passport, a photo of the pet and an English vaccination record showing the microchip number, one PDF per animal. Mandatory in advance for air cargo. The permit is valid 60 days and comes with the health "Requirement" for the exporting country's vet.
      • At least 7 working days before arrival
      Source:Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD (opens official site: B. Pet in cabin/Checked baggage — import permit in advance (PDF, created 2023-12-20))· checked 04 Oct 2026

      Also: Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted on the Suvarnabhumi Airport AQS site, DLD), Department of Livestock Development, Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection (citizen's manual under the Licensing Facilitation Act B.E. 2558)
   2. 1b
      Import permit
      On arrival: for hand-carried pets the advance application does not apply — at the discretion of the port veterinarian the owner may apply at the AQS on arrival (Suvarnabhumi "option C") with the complete documents: original endorsed health certificate, original vaccination record or pet passport in English with the microchip number, form R1/1. Not recommended with a short connection; airlines may refuse boarding without a permit issued in advance.
      • Only if: the pet travels with the passenger (hand-carried — in the cabin or as checked baggage), not as air cargo
      Source:Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted on the Suvarnabhumi Airport AQS site, DLD) (opens official site: DLD Notification on applying for and issuing licences and the method of importing, exporting or transiting animals or animal carcasses B.E. 2558 (2015))· checked 25 Sep 2026

      Also: Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD, Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD
2. 02
   Health certificate
   Original official health certificate in English, issued (or endorsed and stamped) by the government veterinary authority of the exporting country, certifying the conditions in the "Requirement" that comes with the import permit. A certificate in another language needs a signed translation into Thai or English with a copy of the translator's ID. Bring the original, plus the printed permit and the original pet passport or vaccination record.
   • At most 10 days before arrival — valid 10 days after endorsement — stated by the embassies in The Hague and Washington, not by a DLD document
   Source:Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted on the Suvarnabhumi Airport AQS site, DLD) (opens official site: DLD Notification on applying for and issuing licences and the method of importing, exporting or transiting animals or animal carcasses B.E. 2558 (2015))· checked 25 Sep 2026

   Also: Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD
3. 03
   Microchip
   Microchip (the DLD manual also accepts a tattoo for dogs and cats, but every AQS document asks for a microchip number), implanted at the owner's cost before export; its number must appear on the R1/1 form, the vaccination record and the health certificate, and is checked against the animal on arrival. No ISO standard is named and the chip is not required to precede the rabies vaccination.
   Source:Department of Livestock Development, Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection (citizen's manual under the Licensing Facilitation Act B.E. 2558) (opens official site: DLD citizen's manual — import licence (R.7), phase 2, issuing the licence on arrival)· checked 04 Oct 2026

   Also: Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD, Department of Livestock Development, Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection (citizen's manual under the Licensing Facilitation Act B.E. 2558)
4. 04
   Rabies vaccination
   Rabies vaccine; first (primary) dose at 12 weeks of age or older. After a primary or lapsed vaccination wait 21 days before departure; no wait for an in-date booster (attach earlier records). No maximum age of the vaccination is stated beyond it being valid.
   • At least 21 days before departure — only after a primary or lapsed vaccination; no wait after an in-date booster
   Source:Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD (opens official site: B. Pet in cabin/Checked baggage — import permit in advance (PDF, created 2023-12-20))· checked 04 Oct 2026

   Also: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (describes the Suvarnabhumi AQS procedure), Office of Agricultural Affairs (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives), Royal Thai Embassy, Washington D.C.
5. 05
   Other vaccinations
   Distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines. The DLD sheet says at least 21 days before departure; the AQS applies the 21-day wait only after a primary or lapsed dose.
   • At least 21 days before departure — AQS: only after a primary or lapsed vaccination
   Source:Department of Livestock Development (file hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (opens official site: Requirements for the importation of dogs and cats into the Kingdom of Thailand (DLD sheet, PDF on image.mfa.go.th))· checked 04 Oct 2026

   Also: Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD
6. 06One of the following
   1. 6a
      Other vaccinations
      Leptospirosis vaccine, valid at departure (21-day wait after a primary dose).
      • At least 21 days before departure — AQS: only after a primary or lapsed vaccination
      Source:Department of Livestock Development (file hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (opens official site: Requirements for the importation of dogs and cats into the Kingdom of Thailand (DLD sheet, PDF on image.mfa.go.th))· checked 04 Oct 2026

      Also: Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD
   2. 6b
      Disease test
      Leptospirosis test with a negative result within 30 days before departure (instead of the vaccine).
      • At most 30 days before departure
      Source:Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD (opens official site: B. Pet in cabin/Checked baggage — import permit in advance (PDF, created 2023-12-20))· checked 04 Oct 2026

      Also: Department of Livestock Development (file hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
7. 07
   Minimum age
   At least 4 months old at import — stated by the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague (2025) and the Thai agricultural office in Brussels (2022, which names the Suvarnabhumi AQS as its source); not found in any DLD law, manual or AQS document.
   !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
   Source:Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague (opens official site: Bringing Pets to Thailand (updated 2025-03-19))· checked 04 Oct 2026

   Also: Office of Agricultural Affairs (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives), Royal Thai Mission to the European Union, Brussels; names the Suvarnabhumi AQS as its source
8. 08
   Port of entry
   Enter only through a port of entry designated by the Minister (Animal Quarantine Station jurisdictions — see the entry points). Airports with an AQS pet-import contact per the Washington office (2025): Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Don Mueang (DMK), Chiang Mai (CNX), Phuket (HKT), Samui (USM), Krabi (KBV, served by the Trang AQS). Apply for the permit to the AQS of the airport where you land.
   Source:Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted by DLD Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection) (opens official site: Ministerial Regulation on the Import, Export or Transit of Animals or Animal Carcasses B.E. 2563 (2020))· checked 04 Oct 2026

   Also: Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted by DLD Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection)
9. 09
   Transport rules
   Nose-and-paw-proof travel crate (DLD requirements sheet); the port vet checks the container on arrival. Airline rules on cabin/hold apply separately.
   Source:Department of Livestock Development (file hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) (opens official site: Requirements for the importation of dogs and cats into the Kingdom of Thailand (DLD sheet, PDF on image.mfa.go.th))· checked 04 Oct 2026

   Also: Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted by DLD Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection)
10. 10
    Arrival inspection
    Do not take the pet away before the AQS has inspected it. Go to the AQS with the pet and the original documents. At Suvarnabhumi: hand-carried pets at the AQS next to baggage carousel 8 (24 h); cargo at the Free Zone CE-1 building (Mon–Fri office hours). The vet checks the documents, the microchip and the animal, issues the Notice of Import Approval (R.6, if not issued in advance) and the Import Licence (R.7) and charges 500 baht per animal + 10 baht per application. Non-compliant animals can be returned, held for observation or the owner fined.
    Source:Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station, DLD (opens official site: C. Pet in cabin/Checked baggage — import permit on arrival (PDF, created 2023-09-08))· checked 04 Oct 2026

    Also: Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted on the Suvarnabhumi Airport AQS site, DLD), Royal Thai Government Gazette (hosted by DLD Division of Animal Quarantine and Inspection), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand (describes the Suvarnabhumi AQS procedure), Government Public Relations Department (thailand.go.th); source named on the page — Suvarnabhumi Airport Cargo Clearance Customs Office
11. 11
    Customs declaration
    After the AQS, declare the pet at the red "Goods to Declare" channel with the import licence and pay duty and taxes (pets are "restricted goods" and are not duty-free). The amount is not published by Customs.
    Source:The Customs Department, Thailand (opens official site: Passengers bringing pets into and out of Thailand with themselves (last update 2018-10-08))· checked 04 Oct 2026

    Also: Government Public Relations Department (thailand.go.th); source named on the page — Suvarnabhumi Airport Cargo Clearance Customs Office, Government Public Relations Department (thailand.go.th)

Dog from Germany: 13 requirements.

In short: Import permit (R.6) from the Animal Quarantine Station of the arrival airport — by e-mail or the DLD e-Movement system at least 7 working days ahead, or on arrival for hand-carried pets at the vet's discretion — government-endorsed health certificate in English, microchip, rabies + DHP + leptospirosis vaccines (dogs) or rabies + feline panleukopenia (cats), 21-day wait after a primary dose. No titer test. No quarantine when the papers are in order; detention for observation (up to 60 days) only if disease is suspected or the certificate is missing or wrong.