Hawaii → Thailand

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Leptospirosis vaccine, valid at departure (21-day wait after a primary dose).

Leptospirosis test with a negative result within 30 days before departure (instead of the vaccine).

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.

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.

Nose-and-paw-proof travel crate (DLD requirements sheet); the port vet checks the container on arrival. Airline rules on cabin/hold apply separately.

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.

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.