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Country entry guide · Asia

Traveling to Thailand with your dog

Difficulty: Moderate — an advance import permit is mandatory ⏱ Several weeks to a few months

Thailand welcomes dogs, but it runs its own import scheme through the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) — not the EU framework. The single most important step is to obtain an Import Permit before you fly: you apply by email to the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) at the airport of entry between 60 and 7 days before departure, using application Form R1/1. Your dog needs an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and core vaccinations (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis), plus a government-endorsed veterinary health certificate issued shortly before travel. A rabies antibody test is not routinely required from rabies-controlled countries, but the DLD can request it for higher-risk origins. On arrival the AQS issues the Import License (Form R-7). Meet every condition and there is no quarantine.

📋 At a glance

Dogs allowed	Yes
Import permit (DLD, in advance)	Required
Microchip (ISO)	Required
Rabies vaccination	Required
Rabies antibody test	Not routine — may be requested for high-risk origins
Other vaccinations (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis)	Required
Government veterinary health certificate	Required
Quarantine	Not required if compliant (officer may detain)

⚠️ Important

MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Only a veterinarian and Thailand's Department of Livestock Development (DLD) can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
The import permit must be obtained before departure — some airlines will not board a pet without it.
Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.

Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.

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Find a flight to Thailand

Compare the airlines that accept dogs and check their conditions.

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🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided

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Country of destination — Thailand★★★★★
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Country of departure★★★★★
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Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆

✅ Entry requirements

Requirement	Required?	Exceptions	Official reference
Import permit (DLD)	Required	The permit is not the import licence: it authorises the shipment. Some airlines require the permit before boarding.	DLD — Importation of animals; Form R1/1
ISO microchip	Required	If the microchip number on the documents does not match the animal, entry can be refused.	DLD — Import requirements (microchip)
Rabies vaccination	Required	Vaccination records must be in English and show the veterinarian's name, licence number and signature.	DLD — Import requirements (rabies)
Rabies antibody test	Not routine — conditional	Confirm with the AQS at your port of entry whether a titre applies to your dog's origin before you book.	DLD — Import requirements (rabies serology)
Other vaccinations (dogs)	Required	For all primary vaccinations, allow at least 21 days before departure.	DLD — Import requirements (vaccinations)
Leptospirosis test	Conditional	Not required for a dog with a valid leptospirosis vaccination.	DLD — Import requirements (leptospirosis)
Government veterinary health certificate	Required	Electronic or copied certificates are not accepted; issue it inside the import permit's 60-day validity.	DLD — Official Health Certificate (endorsement)
Import licence on arrival (Forms R-6 / R-7)	Required	Present the animal and Form R-7 to Customs at the Goods to Declare channel and pay any applicable duties.	Thai Customs — Importing pets (Hand Carried), Form R.7
Number of pets per traveller	Per-animal permit	The DLD documents reviewed do not publish a fixed maximum number of pets per traveller — confirm with the AQS at your port of entry.	DLD — Import requirements; AQS
Puppies / minimum age	Effectively ≥4 months	A rabies dose given before 12 weeks is not valid.	DLD — Import requirements (age)
Quarantine	Not required if compliant	If requirements are not met or the microchip does not match, the animal may be returned to the exporting country or detained — all costs borne by the importer.	DLD — Import requirements (quarantine)

🗓 In what order, and when

Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.

Import permit (DLD)Apply by email to the AQS at the airport of entry between 60 and 7 days before departure, using Form R1/1 with passport copy, pet photo, flight itinerary, vaccination records (in English) and microchip certificate. Processing ~3-7 business days; permit valid 60 days.
ISO microchipISO 11784/11785 microchip (15-digit code); the number must match every vaccination record and the health certificate.
Rabies vaccinationDog at least 12 weeks (3 months / 84 days) old at vaccination. For a primary vaccination, wait at least 21 days before departure; a valid booster needs no waiting period if the previous record is attached.
Rabies antibody testNot routinely required from rabies-controlled countries (USA, Canada, UK, EU and others); the DLD reserves the right to request it, especially for dogs from high-rabies-risk origins.
Other vaccinations (dogs)Dogs must be vaccinated against canine distemper, canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus and leptospirosis, in addition to rabies; records in English.
Leptospirosis testA negative leptospirosis test within 30 days before departure is required if the dog does not have a valid leptospirosis vaccine or does not meet the 21-day rule.
Government veterinary health certificateOfficial health certificate issued shortly before travel and endorsed/stamped by the exporting country's government veterinary authority; original only, in English. From the USA it is valid 10 days from USDA endorsement.
Import licence on arrival (Forms R-6 / R-7)At the AQS on arrival the vet checks documents and the microchip, then issues a Notice of Import Approval (Form R-6) and the Import License (Form R-7). Fee 500 baht per animal; the licence is valid until the pet leaves Thailand.
Number of pets per travellerEach dog needs its own import permit, its own health certificate and a separate 500-baht import-licence fee.
Puppies / minimum ageThe rabies vaccine is valid only from 12 weeks of age, with a 21-day wait for a primary dose; pets are generally accepted only from about 4 months old.
QuarantineCompliant dogs are released without quarantine; a quarantine officer may detain any animal (typically at least 30 days) for tests or treatment if a disease risk is suspected.

🌍 The different cases

Up-to-date dog (valid boosters) — fastest path

A dog whose rabies and core vaccinations are current on valid boosters follows the shortest path: apply for the DLD import permit (Form R1/1) 60 to 7 days before departure, then have an official government veterinarian issue and endorse the health certificate shortly before travel. No 21-day waiting period applies when the previous vaccination records are attached, and no quarantine is imposed if every condition is met.

⏱ Compliant dog (valid booster vaccinations): ~2-3 weeks — import permit (apply 60-7 days ahead), then a government health certificate issued shortly before travel; no 21-day wait.

Primary or lapsed vaccination — 21-day wait

If the rabies or core vaccinations are a first (primary) dose or have lapsed, the dog must be vaccinated at least 21 days before departure. If it has no valid leptospirosis vaccine, add a negative leptospirosis test within 30 days before departure. The import permit and endorsed health certificate are still required, and the dog must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination.

⏱ Primary or lapsed vaccination: ~5-6 weeks — dog must be vaccinated at least 21 days before departure, plus a negative leptospirosis test if no valid leptospirosis vaccine.

High-risk origin or non-compliant arrival

For a dog from a high-rabies-risk country, the DLD may additionally require a rabies antibody test — plan several extra months. A dog that arrives without a valid import permit, a matching microchip, or the required vaccinations and certificate can be detained for quarantine, returned to the exporting country, or held for tests and treatment, entirely at the owner's expense.

⏱ High-rabies-risk origin or a non-compliant arrival: add a rabies antibody test if the DLD requests it (plan months ahead); non-compliant dogs may be detained/quarantined or returned at the owner's expense.

🛬 Arrival

What happens when your dog reaches Thailand depends on whether every condition was completed before departure.

Dogs enter through airports with an Animal Quarantine Station (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui and Krabi/Trang); hand-carried pets clear at the AQS next to baggage carousel #8 at Suvarnabhumi.
Present your passport, the original endorsed health certificate, vaccination records and the printed import permit to the AQS veterinary officer, who checks the documents and the microchip.
The AQS then issues a Notice of Import Approval (Form R-6) and the Import License (Form R-7); a fee of 500 baht per animal is charged and a receipt provided.
Take the animal and Form R-7 to Customs at the Goods to Declare channel, pay any applicable duties or taxes, and keep the official receipt.
For pets shipped as air cargo, the AQS cargo office is open Monday to Friday only — plan your arrival on a working day.
If documents are missing or invalid, or the microchip does not match, the animal may be returned to the exporting country or detained for quarantine, tests and treatment at the owner's expense.

🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)

Thailand is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus a DLD export licence and health certificate.

⚠️ Start before you leave Make sure the rabies antibody titer is valid: blood sample taken at least 30 days after rabies vaccination, in an EU-approved lab (minimum export age 4 months).
On site, before the flight Apply to the DLD for the export licence and EU health certificate, with the pre-export inspection done at the airport 48 hours before departure.

⚠️ The titer is the trap — without a valid result your dog cannot re-enter the EU, and it can't be fixed at the last minute in Thailand.

🔗 Authority: DLD (Department of Livestock Development)

🚫 Restricted dogs

Thailand's Department of Livestock Development does not ban any dog breed from importation: no breed is prohibited from entering the country, and the import requirements are the same for every breed.

Category 1

There is no national breed-specific import ban. Breeds restricted in some other countries (pit-bull types, Tosa, Rottweiler and similar) are not prohibited from entering Thailand by the DLD.

Category 2

Restrictions come instead from airlines and local rules: many carriers refuse or restrict snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds in the hold, and city ordinances (for example Bangkok's BMA) limit how many dogs a household or condominium may keep once resident. These are not import bans.

Because airline breed policies are stricter than Thai import law, confirm your dog's breed is accepted by your carrier before booking, and check local keeping rules for where you will live.

✈️ Airlines flying to Thailand with a dog

Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.

Thai Airways🇹🇭 2 airports Hold Bangkok Airways🇹🇭 2 airports Hold Turkish Airlines 2 airports Cabin ≤8 kg SAS Scandinavian 2 airports Cabin Air France 2 airports Cabin ≤8 kg Emirates 2 airports Hold

+44 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 3 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →

🛂 Airports in Thailand

Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.

Bangkok BKK Bangkok DMK Phuket HKT

Thailand with a dog: common questions

Thailand: What does my dog need to enter?

Thailand requires: Import permit (DLD), ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination, Other vaccinations (dogs), Government veterinary health certificate.

Thailand: Is a rabies antibody test required?

Thailand — Rabies antibody test: Not routine — conditional. Not routinely required from rabies-controlled countries (USA, Canada, UK, EU and others); the DLD reserves the right to request it, especially for dogs from high-rabies-risk origins.

Thailand: Are any dog breeds banned?

Thailand's Department of Livestock Development does not ban any dog breed from importation: no breed is prohibited from entering the country, and the import requirements are the same for every breed.

Thailand: How long does it take to prepare a dog?

Compliant dog (valid booster vaccinations): ~2-3 weeks — import permit (apply 60-7 days ahead), then a government health certificate issued shortly before travel; no 21-day wait.…

Thailand: Do domestic flights have the same requirements?

Domestic flight in Thailand: no national document is required for a pet dog — but a declared epidemic zone changes everything. Dogs are deliberately absent from the list of species needing an inter-provincial movement licence, which covers livestock and poultry.…

Thailand: What is needed to leave with a dog?