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← Moving Pets To & From Thailand
JLIT field guide · Last checked 3 November 2026
Moving a pet from Thailand to the EU
The rabies blood test and 90-day wait, the EU animal health certificate, travellers' points of entry, and the extra rules some countries add — for dogs and cats moving from Thailand to Europe.
Not listedThailand is not on the EU's list of approved countries for pet movements
90 daysminimum between the rabies blood sample and the health certificate
10 daysto reach the EU's entry checks after the certificate is issued
5 petsmaximum for a non-commercial move with their owner
The essential answer
One set of EU rules — with a blood test and at least three months' wait.
The European Union sets common rules for pets travelling with their owners. Thailand is not on the EU's list of approved third countries, so a dog or cat from Thailand needs a rabies blood test taken at least 30 days after vaccination, and the sample must be taken at least 90 days before the EU health certificate is issued.
Your pet must then arrive within 10 days of the certificate, with you or within five days of you, through a designated travellers' point of entry where officials check the documents and microchip. Some EU countries add their own rules on top, so check the country you are moving to as well.
Chapter 01
The EU rules
What the European Commission requires for pets from Thailand
Requirements for pets from a non-listed country
Each requirement, and the detail that catches people out
| Requirement | The rule | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | The pet must be microchipped | The rabies vaccine must not be given before the chip is fitted or read |
| Rabies vaccine | Given by an authorised vet when the pet is at least 12 weeks old | Valid only from 21 days after the first course; boosters must be on time |
| Rabies blood test | Sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination; result at least 0.5 IU/ml at an EU-designated laboratory | The official laboratory report goes with the certificate |
| 90-day rule | The sample must be taken at least 90 days before the health certificate is issued | No new blood test is needed later if boosters stay on time |
| Health certificate | EU animal health certificate issued by an official or authorised vet and endorsed by the competent authority | Must reach the EU entry checks within 10 days of issue |
| Tapeworm (dogs) | Only for Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway: treatment 24 to 120 hours before entry | Cats are exempt |
| Declaration | Owner signs a declaration that the move is non-commercial | The pet must travel with you, or within 5 days of you |
Coming back later? The 90-day wait does not apply to pets that live in the EU and return with an EU pet passport showing a valid blood test done before they left. If you might move between Europe and Thailand again, keep your pet's rabies boosters on time.
Plan your date
Count back from the blood test
The earliest your pet can travel is 90 days after its blood sample is taken. If its rabies vaccination is already valid, you can take the sample now. If it needs a first vaccination, add at least 30 days before the sample.
That means a pet starting from nothing needs about four months at the very least. Allow five or six to cover the laboratory, the airline booking, the certificate appointment and the Thai export permit.
The blood sample goes to a laboratory on the EU's designated list. Ask your vet in Thailand which laboratory they use and how long results take.
A realistic timeline
From first vet visit to arrival in Europe
For a pet that needs everything. If the microchip and rabies vaccination are already in place, start at the blood test.
- Month 1
Microchip and rabies vaccine
Microchip first or on the same day. The vet records the chip number on the vaccination record.
- 30+ days later
Blood sample
Your vet takes the sample and sends it to a designated laboratory. The 90-day count starts on the sample date.
- 2–3 months before
Book the flight
Check the airline accepts your pet on every leg and lands at an airport that is a travellers' point of entry.
- Last 10 days
EU health certificate
An official vet completes the certificate and the Thai authorities endorse it. Arrival must be within 10 days.
- Last 3 days
Thai export permit
Health check at the Thai Animal Quarantine Station; receive the Ror.9 export permit.
- Arrival day
Entry checks
At the point of entry, report to the officials for the document, microchip and identity checks.
The health certificate
The EU animal health certificate
This is a standard EU form for pets coming from outside the EU. A vet in Thailand fills it in, and it must be endorsed by the competent authority — in Thailand, the Department of Livestock Development. Ask your vet or relocation agent how the endorsement is arranged and how long it takes.
The certificate is valid for 10 days from issue until your pet's entry checks. After entering the EU, it remains valid for onward travel between EU countries for six months, or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first.
The EU introduced a new version of the certificate in 2026. Certificates issued on the older form before 1 October 2026 remain valid; new certificates should use the current form. Your vet should download it from the EU or destination country's website.
Chapter 02
Arriving in Europe
Points of entry and national extras
Arrival
Travellers' points of entry
A pet from Thailand must enter the EU through a designated travellers' point of entry — usually a main international airport. There, you contact the officials for documentary and identity checks before leaving the airport.
How your pet flies
Rules differ by airline: some European airlines allow small pets in the cabin, others only the hold or cargo. See our flying with a pet guide.
If something is wrong
A pet that does not meet the rules can be refused entry, sent back or isolated, usually at the owner's cost. Ask the destination country's veterinary authority before you travel.
Country extras
Check the country you are moving to
The EU rules are the minimum. Individual countries can add their own, so read the official pet travel page of the country you are moving to as well.
- Finland, Ireland and Malta require tapeworm treatment for dogs before entry.
- Some countries restrict or ban certain dog breeds, or require a muzzle and lead.
- Many require you to register a dog locally soon after arrival.
- Some points of entry ask you to notify them before you land.
Moving to the UK instead? It has separate rules — see our Thailand to the UK guide.
Thailand to the EU checklist
Tick off each step
Ticks are kept for this visit only.
After you land
Settling into a European home
A pet moving from Thailand to Europe faces a big change in climate and routine. Give it time, and book a local vet soon after arrival to discuss parasites, vaccinations and any registration your new country requires.
Keep the EU health certificate: it is your pet's travel record for onward moves within the EU for up to six months. Ask your new vet about an EU pet passport for future travel.
Quick answers
Thailand to the EU: FAQs
Does my pet need quarantine in the EU?
Not if every requirement is met. A pet that does not comply can be refused entry, returned or isolated, normally at the owner's cost.
Is Thailand an EU-listed country for pets?
No. Thailand is not on the EU's list of approved third countries, which is why the rabies blood test and 90-day rule apply.
Can I use a Thai pet passport?
No. Pets entering from Thailand need the EU animal health certificate. An EU pet passport can be issued later by a vet in the EU.
How long is the certificate valid?
Ten days from issue until the entry checks. After that, six months for travel between EU countries, or until the rabies vaccine expires if sooner.
Can my pet fly to Europe without me?
Only within five days of your own journey, with a written declaration, to count as non-commercial. Otherwise stricter commercial rules apply.
Do cats need the blood test too?
Yes. The rabies vaccine and blood test rules apply to dogs, cats and ferrets alike. Only the tapeworm rule is for dogs alone.
Should I use a relocation agent for the EU?
Many owners handle a direct flight themselves. An agent helps with the certificate endorsement, cargo bookings and connections. See our relocation company guide.
How old must my pet be to move from Thailand to the EU?
In practice at least about seven months. The rabies vaccine is given at 12 weeks or older, the blood sample at least 30 days later, and the health certificate at least 90 days after the sample.
Which airports can my pet arrive at?
Only designated travellers' points of entry. Each EU country publishes its list; most are major international airports.
Can my pet travel on to another EU country after arrival?
Yes. The EU animal health certificate is valid for onward travel within the EU for six months after the entry checks, or until the rabies vaccination expires if that is sooner.
Do the EU rules cover the UK, Norway or Switzerland?
Not the UK, which has its own rules (see our Thailand to the UK guide). Norway and Switzerland apply rules closely aligned with the EU's, but check their official pages.
Official sources & verification
Check the rules before you travel
Last checked 3 November 2026. EU rules changed in 2026 and national rules vary. The European Commission, your destination country's veterinary authority and the Thai Department of Livestock Development always take priority.
Continue your move
