Minimum age
The Thai embassy in Canberra says pets must be at least 4 months old. Other instructions only require the rabies vaccine at 12 weeks or older, plus the 21-day wait — which in practice also means at least about 15 weeks.
← Moving Pets To & From Thailand
JLIT field guide · Last checked 3 November 2026
Thailand pet import rules & documents
Every document you need to bring a dog or cat into Thailand — what it is, who issues it, when you need it and whether you must carry the original.
7–60 daysbefore departure: the window to apply for the Thai import permit
21 daysminimum gap between primary vaccinations and travel
12 weeksminimum age when the rabies vaccine is given
500 bahtper animal for the import licence issued on arrival
The essential answer
Two permissions, one certificate, and paperwork that must all match.
Thailand treats a pet dog or cat as a regulated animal import. You need an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) before you fly, an official health certificate endorsed by the government of the country you leave, and an import licence that the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) issues when you land.
People often confuse the first and the last. The permit you receive by email is not the import licence. It only allows you to bring the animal to the airport; the licence is issued after officers inspect your pet and documents in Thailand.
Chapter 01
The document set
What you need, who issues it and when
Master list
Every document, in the order you will need it
This list is for dogs and cats arriving with their owner or as air cargo. Keep the pet's name, microchip number, date of birth and the owner's name exactly the same on every document.
| Document | Who provides it | When | On arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microchip implant certificate | Your vet | Before the permit application | Original |
| Vaccination record or pet passport, in English and signed by a vet | Your vet | Primary vaccines at least 21 days before departure | Original |
| Leptospirosis test (dogs only, if no valid lepto vaccine) | Your vet and a laboratory | Negative result within 30 days before departure | Original |
| Form R1/1 and a colour photo of the pet | You | Emailed 7–60 days before departure | Keep a copy |
| Copy of passport and flight itinerary | You (for cargo, the person collecting the pet in Thailand) | With Form R1/1 | Original passport |
| Thai import permit | AQS at your arrival airport | By email after your application is approved | Printed copy |
| Official health certificate, government-endorsed | Exporting country's official vet and authority | After you receive the Thai permit, close to departure | Original only |
| Notice of import approval (R-6) and import licence (R-7) | AQS in Thailand | On arrival, after inspection | Keep safely |
Originals matter. The US-route instructions say only the original, government-stamped health certificate is accepted and that electronic copies are not valid. Pack originals in your hand luggage, not in a checked bag.
Vaccinations
What dogs and cats need
Dogs: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis. If your dog has no valid leptospirosis vaccine, or the vaccine was given less than 21 days ago, it needs a negative leptospirosis test taken within 30 days before departure.
Cats: rabies and feline panleukopenia (also called feline distemper).
Timing: the pet must be at least 12 weeks (84 days) old when it receives its primary rabies vaccine, and primary vaccinations must be given at least 21 days before departure. A booster given on time has no waiting period, but send the earlier vaccination records too, so officers can see the history is unbroken.
Side by side
Dog and cat requirements compared
| Requirement | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|
| Rabies | Yes, given at 12 weeks or older | Yes, given at 12 weeks or older |
| Other vaccines | Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis | Feline panleukopenia |
| Waiting period after primary vaccines | At least 21 days | At least 21 days |
| Blood test | Leptospirosis test only if not validly vaccinated | Not listed |
| Rabies titre test for Thailand | Not listed | Not listed |
| Microchip | Number must match every document | Number must match every document |
Chapter 02
Getting the import permit
Your application to the Animal Quarantine Station
Step by step
How to apply on Form R1/1
Email your application to the Animal Quarantine Station at the airport where your pet will land — not the one you leave from. Apply at least 7 days and no more than 60 days before departure. Thai embassy guidance suggests aiming for about 30 days before you fly.
Attach the completed Form R1/1 (owner details, addresses in Thailand and abroad, pet details, microchip number, flight details), a copy of the passport, a clear colour photo showing the pet's face, the vaccination records in English and the microchip implant certificate.
A DLD vet reviews the file and may email you for more information. The approved permit arrives by email; print it. The US-route instructions say it is valid for 60 days from issue.
Where to send it
Animal Quarantine Station email addresses
These addresses are listed in the Thai embassy's all-airports instructions, revised 30 January 2025. Check them against the instructions from the Thai embassy in your country before sending, because addresses do change.
| Arrival airport | AQS email |
|---|---|
| Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) | qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th |
| Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) | qsdm_bkk@dld.go.th |
| Chiang Mai (CNX) | qscm_cmi@dld.go.th |
| Phuket (HKT) | qshk_hkt@dld.go.th |
| Samui (USM) | qssm_urt@dld.go.th |
| Krabi (KBV) — handled by the Trang AQS | qstr_trg@dld.go.th |
Two Suvarnabhumi addresses are in circulation. An older Suvarnabhumi instruction sheet gives qsap_bkk@dld.go.th; the January 2025 revision gives qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th. If you are unsure, use the newer address and call the AQS if you hear nothing within a week.
The official health certificate
Issued in the country you leave
Once you have the Thai permit, an official vet in the exporting country completes a health certificate for Thailand. It must be in English and endorsed and stamped by that country's government veterinary authority. A normal letter from your own vet is not enough.
Validity depends on the route. For pets flying from the USA, the certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of USDA endorsement, so the pet must arrive in Thailand within that window. Ask your own country's authority how its endorsement works and how long it takes, and book that appointment before you book flights.
Some airlines check for the Thai import permit at check-in and can refuse to board a pet without it.
Chapter 03
At the Thai airport
Inspection, licence and Customs
On arrival
What officers check, and what you receive
- 1
Go to the AQS
At Suvarnabhumi, pets travelling with their owner are seen at the AQS next to baggage carousel 8, open 24 hours (+66 2 134 0636). Cargo pets are collected from the AQS in the CE-1 building of the cargo free zone, on weekdays only.
- 2
Show the originals
Passport, vaccination record or pet passport, the endorsed health certificate and a printed import permit. Officers scan the microchip and may examine the animal.
- 3
Receive R-6 and R-7
The AQS issues the notice of import approval (R-6) and the import licence (R-7). The fee is 500 baht per animal, with a receipt. Keep the licence: it stays valid until your pet leaves Thailand.
- 4
Declare to Customs
Use the red Goods to Declare channel or the cargo clearance process. Thai Customs treats pets as restricted goods that are not automatically free of duty and tax.
If something does not match: a pet that does not meet the requirements, or whose microchip does not match its papers, can be sent back to the exporting country or held in an approved quarantine facility. The owner pays all costs.
Grey areas
Where official sources disagree
Thai embassies publish their own versions of the rules, and they do not all say the same thing. Where they differ, get a written answer from the AQS at your arrival airport before you book.
Restricted breeds
The Canberra embassy lists the pit bull terrier and the American Staffordshire terrier as prohibited. The US-route and Suvarnabhumi instructions do not mention breeds. Treat bull-breed types and crosses as high risk until the AQS confirms in writing.
Processing time
Published estimates range from at least 3 business days to 5–7 Thai business days. Apply early in the 7–60 day window rather than at the end.
Common mistakes
Why pets get held at the airport
Most problems are paperwork, not health. The microchip number is mistyped on one form. The rabies vaccine was given less than 21 days before the flight. The health certificate was endorsed too early, or only a scan was brought. Or the permit was issued for a different arrival airport after the flights changed.
Before you leave, put every document on a table and check the microchip number, names and dates on each one, line by line.
Document checklist
Your Thai import paperwork
Tick each item as you go. Ticks are kept for this visit only.
Quick answers
Thailand pet import documents: FAQs
Is the import permit the same as the import licence?
No. The permit is emailed before you travel and lets you bring the animal. The import licence (R-7) is issued by the AQS after inspection on arrival, for 500 baht per animal.
Which AQS do I apply to?
The station at the airport where your pet will land in Thailand. If your arrival airport changes, contact the AQS, because the permit is issued for a specific station.
Does Thailand require a rabies titre test?
The current Thai instructions do not list one. Your departure country, a transit country or a country you move to later may require one, so check the whole journey.
Will my pet be quarantined?
Not routinely, if the animal is healthy and the documents are correct. Officers can detain a pet that shows signs of illness or whose paperwork does not match.
Can someone else collect my pet?
Yes, for air cargo. The application then uses the passport of the person collecting the pet in Thailand, and that person brings the original documents.
Do I need a new permit if my flight changes?
Tell the AQS straight away. A change of date within the permit's validity may be fine; a change of arrival airport may mean applying to a different station.
What about rabbits and other pets?
Rabbits follow a similar permit process with their own vaccine rules. Birds, reptiles and other animals have different rules and may need other permits. Ask the DLD before planning.
How long is the Thai import permit valid?
The Thai embassy's all-airports instructions (revised January 2025) say the permit is valid for 60 days from the date it is issued. If your travel date moves outside that window, contact the Animal Quarantine Station that issued it.
Can I apply more than 60 days before I fly?
No. Applications must be sent at least 7 and no more than 60 days before departure. Around 30 days ahead is a sensible target if your pet's records are complete.
What vaccinations does a cat need to enter Thailand?
Rabies and feline panleukopenia, given at least 21 days before departure. The rabies vaccine must be given when the cat is at least 12 weeks old.
Does my dog need a leptospirosis test?
Only if it does not have a valid leptospirosis vaccination, or the vaccine was given less than 21 days before departure. In that case the dog needs a negative test taken within 30 days before departure.
How old must my pet be to enter Thailand?
Old enough to have had its rabies vaccine at 12 weeks or older, plus the 21-day wait. The Thai embassy in Canberra goes further and says pets must be at least 4 months old, so ask your arrival airport's station if your pet is young.
Do the documents need to be in English?
Yes. The vaccination records must be in English and signed by a vet, and the health certificate for Thailand must be completed in English.
Official sources & verification
Check the rules before you travel
Last checked 3 November 2026. Embassy instructions differ by country and change without notice. Your issued permit and the AQS at your arrival airport always take priority.
Royal Thai Embassy: all-airports instructions (revised Jan 2025) ↗
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: requirements for importing animals (Suvarnabhumi) ↗
Royal Thai Embassy Canberra: bringing pets to Thailand ↗
Royal Thai Embassy Washington: bringing pets to Thailand ↗
Thai Customs: importing personal pets ↗
Suvarnabhumi Airport: Animal Quarantine Station ↗
Department of Livestock Development ↗
Continue your move
