Who issues the rules
The Department of Livestock Development (DLD), part of Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, controls all live-animal imports. The customer-facing office for pets is the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) at the airport of arrival. Most relocators use AQS Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, but Chiang Mai and Phuket are also approved for live-animal arrivals [1] [2].
Species
Dogs, cats and rabbits fall under the standard DLD pet import procedure. Reptiles, birds and exotic mammals need different (much harder) CITES and wildlife permits, out of scope here [3].
Microchip
You need a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination. If the chip pre-dates a rabies booster but a new chip was implanted later, DLD will use the date of the chip that was in place at vaccination. If your chip is non-ISO, you must travel with a compatible reader [3].
Rabies vaccination
Rabies is the central concern because External authorities such as the US CDC classify Thailand as high-risk for canine rabies, and DLD is strict about traceability [4]. The animal must hold a valid rabies vaccination at the time of travel, administered no less than 21 days before arrival in Thailand and no more than 12 months prior (or longer for vaccines licensed for multi-year duration, provided the certificate states this clearly). Puppies and kittens must be at least 4 months old at travel so the rabies primer plus 21-day wait can be completed [1] [3].
Rabies antibody titer (FAVN/RFFIT)
A FAVN or RFFIT serology result is officially optional for Thailand and is not a precondition for entry. In practice, relocators travelling onward from Thailand to a rabies-free destination (Australia, UK, EU member states) should still arrange it, since the onward import will demand at least 0.5 IU/ml from a WOAH-listed laboratory. Plan the titer blood draw at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination [1].
Other vaccinations
Dogs: distemper, infectious hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Cats: feline panleukopenia (airlines commonly require the core feline respiratory vaccines even if DLD is silent). Record all vaccinations in an English-language vaccination booklet signed by the veterinarian [3].
Paperwork
You need four things in your hand on arrival, plus pre-arrival approval:
1. DLD pre-approval. Email the import permit application to [email protected] between 7 and 60 days before arrival. Include the international health certificate draft, vaccination record, microchip certificate, a photo of the pet, passport copy and flight itinerary. DLD replies in 3 to 7 working days [1]. 2. An international health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origin country within 10 days of departure, then endorsed by that country's government veterinary authority (USDA APHIS, DEFRA, your EU member-state TRACES authority, etc.). For EU departures the document is the EU INTRA / TRACES export certificate [3]. 3. The DLD-issued Notice of Import Approval (Form R-6). 4. On arrival, AQS officers convert Form R-6 into the Import License (Form R-7) and stamp the pet through. Cash fee: 500 baht per animal (roughly 13 EUR) [1].
Quarantine
There is no routine home or facility quarantine for pets meeting all paperwork rules. Inspection at AQS is on arrival; healthy animals with complete paperwork are released the same day to the owner. The AQS reserves the right to detain animals showing clinical signs of disease or with paperwork irregularities, at the owner's cost [1] [3].
Banned or restricted breeds
DLD itself does not publish a banned-breeds list for entry. However, IATA's Live Animals Regulations require certain breeds (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Perro de Presa Canario, Cane Corso and similar) to travel only in CR82 reinforced containers, which most airlines will charge a premium for and several refuse outright. Brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, French and English Bulldogs, Persian cats) face airline embargoes between roughly May and October due to heat risk [5].
Approved arrival airports
Suvarnabhumi (BKK), Chiang Mai (CNX) and Phuket (HKT) have AQS facilities for live-animal arrivals. Don Mueang (DMK) does not. Choose your itinerary accordingly [1] [2].
Estimated cost in EUR
Indicative all-in budget for one medium dog (15 to 25 kg) flown from western Europe in cargo, including IATA-compliant crate, EU government endorsement, FAVN titer (if onward travel is anticipated), airline cargo fee, customs broker at origin, DLD arrival fee and Bangkok airport handler: roughly 2,000 to 3,500 EUR. One cat in cabin or as accompanied baggage on a permissive airline runs 600 to 1,200 EUR. Two animals booked together save modestly on broker and crate handling but airline cargo cost scales per animal [5].
Timing
Allow at least 8 weeks of preparation: 4 to 6 weeks to schedule the vet visit, microchip (if not already), confirm rabies vaccination dates and gather paperwork; 7 to 10 days for the official health certificate and government endorsement; 7 to 10 days for the DLD email permit. If a FAVN titer is in the chain (for onward travel out of Thailand), add a 30-day post-vaccination wait plus 1 to 2 weeks of lab turnaround, so 12 to 16 weeks total is realistic [1] [3].