How to bring your dog (or cat) to Thailand

FIRST, Which dogs cannot come to Thailand?

So before you get all excited, you should know that there are a few restrictions on what kind of dogs you can bring to Thailand. All dogs and cats must be at least 4 months old and Pit Bull's are not allowed.

We're sure most Pit Bulls are sweet and precious, but a few have a reputation, and like many countries around the world such as Germany, New Zealand, the U.K. and even parts of Japan, Thailand discourages importing, breeding or rescuing this breed of dog.

Another breed of dog can cannot be brought to Thailand are American Staffordshire Terriers.

Get your paperwork in order

The next step is to get your paperwork in order. Be sure to do this well ahead of time since getting permits can sometimes be a slow process.

You need an import permit from the Thai government. Click here for the website to get the permit.

You need an export permit from your home country. Your local vet will point you in the right direction for this and some will even prepare it for you for a fee.

Medical Considerations

Your dog must be vaccinated against Rabies, Lepto-Spi-Rosis, Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus. Your local vet can get these shots done for you.

Your pet should be vaccinated at least 21 days before your flight to Thailand and these vaccines should not be administered more than 1 year ago. So if your dog is not up to date, perhaps its time for a booster shot. If you have a good vet, this is something that they can do for you in just one office visit. So don’t worry about it too much.

And if you’ve been a good dog owner, your dog probably had many of those vaccinations already.  In any event, your vet should give you written proof that your pet has received these vaccinations.

One final thing on the health side… Thailand requires that all incoming pets have a microchip implanted. You know, the one that they use to help identify lost dogs.

The Thai government accepts widely used international microchip standards, so more than likely, the one that you have already, or the one that your vet uses, will be fine. Thailand accepts Avid 9, Avid 10 and most ISO microchips and the dog must receive their rabies vaccine before the microchip is implanted.

So, to summarize, to make sure your dog is healthy to go to Thailand you need to have:

• The Microchip Implantation Record
• Rabies Certificate
• Vet Health Certificate
• Current Vaccination Records

Travelling with your pet

Most people will opt to travel with their pet. All pets can be put in a cage in the cargo hold. And this is probably the best way. Because the flight to Thailand can be very long. But you are allowed to carry very small dogs in a carrier below their seat.

Your pet can also be shipped by a shipping company or one of many animal relocation services to Thailand. Click here for a pet relocation service we recommend.

Quarantine

Some countries require quarantine of pets, and Thailand is no exception. But as we said in the beginning, Thailand is very lenient with the importation of pets sooooo…

As long as your pet does not show any sign of illness, they would not be quarantined. In an event, it’s up the quarantine officer to decide if your pet needs to take a short vacation at the quarantine station. So be nice! The fate of your dog is in the hands of this person.

Where to live with your doggo (or catto)

One downside of living in Bangkok with your dog is most high-rise condos do not accept pets. However smaller condos, standalone houses and townhouses are not a problem.

Please contact us to talk about your housing plans before you come to Bangkok so we can help find the right home for you and your pets.

Finally

So you don’t have to leave your dog or cat behind, or find a new home for them before relocating to Thailand. If your pet has become a part of your family, you can certainly consider bringing them here with you. Thailand is a warm and pet friendly country.

We will love your pets too!

If you have more questions about bringing your pets into Thailand, please contact us at the form or links below here.