Travel to Thailand with your cat or dog
Many people come to stay in Phuket for a long time, 3 months or over. It is easy to understand. Phuket offers very comfortable living conditions. There are snowbirds that are escaping cold weather; some come for medical treatment, others just fall in love with Thailand. Many of these people face the dilemma of what to do with their pet during the long travel. If you are one of the travelers who want to bring your pet to Thailand you will have to do some groundwork. Here you will find step by step instructions what documents are required in order to bring your pet to Thailand, where to apply and when. At the end of this post, you will find useful ссылки, recommended отели that accept pets as well as контакты for Thai authorities.Article navigation
Importation of your pet into Thailand
- Step 1. Receive an import permit to bring your pet to Thailand
- Step 2. Groundwork in your home country
- Step 3. At the airport of departure
- Step 4. Upon arrival at the airport of Thailand
Exportation of your pet from Thailand to your country
- Step 1. Obtain an export permit to take your pet to your country
- Step 2. Groundwork in Thailand
- Step 3. At the airport of departure in Thailand
- Step 4. Upon arrival at your country
Contacts
Useful information
List of hotels that accept pets
Importation of your pet into Thailand
Step 1. Receive an import permit to bring your pet to Thailand
In order to import your cat or dog into Thailand, you are required to apply for an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) of Thailand.
No later than 7 days but not earlier than 45 days prior to your arrival send an e-mail to an Animal Quarantine Station at a port of entry. In case you are arriving — at Phuket send e-mail to qshk_hkt@dld.go.th or in case of arrival in Bangkok qsap_bkk@dld.go.th. However, if you are arriving at Phuket airport this e-mail can still be sent to the Bangkok Quarantine Station.
The e-mail should include:
- Your name;
- Address in your home country;
- Details of your pet: breed, sex, age, chip if your pet has it
- Date, flight number and time of your arrival to Thailand
- Address where you intend to stay in Thailand:
- Airport of departure in your country
- How your pet will be transported: (hand carried or transported as a cargo).
You need to attach the following documents with this e-mail:
-Copy of pet’s owner passport
-Copy of pet vaccination records showing vaccination from -Rabies and vaccine like DHP-L
-Photo of your pet
-Filled application Click here to download the form (to download the file to your computer click save the file as ..)
Once your request is processed you will receive an import permit (valid for 45 days) as well as a list of health requirements that your pet should comply with. It is your responsibility to show these requirements to a vet clinic in your country that they would certify that your pet does comply with the requirements set by DLD of Thailand.
Also, you will receive a registration with a login and a password (optional). Please, show this information upon arrival at the Animal Quarantine Station.
Requirements for the importation of cats or dogs into the Kingdom of Thailand:
1. A health certificate in English from an authorized vet clinic stating
- number and species,
- breed, sex, age, and color or identification number
- name and address of the owner or the kennel club,
- certification of conditions stated in clause 2 to 5
2. The animal must come from a country where animal diseases are under control. It is should look healthy, free from signs of any infectious and contagious diseases including ectoparasitism.
3. The country where the animal has been residing has been free from Rabies for at least the past 12 months or the animal should be vaccinated against Rabies with an officially approved vaccine not less than 21 days prior to the importation.
4. Either the dog is vaccinated against Leptospirosis at least 21 days prior to importation or the dog was tested for Leptospirosis with a negative result within 30 days prior to importation.
5. The animal shall be vaccinated against other significant infectious or contagious diseases such as Distemper, Hepatitis, and Parvovirus, with an officially approved vaccine at least 21 days prior to importation.
6. The animals must be transported in a special nose and paw proof crate designed to avoid suffocation
7. In transit, the animal should not be exposed to other animals or should not be allowed to leave approved quarantine areas.
8. Upon arrival, the animals can be subjected to quarantine for a period of at least 30 days during which they shall be submitted to tests or treatments deemed necessary. The importer/owner shall be fully liable for the incurred expenses.
9. Failure to follow the import procedures may result in returning the animals to the country of origin or destroying without compensation.
Breeds that are banned from importation to Thailand
- Pitbull
- American Staffordshire terrier
- American Staffordshire bull terrier
Why do you need to apply for permits?
As it is stated in the Animal Epidemics Act (No. 2) B.E.2542 (1999): It is not allowed to import, export or transit animals through Thailand without obtaining a permit from DLD. The offender can be liable to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or a fine not exceeding 40 000 baht or both.
Step 2. Groundwork in your country prior to importation
When booking a ticket, you need to notify your air carrier that you are traveling with a pet. The weight and dimensions of the container for transportation in the cabin must also be agreed with the air carrier.
Get a Rabies shot.
Get a health certificate from an authorized vet clinic. In the clinic, you need to show an invitation and a list of requirements set by the DLD of Thailand.
Before your departure date, you need to contact the appropriate veterinarian authorities at the airport of departure in your country with a health certificate issued earlier by a vet clinic. Based on that health certificate, an international health certificate is issued. It is valid for 3 days.
Notes:
- Vaccination against Rabies should be carried out not later than 30 days and not earlier than 12 months before the date of departure;
- The animal must be at least 4 months old;
- It is good to make copies of all received certificates and permits, in case at some stage of the journey authorities will take any of the originals.
Step 3. At the airport of departure in your country
Check-in
If you and your pet are booked on direct non-stop flight all you need to do at the airport is show all the required documents. If your flight involves a stopover try to check your pets and luggage through to your final destination. But remember, in that case, you will only see your beloved pet upon arrival at your final destination. If you are unable to check your pet through then you will have to collect your pet and luggage at transit airports and check them in again.
Costs
If your pet is allowed to travel in the cabin in a carry on the animal is weighed together with the carrier. If your pet is traveling as accompanied checked luggage the cost of carriage is calculated based on the weight of the pet with the crate. Crate dimensions and your other luggage are not taken into consideration. Please, contact your airline for rates.
You have to pay for your pet carriage every time you have to check it in. If the flight is direct or through flight then the total payment is taken immediately at the place of departure taking into account rates of each air carrier operating the flights. If you have to claim your pet and luggage at transit airports and recheck them again you will be asked to pay separately for each flight segment. We recommend you check the rates with each air carrier in advance. Sometimes airlines don’t respond to inquiries in time, be prepared and make sure you have enough finances on your card.
It is a good idea to keep all received documents until you return to your country.
Notes:
As travelers have reported, costs of pet carriage can reach 1300 baht a kilo, depending on air carrier and flight length.
If you are traveling via China, remember misunderstandings are common and travelers are sometimes asked to recheck-in their pet and pay again while the payment is only taken in local currency or by card.
Step 4. Upon arrival at an airport in Thailand
At the airport in the arrival area after you claimed your luggage and passed customs proceed to the Animal Quarantine Station to collect your import license and pay import duty. AQS is located opposite baggage claims.
An international health certificate you received in your country will be exchanged for Thai documents. Therefore we recommend you prepare a copy beforehand.
Animal Quarantine Station in Bangkok is open 24 hrs. tel. 0-2134-0636.
Animal Quarantine Station in Phuket is only open during the daytime. If you are arriving after hours or on weekend/holiday please, upon arrival contact an officer on duty at tel. 0810882806.
Required documents:
Passport of pet owner (copy and original)
Vaccination records in English
Import permit
International health certificate in English issued at the airport in your country
Please, let the officials know if your pet has a microchip or an identification tattoo with a certificate.
You might also be asked to present a payment receipt if you purchased your pet and any checks or receipts received during transportation.
Import fee — is 100 baht per animal
Notes:
Some travelers have been able to pass through a green channel and avoided paying any customs duties. If you are asked to go through a red channel you will have to pay 1000 baht per animal to avoid quarantine.
Some travelers have been asked to pay a customs duty of 510 baht.
Exportation of your pet from Thailand to your country
Step 1. Regulations for the importation of animals differ in every country.
Please, find out what are the requirements in your country in advance.
Step 2.
First, inform your air carrier that you are traveling with a pet. The weight and dimensions of the container for transportation in the cabin must also be agreed with the air carrier.
Not later than 7 working days prior to your departure notify the Animal Quarantine Station at the airport of departure. You have to fill out the same form that you had to fill out before importation. Only this time you have to state that you are exporting the animal. Скачать бланк формы (to download the file to your computer click save the file as ..).
Not later than 3 days prior to departure bring your pet for a health inspection to the Animal Quarantine Station at the airport of departure. Based on the inspection they will issue a health certificate. The inspection can take several hours and officials will let you know when you need to come back to collect your pet. The certificate is valid for 10 days.
Required documents:
- Passport of the owner (copy and original)
- Vaccination records in English. Rabies vaccination is the must
- Microchip with a certificate or identification tattoo with a certificate
- Import permit to your country
Export fee is 50 baht per animal.
Notes:
Vaccination against Rabies should be carried out not later than 30 days and not earlier than 12 months before the date of departure;
- The animal must be at least 4 months old;
- Microchip can be implanted at any veterinary clinic, the approximate cost is 700 baht.
Breeds that are banned from the exportation from Thailand
- Pitbull terrier
- American Staffordshire terrier
- American Staffordshire bull terrier
Step 3 At the airport of departure in Thailand
Step 3 At the airport of departure in ThailandFollow Step 3 when importing an animal to Thailand.
Step 4. Upon arrival at your country
Show to the authorities the pet’s passport and the Export permit from DLD of Thailand. The Quarantine Station of the airport will stamp the pet’s passport.
Contacts
Animal Quarantine Station in Bangkok
Suvarnabhumi Airport Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) - head office
Free Zone Area ,CE 1 Building
Tel.: +66 (0) 2 134 07 31, +66 (0) 2 134 07 32
E-mail: qsap_bkk@dld.go.th
Work hours: Mon — Fri from 9am to 4pm, lunch break: 12:00—13:00
Quarantine officer on duty in the arrivals area tel. 0-2134-0636 can be reached 24 hrs a day.
Animal Quarantine Station in Phuket
Phuket International Airport Animal Quarantine Station - head office
Cargo terminal, 2nd Floor
Теl.: +66 (0) 76 351 514
E-mail: qshk_hkt@dld.go.th
Work hours: Mon — Fri from 08:30 to 16:30, lunch break: 12:00—13:00
Quarantine officer on duty in the arrivals area tel. 0810882806 can be reached 24 hrs a day.
Tips on traveling with a pet from other travelers
Pet food availability in Thailand
There is no need to bring a lot of dog/cat food with you to Thailand. There is plenty of food available including holistic and super-premium pet food from different manufacturers.
Domestic flight with a pet: Bangkok - Koh Samui
Here is my experience with Bangkok Airways flying from Bangkok to Koh Samui. Someone might find this useful. I sent an e-mail to reservation@bangkokair.com and asked what flight I should take with a dog. A day later I received a reply with rules and flight recommendation. Once I purchased my own ticket on-line I requested the airline to add a reservation for my dog to my own reservation. They asked me the dimensions of a carrier and weight of the pet with the carrier. Later I received a reply that the information about the dog was added to my reservation.
/Vladimir
Bus from Pattaya to Bangkok
There is a bus #14 that leaves from Pattaya, in front of Foodmart to Bangkok airport and back every 2 hours from 8 am to 8pm. Price of the ticket 124 baht.
/Zhanna
Hotels that accept pets
Recommended by other travelers
Phuket
The Clan Guest House, Patong (Tеl.: 0937788201; 0937788200) — there are Italian guys that work and live there, nice guys that treat travelers with pets kindly.
Cool Breeze Bungalow (Kata beach, opposite Kata Beach Resort & Spa, entrance at Kata Hot Yoga) — . This place accommodated me with a large dog so if you travel with a Yorkshire terrier or other toy dog they will have no problems accommodating you. They love animals:)
Bangkok
Sinsuvarn airport suite — – located close to the airport, provide transfer.
Oakwood Asia —- 4 hotels, on request can accommodate travelers with large dogs
Dear travelers, if you have any experience of staying at hotels or villas with pets we would be grateful if you share your experience with others.
Information retrieved from http://www.dld.go.th
Special thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion of the post, who shared their experiences or asked questions. We could not complete it without your input. If you have any additional information on the subject please, email us info@phuketdrive.com