Overview
Bringing pets to Thailand is relatively straightforward. The country’s warm climate and pet-friendly environment make it an excellent choice for pet owners. Here’s what you need to know:
- You’ll need up to 21 days to prepare your pet before entering Thailand
- Pets must be at least 4 months old, have an ISO-compliant microchip, a recent health certificate, and up-to-date vaccinations. Dogs need additional vaccinations; cats need one for feline panleukopenia.
- Pets can travel by air as cargo, luggage, or in-cabin. Major airports include Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. They generally avoid quarantine if healthy upon arrival.
Relocating a pet can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. For a smooth relocation, work with a professional pet transport service and prepare your pet for travel with proper crate training.
Bringing pets to Thailand: Here’s everything you need to know
Thailand is known for its warm hospitality and low cost of living compared to Western countries. In recent years Thailand has even created special visas aiming to attract digital nomads, startup founders, freelancers and high value individuals that are interested in settling in Thailand.
In addition to all that, bringing your fur baby along is a lot easier compared to many other countries.
Timeframe
Depending on the current clinical status of your pet, you will need up to 21 days before you are allowed entry to Thailand.
Requirements and preparations
Thailand doesn’t make a difference based on the country you are departing from, all pets will need to meet the same requirements for import.
All pets must be at least 4 months old at the time of import to Thailand.
General import requirements for dogs and cats to Thailand are:
- ISO-compliant microchip
- A health certificate stating the pet is healthy, and issued maximum 10 days prior to
- Valid rabies vaccination (minimum 21 days before traveling)
- Dogs must have valid vaccinations against leptospirosis, distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus (minimum 21 days before traveling)
- Cats must have valid vaccination against feline panleukopenia (minimum 21 days before traveling)
- Anti flea, tick, and de-worm treatments are highly recommended
- Import Permit from the Department of Livestock Department
Travel methods and popular arrival ports
Cats and dogs are allowed to enter Thailand by air as both cargo and luggage or in-cabin. The most common airports for international arrivals are Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok, Phuket International Airport, and Chiang Mai International Airport.
Consider hiring a pet transport agent
Although you may be able to handle the moving of your pet to Australia on your own, or parts of it, it’s highly encouraged to hire a professional pet transporter, also known as pet shipper or pet mover, to make sure the process is as easy and effective as possible.
Post-entry quarantine
Pets will not be quarantined if they do not show signs of any illness upon inspection at the arrival port.
Budget
Depending on several factors including airfare and travel mode, bringing a dog or a cat to Thailand would cost you from a few hundred dollars up to a few thousand dollars all in.
Introduction to Thailand: Why this pet-friendly nation is the perfect destination for pawrents
If you are considering moving to Asia with your pet, Thailand stands out as an exceptional destination. Besides affordable living, beautiful landscapes, and rich cultural experiences, the country is also a friendly place for pet owners and their four-legged companions. In Thailand, pets are more than simply companions; they are cherished as part of the family.
Abundant outdoor spaces and activities
From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the serene scenery of Chiang Mai, widespread integration of animals into everyday life is a worth-noting aspect of living in Thailand.
Imagine taking a stroll through parks with your fur baby, followed by a coffee at a cute pet-friendly coffee shop, and ending the day with a meal at a dining venue that welcomes pets. In Thailand, the land of smiles, such experiences are possible anywhere and anytime!
Year-round warm climate
The country’s tropical climate also gives your pet many opportunities to thrive and roam free for outdoor adventures throughout the year, from the sunny beaches of Phuket to scenic hiking trails in Chiang Mai. Just be sure to keep your pet hydrated and have regular breaks, especially if they have longer coats, to ensure their comfort and well-being.
Pet-friendly housing
Finding a house that welcomes pet cats and dogs in Thailand is generally easy. If you love to immerse yourself in the local life, townhouses are great places to mingle in everyday life. High-rise apartments and luxurious residences are other options worth looking into if your budget allows. Researching and exploring different choices of housing is highly recommended. Make sure to thoroughly understand the pet policies of each property to ensure a smooth transition.
Affordable pet care
You won’t be disappointed with the wide range of pet care services available in Thailand. If you plan to pamper your fur baby from head to tail, the cost of grooming services are more competitive than those in Western countries for sure. Boarding and medical treatments are affordable in most places without compromising on quality. You’ll find that Thailand’s pet care options are both cost-effective and reliable.
Easy access to high-quality veterinary care
As a nation that values pets, you can rest assured that your pet will be in good hands when it comes to their health and well-being.There are many well-equipped veterinary clinics and pet hospitals with skilled staff and professionals who provide regular checkups and specialized treatment.
Supportive pet community
Thailand is a great destination for expatriates, and this means you can find many fellow international pawrents as well. This network can give you valuable advice and support for your move. Connecting with other expats on social networks is a great way to understand the process of bringing pets to Thailand and gain insight into what starting a new life with your pet in the land of smiles could be like.
What are the best steps for bringing pets to Thailand?
Bringing pets to Thailand requires time and effort. We always recommend getting in touch with a professional pet mover to make sure you’re preparing correctly, avoiding any unpleasant surprises or delays.
A professional pet mover can, not only handle your move, partially or fully, but are up-to-date on country import requirements and recent changes in policies regarding the import, export and transit of live animals.
Locate the government veterinarian in your country and verify if your current treating veterinarian is government approved since you will have to work with both to get your pet eligible for travel.
Study up on the import requirements of your destination country and seek advice from a professional pet shipper to make sure the information you have on hand is correct and current. Following the outlined timeline for the mandatory vaccinations, blood tests and treatments is vital.
Since moving a cat or a dog overseas can easily end up a rather important financial investment, be sure to budget and set up a generous fund to support your pet’s relocation. We also recommend researching and getting in touch with a reliable pet shipping agent at least a couple of months before your desired date of travel.
As your pet will spend a lot of time in its travel crate, choosing the correct crate is critical to ensure their comfort and prevent additional stress during their flight. The crate needs to be IATA compliant and correctly matching your pet’s size.
Buy your crate well in advance to crate train your pet. The crate should become a safe place, where your pet would want to withdraw to when feeling stressed or anxious. You can find tips on how to crate train your pet here.
How do Purrfect Pilots work: How can we help you bring pets to Thailand
As an experienced pet moving agent specializing in international relocation, we are familiar with the full process of bringing pets to Thailand. Our job is to ensure that your pet has the most comfortable transition possible during their journey and to give you regular updates about your pet throughout the move.
To take off some of the financial burden of moving your pet to Thailand, we can offer tailored payment plans. Ask your Purrfect Pilot about available options.
During our years of operations, we have built a wide network of professional pet care professionals with the same commitment and passion as we have.
Your pet will only be handled by carefully selected partners where our team can not be present.
Our partners are professionally trained in handling live animals according to the IATA live animal regulations and meet Purrfect Pilots’ strict partner requirements.
We offer full transparency from pricing to execution of your pet move and we are great at planning perfect moves.
But to be honest, our biggest strength lies in our industry knowledge and ability to “fix things” when needed. Because moving a pet can become quite the adventure and we always work with a B and a C backup plan to get your pet to destination.
Few pet moves are one-size-fits-all, at Purrfect Pilots we want to listen to your expectations and preferences, and support you in the way you need and want us to.
Purrfect Pilots is a dependable pet mover that helps relocate and travel pets to many countries, including those countries with strict import regulations like Australia, USA, European Union, and Great Britain. Are you looking to move your pet to Thailand? We can help you reunite with your pet.
