When buying or renting a property in Thailand, many people wonder if it is possible to transport their beloved pets to the country. Often people can't find a way to leave their beloved pet in the land of departure and face the necessity of taking it to a new place. What are the rules on this subject in Thailand in 2024, and what documents are required for the free entry of pets? Keep reading.
Content:
- Where do I start preparing my pet for a trip to Thailand?
- List of documents for the pet
- Documents required on the day of departure
- Buying Property in Thailand
Where do I start preparing my pet for a trip to Thailand?
Your pet needs to be prepared in advance. It must be vaccinated appropriately. You should also make sure it has a microchip. It helps if you prepare about one month before the trip. There is a specific list of compulsory vaccinations for each kind of pet.
The list of vaccines for dogs is as follows:
- against rabies;
- against leptospirosis. This vaccine must be given at least 21 days before departure. You may also get a negative leptospirosis test within 30 days before departure;
- against plague;
- against hepatitis;
- against parvovirus (gastrointestinal disease).
All vaccinations must be given at least 21 days before departure. In addition, the pet must have a unique microchip with a 15-digit number certified according to ISO 11784. Your pet will not even feel the chip, and you will always be able to identify it if it goes missing.
If you are traveling with a cat, it must be vaccinated against rabies and feline panleukopenia. If traveling with a rabbit, it should be vaccinated against rabies. The rule of thumb for the rabies vaccine is that the animal must be at least three months old at the time of injection.
Rabbits must be treated for internal parasites at least seven days before departure.
List of documents for the pet
Anyone who wants to enter Thailand with an animal must apply to the DLD Ministry of Livestock Development at least 15 days before travel and obtain an import permit, valid for 60 days after issuance.
The application can be submitted online at [email protected] with the following documents:
- R1/1 form;
- copy of the passport of the passenger (or copy of the passport of the accompanying person if the pet is transported by air cargo);
- photo of a pet;
- flight itinerary;
- certificate of vaccination in English;
- certificate of a microchip.
If additional information is required, a staff member will contact you by e-mail. If the information provided is complete, you will be sent an entry permit. A scanned import permit, including import requirements, will be e-mailed within three business days.
After receiving the import permit, the applicant must print it out and contact the veterinary service of the animal quarantine station of the exporting country to obtain an official sanitary certificate. It is essential to check how long the animal export permit is valid in your country.
Once you have arrived in Thailand, you must contact the animal quarantine department as soon as possible. This term must be at most three months.
Documents required on the day of departure
You will need to prepare the following package of documents for the airport inspection:
- your passport (original). If you are sending your pet as air cargo, then you need the passport of the meeting person;
- pet passport (original);
- vaccination records, including microchip number;
- a veterinary certificate that the pet is healthy;
- printed import permit, received from Thailand by e-mail.
At the Thai airport, you will have to make several stops. First, visit the Department of Animals and Livestock. The staff will check all the documents for about half an hour.
After the inspection, you will have to pay a fee of $32. You will be given an approval document, then proceed to the customs office. The customs officer will review the Department of Animals and Livestock permit and ask if you have previously brought a pet into Thailand. If yes, you should have a customs receipt, and you can show it. If this is your first time getting a pet into the country, you must pay about $9 for the customs receipt. Please keep it to show on your next arrival.
Buying Property in Thailand
Traveling with pets to Thailand is pretty straightforward. All that is important is to follow the formal procedures. If all the paperwork is OK, there will be nothing to worry about, and you can quickly enter the warm sunny country with your pet!
If you want to buy real estate in Thailand, we suggest contacting our experts for a detailed free consultation! Do not put off the dream of owning your own house in Bangkok, Phuket, or another great province of this beautiful country. Just contact us now and find out how to buy villas, houses, second-hand homes, or apartments in development projects in Thailand.
Talk to you soon!