Before booking, confirm current requirements with the Thai DLD, your airline and the origin-country authority.
Source check details
Thailand’s own steps were checked on 7 October 2026 against the DLD’s manuals; the other sources cited on this page were checked on 5 August 2026. Thailand's Department of Livestock Development, airlines and origin-country authorities change their rules without notice. Treat this as orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD, your airline and your origin-country authority before you book or travel.
Departures, Terminal 1, Incheon International Airport. Photo: Arne Müseler, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons.
The timeline — what to do when
Work backwards from the intended travel date. This page does not maintain a verified live schedule. Obtain written acceptance from every operating carrier for the exact itinerary, aircraft, animal, container and transport mode before payment.
| When | Step |
|---|---|
| 3+ months before (if onward travel possible) | Microchip, rabies vaccination, optional rabies titer test |
| Before filing the Thai permit | Ask the responsible arrival AQS to confirm the required vaccination set and any origin-specific wait; do not use USA-specific timing as this route’s rule |
| On the AQS-confirmed schedule | File DLD form R1/1 through the confirmed channel and allow the lead time supplied in writing; coordinate that sequence with the APQA export-certificate process |
| Final 2–3 weeks | APQA export inspection and international health certificate |
| Before travel | Follow the responsible AQS’s current itinerary-notification instructions; the official guidance sets no general three-day rule |
Plan these linked document stages using the responsible AQS’s route-specific instructions — microchip, rabies and core vaccinations, health certificate and DLD import permit.
The South Korean side of the paperwork
Export of dogs and cats from South Korea goes through the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA). Your vet prepares vaccination records and health checks; APQA issues the export certificate needed for international travel. Microchip numbers must match every document.
Documents Thailand expects
DLD import permit
Microchip certificate
Vaccination records
Government-endorsed health certificate
Flight booking
For pets from the USA, the Thai consulate’s guide says the importer presents the animal and original documents for AQS inspection, and that Forms R-6 and R-7 are issued there. It does not state a dependable release time or detention outcome for every route. Ask the responsible AQS what applies to the actual origin and itinerary. Thai consulate guide, pets from the USA.
Carrier acceptance from South Korea
Only the operating carrier can confirm whether the exact animal, container, aircraft and route can travel in cabin, as checked baggage or as cargo. Obtain written acceptance for every sector before payment. See airline pet policies.
If you may return to South Korea
Bringing a pet back into South Korea means meeting APQA’s entry rules again: a government export quarantine certificate from the country you leave, microchip identification, rabies vaccination, and a rabies neutralising antibody titre of 0.5 IU/ml or higher. The AIP exempts pets under 90 days and origins it designates rabies-free; MOFA states the test must be within 24 months before boarding.
Exactly ten animals is unresolved in the official sources: the AIP says advance APQA permission for more than ten, while MOFA says ten or more. Obtain written APQA direction rather than choosing the more permissive wording. AIP; MOFA. See export to South Korea.
After the AQS inspection — reaching Pattaya
For pets from the USA, the Thai consulate’s guide says the importer presents the animal and original documents for AQS inspection, and that Forms R-6 and R-7 are issued there. The DLD allows itself up to 1 working day 6 hours to issue the R.7 (DLD import licence manual), so do not plan on same-day release. Thai consulate guide, pets from the USA. After the AQS releases the animal, use a road vehicle that explicitly accepts the animal and crate.
Your R.1/1 goes to the animal quarantine station at the airport you land at, and the import licence (R.7) is issued there (DLD import approval manual). The DLD’s list of stations names none at U-Tapao (DLD AQS map); the Chonburi station covers its district (DLD station areas), so confirm in writing before you book a U-Tapao arrival.
Settling in Pattaya
Confirm pet-friendly housing, save a local veterinary contact and discuss heat and parasite prevention with a veterinarian. Keep every stamped AQS record. For a later UK or EU journey, check the destination’s titer rules. Australia instead requires an approved-country pathway under the standard non-approved-origin route. DAFF FAQ.
Official sources
Korean sources: Korea Aeronautical Information Publication; Korean MOFA embassy guidance. Export mirror: taking a pet to South Korea.
Official sources to verify against: Thai consular import guide (detailed scope: dogs, cats and rabbits from the United States); DLD AQS map.
Frequently asked
What does APQA require to export a pet from Korea?
Current rabies vaccination, microchip identification, health examination and APQA export certificate — confirm the latest APQA checklist before you book.
Can I fly Incheon to Bangkok with a pet in cabin?
Only the operating airline can confirm the mode for the specific animal, container, route and aircraft. Obtain written acceptance before booking.
Does Thailand require quarantine from South Korea?
For pets from the USA, the Thai consulate’s guide says the importer presents the animal and original documents for AQS inspection, and that Forms R-6 and R-7 are issued there. It does not state a dependable release time or detention outcome for every route. Ask the responsible AQS what applies to the actual origin and itinerary. Thai consulate guide, pets from the USA.
Should I do a rabies titer test before leaving Korea?
The Thai consulate’s detailed guide covers only dogs, cats and rabbits from the USA, so it does not answer this for Korea. Ask the responsible AQS. UK and EU routes can require a destination-specific titer and wait. Australia instead requires an approved-country pathway with qualifying work there; do not assume a test performed in Korea or Thailand is sufficient without DAFF confirmation. DAFF FAQ.
How do I get from Bangkok to Pattaya after landing?
Arrange a vehicle that explicitly accepts the animal and crate; travel time varies with route and traffic. See arriving at Suvarnabhumi.
Which airport is better for Pattaya — BKK or U-Tapao?
Plan for Suvarnabhumi unless the DLD confirms U-Tapao in writing. Your R.1/1 goes to the station at your arrival airport and the import licence (R.7) is issued there (DLD import approval manual). The DLD’s list of stations names none at U-Tapao (DLD station map); the Chonburi station covers its district (DLD station areas), so ask that station in writing before you book. From Suvarnabhumi, Pattaya is a road transfer.
What should I do after reaching Pattaya?
Confirm housing, save a local vet, keep every AQS document and ask a veterinarian about heat and parasite prevention for the individual animal.
Will I need a titer test later?
That depends on the next destination. UK and EU routes can require a titer and wait. Australia’s standard route from a non-approved origin requires an approved country first; do not assume a test performed in Thailand qualifies.