Bringing a pet to Thailand · By country
Bringing a pet to Thailand from the UK
Thousands of British expats live in Pattaya. The Thai requirements are the same for everyone; what is UK-specific is export certificate 2917, who certifies it, and what you must plan now if you ever want to come home with your pet.
Last updated 30 May 2026
This guide was last reviewed on 30 May 2026 against the Thai embassy pet-import guidance (revised January 2025), DLD Animal Quarantine Station contacts and published export procedures. Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD), airlines and origin-country authorities change their rules without notice. Treat this as an orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD, your airline and your origin-country authority before you book or travel.
The timeline — what to do when
Build backwards from your flight date. If you may return to the UK, add the rabies titer test at the start — not the end.
| When | Step | UK / Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| 3+ months before (if UK return possible) | Microchip (if needed), rabies vaccination, optional rabies titer (FAVN) test — blood drawn ≥30 days after vaccination | Your vet; approved lab |
| 6–8 weeks before | DHPP (dogs) or FVRCP (cats), leptospirosis (dogs) or negative leptospirosis test; wait 21 days after any primary rabies shot | Your vet |
| ~30 days before departure | Apply for DLD import permit (form R1/1) by email to the AQS at your arrival airport | DLD / Suvarnabhumi AQS |
| 2–3 weeks before | Book pet space on the flight; confirm the airline requires the import permit before boarding | Airline |
| 7+ working days before export | Apply for export health certificate 2917 via APHA’s online service; nominate an Official Veterinarian (OV) | APHA / DAERA (NI) |
| Final 7–10 days | OV examines your pet and completes EHC 2917; certificate issued inside its validity window | Official Veterinarian |
| ≥3 days before landing | Email the AQS to confirm your exact arrival date and flight | DLD AQS |
| Arrival day | AQS inspection at the airport; Forms R-6/R-7 issued; 500 baht fee | Bangkok / U-Tapao AQS |
Full step pages: microchip, rabies, health certificate and DLD import permit.
The UK export certificate (EHC 2917)
Great Britain does not use the EU pet passport for exports to Thailand. You need the country-specific export health certificate EHC 2917 — “Export cats and dogs to Thailand” (version 3 guidance notes, updated May 2026 on GOV.UK).
England, Scotland and Wales: apply through APHA’s EHC online service. You nominate an Official Veterinarian (OV) who will examine your pet and sign the certificate. APHA typically returns the EHC within seven working days of your export date, or within one working day if you are exporting sooner — but do not leave it to the last minute.
Northern Ireland: apply through DAERA via the DECS online process, not the GB EHC Online service.
The EHC must match your Thai import permit and vaccination records exactly — microchip number, vaccine dates and breed must line up across every document. Read the guidance notes for EHC 2917 for the certificate’s validity period and any breed or age conditions before your OV appointment.
Documents Thailand expects
These are the papers the DLD asks for regardless of origin country:
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| DLD import permit | Form R1/1, emailed to the AQS at your arrival airport. Valid 60 days from issue. Apply 7–60 days before departure (around 30 days is sensible). |
| Microchip certificate | ISO 11784/11785 15-digit chip, implanted before rabies vaccination. |
| Vaccination records | In English. Dogs: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, leptospirosis (or negative leptospirosis test within 30 days). Cats: rabies and feline panleukopenia (FVRCP covers this). At least 21 days after primary shots. |
| Government-endorsed health certificate | Your origin country’s official export certificate — endorsed by APHA, USDA APHIS, DAFF, etc. |
| Your passport | Original at the AQS (or the person collecting a cargo shipment). |
| Pet photo | Colour, face clearly visible (for the permit application). |
| Flight booking | Itinerary showing date, flight number and arrival airport. |
From a rabies-controlled origin such as the UK, USA or Australia, pets with complete paperwork are normally cleared at the AQS the same day — this is an inspection, not a multi-week quarantine. The AQS issues Forms R-6 and R-7 and charges 500 baht per animal (confirm the current fee). Email the AQS to confirm your arrival date at least three days before landing. See pet quarantine in Thailand and arriving at Suvarnabhumi.
Plan the UK return before you leave
This is the single most important UK-specific point. Thailand is an ‘unlisted’ country under UK pet-travel rules. To bring a dog or cat back into Great Britain from Thailand you need:
- A current rabies vaccination
- A rabies titer test (blood sample at least 30 days after vaccination)
- A three-month wait from the date of that blood sample before entry
- For dogs, a vet-administered tapeworm treatment within the window before arrival
- Travel on an approved route and carrier into Great Britain
The practical lesson: if there is any chance you will return with your pet, have the titer test done while you are still in the UK, with the vaccination fresh. That removes the three-month wait later. See our guide to exporting a pet from Thailand to the UK.
From the UK, Thailand generally does not ask for a titer test to enter. You do it for your own future — not because Bangkok demands it on arrival.
Common mistakes British owners make
- Wrong order — rabies given before the microchip, or import permit applied before the 21-day wait has passed.
- Permit timing — applied too early (expires before you fly) or too late (AQS cannot process in time).
- Airline vs government — Thailand may allow permit-on-arrival in some cases, but your airline may refuse boarding without the permit email in hand.
- Health certificate window — endorsed certificate expires before you land; a delayed flight can mean starting again.
- Cargo arrival hours — pets shipped as cargo may only be collected during AQS weekday business hours at some airports.
- Assuming the EU pet passport is enough — it is not valid for Thailand export; you need EHC 2917.
- Skipping the titer test — then discovering the three-month wait when a job or family emergency calls you home.
- Wrong AQS email — apply to the quarantine station at the airport you actually land at (Suvarnabhumi for most Pattaya arrivals).
After clearance — reaching Pattaya from the airport
Once the Animal Quarantine Station clears your pet, the practical question is the drive to Pattaya. From Suvarnabhumi, most owners use a pre-booked pet-friendly taxi, Grab with a crate (confirm with the driver), or a relocation transfer. From U-Tapao, the hop is shorter — one reason some Pattaya-bound owners choose UTP when the airline and route allow pets.
Have water, a spare towel and your pet’s usual food accessible after a long flight. Do not assume your condo or hotel accepts pets on arrival day — confirm pet-friendly housing in writing before you land. Schedule a local vet check within the first week for parasite prevention suited to Pattaya’s year-round climate.
Register and update microchip contact details to your Thai phone number, and read dog registration and rabies law for dogs. If you may leave Thailand later, plan the rabies titer test before or soon after arrival — the waiting period cannot be rushed when you export to the UK, EU or Australia.
Settling in Pattaya — first-month checklist
Beyond paperwork, new arrivals should tackle:
- Heat management — hot-climate pet care and cool-hour walks.
- Parasites — year-round flea, tick and heartworm prevention; see ticks & fleas.
- Street animals — walking safely around soi dogs.
- Emergency contacts — save a 24-hour vet before you need one.
- Food supply — where to buy pet food and a two-week buffer stock.
Thailand does not usually quarantine pets that arrive with complete documents — see pet quarantine in Thailand for when inspection becomes detention. Keep every stamped form the AQS gives you; you may need them for export later.
Official sources
UK sources: EHC 2917 (cats and dogs to Thailand); how to get an export health certificate; bringing a pet to Great Britain (return journey).
Official sources to verify against: Thai embassy pet import guide (revised January 2025); DLD import application form R1/1 (via the embassy guide or DLD Animal Quarantine stations); Suvarnabhumi AQS import: [email protected].
Frequently asked
Does Thailand need a titer test for a pet from the UK?
Generally no — the UK is a rabies-controlled country, so Thailand does not require the titer test to enter. But the UK requires it for the return journey, so most British owners do the test before leaving.
Which export certificate do I need from the UK?
Export health certificate 2917 for cats and dogs to Thailand, applied for through APHA (or DAERA in Northern Ireland) and signed by an Official Veterinarian. Confirm you are using the latest version on GOV.UK.
How long before the flight should I apply for the Thai import permit?
Inside the official window: at least seven Thailand business days before departure, and no more than 60 days before. Around 30 days ahead is a sensible target — long enough for AQS processing, short enough that the permit is still valid when you fly.
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Thailand?
Not usually, if every document is in order and your pet appears healthy. The AQS inspection is typically same-day clearance. Quarantine is reserved for paperwork failures or signs of disease — see our quarantine guide.
Can I fly into U-Tapao instead of Bangkok?
U-Tapao is closer to Pattaya. Check that your airline accepts pets on that route and apply for the import permit through the correct AQS for your port of entry. See U-Tapao or Bangkok?
Which airport is better for Pattaya — BKK or U-Tapao?
U-Tapao is closer; Suvarnabhumi has more international routes. Your import permit must name the airport you actually use. See U-Tapao or Bangkok.
What should I do in my first week in Pattaya with a pet?
Book a local vet for parasite prevention, confirm housing allows pets, update microchip contacts, and save a 24-hour clinic number. See our owning a pet in Pattaya hub.
Will I need the titer test if I only stay in Thailand?
Not for Thai import. You need it if you may later export to the UK, EU, Australia or other titer-countries — plan early because the wait cannot be shortened.
Bring a pet to Thailand · Import checklist · DLD import permit · Airline pet policies
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