Bringing a pet to Thailand · Step 4

The Thailand import permit (DLD)

The import permit is Thailand’s formal permission for your pet to enter. It comes from the Department of Livestock Development.

Last updated 30 May 2026

Rules change — verify before you act

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.

What the import permit is

The permit is issued by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) through the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) at your arrival airport. It confirms your pet may be imported. It is typically valid for 60 days from issuance, so it is applied for in the weeks before travel — not months ahead.

When to apply

Official guidance (revised January 2025) says you must apply at least seven Thailand business days before departure, and no more than 60 days before departure. The DLD recommends around 30 days ahead — long enough for processing, short enough that the permit is still valid when you fly.

You also cannot start the permit application until primary vaccinations (including rabies) have been given and the usual 21-day wait after a primary rabies shot has passed. Boosters given while a previous shot is still valid do not restart that wait — confirm your pet’s vaccination history with your vet.

How to apply

Applications are emailed to the AQS at your port of entry using DLD form R1/1. For Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok), the usual airport for Pattaya arrivals, email [email protected]. Other airports have their own AQS inboxes — check the DLD’s current port-of-entry list before you send anything.

Officials review the documents and, if everything is in order, email the permit back — commonly within about five to seven working days. Print the permit and carry it with your other papers.

Many owners have a pet relocation agent handle this step, because the agent knows the current forms and the quarantine station contacts. Doing it yourself is possible; doing it inside the correct timing window is essential.

What you will need to hand

Completed form R1/1 (your name, Thai address, origin country, pet details and microchip number)
Copy of your passport
Microchip implantation certificate
Vaccination records in English (see our rabies & vaccination page for what Thailand asks for)
A clear colour photo of your pet (face visible)
Flight itinerary / booking confirmation

Keep printed copies of the permit and every supporting document for the airport. On arrival, the AQS inspects your pet and issues the import licence; the inspection fee is currently 500 baht (confirm the current amount with the AQS).

Confirm your arrival date

DLD guidance also asks you to confirm your exact arrival date with the AQS at least three days before you land, so the quarantine station can prepare. After your permit is approved and your flight is booked, email the AQS with your final itinerary — do not assume a permit alone is enough without telling them when you are coming.

What comes next

With the permit in hand, book the flight under airline pet policies, then read what happens on arrival. Many owners use a pet relocation agent to keep the timing aligned.

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

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

When should I apply for the 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. Apply too early and the permit can expire; too late and it may not be issued in time.

Do I need to be in Thailand to apply?

No. The application is made before you travel, by email to the AQS at your arrival airport, or through a pet relocation agent acting for you.

Can I apply at the airport on arrival instead?

In some cases the AQS can issue a permit on arrival if you already hold a fully endorsed health certificate and all supporting documents — but many airlines require the permit before boarding. Check with your airline first; arriving without the paperwork the airline expects is a common reason pets are refused carriage.

How long is the import permit valid once issued?

Typically 60 days from issuance. That is why you apply in the weeks before travel, not months ahead — an expired permit can block arrival or boarding.

Must the import permit match my arrival airport?

Yes — apply to the AQS at the airport where your pet will land. Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao have different desks; using the wrong one delays clearance.

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.