Taking a pet out of Thailand
What it costs to export a pet from Thailand
Export has two cost piles: the relatively quick Thai side, and the destination country’s requirements — which can run to months and thousands of dollars for a titer test and waiting period.
Last updated 30 May 2026
This guide was last reviewed on 30 May 2026 against DLD export procedures and published destination-country import rules. Export rules — Thai DLD procedures, destination-country requirements, airline policies and CDC/APHA rules — change without notice. Use this as orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD and the destination country’s authority before booking.
Where the money goes
A pet export is a stack of separate costs:
- Vaccinations and vet checks — keeping rabies and other jabs current at normal clinic rates.
- Rabies titer test — essential for the UK, EU, Japan, Singapore and others; modest lab fee but a long calendar wait.
- Thai export health certificate & DLD fees — AQS inspection and official paperwork on departure.
- Destination import permit or pre-approval — some countries charge for their own import licence.
- IATA travel crate — sized to your pet if flying in the hold or as cargo.
- The flight — often the largest single line, and highly variable by route and pet size. Check airline pet policies early.
- Relocation agent — optional but common for cargo bookings and complex destinations.
- Quarantine — only for certain destinations (notably Australia); can dominate the budget.
The honest range
For a straightforward export to a country without quarantine — say Canada or Russia — owners commonly report a total in the low-to-mid four figures (US dollars) once vet work, Thai export fees, crate and flight are added. A small cat in cabin sits lower; a large dog as manifest cargo with agent support sits higher.
For the UK, EU or Australia the destination timeline matters as much as the cash: a titer test and three-month (or longer) wait mean paying for ongoing care in Thailand while you wait, plus possible repeat vet visits to keep certificates current.
We deliberately avoid a single headline number — get quotes from your airline and a relocation agent for your exact route.
Thai-side fees only
The DLD export inspection and certificate are relatively modest compared with the flight. The expensive parts on the Thai side are usually the vet work (especially a titer test sent to an approved lab) and, if you use one, the agent’s service fee. See the export permit page for the application process.
What comes next
Line up the export process and your destination page — for example export to the EU, export to the UAE, or export to Australia. Many owners use a pet relocation agent to keep timing aligned.
Official sources
Official sources to verify against: DLD export of live animals; Suvarnabhumi AQS export: [email protected] (Mon–Fri 08:30–12:00 and 13:00–15:30, Thai public holidays excepted); UK pet travel; CDC animal import (USA); EU pet movement; Japan MAFF Animal Quarantine; Singapore AVS; UAE MOCCAE pet import; Australia DAFF; New Zealand MPI; Canada CFIA; Switzerland FSVO.
Frequently asked
Is export cheaper than import?
Not necessarily. The Thai export steps are fairly quick, but destination requirements — especially a titer test and waiting period for the UK or EU — can make export more expensive and slower than bringing a pet into Thailand.
Should I budget for an agent?
Many owners export without one for simpler destinations. For cargo bookings, Australia, Japan or the USA (CDC dog rules), an agent often pays for itself in avoided mistakes and re-bookings.