Taking a pet out of Thailand · By destination

Taking a pet from Thailand to the UAE

The UAE corridor is manageable compared with the EU or Australia — no three-month titer wait for UAE entry itself. But MOCCAE is strict on permits, vaccines, breeds and cargo rules. Start early.

Last updated 30 May 2026

Rules change — verify before you act

This guide was last reviewed on 31 May 2026. Export rules — Thai DLD procedures, destination-country requirements and airline policies — change without notice. Use this as orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD and the destination country's authority before booking.

The timeline — Thailand to Dubai or Abu Dhabi

Unlike the EU, the UAE route is often measured in weeks, not months — but MOCCAE and your airline still need lead time.

When	Step	Authority
4–6 weeks before	Confirm ISO microchip; rabies and core vaccinations current; rabies given at least 21 days before UAE arrival (and not before pet is 3 months old)	Thai vet
3–4 weeks before	Apply for MOCCAE import permit online (valid 90 days from issue per current service guidance)	MOCCAE portal
≥15 days before export	Apply for Thai DLD export permit (form 1/1) with MOCCAE requirements attached	DLD AQS
2 weeks before	Book airline — confirm IATA cargo vs cabin/hold; MOCCAE often requires manifested cargo	Airline
Within 10 days of shipment	Pre-shipment treatments MOCCAE requires (internal/external parasites per current List B guidance)	Accredited vet
Before departure	DLD export licence and health certificate; confirm export date with AQS	DLD
UAE arrival	Veterinary inspection at port of entry; import permit + health certificate + microchip check; pay inspection fees	MOCCAE quarantine centre

What MOCCAE requires from Thailand

Per MOCCAE’s published import service (verify current detail on moccae.gov.ae):

Prior import permit obtained online before the pet travels
Permanent microchip — chip number must match the health certificate exactly
Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before arrival; primary rabies not before 3 months of age
Dogs: rabies plus distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis
Cats: rabies plus panleukopenia (and commonly calicivirus / rhinotracheitis per MOCCAE vaccination lists)
Pre-shipment treatments within the window MOCCAE specifies
Attested veterinary health certificate from the exporting country’s competent authority
Shipment under IATA live-animal regulations (often manifested cargo)

Prohibited breeds include Pit Bull types, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, wolf-dog hybrids and American Staffordshire Terrier. Non-compliance can mean fines, rejection or confiscation under MOCCAE rules.

MOCCAE also limits how many pets a person may import per year — confirm the current cap.

The Thai export side (DLD)

MOCCAE approval does not replace Thailand’s export process:

Thai-side document	Notes
Export application (form 1/1)	Apply at least 15 days before export to the AQS at your departure airport.
Destination import rules	Attach the destination authority’s import requirements (NOC, import licence, SPSIC, etc.) so the Thai health certificate matches.
Microchip & vaccinations	ISO chip and current rabies vaccination; many destinations also require a rabies titer test.
DLD export licence & health certificate	Issued after AQS inspection if paperwork complies.

See export process and export costs.

Common mistakes on this corridor

Starting with Thailand only — destination import permits and tests are usually the long pole.
Expired vaccinations — a lapsed rabies shot can void import clearance.
Microchip mismatch across Thai export papers and destination import forms.
Last-minute DLD export — applying inside the 15-day window when tests are still pending.

Expired MOCCAE import permit — the permit is valid for a fixed period (90 days per current guidance); a delayed flight can void it.
Banned breed — confirm before you leave Thailand that your dog can enter the UAE at all.
Cabin booking when cargo is required — leads to denied boarding at Bangkok.
Missing pre-shipment treatments within MOCCAE’s required window.

If you came the other way, see our guide to From the UAE (import).

Departing from Pattaya — airports, AQS and lead time

Most owners in Chon Buri export through Suvarnabhumi (BKK), roughly 90–120 minutes by road depending on traffic. U-Tapao (UTP) is closer to Pattaya and suits some regional routes, but your DLD export paperwork must name the actual departure airport — see U-Tapao or Bangkok for the import-side mirror.

Apply for the Thai export permit (form 1/1) at least 15 days before departure to the Animal Quarantine Station (AQS) at that airport. In practice, allow more when destination import permits, titer tests or airline cargo bookings still need to align. Email [email protected] for Suvarnabhumi export questions and confirm your flight date at least three days before you fly — the same confirmation rule applies on import.

Keep digital and paper copies of every document in one folder: microchip number, rabies certificate, destination import approval, health certificate draft and flight booking. Mismatched chip numbers between Thai export papers and destination import forms are one of the most common reasons export is delayed at the desk.

When a relocation agent earns its fee

You do not have to use an agent, but many Pattaya owners do for complex destinations (UK, EU, Australia, Japan, Singapore). A good pet relocation specialist lines up three timelines that slip easily when managed alone: destination import rules, Thai DLD export endorsement, and airline cargo or cabin booking.

Agents cannot override law — they still need your pet vaccinated, microchipped and tested on schedule — but they know which AQS forms to submit, which vet clinics issue export-ready health certificates, and how to keep crate dimensions within IATA airline rules. Compare quotes from more than one agent; PattayaPets lists relocation businesses as directory facts, not endorsements.

If you self-manage, budget extra time for a pre-export vet appointment in Pattaya or Bangkok, a dry run to the airport AQS if you have never exported before, and a contingency night in Bangkok if your flight is early and the pet must check in hours ahead in cargo.

Official sources

UAE sources: MOCCAE import permit for pets (updated January 2025). Import mirror: bringing a pet from the UAE.

Official sources to verify against: DLD export of live animals; Suvarnabhumi AQS export: [email protected]; 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; India AQCS; Philippines BAI; China GACC pet entry; South Africa DALRRD import; Canada CFIA; Switzerland FSVO.

Frequently asked

Does the UAE require a rabies titer test from Thailand?

Generally no for UAE entry itself under current MOCCAE guidance — unlike the EU or UK. Confirm on the MOCCAE website before you travel. Consider a titer test anyway if you might move on to stricter destinations later.

How long is the MOCCAE import permit valid?

MOCCAE's online service states the import permit is valid for 90 days from issuance. Do not travel with an expired permit — apply again if your plans slip.

Can my pet fly in the cabin to Dubai?

It depends on the airline and MOCCAE conditions. Many UAE-bound pets travel as manifested cargo under IATA rules. Confirm with the airline and MOCCAE before you book cabin space.

Which UAE airport will I use?

Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH) and other ports have MOCCAE veterinary inspection centres. Confirm the centre for your arrival airport and its hours — cargo arrivals may differ from passenger terminal hours.

What if I originally brought my pet from the UAE?

Returning residents may follow MOCCAE's 'resident pet' rules if rabies vaccination stayed valid and you obtained a MOCCAE veterinary health certificate before leaving the UAE. If vaccination lapsed in Thailand, you may be treated as a first-time import.

Can I export from U-Tapao instead of Suvarnabhumi?

Sometimes — if your airline accepts pets on that route. Export paperwork must match the actual departure airport. See U-Tapao or Bangkok for the Pattaya angle.

How do I get my pet to Suvarnabhumi from Pattaya?

Pre-book a pet-friendly taxi or private transfer with a crate secured. Allow extra time for traffic and cargo check-in cut-offs — often several hours before departure.

Should I stay in Bangkok the night before an export flight?

Many owners do for early cargo departures or when the AQS needs same-day inspection. It reduces the risk of a missed slot if Pattaya traffic is bad.