Bringing Your Pet to Bangkok, Step by Step
Relocating a pet to Bangkok means meeting Thailand’s import requirements, from core vaccinations to an import permit from Thailand’s Animal Quarantine Station. Starwood Pet Travel handles every step of this process for you. We coordinate with vets, the USDA, airlines, and Thai quarantine officials to make sure your dog or cat arrives safely and on schedule.
Whether you’re moving to Bangkok for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Thailand, our team manages the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Airports Serving Bangkok
Recommended
BKK
Thailand’s main international gateway
- Distance from city center16 miles (25 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityYes, an Animal Quarantine Station in the cargo terminal
- Direct flights from US hubsVia connections
- Best forMost pet relocations to Bangkok
DMK
North of the city
- Distance from city center15 miles (24 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityYes, an Animal Quarantine Station open 24 hours
- Direct flights from US hubsNo
- Best forRegional and low-cost routings within Asia
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Why airport choice matters
Both Bangkok airports have an Animal Quarantine Station, and your import permit is issued by the station at your pet’s port of entry. Choosing the airport determines where you apply. Suvarnabhumi handles nearly all long-haul arrivals, so it’s the usual entry point for pets coming from the US. Starwood plans your pet’s arrival airport, permit, and flight together so everything matches.
Traveling to Bangkok with Pets
What Are the Requirements to Bring My Pet to Bangkok?
To bring a dog or cat from the US to Bangkok, your pet needs:
- An ISO microchip
- Required vaccinations
- An import permit from the Animal Quarantine Station at its port of entry
- A Thailand-specific health certificate endorsed by the USDA
Pets must be at least 4 months old. For full country-level requirements, see our Thailand Pet Relocation Guide.
It starts with a 15-digit ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip, recorded on every vaccination and health document. Thailand then requires these vaccinations:
- Dogs: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and leptospirosis
- Cats: rabies and feline panleukopenia
Pets must be at least 12 weeks old for a primary rabies vaccine. After any primary vaccine, you must wait 21 days before applying for the import permit. If your dog doesn’t have a valid leptospirosis vaccine, or doesn’t meet the 21-day wait, it needs a negative leptospirosis test within 30 days of departure.
The import permit is applied for by email to the Animal Quarantine Station at your port of entry. Here’s what to know about timing:
- Apply at least 7 days and no more than 60 days before departure.
- Processing takes 5 to 7 Thai business days, so 30 days ahead is recommended.
- The permit is valid for 60 days after it’s issued.
- Some airlines won’t board a pet without one.
Last comes the health certificate, completed by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by the USDA. It’s valid for 10 days from the date of USDA endorsement, so your pet must arrive in Thailand within that window. Keep the original endorsed certificate with your pet; Thai officials check original documents on arrival.
Thailand doesn’t ban any dog breeds, though airlines may set their own breed restrictions.
Which Airport Should I Fly My Pet Into, and What Happens on Arrival?
Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) is the right choice for nearly every Bangkok relocation. It’s about 16 miles east of central Bangkok and handles nearly all long-haul flights.
Here’s an important detail for pets arriving as cargo. The Animal Quarantine Station in Suvarnabhumi’s cargo terminal is open only Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on weekends and Thai holidays. Pets can only be picked up during those hours, so the arrival day and time need careful planning.
At the station, officials inspect your pet and its documents, including:
- The traveler’s original passport, or the passport of the person picking up the pet
- Original vaccination records
- The original USDA-endorsed health certificate
- The printed import permit
Thailand then issues an import license, with a fee of 500 baht per animal. Starwood coordinates clearance and pickup, so your pet moves from the aircraft to your new home as quickly as possible.
What Airlines Fly Pets to Bangkok, and How Should I Choose a Route?
Most pets reach Bangkok through a connection in Asia, the Middle East, or Europe. Not every airline accepts pets as cargo, and pet policies vary by route, so Starwood confirms each carrier’s current rules before booking.
The right route depends on your departure city, travel dates, your pet’s breed and size, and temperature restrictions. Bangkok’s year-round heat makes airline temperature limits especially important. Snub-nosed breeds face extra airline limits. Starwood compares the options and books the safest, most direct routing available for your pet. We also time the arrival for when the cargo quarantine station is open.
How Long Does the Process Take, and What Does It Cost?
Plan for at least two to three months. Primary vaccines require a 21-day wait before the permit application. The permit itself should be requested about 30 days before departure. The health certificate must be endorsed within 10 days of arrival.
Cost depends on your pet’s size, departure city, and routing. Use our cost calculator to get an estimate.
Why Choose Starwood for Pet Travel to Bangkok?
Starwood Pet Travel is an IATA-certified international pet relocation company and part of IVC Evidensia. Moving a pet to Thailand comes with specific challenges:
- Port-specific import permits
- A 10-day health certificate window
- Weekday-only cargo pickup hours
- Long-haul routing in hot weather
Our team handles all of it, from vet coordination and USDA paperwork to the import permit, airline booking, quarantine station clearance, and delivery to your door.
Whether you’re moving to Bangkok for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Thailand, we manage the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Ready to start your pet’s journey to Bangkok? Request a free quote.
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