Good news: your pet is coming
No need to panic: bringing your dog or cat to Thailand is entirely possible, and families do it every year. It's not an exotic process, it's a sequence of paperwork with deadlines. The one truly costly mistake is starting late: some steps (the vaccine, titration if it applies) have minimum timeframes that can't be sped up.
What it needs, in order
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Standard (ISO) ID, before the vaccine |
| Rabies vaccine | Current, with the lead time the rule requires |
| Rabies titration | Antibody test, depending on the case |
| Official health certificate | Issued by a vet and validated by the Spanish authorities before travel |
| Import permit | From Thailand's Department of Livestock Development |
Order matters: the microchip comes before the vaccine so it's linked to the chip, and the certificate and permit come in the last few days. A vet experienced in export handles the sequence without surprises.
Quarantine? Almost never
With complete and in-order documentation, the usual outcome is no facility quarantine; authorities can order monitoring or home quarantine. Problems almost always come from incomplete or late paperwork, not the animal. Again: the key is lead time.
The flight
- Size decides: small pets sometimes travel in the cabin; medium and large ones in the pressurized hold with an IATA-approved carrier.
- Not every airline or route accepts animals: the flight is chosen around the pet, not the other way around. It's a case where booking the flight has an extra variable.
- Book the animal's spot well in advance: the quota per flight is limited.
- There are pet relocation agencies that handle door-to-door if the trip is complex.
Once in Thailand
Good news here too: Thailand is very animal-friendly. Good, cheap vets, pet shops everywhere, and in many areas — especially houses and villas in Hua Hin or Koh Samui — it's easy to have a dog. In city condos it's worth confirming pets are allowed before signing the lease: not all of them do.
Where Bexpat fits in
We're not vets or a pet transport agency, but the pet affects the flight, the date and even the apartment, so we factor it in from the start: we help the calendar line up and help you find a pet-friendly apartment. For the veterinary side, we coordinate with an export specialist. If you're still deciding, the visa test is the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
What does my pet need?
Microchip, current rabies vaccine, official health certificate validated in Spain and an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development. Depending on the case, a rabies antibody test.
Is there quarantine?
With complete paperwork, the usual outcome is no facility quarantine (monitoring or home quarantine is still possible). Problems come from late paperwork, not the animal.
How does it travel on the plane?
Depends on size and airline: small pets sometimes in the cabin, medium and large in the pressurized hold with an IATA carrier. Not every route accepts animals; book the spot well in advance.