Importing pets into Thailand is possible, as long as certain requirements are met. The Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services is responsible for importation of pets into Thailand. Below are the things you need to keep in mind when trying to import pets into Thailand.

You Will Have To Fill The Required Forms

If you are importing the pet for less than 6 months, you will be lucky since you can avoid import duties, although you will have to pay a deposit in case you violate this provision. At the Bangkok International Airport, you can get the authorization to import a pet by air. During this process, you will need to fill a form allowing you to transit animals through Thailand, a form permitting you to bring animals into Thailand, and an application form for special importation.

The applications may require payment of other fees in addition to import duties if the pet is to remain in the country for more than 6 months.

Vaccination Requirements

Your pet must also have a rabies vaccination certificate indicating that it was vaccinated at least 21 days before departure. A leptospirosis vaccination certificate is also required, and it must indicate that the pet was vaccinated at least 21 days before the day of departure. A leptospirosis test indicating that the pet is free from this disease during the 30 days prior to departure can also be used in place of a leptospirosis vaccination certificate.

Additionally, the animal must generally be healthy and should not have signs of an infectious or contagious disease and should also be healthy enough to travel. Finally, the country which the animal is being imported from must not have had rabies reported in the last 12 months.

Pets That Are Exempt From Rabies Vaccination Requirement

Not all pets have to go through these medical tests. For instance, fish, birds, and other pets might not be subject to rabies vaccination requirements. Nevertheless, it is still necessary that they are accompanied with a health certificate. Additionally, you might have to prove that the pet you are importing is not protected as an endangered species, for instance, when importing turtles or parrots.

Quarantine

Once your pet arrives into Thailand, it will be taken into quarantine during which time it will be evaluated and tested for any diseases. Once the pet is found to be healthy enough, it will be released to you. However, if your pet enters through any other port, it will have to go to an official quarantine area before being released to you.

Prohibited Pet Breeds

Some pet breeds are not allowed into Thailand. For instance, the American Pit Bull Terrier and American Staffordshire Terriers are not allowed into Thailand. If your pet does not qualify to be released to you because of disease issues or violations of restrictions to certain breeds, it will end up in quarantine at your expense.

Bottom Line

To put it simply, it is possible to import pets into Thailand. However, there are several requirements that have to be met first, particularly for dogs and cats. For all pets, its best to have prove of ownership and in some cases evidence that the pet is not protected as an endangered species. Once the pets undergo some quarantine to verify that they are healthy, they will be released to you.