Sandra E. Says:
Could I take my dog with me to Thailand? What do I need to consider?
IL Executive Editor Jennifer Stevens Says:
Hi Sandra,
Anyone wishing to bring live animals into Thailand must obtain a permit before the importation. There are clear guidelines that must be followed to get this.
Once you meet all the pre-arrival requirements, your pets (dogs and cats) can be brought on the same flight with you, as excess baggage, or separately, as cargo with a commercial pet carrier.
One expat we know brought his two dogs in using a commercial pet carrier. He recommends using such an agent as the documentation and communication with local officials, on arrival, was quite overwhelming. It cost him about $1,600 and took about five hours to retrieve the animals from the cargo section at Bangkok airport after his arrival.
The International Pet and Animal Association has a handy search function to help you locate a carrier.
Here are some things to consider before bringing your dog to Thailand:
- Thailand does not recognize assistance animals, like seeing-eye, hearing-ear, or diabetes assist dogs.
- Some hotels, restaurants and attractions will not allow entry to assistance animals either.
- If you are bringing your pets, take the time to consider your exit strategy, just in case things don’t go to plan or your long-term plans change.
- Once you import your pet into Thailand, they are considered Thai and you may not be able to re-enter your home country without first taking them to another jurisdiction like Hong Kong or Malaysia.
I hope that’s helped. You can read more about Thailand on the dedicated page of our website.
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