How to Legally Bring Pets into Thailand from Abroad

Bringing living beings, especially animals, into Thailand from abroad, whether as personal pets or imported pets, requires some initial knowledge. “Living animals” are classified as “restricted items” under Thai law. Therefore, pets brought into the country are not exempt from duty and must obtain an import permit from the Department of Livestock Development first. The details and procedures are summarized as follows:

1. Procedure for Bringing Pets into Thailand as Accompanied Baggage by Passengers

Required Documents: Passport and Original Health Certificate for the pet

Steps:

1. Arrival at Airport: Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport or any other international airport in Thailand, proceed through immigration and collect your pet, such as a dog or cat.
2. Quarantine Station: Take your pet along with the relevant documents to the airport’s animal quarantine station. Here, you will apply for permission to bring your pet into the country. The veterinarian at the station will check the documents and examine the pet. If the pet is found to be free of contagious diseases or carriers of such diseases, a permit to bring the pet into the kingdom (Form R.7) will be issued.
3. Bring your pet and the R.7 form (issued by the Department of Livestock Development) to the customs officers at the “Goods to declare” channel for pay the necessary duties and receive a receipt.

Note: For more information on obtaining the permit, visit the Department of Livestock Development website: http://www.dld.go.th.

2. Procedure for Importing Pets at Suvarnabhumi Airport Customs Inspection Office

Steps:

1. Applying for Import Permit: The import permit must be applied for in advance of the importation. The importer must submit the application at the relevant animal quarantine station, aquatic animal inspection station, or wildlife inspection station at the point of entry, depending on the type of animal.
2. Customs Registration: Register as a customs declarant at any customs office throughout the country.
3. Customs Clearance: The importer can prepare two types of import declarations:

• Special Import Declaration (Form กศก.102)
• Import Declaration (Form กศก.99/1)

Note: The permit for importing animals or animal carcasses (Form R.6) must be issued before the date of import. If customs officers find that the permit was issued after the import date, the importer may be considered to have violated import restrictions.

3. Procedure for Temporarily Bringing Pets into Thailand

Steps:

1. Submitting a Special Import Declaration: Submit the Special Import Declaration (Form กศก.102) to customs officers along with the following documents:

• Passport
• Original or copy of the Air Waybill
• Import Permit (Form R.6 / Form R.7)
• Other evidence proving ownership

2. Insurance and Bond Agreement: Sign a bond agreement to export the pet within 6 months from the date of import, specifying the customs office where the pet will be exported from.

3. Customs Inspection and Release: Customs officers will inspect and release the pet. A copy of the bond agreement will be provided for use as proof during the export process.

For more details: https://bit.ly/3LKXf2T
Source: Customs Department
Photo: Freepik