Pet Transport from the Netherlands to Thailand

The moment you decide to bring your dog or cat with you to Thailand, two things become clear very quickly. First, this is absolutely doable. Second, the paperwork has to happen in …

8-12 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Step by step

The import process, in full

Before anything else. The microchip must predate the rabies vaccination.

Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

After microchip. Two doses 21 days apart for a new course.

Rabies vaccination (two-dose course if starting fresh)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

At least 15 days before travel. Via dld.go.th or through your agent.

Apply for Thailand DLD import permit

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

6-8 weeks before travel. Confirm all legs of the journey accept pets.

Book cargo space and confirm airline routing

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

Within 10 days of departure.

Official health certificate from NVWA-authorised vet

Responsible: NVWA-authorised official veterinarian

Allow 3-7 working days. Book appointment.

Royal Thai Embassy endorsement in The Hague

Responsible: You

Arrive 3+ hours before departure.

Travel day: cargo check-in with full document set

Responsible: You and airline cargo desk

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required. Two doses at least 21 days apart if no valid prior history, or one booster if vaccination is current.

Rabies titre test

Not currently required from the Netherlands under DLD guidance. Verify before booking.

Quarantine

No quarantine if documentation is complete and the DLD import permit is valid.

Import permit

Required. Apply to Thailand's Department of Livestock Development (DLD) at least 15 days before travel.

Health certificate

Official health certificate from NVWA-authorised vet. Must be endorsed by the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague before departure.

Export permit

{'required': False}

Health certificate

Official health certificate issued by an NVWA-authorised official veterinarian. Must be endorsed by the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague before departure.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Netherlands to Thailand move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

KLM

KLM Cargo handles pets from Amsterdam Schiphol. Direct routes to Bangkok. Small pets may travel in cabin on certain routes. Temperature-controlled hold for cargo.

Cabin and Cargo

Thai Airways

Small pets in cabin (under 5kg including carrier) on approved routes. Cargo for larger pets. Flies Amsterdam-Bangkok directly in season.

Cabin and Cargo

Emirates

Cargo via Emirates SkyCargo. Via Dubai to Bangkok. Temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to seasonal restrictions.

Cargo Only

Qatar Airways

Cargo via Doha to Bangkok. Temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted.

Cargo Only

Lufthansa

Cargo via Frankfurt. Temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round.

Cabin and Cargo

Costs

What this route typically costs

KLM or connecting airline cargo fee (Amsterdam to Bangkok)

IATA-compliant hard-sided crate

Veterinary fees: microchipping, vaccinations, official health certificate

DLD import permit fee

Thai Embassy endorsement fee

Pet transport agent fee (recommended)

Critical points

Embassy endorsement must be done before departure. It cannot be done on arrival in Thailand.

DLD import permit is port-specific. Confirm your entry airport before applying.

Source: Thailand Department of Livestock Development (dld.go.th); NVWA Netherlands (nvwa.nl).

Thailand's entry requirements: what the DLD is looking for

Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development is the authority that controls all pet imports. They want to see three things when your pet arrives at Suvarnabhumi: a valid ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination with proper records, and an endorsed import permit in hand.

The permit application goes through dld.go.th. If you are using a pet transport agent, they can handle this on your behalf. The permit will specify your arrival airport. Do not change airports after the permit is issued without contacting DLD first.

The embassy endorsement: plan around this

After your NVWA-authorised official vet in the Netherlands signs the health certificate, it needs to go to the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague. They will review and stamp it.

Call ahead for an appointment. Walk-ins are not reliable. Allow a full week between getting the certificate signed and needing it endorsed. This is the step that creates the tightest timing window in the whole process.

Flying Amsterdam to Bangkok with a pet

KLM is the natural first choice. It flies direct from Schiphol to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and has a well-established cargo process for pets. Book cargo space through the KLM Cargo desk, not the passenger booking system.

Thai Airways also flies this route and allows small cabin pets on certain departures. Emirates and Qatar both offer connections via their Gulf hubs if scheduling suits you better.

For larger dogs, cargo is the only option. The KLM and Emirates cargo holds are temperature-controlled, which matters on long-haul flights.

What happens when you land in Bangkok

Arrive prepared. At Suvarnabhumi, the Animal Quarantine checkpoint is a separate process from passenger arrivals. Present the DLD permit and the endorsed health certificate. With everything in order, clearance typically takes a few hours. No mandatory quarantine applies for pets from the Netherlands with complete documentation.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. The official health certificate issued by your NVWA-authorised vet in the Netherlands must be endorsed by the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague before you travel. This cannot be done after you arrive in Thailand.

Apply via dld.go.th at least 15 days before your travel date. The permit specifies your port of entry. A pet transport agent can manage this process if you prefer not to navigate the Thai government portal directly.

No mandatory quarantine if your DLD permit is valid and all documents are endorsed and correct. The arrival inspection at Suvarnabhumi is usually completed within a few hours.

KLM Cargo from Schiphol is the most direct and convenient option. Thai Airways is also worth considering, especially for smaller dogs that might qualify for cabin travel. Emirates and Qatar are reliable cargo options via their respective hubs.

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to Thailand.

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Pet Transport from the Netherlands to Thailand

The import process, in full

What your pet needs

Carriers on this route

What this route typically costs

Critical points

Thailand's entry requirements: what the DLD is looking for

The embassy endorsement: plan around this

Flying Amsterdam to Bangkok with a pet

What happens when you land in Bangkok

Common questions

Move your pet

Airline guides

Breed guides

Get a free pet transport quote