Pet Transport from Portugal to Thailand

Thailand requires two things from you before your pet boards any flight out of Portugal.

First: an import permit from Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD). The permit is specific to your port of entry – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi for most international arrivals. Apply via dld.go.th with at least 15 days to spare. A pet transport agent can handle this if you find the Thai government portal difficult to navigate.

Second: the official health certificate from your DGAV-authorised vet must be endorsed by the Royal Thai Embassy in Lisbon. Call ahead to book an appointment. Allow a full week between getting the certificate signed and receiving it back with the embassy stamp.

These two steps are sequential. Everything else fits around them.

There is no direct Lisbon-Bangkok flight. Your pet will travel as cargo via a European or Gulf hub.

The most practical options are Lufthansa via Frankfurt, Emirates via Dubai, and Qatar Airways via Doha. Each has reliable cargo handling to Suvarnabhumi. Emirates and Qatar both serve Bangkok directly and handle a high volume of international pet shipments.

Confirm the full routing with your agent before booking. Each leg of the cargo journey needs to accept pets, and the documentation must cover the whole itinerary.

At Suvarnabhumi, the Animal Quarantine office is a separate process from passenger arrivals. Present the DLD permit and the endorsed health certificate. Officials will check the microchip and documentation.

With everything in order and the DLD permit valid, there is no mandatory quarantine period. Clearance typically takes a few hours. Arrive prepared and give yourself time; the inspection cannot be rushed.

For a journey from Lisbon to Bangkok, your pet will spend many hours in transit. An IATA-compliant hard-sided crate is required for cargo travel. It should be large enough for your pet to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably.

Attach a water dispenser to the crate door and leave dry food in a small container inside. Label the crate with your pet’s name, your name, destination address, and emergency contact. Airlines will often ask for this regardless, but it is good practice.

Some owners put a worn t-shirt in the crate for familiar scent. On a long haul, that kind of small comfort makes a difference.