Home/Routes/Thailand to Portugal
TH
Thailand
✈️
PT
Portugal

Pet Transport Thailand to Portugal: DLD Permit, FAVN Test and Lisbon Arrival

20-24 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified

Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →

Overview
Thailand to Portugal follows the same EU unlisted country route as other Asian origins to the EU: FAVN titre test, 90-day wait, and EU AHC. TAP Air Portugal, Qatar Airways, and Emirates serve Bangkok to Lisbon via connecting hubs. Portugal’s DGAV handles EU border inspections at Lisbon. No quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. Start five to six months before your move date.
Step by step

The Thailand to Portugal process

1
Before rabies vaccination.
Implant ISO microchip

Responsible: Vet

2
After microchip. Allow 21 days before titre test.
Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Vet

3
Blood draw at least 21 days after vaccination. EU-approved laboratory.
FAVN titre test

Responsible: EU-approved laboratory

4
From confirmed blood draw date.
90-day waiting period

Responsible: Owner to track

5
During 90-day wait.
DLD export permit application by email

Responsible: Owner

6
Within 10 days before arrival in Portugal.
EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

Responsible: Authorised vet

7
On travel day.
DLD inspection at BKK on departure

Responsible: DLD, airline cargo

Checklist

Portugal: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit non-encrypted. Before rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. After microchip. At least 21 days before titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre testRequired. FAVN rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Thailand is an unlisted third country under EU Regulation 2016/429. 90-day waiting period from blood draw date.
QuarantineNone for compliant pets entering Portugal.
Import permitNot required.
Health certificateEU Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued within 10 days before arrival in Portugal.
Leaving Thailand

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitDLD (Department of Livestock Development) export permit applied for by email to the local DLD district office. Inspection at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) on departure day.
Health certificateIssued by an accredited vet. Documents microchip, rabies vaccination, and health status.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1FAVN titre test: THB 3,000 to THB 8,000 (approximately £65 to £175)
2DLD export permit: low cost, allow processing time
3Rabies vaccination: THB 800 to THB 2,500
4IATA crate: THB 3,000 to THB 10,000
5Cargo fees (BKK to LIS): THB 20,000 to THB 60,000
6Agent fee: THB 8,000 to THB 20,000
7EU AHC: THB 2,000 to THB 5,000
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Thailand is unlisted for EU pet travel. FAVN titre test and 90-day wait are mandatory.
⚠ DLD uses an email-based application. Allow at least 2 weeks for permit processing.
⚠ Portugal's DGAV oversees EU border inspections at Lisbon Airport. Your cargo agent handles TRACES pre-notification.
⚠ Portugal has no breed ban beyond standard EU regulations. The EU AHC is the key document.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

TAP Air Portugal Cargo
Bangkok (BKK) to Lisbon (LIS) via a connecting hub. TAP Cargo accepts pets. The Lisbon hub is TAP's home base.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways Cargo
BKK via Doha (DOH) to LIS. Qatar Airways Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
Emirates Cargo
BKK via Dubai (DXB) to LIS. Emirates Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
BKK via Frankfurt (FRA) to LIS. Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only

Portugal's appeal for relocated pets from Thailand

Portugal has been a popular relocation destination for people moving from Southeast Asia, particularly digital nomads and retirees attracted by the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) tax regime and the Golden Visa programme. This has made Bangkok to Lisbon a more commonly requested corridor than it might seem.

Portugal’s climate and outdoor culture suit most dogs well. Lisbon Airport (LIS) handles international pet cargo arrivals through its TRACES-connected inspection post. DGAV veterinary inspectors are experienced with international arrivals.

DLD to DGAV: the two ends of the process

The DLD (Department of Livestock Development) in Thailand and DGAV (Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária) in Portugal are both national veterinary authorities, each handling one end of the move.

DLD issues the export permit after inspecting the animal at Suvarnabhumi on departure day. DGAV oversees the border inspection at Lisbon. The EU AHC is the bridge document that DGAV’s inspector checks on arrival. Both authorities work within their respective national frameworks but the EU AHC provides a standardised format that DGAV recognises.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Portugal does not impose quarantine for pets from Thailand provided the EU requirements are met: ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination, FAVN titre test at 0.5 IU/ml or above, completed 90-day wait, and EU AHC issued within 10 days before arrival. The DGAV inspection at Lisbon is a documentation check, not a quarantine hold.
TAP Air Portugal, Qatar Airways, and Emirates all serve this corridor via connecting hubs. TAP via Doha or a European connection, Qatar via Doha, and Emirates via Dubai are all used. For most pets, Qatar via Doha works well with a manageable transit time. For large dogs, KLM via Amsterdam is also worth checking. Compare space availability and total transit time before booking.
No additional national requirements beyond the standard EU AHC. Portugal follows EU Regulation 2016/429 for all third country pet imports. The AHC, combined with the DLD export health certificate from Thailand, constitutes the full document set for Portugal entry.
Thailand is classified as an unlisted country for EU pet travel. FAVN rabies antibody titre tests must be performed at EU-approved laboratories. The test requires a blood draw in Thailand (by your vet), which is couriered to an approved laboratory. Most Thai pet owners use laboratories in the USA or Europe. The result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above, and the 90-day wait to Portugal starts from the blood draw date of that result.
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