Pet Transport from the UK to Thailand

Moving a pet from the UK to Thailand involves a mandatory 30-day quarantine at a DLD (Department of Livestock Development) facility on arrival. All pets arriving from international origins quarantine, …

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10-16

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Days quarantine on arrival

High

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The United Kingdom to Thailand import process

Start of planning.

Confirm ISO microchip and core vaccination records.

Responsible: Vet

5+ weeks before travel.

Ensure rabies and all core vaccines are current. Titre test blood draw at least 30 days after vaccination.

Responsible: UK vet

30-60 days before travel.

Apply for DLD import permit by email. Include pet's microchip number, vaccination records, and travel details.

Responsible: Owner or agent

4-8 weeks before travel.

Book cargo with Thai Airways or BA. Confirm live animal availability.

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days of travel.

UK OV issues DLD-format AHC within 10 days of Thailand arrival. APHA endorsement. Original only.

Responsible: UK OV + APHA

Travel day.

Pet arrives in Thailand. DLD inspection. 30-day quarantine begins.

Responsible: DLD quarantine facility

Requirements

Thailand entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required. Administered at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw.

Rabies titre test

DLD requires FAVN titre test (minimum 0.5 IU/ml). Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination.

Quarantine

30 days mandatory at a DLD quarantine facility. Owner-paid. All pets from international origins quarantine regardless of documentation.

Import permit

DLD import permit required before travel. Apply to the DLD at least 30-60 days before travel by email to qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th.

Health certificate

AHC from UK OV in DLD format, APHA-endorsed. Original only: electronic copies not accepted. Issued within 10 days of Thailand arrival.

Leaving United Kingdom

Export requirements

Export permit

No UK export permit required.

Health certificate

Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from a UK Official Veterinarian (OV), APHA-endorsed. Compatible with DLD Thailand requirements. Issued within 10 days of Thailand arrival.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Titre test (UK)

UK OV vet consultation + AHC

APHA endorsement fee

IATA-compliant crate

Cargo fee: LHR to BKK

DLD 30-day quarantine (owner-paid)

Agent fee

Critical points

The 30-day DLD quarantine is mandatory for all international arrivals. No waiver applies.

The DLD import permit must be obtained by email before travel. Do not book flights without confirmed DLD approval.

The AHC must be an original document with the OV signature and APHA stamp. Electronic or photocopied certificates are not accepted by DLD.

Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, and Tosa Inus cannot enter Thailand. Confirm your breed before starting the process.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Thai Airways	Thai Airways Cargo from London Heathrow (LHR) to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Direct service. No cabin pets on international routes. Standard carrier for UK-Thailand pet moves.	Cargo Only
British Airways	BA World Cargo via IAG Cargo and PetAir UK. Direct LHR-BKK service. No cabin pets. Good documentation chain from UK side.	Cargo Only
Qatar Airways	Cargo via Doha (DOH). LHR to BKK with one transit. Good frequency and live animal service at Hamad International.	Cargo Only

At a glance: UK to Thailand vs. comparable Asian destinations

Requirement	UK to Thailand	UK to Singapore	UK to Vietnam	UK to Malaysia
Titre test required	Yes (DLD)	No	No	Yes (DVS)
Quarantine on arrival	30 days (DLD)	No	No	30 days (DVS)
Import permit	DLD email permit	No	No (up to 2 pets)	DVS e-Permit
Core vaccines	Full schedule	Yes	Yes	Full schedule
Prohibited breeds	Yes (pit types, Tosa)	Yes	No specific	Yes (restricted list)
Complexity	High	Moderate	Moderate	High
Minimum timeline	10-16 weeks	6-10 weeks	6-10 weeks	12-18 weeks

Vietnam stands out: no quarantine and no titre test. Singapore is also quarantine-free. Thailand and Malaysia both require 30-day quarantine.

Airline comparison: UK to Thailand

Airline	Route	Pet policy	Transit	Notes
Thai Airways	LHR to BKK	Cargo only	Direct	Direct service from Heathrow to Suvarnabhumi. Thailand’s flag carrier
British Airways	LHR to BKK	Cargo only	Direct	Via IAG Cargo and PetAir UK. Direct. Good documentation support
Qatar Airways	LHR to BKK via DOH	Cargo only	1 stop (DOH)	Via Doha. Good alternative if direct carriers are full

Both Thai Airways and British Airways fly direct LHR-BKK cargo. Direct routing means your pet is not handled at an intermediate airport, which is an advantage for a long journey.

DLD import permit: how the email process works

The DLD import permit is applied for by email, not through an online portal. Send your request to qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th at least 30-60 days before travel. Include your pet’s microchip number, species and breed, vaccination and titre test records, your planned arrival date and airport, and your contact details in Thailand.

The DLD replies with a permit number, which must be included on your AHC. Without this permit number, DLD customs staff at the airport will not process the import and the 30-day quarantine booking cannot be confirmed.

Allow at least 30 days for the DLD to respond and issue the permit. If you need to change your travel date, email the DLD to amend the permit. Keep the original email chain as part of your documentation.

The original AHC (with OV signature and APHA endorsement stamp) must travel with your pet and be presented to DLD staff on arrival. Electronic versions and photocopies are explicitly not accepted.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

Yes. All dogs and cats arriving in Thailand from international origins must complete a mandatory 30-day quarantine at a DLD facility. This applies regardless of vaccination history, documentation quality, or country of origin. There is no waiver.

Email qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th at least 30-60 days before your planned arrival date. Include your pet’s microchip number, species, breed, vaccination and titre test records, and planned arrival date and airport. The DLD will issue a permit number by return email. This number must be on your AHC.

No. UK law requires all pets to travel as manifested cargo from Great Britain. There is no cabin option. Your pet travels in the cargo hold with Thai Airways or British Airways.

Yes. The 30-day DLD quarantine applies to cats as well as dogs. All companion animals arriving in Thailand from international origins complete quarantine.

Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) is the primary international entry point for pets arriving in Thailand with DLD quarantine facilities. Confirm your routing uses BKK rather than Don Mueang (DMK), which handles primarily domestic and some budget international flights.

Airline guides

Breed guides

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