Bringing a pet to Thailand · By country
Bringing a pet to Thailand from the UK
The Thai requirements are the standard ones. What is UK-specific is who endorses your paperwork — and what you must plan for if you ever come back.
Last updated 21 May 2026
Rules change — verify before you act
This guide was last reviewed in May 2026. Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD), airlines and origin-country authorities change their rules without notice. Treat this as an orientation, then confirm every current requirement with the DLD, your airline and your origin-country authority before you book or travel.
The UK side of the paperwork
Follow the standard steps — microchip, rabies, health certificate and DLD import permit. In the UK, the export health certificate is endorsed by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Use a vet experienced in export work, and start the APHA process early.
The return trip is the catch
This is the single most important thing for UK owners to understand. Thailand is treated by the UK as an ‘unlisted’ country. To bring a pet back into the UK from Thailand, you need a rabies titer (blood) test taken at least 30 days after vaccination — and then you must wait three months from the date of that blood sample before the pet can enter the UK.
The practical lesson: if there is any chance you will return to the UK with your pet, have the titer test done before you leave the UK, while the vaccination is fresh. It saves a three-month wait later. See our guide to taking a pet out of Thailand.
Frequently asked
Does Thailand need a titer test for a pet from the UK?
Generally no — the UK is a rabies-controlled country, so Thailand does not require the titer test to enter. But the UK requires it for the return journey, so most UK owners do the test anyway before leaving.
Who endorses my pet's paperwork in the UK?
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) endorses the export health certificate completed by your vet. Confirm the current process with APHA and your vet.