Bringing a pet to Thailand · Step 3
The veterinary health certificate
This is the document that ties the microchip, the vaccinations and your pet’s clean bill of health into one official paper.
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.
What it is
The health certificate states that your pet is healthy, fit to travel, free of signs of infectious disease, and lists the microchip number and the vaccination dates. Thailand accepts a certificate that meets its requirements; an official APHIS/EU-style export certificate is the usual form.
Who issues and endorses it
Two steps. First, a licensed veterinarian examines your pet and completes the certificate. Second — and this is the step people forget — it must be endorsed by the origin country’s government veterinary authority: USDA APHIS in the United States, APHA in the United Kingdom, and the equivalent competent authority in EU countries. An un-endorsed certificate is not enough.
The timing window
The certificate is only valid for a short window — commonly issued within about ten days of travel, and some sources say seven. Because it must also be government-endorsed inside that window, the final fortnight before departure is the busy one. Book the vet exam and the endorsement well in advance, and confirm the exact validity period that applies to your route.
Frequently asked
Can my normal vet do the health certificate?
Your vet can carry out the examination and complete the certificate, but it then needs government endorsement (APHIS, APHA or the EU equivalent). Some vets are specifically accredited for export work — ask before booking.
What if my travel date moves?
Because the certificate has a short validity, a delayed trip can mean re-issuing it. Build a little slack into your plans and keep your vet informed.