Bringing a pet to Thailand · Step 1
The microchip your pet needs
Every dog or cat entering Thailand must be identifiable by microchip — and the chip has to go in before the rabies shot. This is the first thing to get right.
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.
Which microchip counts
Thailand requires a microchip that meets ISO standard 11784/11785 — the 15-digit chip read by standard scanners worldwide. This is the same chip standard used across the UK, EU and most of the world, so a pet chipped in those places is usually already compliant.
If your pet has a non-ISO chip (some older US chips are 9 or 10 digit, or 125 kHz AVID/Home Again chips), you have two options: have an ISO chip implanted as well, or travel with your own compatible scanner. An extra ISO chip is the simpler fix.
Why the order matters
The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. The reason is simple: the rabies certificate and every other record must quote the microchip number, so officials can confirm the vaccinated animal is the animal in front of them. A rabies shot given before the chip does not count, and would have to be repeated.
So the correct sequence is: microchip first, then rabies vaccination, then everything else.
Get it documented
Ask your vet to record the microchip number, the date implanted and the chip’s standard on your pet’s records. That number will appear on the rabies certificate, the health certificate and the import permit application, so it needs to be consistent everywhere.
Frequently asked
Does my pet need a new microchip if it already has an ISO one?
No. An existing ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip is fine — you do not need another. You only need to act if the existing chip is a non-ISO type.
My pet was vaccinated for rabies before it was chipped. Is that a problem?
Usually yes. Because the rabies record must reference the microchip, a rabies vaccination given before the chip is generally not accepted, and the vaccination has to be redone after chipping. Confirm your exact situation with your vet and the DLD.