Bringing a pet to Thailand · Step 2
Rabies vaccination and the titer test
After the microchip, rabies is the centre of the whole process. Get the timing wrong here and the trip slips by weeks.
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 rabies vaccination
Your pet needs a current rabies vaccination that was given after the microchip, at least 21 days before arrival in Thailand, and no more than one year before travel (or within the validity of the vaccine used). A booster given while a previous shot is still valid keeps the clock running; a lapsed-then-renewed vaccination is treated as a first shot, restarting the 21-day wait.
The other vaccinations Thailand asks for
Rabies is not the only one. Current guidance asks for:
- Dogs: rabies, plus distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus (the combined DHPP shot), plus leptospirosis. If leptospirosis is not vaccinated, a blood test with a negative result is generally required instead.
- Cats: rabies, plus the combined FVRCP shot (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia).
As with rabies, these should be given at least 21 days before arrival and be current.
The rabies titer test — and why to do it anyway
A rabies titer test (also called RNATT or FAVN) is a blood test that measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood, proving the vaccination actually worked. The blood is drawn at least 30 days after the vaccination and sent to an approved laboratory.
For entering Thailand from a rabies-controlled country (such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia or the EU), a titer test is generally not required. But here is the key advice: do it anyway if there is any chance you will later move your pet on to the UK, the EU or Australia. Those destinations do require a titer test, and they impose a waiting period of three months or more after the blood sample. Doing the test now, while you are already at the vet, can save you months later.
Frequently asked
How long before travel should the rabies shot be given?
At least 21 days before arrival in Thailand, and it must still be within its validity period on the day you travel. If in doubt, give it earlier rather than later.
Is the titer test required to enter Thailand?
Generally no, for pets coming from rabies-controlled countries. It becomes important if you later move your pet to a country that requires it, such as the UK, EU or Australia — so many owners do it pre-emptively. Confirm your case with the DLD.
Where is the titer blood test analysed?
At an approved rabies laboratory — your vet or a pet relocation agent will know the nearest accepted lab. The result takes a few weeks to come back, which is why you start early.