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Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Costa Rica to Thailand: the rules

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: microchip, recorded on the vaccination record, rabies vaccination (first one at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before departure) and dogs: leptospirosis vaccination, or a negative test within 30 days before departure and 4 more.

Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 14 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: Thailand → Costa Rica

In short

At a glance

How early to start (dogs)

3 weeks

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Rabies vaccination (first one at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before departure) (21 days after a primary (or lapsed) vaccination)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (dogs)

  • No rabies blood test
  • Import permit needed
  • No quarantine

How early to start (cats)

3 weeks

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Rabies vaccination (first one at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before departure) (21 days after a primary (or lapsed) vaccination)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (cats)

  • No rabies blood test
  • Import permit needed
  • No quarantine

Prefer a feed reader? Costa Rica rule changes · Thailand rule changes

Costa Rica → Thailand

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Costa Rica (leaving) or Thailand (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

  1. Get ready

    1. Age ruleEntering Thailand

      At least 4 months old

      Your pet must be at least 4 months old to be imported into Thailand.

      Details and the official words

      “Pets must be at least 4 months old to be able to import into Thailand.”

      “Pet(s) must be at least 4 months old”

    2. IdentificationCosta Rica and Thailand

      Microchip, recorded on the vaccination record

      Your pet's vaccination record gives its microchip number, and the import permit application includes a microchip certificate. On arrival the station checks that the number on the documents matches the pet.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate: SENASA's resolution of January 2025 makes individual identification with a 15-digit ISO microchip compulsory for dogs and cats imported, exported or in transit, with the number declared on the health certificate.

      The resolution takes effect six months after its publication in the official gazette La Gaceta, which we couldn't date. We show the microchip to be safe: ask SENASA if your pet has none.

      “Pet’s details (breed, sex, DOB, color, and microchip no.)”

      “Microchip certificate”

      “the microchip no. on the document must conform with the animal bears”

      “Se ordena como medida sanitaria implementar un sistema de identificación y rastreabilidad individual obligatorio para la importación, exportación o tránsito por el país para los animales de compañía (perros y gatos)”

      “El código de identificación asignado al animal debe declararse en el certificado sanitario correspondiente.”

      “Rige seis meses posteriores a su publicación en el Diario Oficial La Gaceta.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Thailand

      Rabies vaccination (first one at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before departure)

      Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccination record must be in English and give the vet's full name, licence number and signature. A first (primary) rabies vaccination must be given at 12 weeks old or older. After a first vaccination, or one given after the previous one lapsed, wait 21 days before departure; a booster given while the previous vaccination was still valid needs no wait (attach the earlier records).

      Details and the official words

      DLD's older requirement sheet (2015) lets pets from a country free of rabies for the past 12 months skip the vaccination; the current Suvarnabhumi station guidance lists rabies for every dog and cat. If your pet comes from a rabies-free country, ask the station.

      “Dog: Rabies**, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis*** vaccines”

      “Cat: Rabies** and Feline Panleukopenia vaccines”

      “In case of primary Rabies vaccine: animal was at least 12 weeks old at the time of administration.”

      “In case of primary or discontinuity vaccination, animal must wait for 21 days since vaccination before departure. However, animal has valid booster vaccination, a waiting period is not required and the previous vaccination records should be attached.”

      “Veterinarian’s details who administrates vaccines (full name, license number, and signature)”

      “The country has been free from Rabies for at least the past 12 (twelve) months OR the animals are vaccinated against Rabies with an official approved vaccine not less than 21 (twenty- one) days prior to the departure.”

    4. VaccinationEntering Thailand

      Dogs: leptospirosis vaccination, or a negative test within 30 days before departure

      Your dog needs a valid leptospirosis vaccination. A first (or lapsed) vaccination must be at least 21 days before departure; a booster given while the last one was still valid needs no wait. A dog without a valid leptospirosis vaccination needs a negative leptospirosis test within the 30 days before departure instead.

      Details and the official words

      “In case of dogs that did not have a valid Leptospirosis vaccine: dogs must have a negative result for the Leptospirosis test within 30 days prior to departure”

      “In case of primary or discontinuity vaccination, animal must wait for 21 days since vaccination before departure.”

    5. VaccinationEntering Thailand

      Other vaccinations: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus (dogs); feline panleukopenia (cats)

      Your dog needs valid canine distemper, canine hepatitis and canine parvovirus vaccinations. A first (or lapsed) vaccination must be at least 21 days before departure; a booster given while the last one was still valid needs no wait.

      Details and the official words

      “Dog: Rabies**, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis*** vaccines”

      “Cat: Rabies** and Feline Panleukopenia vaccines”

      “In case of primary or discontinuity vaccination, animal must wait for 21 days since vaccination before departure.”

    6. PermitEntering Thailand

      Import permit from the animal quarantine station at your arrival airport

      Email the animal quarantine station at the airport where you will arrive (for Suvarnabhumi, qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th) at least 7 working days before arrival: the application form R1/1, a copy of your passport, a photo of your pet with its face clearly shown, and its vaccination record in English, as one PDF per animal. The station emails the import permit within 7 working days; it is valid for 60 days. (A pet travelling with you may instead get the permit on arrival: see the note below. Airlines may ask for the permit before boarding.)

      Details and the official words

      “must be submit at least 7 working days before arrival only”

      “An applicant importing pets by air cargo to Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport needs to obtain an import permit in advance by submitting the relevant documents below at least 7 working days prior to importation;”

      “An application R1/1 form”

      “Copy of passenger’s passport”

      “Pet’s photo with its face clearly shown”

      “Vaccination record* (must be in English) which includes”

      “For the importation of more than one pet, the documents should be attached separately, one animal for one pdf file.”

      “The staff will review the documents and send an import permit by email within 7 working days.”

      “An import permit is valid for 60 days. If a flight, date, and time are rescheduled within 60 days, it can be used without applying for a new one.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PaperworkCosta Rica and Thailand

      Official health certificate, endorsed by the exporting country's government (valid 10 days)

      Before departure, get an official health certificate stating Thailand's health requirements from the veterinary authorities of the country your pet leaves from. It must be in English, endorsed and stamped by the government, legible, accurate and complete. The certificate for dogs and cats is valid for 10 days after endorsement, so your pet must arrive within that time. Bring the original: stations have said that digitally signed or stamped copies are not accepted.

      Details and the official words

      Export certificate from a private vet, signed by SENASA: An authorised private vet examines your pet, checks it meets the destination's requirements and issues the national export certificate (on the Costa Rican veterinary college's form). Take it to SENASA with your pet's vaccination card, any document the destination asks for (if it has its own certificate model, you need both) and proof of payment (tariff code C.16, ₡17,322 in 2026). SENASA's official vet reviews the certificates and signs them; once signed, your pet can leave. Certificates that don't need SENASA to authenticate the vet's signature can be signed at any SENASA office.

      “Before departure, please contact the Veterinary authorities in exporting country to obtain an official health certificate which stating the health requirement.”

      “The health certificate must have endorsement and stamped from the government.”

      “The health certificate must be legible, accurate and complete.”

      “A health certificate in English, signed or further endorsed by a full-time authorized veterinary official of the government of the exporting country”

      “The certificate for dogs and cats is valid for 10 days after endorsement”

      “The AQS won’t accept any digitally signed/stamped copy of the health certificate.”

      “Para iniciar el trámite, el propietario debe acudir a un médico veterinario privado autorizado para que realice la valoración clínica.”

      “El profesional verificará el cumplimiento de los requisitos solicitados por el país de destino y emitirá el certificado de exportación que presentará ante SENASA.”

      “El médico veterinario oficial de SENASA revisa el o los certificados presentados por el veterinario privado y confirmará el cumplimiento de los requisitos.”

      “Una vez firmado el certificado, la mascota puede salir del país.”

      “En el caso de que el país de destino requiera un modelo de certificado adicional, el usuario deberá gestionar ambos documentos.”

      “Asimismo, SENASA recuerda que los usuarios deben presentar la cartilla de vacunas y cualquier documento exigido por el país de destino.”

      “Cancelar el monto correspondiente, según el decreto tarifario código C.16”

      “CERTIFICADO EXPORTAC. ANIMALES, PRODUCTOS Y SUBPRODUCTOS NO COMESTIBLES (Resolución DG-R0014-2021)”

      “Certificado de exportación nacional (papelería del CMV) emitido por un médico veterinario privado;”

      “Los demás certificados que no requieran autenticación de firma por parte del país de destino pueden ser firmados en cualquier oficina del SENASA.”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Thailand

      Veterinary inspection at the animal quarantine station on arrival

      On arrival, take your pet to the animal quarantine station with the original health certificate, the original pet passport or vaccination record, your passport and the printed import permit. The station checks the documents and the microchip, issues the notice of import approval (form R-6) and the import licence (form R-7), and charges 500 baht per pet and 10 baht per shipment. If everything is in order the pet is released the same day. At Suvarnabhumi, pets in the cabin or checked baggage go to the station next to baggage carousel 8 (open 24 hours); pets sent as cargo are cleared at the cargo terminal station.

      Details and the official words

      “Original Official Health Certificate which stating the health requirement”

      “Original pet passport or vaccination record (must be in English) which includes”

      “If the documents are complete, the animal will be released on arrival date and a processing fee of 500 baht/pet and 10 baht/shipment will be charged and a receipt provided.”

      “A Notice of Import Approval (Form R-6) and Import License (Form R-7) will be issued.”

      “A print out of the Import Permit”

      “The Animal Quarantine Station at Suvarnabhumi Airport is located next to baggage carousel #8.”

      “If the animals do not meet the import requirements upon arrival or any document is not in order, the violator shall be fined or the animal shall be returned to the country of export, at the owner's expense.”

Good to know

  • A pet travelling with you in the cabin or as checked baggage may get its import permit on arrival instead of in advance, if you bring the original endorsed health certificate, the vaccination records and the application form R1/1. Airlines may still want to see a Thai import permit before boarding, and the stations advise against this with a short connection, so we show the permit as a step before you travel.
  • A pet that shows no sign of illness is not quarantined, but the quarantine officer may hold any animal at the quarantine station. (DLD's older requirement sheet for dogs and cats, which Thai embassies still link, mentions at least 30 days of quarantine on arrival; the embassies' current guidance says healthy pets are not quarantined. Ask the quarantine station if you are unsure.)
  • Your pet must travel in a nose-and-paw-proof crate designed to avoid any risk of injury or unnecessary suffering.
  • Thailand bans no dog breeds, but airlines may have their own restrictions.
  • SENASA lets your pet leave only if it meets the destination's requirements, which differ from country to country: look them up well in advance. Airlines and transport companies set their own rules too.

Cats

  1. Get ready

    1. Age ruleEntering Thailand

      At least 4 months old

      Your pet must be at least 4 months old to be imported into Thailand.

      Details and the official words

      “Pets must be at least 4 months old to be able to import into Thailand.”

      “Pet(s) must be at least 4 months old”

    2. IdentificationCosta Rica and Thailand

      Microchip, recorded on the vaccination record

      Your pet's vaccination record gives its microchip number, and the import permit application includes a microchip certificate. On arrival the station checks that the number on the documents matches the pet.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate: SENASA's resolution of January 2025 makes individual identification with a 15-digit ISO microchip compulsory for dogs and cats imported, exported or in transit, with the number declared on the health certificate.

      The resolution takes effect six months after its publication in the official gazette La Gaceta, which we couldn't date. We show the microchip to be safe: ask SENASA if your pet has none.

      “Pet’s details (breed, sex, DOB, color, and microchip no.)”

      “Microchip certificate”

      “the microchip no. on the document must conform with the animal bears”

      “Se ordena como medida sanitaria implementar un sistema de identificación y rastreabilidad individual obligatorio para la importación, exportación o tránsito por el país para los animales de compañía (perros y gatos)”

      “El código de identificación asignado al animal debe declararse en el certificado sanitario correspondiente.”

      “Rige seis meses posteriores a su publicación en el Diario Oficial La Gaceta.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Thailand

      Rabies vaccination (first one at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before departure)

      Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies, and the vaccination record must be in English and give the vet's full name, licence number and signature. A first (primary) rabies vaccination must be given at 12 weeks old or older. After a first vaccination, or one given after the previous one lapsed, wait 21 days before departure; a booster given while the previous vaccination was still valid needs no wait (attach the earlier records).

      Details and the official words

      DLD's older requirement sheet (2015) lets pets from a country free of rabies for the past 12 months skip the vaccination; the current Suvarnabhumi station guidance lists rabies for every dog and cat. If your pet comes from a rabies-free country, ask the station.

      “Dog: Rabies**, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis*** vaccines”

      “Cat: Rabies** and Feline Panleukopenia vaccines”

      “In case of primary Rabies vaccine: animal was at least 12 weeks old at the time of administration.”

      “In case of primary or discontinuity vaccination, animal must wait for 21 days since vaccination before departure. However, animal has valid booster vaccination, a waiting period is not required and the previous vaccination records should be attached.”

      “Veterinarian’s details who administrates vaccines (full name, license number, and signature)”

      “The country has been free from Rabies for at least the past 12 (twelve) months OR the animals are vaccinated against Rabies with an official approved vaccine not less than 21 (twenty- one) days prior to the departure.”

    4. VaccinationEntering Thailand

      Other vaccinations: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus (dogs); feline panleukopenia (cats)

      Your cat needs a valid feline panleukopenia vaccination. A first (or lapsed) vaccination must be at least 21 days before departure; a booster given while the last one was still valid needs no wait.

      Details and the official words

      “Dog: Rabies**, Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, Canine Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis*** vaccines”

      “Cat: Rabies** and Feline Panleukopenia vaccines”

      “In case of primary or discontinuity vaccination, animal must wait for 21 days since vaccination before departure.”

    5. PermitEntering Thailand

      Import permit from the animal quarantine station at your arrival airport

      Email the animal quarantine station at the airport where you will arrive (for Suvarnabhumi, qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th) at least 7 working days before arrival: the application form R1/1, a copy of your passport, a photo of your pet with its face clearly shown, and its vaccination record in English, as one PDF per animal. The station emails the import permit within 7 working days; it is valid for 60 days. (A pet travelling with you may instead get the permit on arrival: see the note below. Airlines may ask for the permit before boarding.)

      Details and the official words

      “must be submit at least 7 working days before arrival only”

      “An applicant importing pets by air cargo to Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport needs to obtain an import permit in advance by submitting the relevant documents below at least 7 working days prior to importation;”

      “An application R1/1 form”

      “Copy of passenger’s passport”

      “Pet’s photo with its face clearly shown”

      “Vaccination record* (must be in English) which includes”

      “For the importation of more than one pet, the documents should be attached separately, one animal for one pdf file.”

      “The staff will review the documents and send an import permit by email within 7 working days.”

      “An import permit is valid for 60 days. If a flight, date, and time are rescheduled within 60 days, it can be used without applying for a new one.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PaperworkCosta Rica and Thailand

      Official health certificate, endorsed by the exporting country's government (valid 10 days)

      Before departure, get an official health certificate stating Thailand's health requirements from the veterinary authorities of the country your pet leaves from. It must be in English, endorsed and stamped by the government, legible, accurate and complete. The certificate for dogs and cats is valid for 10 days after endorsement, so your pet must arrive within that time. Bring the original: stations have said that digitally signed or stamped copies are not accepted.

      Details and the official words

      Export certificate from a private vet, signed by SENASA: An authorised private vet examines your pet, checks it meets the destination's requirements and issues the national export certificate (on the Costa Rican veterinary college's form). Take it to SENASA with your pet's vaccination card, any document the destination asks for (if it has its own certificate model, you need both) and proof of payment (tariff code C.16, ₡17,322 in 2026). SENASA's official vet reviews the certificates and signs them; once signed, your pet can leave. Certificates that don't need SENASA to authenticate the vet's signature can be signed at any SENASA office.

      “Before departure, please contact the Veterinary authorities in exporting country to obtain an official health certificate which stating the health requirement.”

      “The health certificate must have endorsement and stamped from the government.”

      “The health certificate must be legible, accurate and complete.”

      “A health certificate in English, signed or further endorsed by a full-time authorized veterinary official of the government of the exporting country”

      “The certificate for dogs and cats is valid for 10 days after endorsement”

      “The AQS won’t accept any digitally signed/stamped copy of the health certificate.”

      “Para iniciar el trámite, el propietario debe acudir a un médico veterinario privado autorizado para que realice la valoración clínica.”

      “El profesional verificará el cumplimiento de los requisitos solicitados por el país de destino y emitirá el certificado de exportación que presentará ante SENASA.”

      “El médico veterinario oficial de SENASA revisa el o los certificados presentados por el veterinario privado y confirmará el cumplimiento de los requisitos.”

      “Una vez firmado el certificado, la mascota puede salir del país.”

      “En el caso de que el país de destino requiera un modelo de certificado adicional, el usuario deberá gestionar ambos documentos.”

      “Asimismo, SENASA recuerda que los usuarios deben presentar la cartilla de vacunas y cualquier documento exigido por el país de destino.”

      “Cancelar el monto correspondiente, según el decreto tarifario código C.16”

      “CERTIFICADO EXPORTAC. ANIMALES, PRODUCTOS Y SUBPRODUCTOS NO COMESTIBLES (Resolución DG-R0014-2021)”

      “Certificado de exportación nacional (papelería del CMV) emitido por un médico veterinario privado;”

      “Los demás certificados que no requieran autenticación de firma por parte del país de destino pueden ser firmados en cualquier oficina del SENASA.”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Thailand

      Veterinary inspection at the animal quarantine station on arrival

      On arrival, take your pet to the animal quarantine station with the original health certificate, the original pet passport or vaccination record, your passport and the printed import permit. The station checks the documents and the microchip, issues the notice of import approval (form R-6) and the import licence (form R-7), and charges 500 baht per pet and 10 baht per shipment. If everything is in order the pet is released the same day. At Suvarnabhumi, pets in the cabin or checked baggage go to the station next to baggage carousel 8 (open 24 hours); pets sent as cargo are cleared at the cargo terminal station.

      Details and the official words

      “Original Official Health Certificate which stating the health requirement”

      “Original pet passport or vaccination record (must be in English) which includes”

      “If the documents are complete, the animal will be released on arrival date and a processing fee of 500 baht/pet and 10 baht/shipment will be charged and a receipt provided.”

      “A Notice of Import Approval (Form R-6) and Import License (Form R-7) will be issued.”

      “A print out of the Import Permit”

      “The Animal Quarantine Station at Suvarnabhumi Airport is located next to baggage carousel #8.”

      “If the animals do not meet the import requirements upon arrival or any document is not in order, the violator shall be fined or the animal shall be returned to the country of export, at the owner's expense.”

Good to know

  • A pet travelling with you in the cabin or as checked baggage may get its import permit on arrival instead of in advance, if you bring the original endorsed health certificate, the vaccination records and the application form R1/1. Airlines may still want to see a Thai import permit before boarding, and the stations advise against this with a short connection, so we show the permit as a step before you travel.
  • A pet that shows no sign of illness is not quarantined, but the quarantine officer may hold any animal at the quarantine station. (DLD's older requirement sheet for dogs and cats, which Thai embassies still link, mentions at least 30 days of quarantine on arrival; the embassies' current guidance says healthy pets are not quarantined. Ask the quarantine station if you are unsure.)
  • Your pet must travel in a nose-and-paw-proof crate designed to avoid any risk of injury or unnecessary suffering.
  • SENASA lets your pet leave only if it meets the destination's requirements, which differ from country to country: look them up well in advance. Airlines and transport companies set their own rules too.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Costa Rica publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 17,322 CRC + 500 THB (each currency separately)

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

We have no published vet or lab prices for Costa Rica yet.

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Costa Rica

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Costa Rica (dogs).

The trip back asks for 8 steps: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, vet examination within two weeks before travel, international veterinary certificate from the official authority and internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before travel and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Costa Rica (cats).

The trip back asks for 8 steps: ISO microchip (15 digits), declared on the certificate, vet examination within two weeks before travel, international veterinary certificate from the official authority and internal and external parasite treatment within 15 days before travel and more.

Every step from Thailand to Costa Rica

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.

Entering ThailandLeaving Costa RicaReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Costa Rica to Thailand?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Thailand?

Yes: Email the animal quarantine station at the airport where you will arrive (for Suvarnabhumi, qsap_bkk_import@dld.go.th) at least 7 working days before arrival: the application form R1/1, a copy of your passport, a photo of your pet with its face clearly shown, and its vaccination record in English, as one PDF per animal.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Thailand?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Costa Rica to Thailand?

With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: microchip, recorded on the vaccination record, rabies vaccination (first one at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before departure) and dogs: leptospirosis vaccination, or a negative test within 30 days before departure and 4 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

Make a dated plan