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Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Thailand to Hawaii (US): the rules

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 9 weeks ahead. The main steps: microchip (or tattoo) matching the documents, rabies vaccination #1 and rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival) and 5 more.

Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 5 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: Hawaii (US) → Thailand

In short

Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Thailand publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. This follows the Department of Livestock Development's citizen's manual for the export health certificate (it covers every kind of live animal, not only pets) and the 2020 ministerial regulation on taking animals out of Thailand. The regulation also requires permission from the Director-General to take an animal out, under a 2015 DLD notification we could not read, so we don't know that permit's lead time or fee. DLD's English pet-travel pages don't open from our network. Confirm the steps with the animal quarantine station at the airport you leave from.

Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Hawaii (US) publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Hawaii's own checklists (PDF) could not be read: they hold details this page does not, such as the microchip rule and the result needed on the rabies antibody test. Pets arriving from the British Isles, Australia, Guam and New Zealand follow a different checklist that we have not read. The pages were read from stored copies of Hawaii's official pages because the site blocks automated readers; the pre-arrival waits below come from those pages. Contact the Animal Quarantine Station (rabiesfree@hawaii.gov) to confirm the current checklist for your pet.

At a glance

The rules on this route are the same for dogs and cats.

How early to start

9 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival) (more than 30 days before arrival)

4 weeks

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Rabies antibody blood test (OIE-FAVN) and a 30-day wait (at least 30 days after the laboratory received the blood sample)

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

On this route

  • Rabies blood test needed
  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Official stamp on the certificate

Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.

Prefer a feed reader? Thailand rule changes · Hawaii (US) rule changes

Thailand → Hawaii (US)

What your pet needs

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

Taking a dog or cat out of Thailand (DLD): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.

  1. Get ready

    1. IdentificationLeaving Thailand

      Microchip (or tattoo) matching the documents

      DLD asks for dogs and cats to be tattooed or microchipped, at your expense, and the identification must match the application, the health certificate and the other documents. For a pet the document list asks for a microchip certificate issued by an animal hospital or clinic.

      Details and the official words

      “สุนัข แมว กระต่าย ให้ทำรอยสักหรือฝังไมโครชิป”

      “ใบรับรองการฝังไมโครชิป”

      “ออกโดยโรงพยาบาลสัตว์ หรือคลินิกรักษาสัตว์”

    2. VaccinationEntering Hawaii (US)

      Rabies vaccination #1

      Your pet needs certification of at least two rabies vaccinations. This is the first one; documents for the earlier vaccination are required, because with only the most recent vaccination the pet does not qualify.

      Details and the official words

      “Certification of at least two rabies vaccinations is required.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Hawaii (US)

      Rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival)

      The second rabies vaccination (a booster) must be given no less than 30 days after the previous one, and more than 30 days before your pet arrives in Hawaii.

      Details and the official words

      “To qualify, your pet will need to receive a booster no less than 30 days after the previous vaccination. In addition, this second vaccination must be given more than 30 days before arrival in Hawai‘i.”

    4. Blood testEntering Hawaii (US)

      Rabies antibody blood test (OIE-FAVN) and a 30-day wait

      Your pet needs a passing OIE-FAVN rabies antibody test, and a 30-day wait from the day the laboratory received the blood sample before it arrives. A passing result is valid for 36 months from the day the blood reached the laboratory.

      Details and the official words

      Hawaii's checklists (not readable here) give the pass mark and other details of the test: confirm them with the Animal Quarantine Station.

      “To avoid your animal being placed into quarantine, proof of two rabies vaccinations within the required timeframe and a passing FAVN test are required for all dogs and cats entering the State of Hawai‘i.”

      “The OIE-FAVN test result is valid for 36 months from the day the blood was received at the laboratory.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. TreatmentEntering Hawaii (US)

      Tick treatment within 14 days before arrival

      Your vet treats your dog or cat with a long-acting oral or topical product labelled to kill ticks (equivalent or better than fipronil) within 14 days before arrival, and the treatment is written on the health certificate. K-9 Advantix is acceptable for dogs only, never for cats; Revolution is not acceptable.

      Details and the official words

      “Dogs and cats must be treated by your veterinarian with a long-acting oral or topical product labeled to kill ticks that is equivalent or better than Fipronil within 14 days prior to arrival and the treatment must be documented on the health certificate.”

    2. PaperworkThailand and Hawaii (US)

      Health certificate

      A veterinary health certificate (with the tick treatment on it) goes with your pet. If it can't reach the Animal Quarantine Station with the other documents 10 days before arrival, the original must be handed to the inspector on arrival. Hawaii's pages give no validity period for it: ask the Animal Quarantine Station.

      Details and the official words

      DLD health certificate at the animal quarantine station of your departure port: Before your pet leaves, take it to the animal quarantine station at the port you leave from (or another place DLD approves or the station's vet chooses). The vet there examines it and, as your destination requires, may hold it for observation, take samples for the lab, vaccinate or treat it, or mark it; then DLD signs the health certificate. There is no fee. Stations are open Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 16:30, except public holidays.

      “If the health certificate cannot be sent 10 days before arriving with the rest of the documents, the original must be given to the inspector upon arrival in Hawai‘i.”

      “ก่อนดำเนินการส่งออกไปนอกราชอาณาจักรซึ่งสัตว์หรือซากสัตว์ ให้ผู้รับใบอนุญาตนำสัตว์หรือซากสัตว์ไปยังสถานกักกันสัตว์หรือที่พักซากสัตว์ของท่าออก หรือสถานกักกันสัตว์หรือที่พักซากสัตว์ที่กรมปศุสัตว์รับรอง หรือสถานที่ที่สัตวแพทย์ประจำท่าออกเห็นสมควร”

      “กรณีสัตว์มีชีวิต ระยะเวลาการกักสัตว์ ดูอาการ และ/หรือการเก็บตัวอย่างทางห้องปฏิบัติการ และ/หรือการทำวัคซีน และ/หรือการทำลายเชื้อโรคหรือพาหะนำโรค และ/หรือการทำเครื่องหมายประจำตัวสัตว์ ตามเงื่อนไขของประเทศปลายทางกำหนด”

      “ไม่มีค่าธรรมเนียม”

      “เปิดให้บริการวัน จันทร์ ถึง วัน ศุกร์ (ยกเว้นวันหยุดที่ทางราชการกำหนด) ตั้งแต่เวลา 08:30 - 16:30 น.”

    3. Official stampLeaving Thailand

      Apply to DLD in the e-Movement system

      Apply for the health certificate online in DLD's e-Movement system (https://newemove.dld.go.th/req/), attaching the documents there or emailing them to the animal quarantine station at the port you will leave from, and make an appointment with that station. The documents include your ID card or, for a foreigner, your passport; the vaccination certificate showing your pet's microchip number; the microchip certificate; the airway bill; and what your destination asks for. DLD's processing time is 3 working days once the documents are complete.

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

      Details and the official words

      DLD's page on its import and export procedure says the application form R.1/1 (for taking animals into, out of or through Thailand) is filed in e-Movement at least 7 working days ahead, but it describes that step for imports. We don't know whether the same lead time applies when you leave: ask the quarantine station.

      An application filed in e-Movement outside office hours is handled on the next working day. If documents are missing, you have 7 working days to correct them, or the application is cancelled.

      “สามารถส่งเอกสารแนบผ่านระบบ e-Movement หรือผ่านช่องทางไปรษณีย์อิเล็กทรอนิกส์ (e-mail) ถึงด่านกักกันสัตว์ท่าออกที่จะนำสัตว์หรือซากสัตว์ออก”

      “ผู้รับบริการต้องติดต่อแจ้งนัดหมายเจ้าหน้าที่ด่านกักกันสัตว์ท่าออกเพื่อดำเนินการเกี่ยวกับสัตว์หรือซากสัตว์ให้เป็นไปตามระเบียบข้อกำหนดหรือเงื่อนไขของประเทศปลายทาง”

      “กรณีสัตว์เลี้ยง (สุนัข แมว กระต่าย) ต้องมีเอกสารรับรองการฉีดวัคซีนที่มีการระบุเลขไมโครชิพ”

      “ระยะเวลาในการดำเนินการรวม : 3 วันทำการ”

      “บัตรประจำตัวประชาชน”

      “(กรณีชาวต่างชาติ)”

      “Bill of Lading (B/L) หรือ Airway Bill หรือ Truckway bill หรือ Railway Bill”

      “หลังเวลาทำการ เจ้าหน้าที่จะดำเนินการในวันทำการถัดไป”

      “คำขอต้องดำเนินการแก้ไขภายใน 7 วันทำการ นับตั้งแต่วันที่ได้รับแจ้ง”

      “https://newemove.dld.go.th/req/”

      “ให้ผู้ประสงค์จะส่งออกไปนอกราชอาณาจักรซึ่งสัตว์หรือซากสัตว์ ยื่นคำขออนุญาตนำสัตว์หรือซากสัตว์ออกนอกราชอาณาจักรต่ออธิบดีหรือผู้ซึ่งอธิบดีมอบหมาย”

      “ยื่นแบบคำขออนุญาตนำสัตว์/ซากสัตว์ เข้า ออก ผ่านราชอาณาจักรไทย (แบบ ร.1/1) ผ่านระบบการเคลื่อนย้ายสัตว์และซากสัตว์ทางอิเล็กทรอนิกส์ (e - movement system) ล่วงหน้าไม่น้อยกว่า 7 วันทำการ”

    4. PaperworkEntering Hawaii (US)

      Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279) and documents, at least 10 days before arrival

      Send one completed Dog and Cat Import Form (AQS-279) per pet, with two rabies vaccination certificates, the health certificate and pre-payment, so the Animal Quarantine Station has them at least 10 days before arrival. This qualifies your pet for the 5 Day Or Less program and for direct release at Honolulu airport ($185; $244 if the documents are late). You can apply online through the Hawaii Pet Owner Portal. Arrivals at Kona, Kahului or Līhu'e need a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit.

      Details and the official words

      “NO LESS THAN 10 DAYS BEFORE PET ARRIVES IN HAWAI‘I TO QUALIFY FOR 5 DAY OR LESS or AIRPORT RELEASE”

      “If you seek direct release of the pet at the airport, you must submit the required original documents so that the office receives the paperwork at least 10 days prior to your pet’s arrival.”

      “the higher fee of $244 is assessed instead of $185.”

Good to know

  • Hawaii is rabies-free, so every dog and cat, whatever its age or purpose, must meet its import rules. A pet that doesn't meet every requirement of the '5 Day Or Less' program is quarantined for up to 120 days on arrival.
  • Non-domestic dogs and cats and hybrids such as wolf crosses, Dingo, Bengal and Savannah are prohibited under Hawaii's Plant Quarantine law.
  • A newborn puppy or kitten will be about 6 months old by the time the preparations are finished; pets that can't meet every requirement are quarantined for 120 days.
  • A pet that arrives before its 30-day waiting period is complete does not qualify for direct airport release and is quarantined (with a daily charge) until the waiting period ends.
  • DLD issues the certificate following your destination's conditions, so bring what your destination asks for: its import permit (if it issues one), its own certificate forms (for example an EU annex or a veterinary certificate) and the lab reports its conditions require.

Money

What it costs

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

Government fees on this route

4 more fees may apply, depending on your case

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

No published prices yet for Thailand: rabies vaccination, parasite treatment, health certificate (vet’s fee), microchip.

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 Thailand

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

The trip back asks for 7 steps: import licence application (Form R.1/1) and import permit, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before departure, leptospirosis vaccination (or a negative test) and distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccinations at least 21 days before departure and more.

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

The trip back asks for 7 steps: import licence application (Form R.1/1) and import permit, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before departure, leptospirosis vaccination (or a negative test) and distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccinations at least 21 days before departure and more.

Every step from Hawaii (US) to Thailand

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

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

Entering Hawaii (US)Leaving ThailandReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Thailand to Hawaii (US)?

Yes: Your pet needs a passing OIE-FAVN rabies antibody test, and a 30-day wait from the day the laboratory received the blood sample before it arrives.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Hawaii (US)?

We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Hawaii (US)?

We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Thailand to Hawaii (US)?

With nothing done yet, start at least 9 weeks ahead. The main steps: microchip (or tattoo) matching the documents, rabies vaccination #1 and rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival) and 5 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

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