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Dog or cat from Thailand to Kenya: official requirements

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least about 6 months ahead. The main steps: microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and 4 more.

Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 6 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: Kenya → 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 Kenya publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services doesn't publish its import conditions on its own website. We use the permit conditions published by the Embassy of Kenya in Spain (the same document is on the High Commission in Pretoria's site, next to an older summary that says something different) and KenTrade's permit procedure. They don't list the ports of entry or the rabies-free countries, and they disagree on how long the permit is valid (30 or 90 days). Confirm with the Directorate (infodvs@kilimo.go.ke) before you travel.

At a glance

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

How early to start

about 6 months

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment (primary vaccination at least 6 months before shipment)

about 3 months

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment (not less than 3 months and not more than 24 months before shipment)

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

On this route

  • Rabies blood test needed
  • Import permit needed
  • 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 · Kenya rule changes

Thailand → Kenya

What your pet needs

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

Bringing a dog or cat into Kenya: we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.

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. IdentificationThailand and Kenya

      Microchip (or other permanent identification)

      Your pet must be identified by a permanent mark such as a microchip, and its number must be on the veterinary certificate. Not needed for a pet from a rabies-free country (see the warning).

      Details and the official words

      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.

      “Were identified by a permanent mark (such as a microchip) and their identification number shall be stated in the certificate or had any other adequate identification; and”

      “สุนัข แมว กระต่าย ให้ทำรอยสักหรือฝังไมโครชิป”

      “ใบรับรองการฝังไมโครชิป”

      “ออกโดยโรงพยาบาลสัตว์ หรือคลินิกรักษาสัตว์”

    2. VaccinationEntering Kenya

      Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment

      Your pet's first (primary) rabies vaccination must be given when it is at least 3 months old, and at least 6 months (and at most 1 year) before shipment; a booster must be given at most 1 year before shipment. Use an inactivated vaccine or a recombinant vaccine. Not needed for a pet from a rabies-free country (see the warning).

      Details and the official words

      “Not less than 6 months and not more than one year prior to shipment in the case of a primary vaccination, which should have been carried out when the animals were at least 3 months old;”

      “With an inactivated virus vaccine or with a recombinant vaccine expressing the rabies virus glycoprotein; and”

    3. VaccinationEntering Kenya

      Rabies vaccination within the last year

      The latest rabies vaccination (the first one, or the last booster) must be at most 1 year before shipment. If it will be older on the day your pet leaves, give a booster before then.

      Details and the official words

      Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.

      “Not more than one year prior to shipment in the case of a booster vaccination;”

    4. Blood testEntering Kenya

      Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment

      Your pet needs a rabies antibody test (as set out in the World Organisation for Animal Health manual) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, taken between 24 months and 3 months before shipment. Not needed for a pet from a rabies-free country (see the warning).

      Details and the official words

      “Were subjected not less than 3 months and not more than 24 months prior to shipment to an antibody test as prescribed in the OIE Terrestrial Manual with a positive result equivalent to at least 0.5 IU/ml;”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PermitEntering Kenya

      Import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services

      Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the import permit for dogs and cats (VS01), with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate from its country of origin, and pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per animal). The permit covers one consignment and travels with your pet. The permit conditions say it is valid for at most 30 days; KenTrade's page says 90 days. The plan uses 30 days.

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

      Details and the official words

      Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per animal (KenTrade's estimate), paid by M-PESA or at a bank.

      The application also asks for a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number.

      “This import permit shall be valid for a maximum of thirty (30) days and shall only be for one consignment.”

      “This import permit shall accompany the animal during importation.”

      “The import permit is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment. The permit is valid for a period of ninety (90) days.”

      “Vaccination certificate (copy)”

      “KES 0 - KES 500 per animal”

    2. PaperworkThailand and Kenya

      International veterinary certificate, dated at most 48 hours before departure

      Your pet travels with an international veterinary certificate, dated no more than 48 hours before it boards, stating that it showed no sign of rabies (on the day of shipment and in the 48 hours before) and is clinically free of other contagious and infectious diseases and of internal and external parasites. It also states the microchip number and the rabies vaccination and blood test.

      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.

      “No canine or feline animal shall be imported into Kenya from any country unless accompanied by an international veterinary certificate attesting that the animal:”

      “Showed no clinical sign of rabies on the day of shipment;”

      “Showed no clinical sign of rabies within 48 hours of shipment;”

      “Is clinically free of symptoms of any other contagious and infectious disease and internal and external parasites, the certificate being dated not more than 48 hours before embarkation;”

      “which must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate from the country of origin to ascertain that the animals are healthy and disease free.”

      “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”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. TransportEntering Kenya

      Fly as manifest cargo, not in the cabin or as checked baggage

      Your pet must travel to Kenya as manifest cargo in the aircraft's freight compartment, not in the passenger cabin or as excess baggage. Book this with your airline.

      Details and the official words

      “Animals entering Kenya should travel as Manifest Cargo and use the Freight Compartment of the aircraft. They should not travel as baggage-cargo or in passenger cabins.”

    2. TransportEntering Kenya

      Certificate from the captain that your pet stayed on board and apart

      Your pet needs a certificate from the captain of the aircraft (or ship, or the driver) stating that it didn't leave the craft between boarding and arrival in Kenya and was kept apart from other dogs and cats throughout the journey. Ask your airline's cargo office to provide it.

      Details and the official words

      “The animal shall be accompanied by a certificate from the captain of the ship or aircraft or driver of a vessel in which the animal traveled to Kenya certifying that the animal has not left the vessel between the place of embarkation and the place of entry into Kenya, and has been isolated from all other canine and feline animals throughout the journey.”

Good to know

  • A pet that has lived since birth, or for the 6 months before shipment, in a rabies-free country (as defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health) doesn't need the microchip, rabies vaccination and blood test steps below. Kenya doesn't publish a list of these countries, so the plan keeps the steps: ask the Directorate of Veterinary Services if your country counts.
  • A pet that isn't vaccinated against rabies, or doesn't meet the microchip, vaccination and blood test conditions, may be placed in a quarantine station in Kenya for up to 6 months, at the owner's cost.
  • 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

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

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

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.

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 Kenya to Thailand

Where this comes from

Official sources

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

Entering KenyaLeaving ThailandReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

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

Yes: Your pet needs a rabies antibody test (as set out in the World Organisation for Animal Health manual) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, taken between 24 months and 3 months before shipment.

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

Yes: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the import permit for dogs and cats (VS01), with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate from its country of origin, and pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per animal).

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Kenya?

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 Kenya?

With nothing done yet, start at least about 6 months ahead. The main steps: microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year 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.

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