How to Get a Cat Passport in Thailand [2023]

A cat passport is essentially a pack containing all of the documents required to export your cat from Thailand.

Thailand doesn’t have an official ‘cat passport’ so to speak, however, there are certain requirements and documents that you will need.

To export a cat from Thailand, they MUST be (1) microchipped and (2) vaccinated against rabies.

You will also need (3) a vet certificate and (4) an export license.

Additionally, your cat MAY need the following, depending on where you are travelling to:

• Rabies Titer Blood Test
• Additional Vaccinations & Treatments

There are strict rules when it comes to these requirements, so we will go into more detail below.

#1 Get Your Cat Microchipped

The first stage of obtaining a cat passport in Thailand is getting your kitty microchipped.

This is COMPULSORY. Cats cannot be exported from Thailand until they have been microchipped.

A microchip is a small chip around the size of a grain of rice. It holds a number unique to your cat which can be detected by a microchip scanner. It is inserted just under your cat’s skin between his/her shoulder blades.

You MUST microchip before (or at the same time as) getting your cat’s rabies vaccination. If you fail to microchip your cat first, the vaccination will not count and he will need another round of vaccinations.

Not only is this a requirement to leave Thailand, it is a requirement to enter most countries.

#2 Get Your Cat’s Rabies Vaccination

The second requirement of obtaining a cat passport in Thailand is getting your kitty vaccinated against rabies.

This is also COMPULSORY. You can’t export your cat from Thailand until they have had their rabies vaccination.

Most vets will be able to administer your cat’s rabies vaccination.

Make sure that they provide you with a certificate afterwards – you will need this later on.

You MUST vaccinate your cat for rabies at least 30 days before your date of travel, so allow yourself at least a month to obtain your cat’s passport.

Depending on where you and your cat are travelling to, you might want to give yourself more time. This is because your cat may require a rabies titer test as well. We’ll discuss this later.

#3 Obtain a Vet Health Certificate & Export License (R.9)

The final COMPULSORY requirement for your Thai cat passport is obtaining a vet health certificate and export license.

You MUST submit an application for an export permit and visit the International Animal Quarantine Station (AQS), at least 3 days before you and your cat leave Thailand.

You take your cat to the AQS Station at your point of exit for an official health check. For Suvarnabhumi International Airport head to the 1st Floor of the CE-1 Building, Free Zone, Suvarnabhumi Airport Cargo Clearance Customs Office.

Only the AQS are authorised to issue your cat’s health certificate, based on the requirements of the country you are travelling to.

If the country requires additional vaccinations and tests, the AQS can complete these for you for an additional charge.

Once obtained, the export license is valid for 9 days and the health certificate is valid for 10 days.

The process is as follows:

Firstly, you will need to complete and submit application form R.1/1. This form is a requirement to export any live animal from Thailand.

Next, you will need to bring your cat to the AQS Station at your point of exit.

You will also need to bring an official certificate of your cat’s rabies vaccination and your passport.

The vet officials at the AQS will review your documents and complete a health check on your cat to make sure he is fit and healthy for travel.

You will receive two copies of your export License (R.9) and two copies of your cat’s health certificate from the  Thai Department of Livestock Development.

Always keep one copy of each document with you on the journey, and attach the other copies to your cat’s travel container.

#4 Rabies Titer Blood Test

Your cat MAY need a rabies blood test, also known as a ‘rabies titer test’. This is depending on where you and your cat are travelling to.

This is a requirement to enter many rabies-free or rabies-controlled countries, including Australia, the UK and many EU countries.

The test will basically prove that your cat’s rabies vaccination was successful and that your cat is protected against the virus.

Firstly, a blood sample will be taken from your cat from your vet. The sample will then be sent to one of forty worldwide laboratories which are authorised to conduct the rabies titer test.

To pass the test, the results must show that your cat’s blood contains at least 0.50 IU/mL of the rabies antibody.

It’s important to note that there are specific requirements when it comes to the timing of the rabies blood test, depending on where you are travelling to. Generally, the test must be completed between 30 days and 180 days before entering the country.

Be sure to check the requirements for the country you are travelling to, to see if your cat will need a rabies titer test.

#5 Additional Vaccinations & Treatments

As well as the rabies vaccination, your cat may also need additional vaccinations and treatments, depending on where you are travelling to.

These may include vaccinations against Feline Calicivirus, Herpesvirus, Panleukopenia and Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis.

For example – if you are travelling to Turkey, your cat will need to be vaccinated against Calicivirus, Panleukopenia and Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, before entering the country.

Check the specific requirements of the country that you and your cat are travelling to, to see if your cat requires any additional vaccinations or treatments.

Conclusion

Obtaining a cat passport in Thailand is simple with a little bit of planning.

Aim to have your cat microchipped and vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days prior to obtaining your export license and cat’s health certificate. You should do this even earlier if travelling to a country that requires a rabies titer test.

In addition, always check the specific requirements for importing a cat to your destination country, as these all vary. In many cases, cats will also need additional vaccinations or treatments, on top of the rabies vaccination.

To ensure that your trip is as stress and delay-free as possible, double check all of yours and your cat’s documents to ensure that all the information is accurate.

If you are short on time, or the process of getting your cat passport seems daunting, there is always the option of seeking assistance from a pet relocation company. There are a number of professional, reliable pet relocation companies that can handle everything for you, at a cost. Just be sure to check reviews before booking.

Hope you have found this helpful.

Happy travels!