Returning to Thailand from Mexico and bringing my mid sized dog

[RickHuahin]

I am returning to Thailand  with my dog, my vet here knows about most Intl. requirements as most visitors here are from Canada. But, in addition to that, is there any other "special" things/docs that I need when returning?

Thanks

[Gottfrid]

Please don´t! We have enough dogs here already-

[RickHuahin]

But a good dog, also thx for the insight Einstein!

 

[Polar Bear]

It's pretty straightforward. Assuming they are too big to go in the cabin, make sure they are booked in the cargo hold as excess baggage NOT cargo. (Bringing them in as a cargo shipment is a lot more complicated and expensive.) 

You'll need:

Microchip record (must have been done at the same time or before the rabies vax).

Their vaccination record, with the latest jabs being at least 3 weeks and no more than a year old. (The vax needed are Rabies, Distemper, Parvovirus, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis). You don't need a titer test. 

A basic health certificate (no special format) from your vet confirming they are healthy and fit to fly. It should include the animal's name, species, age, sex (and whether neutered or not), breed, color, birthmarks, weight, microchip number, and date of birth. As well as your name and passport number. This will need to be in English. The vet needs to sign, stamp and date it. The exporting country normally determines how long the health certificate is valid for. If Mexico has no regulations on it, get it within 10 days of your arrival. 

You used to have to email all the documents through and get the import permit in advance, but they issue it on arrival now. But if you have to get an export certificate from Mexico (some countries do, some don't) AND you need the import permit, you can still request it in advance. They used to be pretty responsive to emails [email protected] but it seems a bit more hit-and-miss these days, so you might have to call if you need to contact them 02 1343640

When you arrive, you pick your dog up from the animal quarantine station by baggage claim #8. They will check the microchip and your paperwork and do the import permit. You have to pay the import fee there (I think it was 510 THB, cash only). Then you go through 'something to declare' and they will charge you custom's duty. I paid about 1,000 THB for my neutered mutt, but I've heard of people getting stung for a lot more for unneutered pedigree dogs. Keep all your receipts. If you take them out of Thailand again, you don't have to pay again to reimport them. 

If there is a possibility of you wanting to take the dog to the USA in the next few years, look into going there now and getting a 3-year rabies booster from a USDA-accredited vet before you travel. It's very difficult to take a dog to the USA with a local vaccination record. 

[RickHuahin]

wow, thanks very much, pretty much what the Canadians have to do here when they go back and forth, Thai has a few extra kinks, but great info

 

[NativeBob]

@Polar Bear Thanks! I have to bookmark your very comprehensive reply.

 

May I ask about feline?

I will have to bring our family cat and heard many stories about quarantine, flight in cold storage of the airplane and many others. Yet last time from Hamburg I set near nice lady with Yorkie under her seat and no problems at all! 

Is there something about the size and weight? Our cat has all vaxxes done and nice passport but ...

[Polar Bear]

It's much the same for cats. As long as you have the paperwork in order, there's no quarantine. (This assumes we are talking about a regular domestic pet cat.)

Where are you bringing the cat from?

Depending on the regulations of the country and the airline, you can take cats and small dogs in the cabin. The size and weight limit depends on the airline, but it's usually around 7-8kg with the carrier, with space for them to turn around. It has to fit under the seat in front of you, but as long as it's soft-sided and will squish a bit, the airlines are usually OK about it being a bit oversized. The airline is more likely to be careful about brachycephalic breeds, like Persians, in terms of making sure they have enough space. I've flown with cats in the cabin a few times, and it was fine. They have to stay in the carrier the whole time, but they pretty much just sleep.

I've also flown with a dog in the hold, and that was fine, too. He found the move pretty stressful, but I think he was better in the hold than the cabin even if he had been small enough. He wouldn't have liked all the noise and people/carts moving around him. The hold isn't cold storage. If they have live animals in there, it will be kept between 15c-20c (59-68f).

If you have them with you, I'd guess you still have to go to the animal quarantine station by baggage claim #8 to get your import permit and pay the fee before going through customs, but I don't know that for sure.