Introduction
The most common confusion when exporting pets from Thailand to the United States is "which agency handles what." For dogs, the main authority is CDC (Centers for Disease Control), not USDA. As of August 1, 2024, CDC overhauled the dog import rules. The key point for us: Thailand is classified as a high-risk country for rabies in dogs, which means stricter requirements than rabies-free origin countries. This guide separates the rules for dogs and cats, since they're completely different.
Truth #1: Dogs from Thailand need titer + CDC reservation before flight
Because Thailand is a high-risk country and most dogs here are vaccinated in Thailand (foreign-vaccinated), the applicable pathway is the "foreign-vaccinated dog from high-risk country" rule set, which has multiple layers. Every layer must be in the right order, or you start over.
The baseline conditions for every dog: be at least 6 months old, have an ISO-standard microchip that international readers can scan, be in good health on arrival, and have a receipt from the online CDC Dog Import Form. The high-risk-country-specific layer requires the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form filled out by a vet and endorsed by a government vet (DLD). You'll also need a rabies serology titer result from a CDC-approved lab, plus a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility, entering at a CDC-approved port only.
| Step | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO standard, implanted before vaccine, number matches all documents |
| Minimum age | At least 6 months at travel date |
| Titer (blood draw) | CDC-approved lab; draw ≥ 30 days after the valid vaccine and ≥ 28 days before import |
| Certification form | Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip endorsed by government vet |
| CDC Dog Import Form | Filed online before arrival (typically within CDC's defined window); save the receipt |
| Quarantine facility | Booked at a CDC-registered facility — without a valid titer, 28 days quarantine required |
Golden rule from the Convey team: For dogs from Thailand, start by setting the blood-draw date as the first time marker, because you need at least 28 days between draw and import. If you set the flight date first and then schedule blood draw, you usually run out of time and have to reschedule.
Truth #2: Cats follow different rules — and Thai-side paperwork still applies
Cats entering the US don't have federal CDC rabies vaccine requirements, and USDA/APHIS doesn't have general requirements for cats either. But "no federal rules" doesn't mean "no preparation." Airlines and state-of-destination rules may require additional vaccines or health certificates, and the Thai DLD export side still applies normally.
Whether dog or cat, the Thai side needs: microchip, current rabies vaccine, Health Certificate from a vet, and Export Permit from DLD (processed at the airport animal quarantine office). Also worth knowing: since July 31, 2025, USDA-endorsed export health certificates can no longer be used to re-import dogs into the United States — for dogs from Thailand, the correct paperwork is the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination form mentioned above.
On routing, direct Thailand–US flights exist on some routes, but pet cargo (cargo or hold) depends on airline policy, aircraft type, and temperature windows. Dogs from high-risk countries must enter through CDC-approved ports only. Lock in the entry port and airline to align with the quarantine booking from the start.