Pet Transport from Thailand to Italy

Thailand to Italy is a moderately complex route mainly because of the multiple documentation layers required at both ends. Thailand’s DLD process handles the export side. Italy, as an EU member state, applies EU Regulation 576/2013 for non-EU arrivals. Your pet needs a microchip, a current rabies vaccination (21-day wait), and an official health certificate issued within 10 days.

One thing worth knowing: Italy has its own border veterinary authority (UVAC) which tends to be fairly rigorous at checks. Document quality matters. The total preparation window is 6-10 weeks.

Step-by-Step Process

Italy Import Requirements

What Italy requires for pets entering the country.

Exporting from Thailand

What you need from Thailand before your pet can leave.

Cost Factors

Costs vary depending on pet size, transport method, and whether you use a transport agent.

• Airline cargo or cabin fees
• IATA-compliant travel crate
• DLD export health certificate fee (Thailand)
• Official health certificate fee (Italy entry)
• Veterinary fees: microchip, vaccination
• Pet transport agent fee if used

Important Warnings

UVAC and Italy's border veterinary process

Italy’s Uffici Veterinari per gli Adempimenti Comunitari (UVAC) handles pet imports at all Italian international airports, including Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Milan Malpensa (MXP). UVAC officers verify microchip numbers against health certificates, check vaccination dates, and confirm the 21-day wait.

UVAC operates within the EU veterinary inspection framework but is known for thorough checks. Bring original documents only – UVAC will not accept photocopies or scanned copies for official use. If your health certificate has any errors, the entry may be refused.

If you are arriving via a connecting flight through another European country, customs and border checks are conducted at your first EU port of entry, not necessarily Italy. Check with your airline for the exact inspection point on your itinerary.

DLD export process from Thailand

Before leaving Thailand, your pet needs an export health certificate from the Department of Livestock Development (DLD). This document is separate from the EU entry health certificate. The DLD certificate covers Thai export requirements; the EU certificate covers Italian entry.

Apply to DLD through an accredited vet. The certificate is issued within 14 days of travel, so apply early enough to allow time. Your pet’s microchip must be confirmed, and the rabies vaccination must be current at the time of the DLD certificate issuance.

The DLD has offices in Bangkok and regional centres. For international departures from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK), the Bangkok DLD office is the most practical.

Airline choices for Bangkok to Italy

ITA Airways (Italy’s national carrier) is worth checking first as it offers a direct connection between Bangkok and Rome with the destination being your entry airport. Small pets travel in the cabin; larger dogs go cargo.

Lufthansa via Frankfurt is a reliable cargo option with good handling facilities at Frankfurt Airport, which is one of Europe’s best live-animal transit hubs. Thai Airways also connects Bangkok to Italian cities via European connections.

For cargo travel, Emirates via Dubai and Qatar Airways via Doha offer temperature-controlled holds but come with brachycephalic restrictions and Gulf summer temperature embargoes. Check your specific breed against airline policy before booking.