Pet Transport from Thailand to Portugal

Portugal has become a destination of choice for expats from Southeast Asia, and the Thailand to Lisbon pet transport route follows standard EU import rules. For your dog or cat coming from Bangkok, the requirements are straightforward: ISO microchip (implanted before the rabies vaccination), a current rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait, and an official health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. No quarantine is required.

There is one rule that trips up pet owners who have already vaccinated their pets in Thailand: the microchip must precede the vaccination. If your dog was vaccinated before being chipped, the vaccination cycle must be repeated in the correct order. Check this first, before building your timeline.

Preparation takes 6-10 weeks. TAP Air Portugal connects Bangkok to Lisbon via a European hub, making it one of the more convenient routing options.

Step-by-Step Process

Portugal Import Requirements

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

Important Warnings

Portugal entry rules for pets from Thailand

Portugal’s DGAV (Direcao-Geral de Alimentacao e Veterinaria) enforces EU Regulation 576/2013 at the border. For pets from Thailand – a non-EU third country – entry requires: ISO microchip implanted before vaccination, a current rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an official health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival.

The health certificate must be signed by an official veterinarian in Thailand. This person holds formal government accreditation, not just a veterinary licence. DLD-accredited vets in Thailand can issue this certificate alongside the DLD export document.

Lisbon Airport (LIS) is the main entry point for most arrivals. DGAV officers are present at the border inspection post. Original documents must be presented.

The microchip and vaccination order

The EU requires the microchip to be implanted before the rabies vaccination because the microchip number is what links the vaccination record to the individual animal. Without prior microchipping, a vaccination cannot be formally assigned to that specific pet.

In practice for pets already living in Thailand, many have been vaccinated multiple times but some may have received the chip after their most recent rabies jab. If this is the case, the rabies vaccination must be given again after the chip is confirmed in place.

Check your pet’s records carefully. If you are unsure of the order, your vet can advise based on the dates in the vaccination booklet and the microchip registration record.

Getting your pet from Bangkok to Lisbon

The Bangkok to Lisbon route requires at least one connection. TAP Air Portugal is one of the better-organised options for this, as Lisbon is the hub and the airline manages the last leg. Small pets can travel in the cabin on qualifying routes; larger pets travel cargo.

Lufthansa via Frankfurt is a reliable cargo option. Frankfurt Airport is well-equipped for live-animal transits, with dedicated IATA-certified live cargo facilities and experienced handlers. Thai Airways connects Bangkok to European hubs where onward flights to Lisbon are straightforward.

For pets travelling via Dubai or Doha, confirm that your route avoids Gulf summer temperature embargoes, which affect cargo pets on brachycephalic breed lists. Emirates and Qatar Airways both publish seasonal restrictions.