Pet import requirements for Laos
What Laos asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2025-12-12 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2025-11-11. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
Laos at a glance
| Requirement | For Laos |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | ISO Microchip Required |
| Rabies | Rabies vaccine must be valid and administered more than 30 days before import into Laos |
| Import permit Required | Required for entry |
| Quarantine | Not required |
| Minimum age to travel | Cats and Dogs must be at least 4 months |
| Agent at destination | Destination Agent Required |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
VTE is on the arrival list for pets heading to Laos. Laos is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar to the northwest. Cats and Dogs must be at least 4 months.
Import requirements
Cats and Dogs must be at least 4 months
- 3 days for the permit approval, excluding Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
- The permit is valid for not more than 10 days
- No export duty & tax in Laos
- Pet travels as excess baggage is allowed. Customs clearance is not required.
Identification and microchip
ISO Microchip Required
Rabies and vaccinations
Rabies vaccine must be valid and administered more than 30 days before import into Laos.
Rabies, Leptospirosis, DHPPi+L, FVRCP
Tests and treatments
Not Required
Health certificate and permits
Government health certificate must be valid when the dogs & cats arrive In Laos
Required for entry.
https://laotradeportal.gov.la/index.php?r=searchProcedure/view1&id=10
Documents required:
- Official Veterinary Certificate
- Official Health Certificate
- Rabies Vaccination Certificate
- Microchip Implantation Certificate
Quarantine
Not required
Restrictions and banned breeds
Prohibited Breeds: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier and the related group of the above mentioned breeds.
Customs, agents, and airports
Destination Agent Required
Wattay International Airport, Vientiane IATA:(VTE), ICAO: VLVT
Airports listed on this destination file: VTE.
Operating hours from 8:30-16:30 hours, Monday-Friday except public holidays
Customs process takes approx. 3-4 hours
3 days for the permit approval, excluding Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
The permit is valid for not more than 10 days
No quarantine is required
No export duty & tax in Laos
Pet travels as excess baggage is allowed. Customs clearance is not required.
Export notes
Documents required for applying a transit license:
All documents must be submitted 14 days in advance, before departure of the shipment. Please reserve more days during the holiday season. The originals to be attached to the travel crate.
- Vaccination Book (the pages containing pet’s info e.g. name, breed, sex, birth date, vaccination record, etc.)
- Rabies Vaccination Certificate
- Photo of Pet
- Photo of Travel Crate
- Owner's Valid Passport (copy)
- International Health Certificate (issued by Government’s veterinarian)
- Shipper’s Certification for Live Animal
- Airline’s Acceptance Checklist (issued by the airline at origin)
- Airway Bill
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
All CITES animals need an import permit from the Government besides the CITES import document.
Customs, Permit & Quarantine
1.
Operating hours from 8:30-16:30 hours, Monday-Friday except public holidays
2.
Customs process takes approx. 3-4 hours
3.
3 days for the permit approval, excluding Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
4.
The permit is valid for not more than 10 daysPet travels as excess baggage is allowed. Customs clearance is not required.
Official contacts
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Agriculture and Forestry Department
Lanxang Avenue, Chanthabuly District
Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Tel: +856 21 412-345, +856 21 412-340
Fax: +856 21 412-344
E-mail: maf.infro@gmail.com
Website: www.maf.gov.la
Current as of October 2025
Disclaimer
Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-12-12.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: Afghanistan · Armenia · Azerbaijan · all destinations
Official sources for Laos
- www.maf.gov.la maf.gov.la
Questions about moving a pet to Laos
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Laos?
ISO Microchip Required
From the country profile, last verified 2025-12-12.
What rabies vaccination does Laos require?
Rabies vaccine must be valid and administered more than 30 days before import into Laos
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Laos?
Required for entry
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Laos?
Not required
How old does a puppy or kitten have to be to travel to Laos?
Cats and Dogs must be at least 4 months