There is no single Thai rule for traveling with a pet: every operator sets its own. As of October 2026, the BTS Skytrain bans animals except guide dogs, the SRT Red Line carries dogs and cats free, the Airport Rail Link takes small pets in a carrier at set hours, GrabPet takes pets in Bangkok and major cities, and Thai AirAsia carries no pets at all.
This page is about moving a dog or cat around inside Thailand once it is here. Getting an animal into the country is a separate process with an import permit and a health certificate, covered in our guide to bringing a dog or cat to Thailand. Because the rules below belong to companies, not to the law, they can change at short notice: check with the operator before each trip.
Pets on Thai transport at a glance (checked October 2026)
- BTS Skytrain
- No animals; guide dogs (and K-9 security dogs) only
- Airport Rail Link
- One small pet per passenger in a carrier, up to 10 kg, at set hours
- SRT Red Line
- Dogs and cats free every day, at set hours; register at the counter
- MRT
- No rule found; ask the operator
- GrabPet
- Dogs, cats and small mammals; under 41 cm tall, or GrabPet XL for a large dog
- Thai AirAsia
- No pets on board
- Bangkok Airways, Nok Air
- Pets in the hold, on some routes, for a fee
Bangkok's trains: one ban, two lines that say yes
The BTS Skytrain does not allow animals in its stations or trains, not even in a closed bag. Its regulations make an exception for guide dogs for blind passengers and set a fine of up to 500 baht. BTS repeated the ban on Thursday 28 November 2024, naming only guide dogs and K-9 security dogs as allowed.
The Airport Rail Link has accepted pets since Sunday 14 July 2024, according to the operator as quoted by The Nation. The conditions:
- one dog or cat per passenger (or one bag of fish or one bird cage), up to 10 kg;
- a carrier no larger than 35 × 56 × 36 cm, in designated carriages;
- on weekdays 10:00 to 15:00 and 20:00 to midnight; all day at weekends.
The SRT Red Line commuter trains have run as a "Pet Friendly Train" since Sunday 1 June 2025, with dogs and cats riding free every day. On weekdays pets may travel 05:30 to 06:30, 10:00 to 17:00 and 21:00 to midnight; at weekends and on holidays, 05:30 to midnight. Register the animal at the ticket counter, and call the SRT on 1690 with questions. Our guides to the Airport Rail Link and the Red Line explain where both go.
We found no published animal rule for the MRT, so ask at the station before you set off. Our overview of the BTS and MRT has the lines and the operators.
Long-distance trains: ask before you buy
We could not read the State Railway's own pet rule for long-distance trains, because its website was unreachable in October 2026. Travelers report that small pets are taken in a closed carrier in the fan-cooled cars only, with a fee paid at the station, but that is not an official rule and we do not print a fee. Call 1690 or ask at the ticket counter before you plan around it, and expect the answer to depend on the train and the staff on the day.
Fan-cooled cars mean the slow trains described in our guide to third-class travel, which can be hot in the middle of the day; pick a morning train if you can.
GrabPet, ordinary taxis and Muvmi
Grab Thailand runs a separate pet service, described on its own blog (25 August 2026):
- GrabPet: up to two small or medium pets under 41 cm tall, plus up to two passengers.
- GrabPet XL: a large SUV for one large pet over 41 cm, or two small or medium ones.
- Dogs must be on a leash or in a crate, and aggressive breeds such as pit bulls and Rottweilers must be muzzled. Cats, rabbits and other small mammals travel in a crate.
- An adult must ride along, the pet should be treated for parasites, and if it soils the car you agree a cleaning fee with the driver.
Grab says the service runs in "Bangkok and major cities" without a list, so check the app where you are. Its blog contradicts itself about birds: the eligibility table excludes them, so assume dogs, cats and small mammals only.
We found no rule that obliges an ordinary taxi or GrabCar driver to accept an animal, so book GrabPet or ask the driver first. In Bangkok, the electric tuk-tuks of Muvmi take dogs and cats through a "Muv with Pet" booking or a private tuk-tuk.
Domestic flights: three airlines, three answers
On domestic flights the airline decides, and the main low-cost airline says no. Thai AirAsia states that its standard policy is to accept no pets or animals on board, guide dogs excepted.
| Airline | Pets | Where | Fee (Oct 2026) | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thai AirAsia | No | – | – | Guide dogs only |
| Bangkok Airways | Dogs and cats, hold only | Domestic flights to Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui and all ATR72 flights | ฿180 per kg per sector, pet plus cage | Tell the airline 24 h ahead; min. 8 weeks old; 25 dog and 5 cat breeds refused |
| Nok Air | Dogs, cats and rabbits as special baggage | Domestic only | ฿2,000 (1–15 kg), ฿2,500 (16–30 kg) | Hard IATA carrier, max 30 kg and 71 cm high; min. 2 months old; check in 1 h early |
Bangkok Airways refuses snub-nosed and other risk breeds, among them French bulldogs, pugs, shih tzus, Persians and British shorthairs. It also limits the containers: on the ATR72, at most two crates of 80 × 45 × 65 cm and 20 kg. Nok Air's fees took effect on Tuesday 1 September 2026, and service dogs fly free.
We could not check Thai Airways (its pet pages were down for maintenance) or Thai Lion Air, so ask them directly. Which airline uses which Bangkok airport is explained in our guide to domestic flights in Thailand.
Flying a dog to Trat needs a livestock permit. Bangkok Airways notes that pets flying to Trat require an official animal-movement permit from the local livestock office. Get it before the flight, not at the airport.
Ferries, speedboats and long-tails
We found no national rule on pets on boats, and no published pet policy from the island ferry operators. In practice the decision lies with the operator and sometimes the captain on the day. Ask when you book, in writing if possible, and bring a crate and a leash either way. Our guides to ferries and speedboats describe the boats; a large car ferry with a shaded deck is a very different trip for an animal from a crowded speedboat in a swell.
Hotels, parks and permits between provinces
We do not list pet-friendly hotels, because no official register exists and policies change. Ask the hotel directly, get the answer in writing, and ask about extra fees and size limits. National parks are a firm no in many cases: Khao Yai's official rules, for example, ban pets, so check before you drive a dog to the Khao Yai area.
Moving a pet between provinces is the open question. The Department of Livestock Development (DLD) runs an e-Movement system for animal movement permits, and the Trat rule above shows that local requirements exist, but we could not confirm whether an ordinary pet dog or cat needs a permit for a normal trip between provinces. Ask the provincial livestock office at your destination, especially if there has been a rabies case there. In Bangkok, a city ordinance on registering and microchipping dogs and cats takes full effect on 10 January 2027; our page on vets and pet care explains it.
Heat, rabies and the papers to carry
Carry the pet's vaccination record, including the rabies vaccination, on every trip. Keep the animal away from street dogs at stations and piers; our guide to walking safely around soi dogs applies to owners too. If your pet bites someone, or a stray bites you, the steps in our page on animal bites and rabies apply the same day. Heat is the other risk: never leave an animal in a parked car, and travel early in the day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take my dog on the BTS Skytrain?
No. The BTS bans animals in its stations and trains, even in a closed bag or carrier, with a fine of up to 500 baht. Only guide dogs for blind passengers and K-9 security dogs are allowed.
Which Bangkok trains allow pets?
The SRT Red Line carries dogs and cats free every day at set hours, after registration at the ticket counter. The Airport Rail Link takes one small pet per passenger in a carrier of up to 10 kg, on weekdays outside the rush hours and all day at weekends.
Can I fly with my cat on Thai AirAsia?
No. Thai AirAsia's standard policy is to accept no pets or animals on board, apart from guide dogs. Bangkok Airways and Nok Air accept cats and dogs in the hold on some domestic routes for a fee.
Does Grab take dogs in Thailand?
Yes, through GrabPet, in Bangkok and major cities. Dogs under 41 cm tall go in GrabPet; a large dog needs GrabPet XL. Dogs must be leashed or crated, and an adult must travel with the animal.
Do I need a permit to take my dog to another province?
We could not confirm a general rule. The DLD runs an animal-movement permit system, and Trat requires a permit for pets arriving by air. Ask the livestock office in the province you are going to before you travel.
Sources
- BTS Skytrain – Announcements and regulations (checked October 2026)
- The Nation – Airport Rail Link allows pets from 14 July 2024 (checked October 2026)
- The Nation – Red Line "Pet Friendly Train" from 1 June 2025 (checked October 2026)
- Grab Thailand – GrabPet (checked October 2026)
- AirAsia – Can I bring my pet? (checked October 2026)
- Bangkok Airways – Traveling with pet (checked October 2026)
- Nok Air – Pets and special baggage (checked October 2026)
- Department of Livestock Development – e-Movement system (checked October 2026)