Bringing a pet into Canada
This release covers personal dogs and domestic cats travelling with their owners from the US mainland, Great Britain or the EU, using the rabies-vaccination-certificate pathway or the young-animal proof-of-age exception. Departures to those destinations are also covered. Commercial imports, assistance-dog exemptions, hybrid animals, antibody-test alternatives, medical rabies exemptions and unaccompanied puppies, other unaccompanied pets and country-freedom certificates are outside this planner. Provincial and local requirements have not been researched.
Last verified Applies to dogs and cats11 primary sourcesSite-wide weekly check due
Entry permitted: no quarantine when compliant
To meet the entry rules
- On the vaccination-certificate pathway, carry valid rabies documentation from a licensed veterinarian for personal dogs and domestic cats from the covered origins. Animals younger than 3 months need proof of age instead.
- The dog must appear healthy and meet humane transportation requirements. Confirm the airline’s document and carrier conditions before booking.
Full answer
On the vaccination-certificate pathway, carry valid rabies documentation from a licensed veterinarian for personal dogs and domestic cats from the covered origins. Animals younger than 3 months need proof of age instead. The dog must appear healthy and meet humane transportation requirements. Confirm the airline’s document and carrier conditions before booking.
- Quarantine
- No quarantine when compliantno post-import quarantine for pet dogs
- Titer required
- Not required
- Rules allow in cabin
- Airline decidesConfirm cabin, checked-pet or cargo acceptance with the operating airline before booking. Canadian border paperwork does not establish that an airline will transport the animal.
- Banned breeds
- None in our sources
Requirements, in the order they must happen
| Step | Requirement | Timing rule | Fails if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requirement | For an owner-accompanied personal dog from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian. Dogs younger than 3 months need proof of age instead. This page follows the vaccination-certificate pathway; ask CFIA about the antibody-test alternative or medical exemptions before relying on different documents.Dogs only | — | The dog is old enough to require rabies documentation and lacks a valid certificate. |
| Requirement | For a domestic cat from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian. Kittens younger than 3 months need proof of age instead. This page follows the vaccination-certificate pathway; ask CFIA about the antibody-test alternative or medical exemptions before relying on different documents.Cats only | — | The cat is old enough to require rabies documentation and lacks a valid certificate. |
| Requirement | Carry proof of age for a dog or kitten younger than 3 months. For a dog, obtain the proof from a veterinarian. Being eligible for Canadian entry does not establish airline acceptance or eligibility for a return journey. | — | A young animal’s age cannot be documented. |
| Requirement | The rabies certificate must be legible, in English or French, and identify the animal. It must record the vaccination date, vaccine trade name and serial number, duration of immunity, and the veterinarian’s name, signature and signing date. An existing microchip or tattoo number is recorded if applicable. | — | Required identity, vaccination or veterinary signature information is missing or illegible. |
| Requirement | The dog must appear healthy and meet humane transportation requirements when it arrives. Entry paperwork does not replace fitness to travel.Dogs only | — | The dog appears unhealthy or does not meet humane transportation requirements. |
| Note | Ask the operating airline which health documents and carrier it requires. A border health-certificate exemption does not waive the airline’s conditions. | — | — |
| Note | An EU pet passport can serve as the rabies vaccination certificate if it includes every required detail. It does not replace any national export or airline document.Only: EU origin | — | — |
Routes into Canada
- European Union → CanadaDog · Titer not required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- European Union → CanadaCat · Titer not required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- Great Britain → CanadaDog · Titer not required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- Great Britain → CanadaCat · Titer not required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- United States → CanadaDog · Titer not required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
- United States → CanadaCat · Titer not required · Rules allow in cabin: airline decides
Leaving Canada with a pet
To Great Britain
| Step | Requirement | Timing rule | Fails if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health certificate issued or endorsed | Have a licensed veterinarian complete the Great Britain pet health certificate and book CFIA endorsement before the pet leaves Canada. The endorsed certificate and supporting vaccination records travel with the pet. | on or before departure | Done after departure. |
| Health certificate issued or endorsed | Book the CFIA endorsement appointment well ahead of the certificate window. Ask the certifying vet to check the current British requirements against the Canadian certificate before completing it. | — | — |
To the European Union
| Step | Requirement | Timing rule | Fails if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vet signs the health certificate | A Canadian licensed veterinarian completes and signs the current EU animal health certificate. CFIA counts its validity from that signature, not just from endorsement. | within 10 days before arrival | Done more than 10 days before arrival. |
| Vet signs the health certificate | For a dog travelling from Canada to Finland, Ireland or Malta, have the licensed vet sign within five days before entry. For other covered EU destinations, obtain the Canadian licensed vet's signature within ten days before entry. | within 5 days before arrival | Done more than 5 days before arrival. |
| Health certificate issued or endorsed | Book CFIA endorsement after the licensed vet signs and before the pet leaves Canada. Endorsement is the last certification step; do not alter the certificate afterwards. | on or before departure | Done after departure. |
| Tapeworm treatment | For Finland, Ireland or Malta, have the licensed vet give and record the required tapeworm treatment before signing the certificate and before CFIA endorsement. Do not give the treatment yourself. | on or before the vet's signature | Done after the vet's signature. |
| Vet signs the health certificate | Use the certificate language for the first EU point of entry, not just the final destination. CFIA requires English and that member state's official language, with English-only certificates accepted for Finland and Malta. Use the current template and carry its declarations and supporting records. | — | — |
| Note | These Canadian routes cover pets travelling with their owner. Separate unaccompanied cargo shipments and commercial movements need a different review. Confirm that any connection preserves the non-commercial conditions. | — | — |
To the United States
| Step | Requirement | Timing rule | Fails if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Check the dog’s full travel history against CDC requirements before departure. The covered US route assumes the dog has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the preceding 6 months. CFIA says a dog with recent high-risk-country history is not eligible to enter the US directly from Canada under its published guidance. | — | — |
| Note | Before departure, check the US destination requirements and ask the operating airline about any health certificate. Canadian export guidance directs owners to the destination country’s requirements; this is not a blanket exemption from state or carrier paperwork. | — | — |
Routes out of Canada
Where every rule above came from
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets/robots-testThis release covers personal dogs and domestic cats travelling with their owners from…; EU origin; For an owner-accompanied personal dog from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies…; For a domestic cat from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate…; and 5 more
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/travelling-pets-food-plants/travelling-petsFerret travel to Canada has not been researched for this release; Ask the operating airline which health documents and carrier it requires; A pet that does not meet the applicable requirements may be refused entry; Before departure, check the US destination requirements and ask the operating airline…
- Government of Canadatravel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/petsConfirm cabin, checked-pet or cargo acceptance with the operating airline before booking
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/imports/import-policies/general/reference-documentFor an owner-accompanied personal dog from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies…; For a domestic cat from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate…; Pet dogs are not subject to post-import quarantine in Canada
- CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)cdc.gov/importation/dogs/rabies-free-low-risk-countries.htmlBefore leaving the US, check the return route
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/sites/default/files/legacy/DAM/DAM-animals-animaux/STAGING/text-texte/ha3149_gbr_1623767861317_eng.pdfHealth certificate issued or endorsed
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/petsHealth certificate issued or endorsed
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/pets/great-britain-0Health certificate issued or endorsed
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/pets/eu-non-commercialVet signs the health certificate; Health certificate issued or endorsed; Tapeworm treatment; These Canadian routes cover pets travelling with their owner
- USDA APHISaphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-canadaFor an owner-accompanied personal dog from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies…; Before leaving the US, check the return route
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/exports/pets/dogs-usaCheck the dog’s full travel history against CDC requirements before departure
Rules change without notice. Confirm each item against the linked official page before you book: we date every check, but the official page is the authority.