Flying a cat from Great Britain to Canada
Last verified 15 primary sourcesSite-wide weekly check due
Scope and research limits
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.
This guide covers the journey and pathways stated here. Residence, travel history and connections may change which requirements apply. Confirm these before using the countdown.
Yes
A cat can enter Canada from Great Britain without quarantine when every condition is met.
To meet the entry rules
- Great Britain export health certificate 2923 signed by an official vet on or before departure
- a clinical examination for export certification within 72 hours before departure
- a valid rabies vaccination certificate if aged 3 months or older
If a requirement is missed: A pet that does not meet the applicable requirements may be refused entry.
Full answer
A cat can enter Canada from Great Britain without quarantine when every condition is met. It needs Great Britain export health certificate 2923 signed by an official vet on or before departure, a clinical examination for export certification within 72 hours before departure and a valid rabies vaccination certificate if aged 3 months or older. If any is missed: A pet that does not meet the applicable requirements may be refused entry. Last verified 22 October 2026.
- 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.
- Quarantine
- NoneIf a rule is missed: A pet that does not meet the applicable requirements may be refused entry.
- Rabies titer
- Not required
- Lead time
- 1 day
Your deadlines, counted back from arrival
None of these steps is a hard deadline. Each step says how long before arrival it falls. Pick an arrival date and your browser works out the calendar dates; it fetches nothing.
Lead time: 1 day
With no arrival time entered, hourly deadlines assume 12:00 local time. Use the local arrival time in Canada (America/Toronto).
Pick an arrival date to see the calendar date of each step.
Health certificate issued or endorsed
Apply online for export health certificate 2923 and nominate an official vet to certify the pet before departure. This British export step is separate from Canada's rabies-document requirements. Timing: on or before departure.
Fails if: Done after departure.
Clinical examination
For a pet travelling from Great Britain to Canada, the official vet's guidance requires a clinical examination within 72 hours before export. The pet must show no clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease and be fit to travel. Confirm the examination time against the actual departure time. Timing: within 72 hours before departure.
Fails if: Done more than 72 hours before departure.
Arrival day
Requirements without a countdown
These conditions still apply. Choosing an arrival date does not check them.
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.
Fails if: The cat is old enough to require rabies documentation and lacks a valid certificate.
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.
Fails if: A young animal’s age cannot be documented.
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.
Fails if: Required identity, vaccination or veterinary signature information is missing or illegible.
Ask the operating airline which health documents and carrier it requires. A border health-certificate exemption does not waive the airline’s conditions.
This plan assumes one air journey, with every step done before you leave. Unless you give a departure date, it assumes you leave the day before arrival or on arrival day. Times are local to Canada (America/Toronto).
Which airlines carry cats on this route
The only airline in our sources carries cats on this route, as manifest cargo.
This is what airlines offer. An airline can offer less than the rules allow.
Hold means checked baggage. Manifest cargo is a separate booking, even when the animal travels in the same aircraft hold.
| Airline | Cabin | Hold (checked baggage) | Manifest cargo | Fee from | Snub-nosed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | Quoted on request |
- British Airways: IAG Cargo asks for live animals to be checked in 4 hours before departure, subject to the station; some stations set their own cut-off.
- British Airways: IAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds there.
- British Airways: British Airways' Conditions of Carriage still allow checked baggage; its current pet pages say cargo, which is what we show.
No rule changes recorded since
We have recorded no change to the rules on this page since , when our log began. See every recorded change.
Where every rule above came from
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/imports/import-policies/general/reference-documentFor a domestic cat from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate…
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/importing-food-plants-animals/pets/robots-testFor a domestic cat from a covered origin, carry a valid rabies vaccination certificate…; Carry proof of age for a dog or kitten younger than 3 months; The rabies certificate must be legible, in English or French, and identify the animal; This release covers personal dogs and domestic cats travelling with their owners from…
- Canadian Food Inspection Agencyinspection.canada.ca/en/travelling-pets-food-plants/travelling-petsAsk the operating airline which health documents and carrier it requires; A pet that does not meet the applicable requirements may be refused entry
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/export-health-certificates/export-cats-and-dogs-to-canada-certificate-2923Health certificate issued or endorsed
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/653f91c9e6c9680014aa9cfa/2923NFG.pdfClinical examination
- GOV.UK (Defra/APHA)gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroadHealth certificate issued or endorsed
- Government of Canadatravel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/petsConfirm cabin, checked-pet or cargo acceptance with the operating airline before booking
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/products/live-animalsIAG Cargo asks for live animals to be checked in 4 hours before departure, subject to…
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/products/petsBritish Airways: fee from, snub-nosed
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/lgwIAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds there
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/lhrBritish Airways: route; IAG Cargo takes no dangerous dogs at Heathrow or Gatwick, and restricts some snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds there
- IAG Cargoiagcargo.com/en/contact-us/yyzBritish Airways: route
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/legal/conditions-of-carriage/general-conditions-of-carriageBritish Airways: hold (checked baggage)
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/information/travel-assistance/travelling-with-petsBritish Airways: route, cabin
- British Airwaysbritishairways.com/content/en/us/information/legal/us-optional-extrasBritish Airways: hold (checked baggage), manifest cargo, fee from
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.
Related pages
See everything that applies in Canada, or what changed across the site.