What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Canada pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Canada will depend on the age of your pet and whether the transport is non-commercial or commercial.
Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements
These rules apply to the transport of domestic dog and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO CANADA below.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Any dog traveling for commercial purposes (see definition below) to Canada will need to originate from a country that is not classified by Canada as high rabies.
Related: Countries classified by Canada as high rabies – https://www.pettravel.com/rabies-high-risk-countries/
Find a Licensed Veterinarian
Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or be licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.
Quarantine for pets entering Canada
There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Canada if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible for all costs involved.
Canada Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to Canada pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
Although Canada does not require that your pet be identified with a pet microchip (except when importing commercially – see below), it is strongly advised that all pets traveling internationally have a 15-digit ISO 11784 compliant microchip prior to traveling internationally. This is the best form of pet identification available today.
The microchip should be implanted by your veterinarian, veterinary hospital or trained nurse. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer database.
Step 2: Vaccinations
Accompanied dogs over 8 months of age and cats over 3 months of age entering Canada from countries Canada considers as rabies free*
Your dog or cat will need either proof of current rabies vaccination (EU Pet Passport is accepted) OR a health certificate in English or French and completed by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
The health certificate must clearly identify your pet and a governmental veterinarian must state that rabies has not existed in the originating country for the six-month period immediately preceding the shipment of your pet; and, your pet has been in that country for the six-month period or since birth. A licensed veterinarian in your country can also do this as long as the certificate is endorsed by a governmental authority responsible for the import and export of live animals.
The same requirements apply to dogs or cats that originated from Canada and are being returned directly from a country designated by the Minister as having been free from rabies and living there for not less than six (6) months.
*Countries that Canada recognizes as rabies free:
Australia, Fiji, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Accompanied dogs over 8 months of age and cats over 3 months of age entering Canada from all other countries
If your dog or cat is entering Canada from a country not included on the list above, the following will be required:
- A valid rabies vaccination certificate issued, in either English or French, by a licensed veterinarian from the country of origin. (EU Pet Passport is accepted.) There is no waiting period after the vaccination is administered. Canada does recognize the three year rabies vaccination. Please note that if a validity date does not appear on the certificate, then it will be considered a one year vaccine.
- A current health certificate (if required by your airline)
Unaccompanied dogs under 8 months of age entering Canada from any country
Due to the problems with puppy mills and the movement of puppies, Canada is very sensitive to dogs entering the country under eight (8) months of age and will assume that, if you, as the owner of your dog, are not traveling with your dog and its papers are not in your name, it may be considered a commercial* shipment by customs and be subject to a microchip, health certificate issued within 48 hours of entry, and an import permit.
Puppies entering Canada without their owners or commercially* will need to be vaccinated for distemper, hepatitis, parvo virus, and parainfluenza, no earlier than six weeks of age. Arrangements should be made with veterinary
officials at the port of entry for inspection outside of normal working hours.
Commercial Transport
See Note above for restrictions on commercial transport of dogs from countries classified as high-rabies.
Dogs imported for the following purposes will be classified as commercial:
- Dogs being gifted, given or transferred to another person
- Dogs being imported to Canada for resale, adoption, fostering or breeding
- Dogs imported for participation in shows or competitions (unless entering from the United States)*
- Dogs being imported for exhibition and research
*If proof can be provided that your dog is entering Canada temporarily and is registered in a competition, show or a trial organized by a recognized association and meets all other requirements, an import permit is not required.
If importing a dog under commercial regulations, the owner must apply for an import permit at least 30 days in advance.
All dogs entering Canada under 8 months for commercial purposes must enter Canada as air cargo, if flying. An agent will be required to book transport.
All dogs imported under commercial regulations from countries at high-risk for dog rabies will not currently be permitted entry into Canada. Commercial transport will include but are not limited to dogs for change of ownership, resale, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or exhibition, research, and other purposes. This includes dogs that have resided in or have visited high-rabies countries within the past 6 months. Cats are not included in this ban.
Entering Canada with puppies under three (3) months of age
Dogs and cats under three (3) months of age are exempt from import requirements if entering Canada with their owner. Proof of age and ownership should be available.
Medically Certified Guide Dogs
Assistance dogs that are endorsed as a guide, hearing or other service dog are not subject to any restrictions for importation
when the person importing the dog is the user of the dog and accompanies the dog to Canada.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test is not required to enter Canada from any country. Note that rabies titer tests are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 4: Health Certificate
If a pet health certificate is required, it must be in English or French and completed by a licensed veterinarian. It should identify your pet, the dates of vaccination, the manufacturer and the expiration date of the rabies vaccine. The Canada does accept 3-year rabies vaccinations. Import permits will be required for puppies entering Canada unaccompanied. See rabies requirements above.
The health certificate must clearly identify your pet. Your veterinarian must state that your pet is fit to travel and is not originating from an area that is under restrictions for rabies. Additionally, your veterinarian should attest that your pet is displaying no symptoms of any contagious diseases.
Other Information
Entering Canada by Air
Pets can enter Canada at international airports in many cities including but not limited to Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Ontario, Quebec and Montreal.
Dogs and cats entering Canada from all countries except the United States will be subject to inspection. There is a fee of $30.00 USD for this service for the first animal and $5.00 USD for each additional pet. Proof of rabies vaccination will be required.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry. If your pet is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the importer’s expense.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Canada
Puppies and kittens under 3 months of age and not vaccinated for rabies entering Canada are exempt from import requirements if accompanied by their owners. See above for information regarding puppies and kittens between the age of 3 and 8 months.
Related: Transporting with a puppy
Breeds Banned by Canada
Although Canada does not ban specific breeds from entry, there are some province and city restrictions. The American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier and their crosses are banned from entering or transiting the province of Ontario. The City of Toronto also bans the breeds. Transiting Toronto is not permitted on WestJet. When transiting Toronto, advance notice must be provided and an agent must transit your dog.
Also note that these regulations do not include any wolf hybrids, Savannah or Bengal cats, unless proof of being 5th generation removed from the pedigree, or other non-domesticated animals.
The following dogs or their mixes are banned in Winnipeg: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or American Staffordshire Terrier.
Exporting Canadian Resident Pets
All resident pets leaving the Canada must send relevant paperwork required for the destination country to the State CFIA office. The documents must be endorsed by the CFIA prior to leaving the country. Transiting pets whose permits or health certificates have expired should obtain these documents in Canada and have them endorsed prior to leaving the country.
Importing Birds and Other Animals to Canada
Rabbits entering Canada from the United States do not require documentation although they may be inspected by border officials. When originating from another country, rabbits will need an import permit and will be subject to quarantine. Rabbits must enter Canada with the owner. They must be accompanied with a statement that they have always been in the owner’s possession as a pet. You should contact the local CFIA office in the province into which your rabbit will be imported for additional details.
Rodents (guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas and hamsters) do not need a permit or health certificate to enter Canada.
Ferrets over the age of three months entering Canada from the United States must be accompanied by proof of current rabies vaccination. If entering Canada from any other country, an import permit issued by the local CFIA office in the destination province is required.
Birds entering Canada from the United States
To import a bird to Canada from the United States, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) requires the Veterinary Services Trade Route Mapping Tool to identify areas that have been subject to Avian Influenza outbreaks.
Owners must accompany their domesticated birds into Canada from the United States. The owner must sign a declaration stating that the birds have been in his/her possession for the 90-day period preceding the date of importation. Your bird must not have been in contact with any other birds during that time. The owner must sign a declaration that their bird is not intended for resale. The bird must be found healthy during inspection. The bird must not have entered Canada for 90 days before their current visit.
Birds entering Canada from other countries
Birds entering Canada from other countries will require an import permit from the local CFIA office in the destination province. Canada bans the import of birds from certain countries and has additional requirements from others. More information can be obtained at the local CFIA office.
In either case, only one bird can be imported per person in a given 90-day period.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Canada?
Have a comment about importing a pet to Canada? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.
Please note that the accuracy of comments made by Facebook users other than Pet Travel has not been verified, and we do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.
Current Information
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to:
- make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense or
- return your pet to the country of origin, or
- euthanize your pet.
We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Canada pet import requirements.
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