Bringing a Dog or Cat to Canada: Pet Entry Requirements

Quick answer: what does a dog or cat need to enter Canada?

Personal dog: generally carry a valid veterinary rabies certificate in English or French if the dog is three months or older, or qualifying alternative evidence for the applicable origin. Dogs younger than three months have a federal rabies-document exemption; puppies younger than eight months travelling without their owner have additional veterinary examination and vaccine rules. CA-01 CA-02

Domestic cat: cats younger than three months are exempt from the federal import restrictions described for domestic cats. At three months or older, bring a veterinarian’s certificate identifying the cat and documenting current rabies vaccination, a qualifying six-month stay in a CFIA-recognized rabies-free country, or the specified rabies antibody result. CA-02 CA-03

Every journey: declare the pet to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), present original documents and keep the animal fit for transport. Personal pet travel must never be used to disguise an adoption, rescue transfer, resale or other commercial import. CA-05 CA-08

Key takeaways

This guide reflects CFIA’s current online pet tool and its Import Reference Document last amended on 8 October 2025; lists and AIRS decisions can change, so confirm all travel-specific details shortly before departure. CA-01 CA-02 CA-07

Who controls entry? Four layers of permission

Use the CFIA Automated Import Reference System for your exact end use. It is an updatable reference tool, not a substitute for legislation or an individual import approval. CA-07

For a broader route plan, combine this page with our International Pet Travel guide, Documents & Health Certificates and Air Travel Hub.

Choose the correct Canada entry pathway

CFIA’s personal-dog questionnaire distinguishes less than three months, three months to under eight months, and eight months or older; it also asks whether an under-eight-month dog is accompanied by its owner. An airline escort does not automatically mean the dog is accompanied by its owner for the CFIA question. CA-01 CA-02

The commercial pathway is broader than a sale. CFIA includes dogs intended for transfer, adoption, fostering, breeding, show or exhibition and research; assess the purpose with CFIA rather than relabelling a rescue as a personal pet. CA-05

Personal dogs: age, rabies and owner accompaniment

Dogs younger than three months

For ordinary personal dogs younger than three months, CFIA’s Import Reference Document exempts the federal rabies vaccination certificate or rabies-free-origin certification. This does not make an eight-week unaccompanied puppy exempt from its separate age, fitness and additional vaccine conditions, and it does not override an airline’s minimum transport age. CA-02 CA-10

Dogs from three months of age

The usual documentary route is a current rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin, in English or French, which clearly identifies the dog. A recognized rabies-free-country certificate can qualify on appropriate routes when the required six-month history or since-birth conditions are met; the CFIA Import Reference Document also identifies qualifying RNATT alternatives. Check the exact certificate route in CFIA’s tool rather than assuming every dog needs vaccination and titre testing. CA-01 CA-02 CA-03

Unaccompanied personal dogs under eight months

In addition to the applicable rabies evidence, CFIA’s current Import Reference Document requires a signed veterinary certificate stating examination and fitness; the dog must be at least eight weeks old when examined, show no clinical disease and meet specified distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza vaccinations. Entry must occur within 72 hours after the recorded examination. This is a specific unaccompanied young-dog rule, not a universal three-day health-certificate requirement for all dogs. CA-02

Owners using cargo services should ask which party CFIA regards as the importer and whether the dog is accompanied by its owner. Do not presume cargo status alone decides commercial purpose, but do not presume a transport escort counts as the owner either.

Domestic cats: under three months and older

Under the CFIA Import Reference Document, a domestic kitten younger than three months has no federal domestic-cat import restriction of the type imposed on older cats. The airline, origin country, transit airports and provincial destination may still have handling or ownership conditions. CA-02 CA-10

At three months or older, a domestic cat should travel with a veterinarian’s English- or French-language certificate identifying the cat and confirming one applicable route: current rabies vaccination; import from a CFIA-designated rabies-free country where it lived throughout the preceding six months; or a qualifying RNATT result at or above 0.5 IU/ml, with the lab report identifying the cat and accompanying it. Confirm the laboratory timing and accepted paperwork against the current rule before using the titre alternative. CA-02 CA-03

Canada does not create a universal rabies-titre test requirement for all personal cats. Nor is the special unaccompanied-puppy health certificate a blanket requirement for domestic cats. When the cat is non-domestic or a hybrid, stop and check distinct animal-health, wildlife and possible CITES controls. CA-01 CA-08

Microchips, rabies records and country of origin

Microchip: the general federal personal-dog/domestic-cat entry provisions do not impose a universal microchip requirement. However, commercial puppies and many airline, transit and onward-country routes have identification conditions. Microchipping is useful for recovery and consistent veterinary identity, but do not present it as a blanket Canadian personal-pet law. CA-02 CA-06

Rabies documents: obtain a readable veterinary record showing a clear physical description or permanent identification, vaccine administration date and validity. Make sure the documents are in English or French where required. If relying on rabies-free origin, demonstrate the actual time the animal lived there, not merely the location of its connecting airport. CA-02 CA-03

Two origin tests: recognized rabies-free status allows certain documentary alternatives for ordinary personal entry. The high-risk-for-dog-rabies list is used for the commercial-dog prohibition. At the rules-check date, the latter includes countries such as India, the United Arab Emirates and Brazil; CFIA revises the list, so link to it rather than circulating an undated country chart. CA-03 CA-04 CA-05

Which documents should travel with your pet?

Core personal-dog packet: original valid veterinary rabies certificate or the origin-appropriate alternative, travel identification and any extra unaccompanied-young-dog certificate. Pack evidence of ownership and itinerary to clarify personal purpose if questioned. An official veterinary health certificate is not universally required of every accompanied personal dog. CA-01 CA-02 CA-08

Core domestic-cat packet: if three months or older, the English/French veterinary certificate and its supporting vaccination, recognized-origin history or qualifying RNATT lab report. For a kitten under three months, confirm airline, foreign-export and onward-country rules rather than assuming the absence of one CFIA document means no other documents are needed. CA-02

Commercial or controlled pathway: check AIRS for species, source, destination and end use, then obtain any CFIA import permit, government-endorsed certificate, health inspection appointment, approved route or quarantine contingency specified there. For qualifying commercial puppies less than eight months, requirements can include permit, microchip, vaccination and parasite history, and prearranged inspection. CA-06 CA-07 CA-11 CA-18

Canada-specific destination documents and an exporting-country export certificate are different questions. If the exporting country requires an official veterinarian or ministry endorsement, obtain that even if Canada itself accepts a licensed veterinarian’s rabies certificate for your personal-pet route. See our document-planning guide.

Commercial dogs from high-risk rabies countries

Since 28 September 2022, Canada has prohibited the entry of commercial dogs from countries CFIA considers high risk for dog rabies until further notice. The ban covers relevant adoption, fostering, resale, transfer, breeding, exhibition and research purposes; CFIA says it no longer issues import permits for dogs covered by that measure. It does not mean all personal pet dogs from those countries are banned. CA-04 CA-05 CA-11

An overseas rescue may call a flight volunteer a “pet parent” or route a dog through a different country. Neither label nor a stopover establishes that the dog is an existing personal pet or that origin controls have been satisfied. Confirm the legal purpose, residence/travel history, exporting country and any required paperwork directly with CFIA before committing to purchase or transport. CA-04 CA-05

What happens at the Canadian border?

1. Declare the animal. Tell CBSA you are travelling with a dog or cat even if it is your long-standing family pet or a Canadian pet returning home.
2. Provide paperwork. Keep the originals and supporting identification close at hand. CBSA may inspect the animal and compare its description against documents.
3. Resolve any referral. Suspected disease, missing documents, non-humane transport, undeclared animals or permit mismatches can trigger delay, CFIA review, detention or refusal. An inspector may issue an allowed rabies-vaccination order in some personal-pet circumstances; never plan on that instead of arriving compliant.
4. Pay applicable charges. Some inspection/quarantine services carry fees. Do not assume a fee table is constant; consult CBSA’s current schedule and any U.S.-arrival exemption for the relevant category.

CFIA notes that ordinary personal pet dogs are not subject to routine post-import quarantine. In contrast, certain commercial young-dog imports can require an approved contingency quarantine facility and an arranged CFIA veterinarian inspection. If AIRS shows an inspection, book it at least 24 hours before expected arrival, and follow any more stringent permit-specific notice. CA-02 CA-06 CA-11

CBSA’s own guidance says officers may inspect, refuse, seize or detain an undeclared animal or one lacking documents, showing disease signs or transported inhumanely. Its live fees schedule is the right place for present-day charges. CA-08 CA-09 CA-17

Special cases: provinces, assistance dogs, transit and other species

Provincial and municipal restrictions

Federal border clearance does not override provincial ownership rules. For example, Ontario’s Dog Owners’ Liability Act generally prohibits importing a pit bull into Ontario, subject to its limited legal exceptions; owners travelling to or through Ontario with a potentially affected dog should review the current law and seek qualified advice before booking. Municipal licensing, leash and vaccination rules may also apply after arrival. CA-12

Certified assistance dogs

CFIA’s Import Reference Document provides a distinct exemption for an assistance dog imported as a guide, hearing or other service dog when the person importing it is the dog’s user and accompanies it. Airlines, disability-document standards and onward-country requirements are separate. Do not apply this exception to an unaccompanied animal or assume an emotional-support designation qualifies. CA-02 CA-08

Transit through Canada

CFIA identifies animals in transit among its import-regulated travel situations. If your dog or cat will change aircraft, clear Canadian Customs, collect and recheck cargo, or leave the sterile transit area, establish what Canadian import clearance and foreign transit/export rules apply. A protected international-airport connection is not an automatic paperwork waiver for every itinerary. CA-16 CA-01

Hybrid cats, wild species and pet food

Wild-cat hybrids, wolf-dog crosses and other species are not covered by the simple personal domestic dog/cat pathways. Some animals require separate import controls, wildlife permits or CITES paperwork; CBSA also regulates animal-origin food and treats. Confirm species classification with CFIA and relevant wildlife authorities. CA-01 CA-08 CA-17

Flying with your pet

Canada’s transport welfare regulations apply to dogs and cats on land and in air. Confirm the operating airline, pet space, crate, breed/temperature restrictions and every connection. Never equate an airline cargo booking with automatic import authorization. See the Air Travel Hub and our Airline Policy Hub . CA-10

Leaving Canada and returning to your departure country

A Canada-admissible dog or cat is not automatically admissible back home. Preserve all pre-departure veterinary records, microchip details if used, rabies dates and prior export certificates. Before leaving home, check your destination’s return rules, including tests or endorsement that cannot be issued retrospectively while abroad. CA-16

Returning to the United States

For dogs that have stayed only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the six months before U.S. entry, CDC requires its Dog Import Form receipt and baseline eligibility including appearing healthy, being at least six months old and having a microchip. A recent stay in a high-risk country triggers additional CDC procedures even when your last flight departs Canada; some U.S.-vaccinated dogs need a specific USDA-endorsed certificate obtained before leaving the U.S. CA-13 CA-14 CA-15

Returning to the UK, EU, Australia or Japan

Use the entry rules of the returning country and its classification of Canada. An EU passport may or may not be sufficient depending on rabies records and the applicable 2026 rules; Australia and Japan have significantly different origin, test and quarantine systems. Canada’s relatively simple personal-pet entry must not be used as a proxy for any of those destinations. Our UK, Germany, France, Australia and Japan guides explain their separate pathways.

A practical planning timeline

There is no universal Canadian 180-day personal-pet waiting period or single international health-certificate issue window. One specific timed rule is entry within 72 hours of the prescribed veterinary examination for an unaccompanied personal dog under eight months. Timelines for commercial permits and return-country testing can be much longer. CA-02 CA-06

Canada pet-travel checklist

• Confirm this is a personal pet, not a transfer, adoption, fostering or resale.
• Check dog/cat age on date of Canadian entry and whether a young dog is with its owner.
• Run the current CFIA AIRS lookup for origin, end use and destination province.
• Bring the applicable rabies certificate, origin proof or permitted RNATT alternative.
• If the dog is an unaccompanied puppy, arrange the additional veterinary certificate and 72-hour travel window.
• Review the separate high-risk commercial-dog prohibition where applicable.
• Confirm exporting-country and transit-country papers independently.
• Check operating airline, humane transport and crate acceptance.
• Check provincial/municipal rules, especially breed rules in Ontario.
• Declare the pet and any food/treats on arrival; present originals.
• Keep records for the onward and return journey, including U.S. CDC paperwork if returning there.
• Recheck CFIA, CBSA and airline updates just before travel.

Use our Pet Travel Checklist .

Frequently asked questions