Bringing Your Pet to Canada
To bring a dog or cat to Canada, carry a veterinarian's certificate, in English or French, that identifies the animal and confirms a current rabies vaccination. Animals under 3 months old are exempt, and the rules ease for animals from countries the CFIA recognizes as rabies-free. Pet dogs face no post-import quarantine. Declare your pet to the CBSA.
3 months
The age from which a dog or cat needs the rabies certificate
0.5 IU/ml
The lowest RNATT titre result accepted in place of a current vaccination
None
Post-import quarantine for pet dogs imported from any country
45 days
The shortest quarantine for pet birds from a country other than the United States
These figures come from the CFIA reference document under the Health of Animals Regulations. CFIA requirements can change, so check the CFIA pet import tool before you travel.
Who sets the rules for bringing a pet into Canada?
Canada's pet import rules are set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) under the Health of Animals Regulations. They are enforced at the border by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Requirements depend on:
- The species of your animal.
- The country of origin (whether it is considered rabies-free or not).
- Whether the animal is commercial (for resale) or personal (accompanying the owner).
- How the animal is entering Canada (air, land, or sea).
What does a dog need to enter Canada?
- From a country where rabies is present (most of the world)
- A valid rabies vaccination certificate, issued in English or French by a licensed veterinarian, is required. It must clearly identify the dog and confirm it is currently vaccinated against rabies. The CFIA reference document does not set a fixed minimum number of days between vaccination and entry: the requirement is that the vaccination is current.
- From a country the CFIA recognizes as rabies-free
- Rabies vaccination is not required for entry from a designated rabies-free country. Per the CFIA reference document, a dog 8 months of age or older may enter with a certificate confirming the dog resided in that country (and that rabies has not existed there) during the 6-month period immediately before entry. Whether a country is classified as rabies-free is set by the CFIA and can change.
- Dogs under 8 months
- Dogs under 3 months of age are not required to be vaccinated or certified against rabies. Dogs from 3 to under 8 months need the rabies certification or vaccination set out for their country.
Canada does not have a federal breed ban. However, some provinces and municipalities have breed-specific legislation (BSL), and Ontario has a provincial pit bull ban.
The rule
For most people, bringing a dog or cat to Canada comes down to one core requirement, a veterinarian's certificate (in English or French) confirming the animal is currently vaccinated against rabies.
What does a cat need to enter Canada?
Requirements for cats follow the same logic as dogs and are set in the CFIA reference document under the Health of Animals Regulations:
- Cats under 3 months of age are not subject to import restrictions for rabies.
- Cats 3 months of age or older must be accompanied by a veterinarian's certificate, in English or French, that clearly identifies the animal and confirms it is currently vaccinated against rabies.
- From a CFIA-designated rabies-free country: a cat that resided there during the 6 months immediately before entry may enter without a current rabies vaccination, subject to the certificate confirming this.
- No federal breed restrictions apply to cats.
What happens at the border?
At the Canadian port of entry, you must declare your pet to the CBSA officer and present the required documentation. Typical documentation for dogs and cats includes:
- Veterinary certificate that clearly identifies the animal and confirms its rabies status (in English or French).
- Rabies vaccination certificate or RNATT titre result (if required based on country of origin).
- Any import permits required for the specific species (e.g., birds).
- Microchip information (not federally mandatory to import a dog or cat into Canada, but recommended for identification, and some municipalities ask for one).
What about birds, reptiles and exotic animals?
- Birds
- Birds are subject to strict CFIA import requirements related to avian influenza and other diseases. From the United States, the owner must accompany the birds and declare that each one is a personal pet, has had no contact with other birds, and has been in the owner's possession in Canada or the United States for 90 days. The owner also declares that the household has not imported birds in the past 90 days. From any other country, a CFIA import permit must accompany the birds, and once in Canada they must be quarantined for at least 45 days at premises approved in advance.
- Reptiles and exotic animals
- Many reptiles and exotic animals are subject to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) regulations in addition to CFIA requirements. Some species cannot be imported at all. Some species require CITES permits from both the exporting country and Canada.
How do airlines and a US connection change the trip?
Airlines have their own pet policies separate from border requirements. The weight and carrier-size cut-off for cabin travel is set by each airline, not by a single regulatory standard. Some airlines do not accept pets at all, especially in summer heat or winter cold.
If your route to Canada involves transiting through a US airport or crossing the US land border, your pet must also comply with US import requirements. They are administered by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC overhauled its dog import rules effective August 1, 2024. Every dog entering the US must be at least 6 months old, have a microchip detectable by a universal scanner, appear healthy, and have a submitted CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs that have been in a country the CDC classifies as high-risk for dog rabies in the past 6 months face additional requirements.
Check the CDC's rules and its page on layovers (cdc.gov/importation/dogs) as well as the CFIA requirements. A direct flight to Canada avoids US rules entirely.
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What do people ask?
What do I need to bring my dog or cat to Canada from the US?
A veterinarian's certificate, in English or French, that identifies the animal and confirms it is currently vaccinated against rabies, for a dog or cat 3 months or older. The CFIA rules turn on the animal's age and where it lived, so the same papers apply whether you drive or fly. Declare the pet to the CBSA officer and carry the originals. The CBSA Declaration guide covers what else to declare.
Do I need to quarantine my dog or cat when arriving in Canada?
No, for a pet dog or cat that arrives with the right papers. The CFIA reference document states that pet dogs from any country are not subject to post-import quarantine, and there is no routine quarantine for pet cats that meet the rabies rule. If an animal does not meet the requirements, the CBSA may refuse it entry or refer it to the CFIA. The CFIA pet import tool confirms what your pet needs.
Is there a minimum age for a dog to enter Canada?
Canada sets rules by age band instead of one minimum age. Dogs under 3 months old need no rabies vaccination or certificate, and dogs from 3 to under 8 months need the rabies certification or vaccination set out for their country; dogs 8 months and older have their own set of options. If your route passes through the US, the CDC separately requires every dog to be at least 6 months old. Confirm your dog's exact rule with the CFIA pet import tool on inspection.canada.ca.
Does my pet need a microchip to enter Canada?
No. A microchip is not a federal requirement for importing a dog or cat into Canada. Some municipalities ask for one, and it helps identify a lost pet. A dog that transits the US does need one, because the CDC requires a microchip for every dog entering the US. The Settling in Canada: First 30 Days guide covers the other tasks of your first weeks.
Do US rules apply if my flight to Canada connects in the US?
For dogs, check the CDC's rules and its page on layovers if your route enters the US, by land or through a US airport connection. Every dog entering the US must meet the CDC rules in effect since August 1, 2024: at least 6 months old, a microchip, good health and a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Dogs from countries the CDC lists as high-risk for dog rabies face more steps. A direct flight to Canada avoids US rules. Check cdc.gov/importation/dogs and the CFIA pet import tool.
Are pit bulls banned in Canada?
Ontario bans them, and Canada has no federal breed ban. Ontario's Dog Owners' Liability Act, enacted in 2005 and still in force, prohibits owning, breeding or importing pit bulls, and some municipalities have their own breed rules. Research the rules in the province and city where you will live before you import a restricted breed. The Understanding Canada's Provinces and Territories guide helps you compare where to settle.
Does my pet need a rabies titre test (RNATT) to enter Canada?
Usually no. For most dogs and cats, a current rabies vaccination documented by a licensed veterinarian is enough. The CFIA reference document accepts a Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titre Test (RNATT) as an alternative: the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml, and the blood must be drawn at least 30 days after a prior rabies vaccination (three to four weeks for a dog from a country not designated rabies-free). The CFIA reference document, linked under Official sources below, sets out both options.
Can I bring my pet if I am on a work or study permit?
Yes. Pet import rules depend on the animal's papers, and your immigration status plays no part. Temporary residents on a work or study permit, permanent residents and visitors all import pets under the same CFIA requirements. Plan the pet's papers alongside your own move; the Settling in Canada: First 30 Days guide lists what to set up after you land.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.