Taking Dogs to Canada

Posted January 13, 2014

Relocating to Canada with your pet dog? Know that there is no microchip requirement and no quarantine for pet animals. While the rules are straight forward, they require some attention and shouldbe followed exactly. Our Personal Move Counselors are always here to help.

Per the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), you only need to provide a rabies certificate if:

your dog is over 8 months old; and
he is traveling from a country that is NOT rabies-free (i.e., Mexico and the United States).

Rabies Vaccination Requirements

Once your pup reaches 3 months of age, he must be vaccinated.

Canada does not require a waiting period between the time your pet is vaccinated for rabies and the time your pet enters the country however the airline might so it is important to check.

The rabies certificate should be written in English or in French and should:

include the date of vaccination as well as the expiration date
indicate the vaccine’s name and serial number
state your pet’s breed, color and weight
be signed by a licensed veterinarian

You will need a rabies certificate OR a veterinary certificate declaring the export country is rabies-free if:

your dog is over 8 months old; and
he is traveling from a country that is RABIES-FREE (see list below).

Rabies Vaccination Requirements

The requirements are the same as above. No other vaccinations are required.

Veterinary Certificate (not the same as a health certificate)

This document must be in English or French and:

state your pet’s breed, color and weight
be signed by your veterinarian.

This document should ALSO state that your pet has been residing in the country of export since birth or for at least 6 months prior to traveling to Canada. It must be accompanied by a government-endorsed letter.

Government-Endorsed Letter

This letter or document, from the government of the country of export, will attest to the country’s rabies-free status for at least 6 months prior to your pet’s travel date. This letter can be issued by a government agency in charge of animal importation and exportation (i.e., the United States Department of Agriculture in the U.S.). It must be stamped and signed by an official of said agency.

Or, instead of this letter, you can also have your veterinarian draw one up (separate from the certificate) attesting to the export country’s rabies-free status for at least 6 months prior to your pet’s travel date and have it endorsed by the appropriate government agency.

Countries recognized by Canada as rabies-free at this time include: