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Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Canada to Ecuador: official requirements

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 2 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before), dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival and vet examination within 10 days before the trip and 3 more.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 5 official pages

In short

At a glance

How early to start (dogs)

2 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before) (a first vaccination at least 14 days before arrival)

1 day

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Book your CFIA endorsement appointment (book ahead; CFIA asks for as much notice as possible (no minimum is published))

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (dogs)

  • No rabies blood test
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Official stamp on the certificate

How early to start (cats)

2 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before) (a first vaccination at least 14 days before arrival)

1 day

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Book your CFIA endorsement appointment (book ahead; CFIA asks for as much notice as possible (no minimum is published))

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (cats)

  • No rabies blood test
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Official stamp on the certificate

Prefer a feed reader? Canada rule changes · Ecuador rule changes

Canada → Ecuador

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Canada (leaving) or Ecuador (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

  1. Get ready

    1. Age ruleEntering Ecuador

      Older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip

      Your dog or cat must be older than 4 months when it enters Ecuador and be identified by its name, a tattoo or a microchip.

      Details and the official words

      “Los animales de compañía convencionales deberán tener una edad mayor a 4 meses y estar identificados mediante nombre, tatuaje o un microchip.”

    2. VaccinationEntering Ecuador

      Rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before)

      Your pet's rabies vaccination must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador. If it is your pet's first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given.

      Details and the official words

      “Las siguientes vacunas tienen que encontrarse vigentes al arribo de los animales al país bajo las siguientes consideraciones:”

      “Rabia. - Únicamente para esta enfermedad, en caso de ser la primera vacunación del animal para su ingreso al país, al menos deberá haber pasado catorce (14) días desde el día de la aplicación de la vacuna.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Ecuador

      Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival

      Your dog's vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador.

      Details and the official words
  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examEntering Ecuador

      Vet examination within 10 days before the trip

      A vet recognised by your country's official veterinary service examines your pet within the 10 days before the trip and finds it free of signs of infectious or parasitic disease and of healing wounds. The certificate gives the species, age, breed, sex and coat colour.

      Details and the official words

      “El animal fue sometido a un examen clínico por parte de un médico veterinario reconocido por el Servicio veterinario oficial del país de origen dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje y que al momento de realizar el mismo, éste se encontró libre de signos clínicos de enfermedades infectocontagiosas, parasitarias, así como, de la presencia de heridas en procesos de cicatrización”

    2. TreatmentEntering Ecuador

      Internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding

      Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 21 days before boarding, with products authorised in your country. The certificate gives the product name, active ingredient and date.

      Details and the official words

      “El animal recibió un tratamiento antiparasitario interno y externo dentro de los veintiún (21) días previos al embarque con productos autorizados para su uso en el país de origen, detallando nombre del producto, principio activo, y la fecha de aplicación.”

    3. PaperworkCanada and Ecuador

      Official export health certificate, issued at most 10 days before arrival

      The official veterinary service of your pet's country issues (or endorses) an export health certificate, in Spanish or English, stating that your pet meets Ecuador's requirements. It must be issued no more than 10 calendar days before your pet enters Ecuador. Show it on arrival: for a pet in the cabin, with your checked luggage or crossing a land border, it is the only document needed.

      Details and the official words

      CFIA endorsement of the export certificate: Your licensed veterinarian completes the export certificate, then an official CFIA veterinarian endorses it. This must happen before your pet leaves Canada: CFIA cannot endorse a certificate once the animal has gone.

      “El animal estará amparado por un Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación expedido o avalado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen con fecha de emisión no mayor a diez (10) días calendario previos al ingreso de los animales al Ecuador, mismo que deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés.”

      “Para ingresar a Ecuador debe presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación de su perro y/o gato otorgado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen, el mismo deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés, detallando el cumpliendo de los requisitos sanitarios exigidos por Ecuador.”

      “Cuando el perro o gato arribe al país en la cabina del avión junto al pasajero o por un paso fronterizo terrestre, no necesitará obtener el Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación, pero obligatoriamente deberá presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación emitido en el país de origen.”

      “Most pets travelling from Canada to another country will need an export certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by an official Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarian.”

      “the CFIA cannot endorse or issue a certificate if the animal(s) is/are no longer in Canada”

    4. Official stampLeaving Canada

      Book your CFIA endorsement appointment

      An appointment with an official CFIA veterinarian is required to get your pet's export certificate endorsed. Book as early as you can: the endorsement has to happen before your pet leaves Canada.

      Details and the official words

      “An appointment is required to get your pet export certificate endorsed by an official CFIA veterinarian.”

      “Provide as much advance notice as possible when booking an appointment.”

Good to know

  • These are Agrocalidad's rules for entering mainland Ecuador. The Galápagos Islands have their own biosecurity agency (ABG), which controls what animals may be brought to the islands: ask ABG before planning to take a dog or cat there. We don't cover the Galápagos.
  • A pet in the cabin, delivered with your checked luggage, or crossing a land border only needs the export health certificate. If your pet flies in the cargo hold, it also needs an import permit: see the permit step (email the arrival airport 72 hours before arrival).
  • If one of the required vaccines isn't approved for use in your pet's country, the export certificate must say so and you must have your pet vaccinated during your stay in Ecuador.
  • If your pet will go back to a country that asks for a rabies antibody blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml, at a lab approved by that country) or a microchip, check this before you travel to Ecuador.
  • CFIA warns that countries can change their import requirements without telling it. Get the current requirements from the destination country's veterinary authority or embassy and compare them with the export certificate before you start.
  • If the destination has no export certificate of its own and its import requirements can be met, the Canadian International Health Certificate can be used. Otherwise CFIA has to negotiate a certificate, which can take several months — contact your CFIA animal health office before you start.

Cats

  1. Get ready

    1. Age ruleEntering Ecuador

      Older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip

      Your dog or cat must be older than 4 months when it enters Ecuador and be identified by its name, a tattoo or a microchip.

      Details and the official words

      “Los animales de compañía convencionales deberán tener una edad mayor a 4 meses y estar identificados mediante nombre, tatuaje o un microchip.”

    2. VaccinationEntering Ecuador

      Rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before)

      Your pet's rabies vaccination must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador. If it is your pet's first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given.

      Details and the official words

      “Las siguientes vacunas tienen que encontrarse vigentes al arribo de los animales al país bajo las siguientes consideraciones:”

      “Rabia. - Únicamente para esta enfermedad, en caso de ser la primera vacunación del animal para su ingreso al país, al menos deberá haber pasado catorce (14) días desde el día de la aplicación de la vacuna.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Ecuador

      Cats: panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus vaccinations valid on arrival

      Your cat's vaccinations against feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador.

      Details and the official words
  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examEntering Ecuador

      Vet examination within 10 days before the trip

      A vet recognised by your country's official veterinary service examines your pet within the 10 days before the trip and finds it free of signs of infectious or parasitic disease and of healing wounds. The certificate gives the species, age, breed, sex and coat colour.

      Details and the official words

      “El animal fue sometido a un examen clínico por parte de un médico veterinario reconocido por el Servicio veterinario oficial del país de origen dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje y que al momento de realizar el mismo, éste se encontró libre de signos clínicos de enfermedades infectocontagiosas, parasitarias, así como, de la presencia de heridas en procesos de cicatrización”

    2. TreatmentEntering Ecuador

      Internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding

      Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 21 days before boarding, with products authorised in your country. The certificate gives the product name, active ingredient and date.

      Details and the official words

      “El animal recibió un tratamiento antiparasitario interno y externo dentro de los veintiún (21) días previos al embarque con productos autorizados para su uso en el país de origen, detallando nombre del producto, principio activo, y la fecha de aplicación.”

    3. PaperworkCanada and Ecuador

      Official export health certificate, issued at most 10 days before arrival

      The official veterinary service of your pet's country issues (or endorses) an export health certificate, in Spanish or English, stating that your pet meets Ecuador's requirements. It must be issued no more than 10 calendar days before your pet enters Ecuador. Show it on arrival: for a pet in the cabin, with your checked luggage or crossing a land border, it is the only document needed.

      Details and the official words

      CFIA endorsement of the export certificate: Your licensed veterinarian completes the export certificate, then an official CFIA veterinarian endorses it. This must happen before your pet leaves Canada: CFIA cannot endorse a certificate once the animal has gone.

      “El animal estará amparado por un Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación expedido o avalado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen con fecha de emisión no mayor a diez (10) días calendario previos al ingreso de los animales al Ecuador, mismo que deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés.”

      “Para ingresar a Ecuador debe presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación de su perro y/o gato otorgado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen, el mismo deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés, detallando el cumpliendo de los requisitos sanitarios exigidos por Ecuador.”

      “Cuando el perro o gato arribe al país en la cabina del avión junto al pasajero o por un paso fronterizo terrestre, no necesitará obtener el Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación, pero obligatoriamente deberá presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación emitido en el país de origen.”

      “Most pets travelling from Canada to another country will need an export certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by an official Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarian.”

      “the CFIA cannot endorse or issue a certificate if the animal(s) is/are no longer in Canada”

    4. Official stampLeaving Canada

      Book your CFIA endorsement appointment

      An appointment with an official CFIA veterinarian is required to get your pet's export certificate endorsed. Book as early as you can: the endorsement has to happen before your pet leaves Canada.

      Details and the official words

      “An appointment is required to get your pet export certificate endorsed by an official CFIA veterinarian.”

      “Provide as much advance notice as possible when booking an appointment.”

Good to know

  • These are Agrocalidad's rules for entering mainland Ecuador. The Galápagos Islands have their own biosecurity agency (ABG), which controls what animals may be brought to the islands: ask ABG before planning to take a dog or cat there. We don't cover the Galápagos.
  • A pet in the cabin, delivered with your checked luggage, or crossing a land border only needs the export health certificate. If your pet flies in the cargo hold, it also needs an import permit: see the permit step (email the arrival airport 72 hours before arrival).
  • If one of the required vaccines isn't approved for use in your pet's country, the export certificate must say so and you must have your pet vaccinated during your stay in Ecuador.
  • If your pet will go back to a country that asks for a rabies antibody blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml, at a lab approved by that country) or a microchip, check this before you travel to Ecuador.
  • CFIA warns that countries can change their import requirements without telling it. Get the current requirements from the destination country's veterinary authority or embassy and compare them with the export certificate before you start.
  • If the destination has no export certificate of its own and its import requirements can be met, the Canadian International Health Certificate can be used. Otherwise CFIA has to negotiate a certificate, which can take several months — contact your CFIA animal health office before you start.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Canada publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

No fee applies to every trip; these may, depending on your case

  • CFIA endorsement of an export certificateLeaving Canada24.64 CAD

    Per certificate. Our reading of the CFIA fees notice: dogs and cats fall under its line for animals not listed elsewhere. CFIA works out the fee when you book.

    “(2) For the certification, for export, of animals not mentioned elsewhere in items 21 to 33, and of any animal product, animal by-product or manure, excluding veterinary biologics, for each certificate - $23.99 $24.64”

    Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice · as of 2026-09-03

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Canada

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Canada (dogs).

The trip back asks for 5 steps: rabies vaccination certificate, healthy and transported humanely, health check by a vet registered with Agrocalidad (valid 10 days) and your vet requests Agrocalidad's export health certificate, at least 72 hours before the trip and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Canada (cats).

The trip back asks for 4 steps: rabies vaccination certificate, health check by a vet registered with Agrocalidad (valid 10 days), your vet requests Agrocalidad's export health certificate, at least 72 hours before the trip and agrocalidad export health certificate.

Every step from Ecuador to Canada

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Canada to Ecuador?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Ecuador?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Ecuador?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Canada to Ecuador?

With nothing done yet, start at least 2 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before), dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival and vet examination within 10 days before the trip and 3 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

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