Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Chile → Canada
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
How early to start
5 days
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
5 days
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Chile is in the group “Not on CFIA's rabies-free list” in Bringing a pet dog or cat into Canada’s published list.See every group
What your dog needs
Dogs
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination certificate
Bring a valid rabies vaccination certificate (in English or French, signed by a licensed vet, showing the vaccine and how long it protects). CFIA doesn't list a waiting period after vaccination.
Details and the official words
If the certificate doesn't state the duration of immunity, Canada treats it as valid for 1 year from the vaccination date.
If this is missed: The owner must have the pet vaccinated against rabies within a set time, at their own expense, and show the record to a CFIA office.
“a valid rabies vaccination certificate”
“a valid rabies vaccination certificate or a valid Rabies Country-Freedom Certificate”
“specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for 1 year from the date of vaccination)”
“state that the animal has been in the exporting country since birth or for at least 6 months immediately preceding the date of export to Canada”
On arrival
Healthy and transported humanely
Your dog must appear healthy on arrival and travel in line with Canada's humane transportation requirements.
Details and the official words
“the dog appears healthy and meets humane transportation requirements”
Vet exam
Health certificate from a licensed vet
A licensed vet examines your pet and issues a health certificate within the 10 days before you travel (SAG publishes a model you can give your vet). You also need the vaccination certificates with the vaccine labels, a deworming certificate showing the date and product, and anything the destination adds, such as an import permit or extra tests.
Details and the official words
“Emitido por médico veterinario/a titulado, dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
Official stamp
SAG export certificate (CZE)
Request the CZE from SAG within the 10 days before travel, once you have all the documents the destination needs. Online (with ClaveÚnica): mascotas.sag.gob.cl in the Metropolitan and Antofagasta regions, cerofilas.sag.gob.cl elsewhere; or in person at a SAG sectoral office (the only way without a Chilean RUN). It takes about 3 working days after 24 hours from receipt, and an online request only counts once it is paid.
Details and the official words
Delivery is not immediate. For exports to Argentina the CZE is digital and can be downloaded with ClaveÚnica; for other destinations you collect it in person at the SAG office the email names.
If this is missed: Without the CZE your pet cannot leave Chile with the destination's certification.
“debes solicitar el CZE dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje”
“Si toda la documentación presentada está correcta, el trámite demora aproximadamente 3 días hábiles, contados a partir de las 24 horas siguientes a la recepción de la solicitud.”
“La solicitud será recibida oficialmente por el SAG solo después de que el usuario/a haya completado el proceso de pago.”
“El costo para la emisión del Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE) es de 0,41 UTM por una mascota.”
Good to know
- Each country sets its own requirements: some need tests or procedures months before travel. SAG points you to its export requirements system (select the country, 'live animals', dog or cat, 'pet') and to its chatbot, and says to plan ahead.
- Most countries that require a microchip also require it to be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination and before any blood test or treatment.
- If you leave Chile only for a while, your pet can come back with the same CZE if it re-enters within 60 days of the date the certificate was issued, its rabies vaccination is still valid, and the CZE records its individual and permanent identification. Otherwise you need a certificate from the country you come from that meets Chile's entry rules.
- The SAG office at Bulnes 140 (Santiago Centro) does not process pet exit applications.
What your cat needs
Cats
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination certificate
Bring a valid rabies vaccination certificate (in English or French, signed by a licensed vet, showing the vaccine and how long it protects). CFIA doesn't list a waiting period after vaccination.
Details and the official words
If the certificate doesn't state the duration of immunity, Canada treats it as valid for 1 year from the vaccination date.
If this is missed: The owner must have the pet vaccinated against rabies within a set time, at their own expense, and show the record to a CFIA office.
“a valid rabies vaccination certificate”
“a valid rabies vaccination certificate or a valid Rabies Country-Freedom Certificate”
“specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for 1 year from the date of vaccination)”
“state that the animal has been in the exporting country since birth or for at least 6 months immediately preceding the date of export to Canada”
Vet exam
Health certificate from a licensed vet
A licensed vet examines your pet and issues a health certificate within the 10 days before you travel (SAG publishes a model you can give your vet). You also need the vaccination certificates with the vaccine labels, a deworming certificate showing the date and product, and anything the destination adds, such as an import permit or extra tests.
Details and the official words
“Emitido por médico veterinario/a titulado, dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje.”
Official stamp
SAG export certificate (CZE)
Request the CZE from SAG within the 10 days before travel, once you have all the documents the destination needs. Online (with ClaveÚnica): mascotas.sag.gob.cl in the Metropolitan and Antofagasta regions, cerofilas.sag.gob.cl elsewhere; or in person at a SAG sectoral office (the only way without a Chilean RUN). It takes about 3 working days after 24 hours from receipt, and an online request only counts once it is paid.
Details and the official words
Delivery is not immediate. For exports to Argentina the CZE is digital and can be downloaded with ClaveÚnica; for other destinations you collect it in person at the SAG office the email names.
If this is missed: Without the CZE your pet cannot leave Chile with the destination's certification.
“debes solicitar el CZE dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje”
“Si toda la documentación presentada está correcta, el trámite demora aproximadamente 3 días hábiles, contados a partir de las 24 horas siguientes a la recepción de la solicitud.”
“La solicitud será recibida oficialmente por el SAG solo después de que el usuario/a haya completado el proceso de pago.”
“El costo para la emisión del Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE) es de 0,41 UTM por una mascota.”
Good to know
- Each country sets its own requirements: some need tests or procedures months before travel. SAG points you to its export requirements system (select the country, 'live animals', dog or cat, 'pet') and to its chatbot, and says to plan ahead.
- Most countries that require a microchip also require it to be implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination and before any blood test or treatment.
- If you leave Chile only for a while, your pet can come back with the same CZE if it re-enters within 60 days of the date the certificate was issued, its rabies vaccination is still valid, and the CZE records its individual and permanent identification. Otherwise you need a certificate from the country you come from that meets Chile's entry rules.
- The SAG office at Bulnes 140 (Santiago Centro) does not process pet exit applications.
Government fees we know of
- SAG Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación (CZE), one pet (UTM = Chile's monthly tax unit; +0.22 UTM per additional pet on the same certificate)0.41 UTM (+0.22 per extra pet)
Vet, lab and courier costs are not included. The final amount can depend on how many tests or pets are on the certificate.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Chile to Canada?
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 into Canada?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog be quarantined in Canada?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
The official rules we have verified for this route don't list a microchip requirement.