Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from the United Kingdom → 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
No fixed wait
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
No fixed wait
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
The United Kingdom is in the group “Recognized by CFIA as rabies-free” 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 — or, because you're coming from a country Canada recognizes as rabies-free, a Rabies Country-Freedom Certificate from your government vet authority instead (your dog must have lived there since birth or for the last 6 months).
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”
Paperwork
Export health certificate (EHC) + export application (EXA)
For a non-EU destination you need the destination's export health certificate (EHC) and an export application form (EXA). Nominate an official vet, who receives the EHC and checks your pet before travel.
Details and the official words
“If you’re travelling to a non-EU country, you’ll need to get an export health certificate (EHC).”
Good to know
- CFIA's list of rabies-free countries is under review and may change — check it before you travel.
What your cat needs
Cats
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination certificate
Bring a valid rabies vaccination certificate — or, because you're coming from a country Canada recognizes as rabies-free, a vet certificate (cat lived there since birth or for the last 6 months) with official government documentation that the country has been rabies-free for 6 months.
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”
Paperwork
Export health certificate (EHC) + export application (EXA)
For a non-EU destination you need the destination's export health certificate (EHC) and an export application form (EXA). Nominate an official vet, who receives the EHC and checks your pet before travel.
Details and the official words
“If you’re travelling to a non-EU country, you’ll need to get an export health certificate (EHC).”
Good to know
- CFIA's list of rabies-free countries is under review and may change — check it before you travel.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from the United Kingdom 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.