Bringing a dog or cat into Canada

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

Canada sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (Canada: countries recognized as rabies-free for domestic cats and dogs, checked 2026-10-08).

• CFIA: 'This list is currently under review and subject to change.' (page modified 2024-09-20)
• United Kingdom includes Northern Ireland (GB-NIR falls back to GB).

Every requirement

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination certificate

   Applies when: your pet is a dog or cat and (your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date)

   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”

2. Age rule

   Proof of your pet's age

   Applies when: your pet is a dog or cat and your pet is under 3 months old on arrival

   Pets under 3 months old don't need a rabies vaccination for Canada, but you need proof of their age from a veterinarian.

   Details and the official words

   “proof of the dog's age (you get this from a veterinarian)”

   “proof of the cat's age”

3. Vet exam

   Veterinary Certificate of Health (puppy travelling without you)

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it) and your pet is under 8 months old on arrival

   Because your puppy is under 8 months and travels without you, a licensed vet must examine it within the 72 hours before it arrives in Canada and issue a Veterinary Certificate of Health (dog at least 8 weeks old; vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus). It does not need a government endorsement.

   Details and the official words

   “the dog has been examined by the certifying licensed veterinarian in the country of origin during the 72 hour period immediately preceding the date of import into Canada”

   “the dog was at least 8 weeks of age at the time of examination prior to export to Canada”

4. On arrival

   Healthy and transported humanely

   Applies when: your pet is a dog

   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”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed

  Dogs and cats coming to Canada for sale, adoption, fostering or breeding follow CFIA's commercial import rules (and commercial dogs from high-risk rabies countries are not allowed). We don't cover commercial imports yet.

Good to know

• USDA notes that the simple 'proof of rabies vaccination' rule covers up to two pet dogs travelling with their owner. With more dogs, check CFIA's requirements for your situation.When: Your pet is a dog and you bring 3 or more pets
• CFIA's list of rabies-free countries is under review and may change — check it before you travel.When: The country you travel from is in the group: Recognized by CFIA as rabies-free