Moving your dog or cat from Canada to United States
Short answer: start at least 30 days before your flight. Rules last checked against official sources on 2026-10-30.
This page and the planner are generated automatically from official government sources. Planning tool only — not veterinary, legal or professional advice; no human expert reviews your plan. Always confirm with your vet, the official authority and your airline.
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Canada → United States pet import requirements
| Requirement | Status | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microchip | required | Dogs: microchip detectable with a universal scanner. | official |
| Rabies vaccine | conditional | Not required by CDC for dogs that were only in dog-rabies-free/low-risk countries (such as Canada) for 6 months, though CDC strongly recommends it; your destination US state may require it. | official |
| Rabies titer test (RNATT) | not required | Not listed in the official requirements for this route. | official |
| Import permit / pre-notification | required | Dogs: CDC Dog Import Form (free, online, one per dog); receipt valid 6 months. Cats: none. | official |
| Quarantine | not required | No quarantine for healthy dogs from low-risk countries. | official |
| Other | required | Dogs must be 6+ months old and healthy at entry. State rules and airline rules also apply (Hawaii has its own strict program — not covered). | official |
Order of steps
- Microchip your dog — at least 7 days before the flight (dogs). Must be readable with a universal scanner.
- Check your destination state's and airline's rules — at least 30 days before the flight. States set their own rabies/health rules for dogs and cats; airlines may require more. Recommended: check a month ahead.
- Submit the CDC Dog Import Form — between 180 and 2 days before the flight (dogs). Free; receipt valid 6 months. CDC recommends doing it a few days to 6 months before travel.
- Confirm your dog is at least 6 months old on arrival — at least 0 days before the flight (dogs). Younger dogs cannot enter.
Items marked “verify” could not be fully confirmed; check the official source and your vet.