Moving your dog or cat from United States to Canada
Short answer: start at least 7 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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United States → Canada pet import requirements
| Requirement | Status | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabies vaccine | required | Dogs and cats over 3 months: rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed vet, vaccination within 3 years, showing vaccine date and type. | official |
| Rabies titer test (RNATT) | not required | Not listed in the official requirements for this route. | official |
| Quarantine | not required | Pet dogs are not subject to post-import quarantine in Canada. | official |
| Other | conditional | Rules above cover up to 2 personal pet dogs with their owner; commercial dogs have different rules. | official |
Order of steps
- Make sure rabies vaccination is current — at least 7 days before the flight. Certificate must identify the pet and show vaccination date and vaccine type (within 3 years). Recommended: check it about a week before travel.
- Carry the rabies certificate (English or French) — at least 0 days before the flight. Show it to the border officer on arrival.
Items marked “verify” could not be fully confirmed; check the official source and your vet.