Pets (Dogs) 🇨🇦 Canada
Valid rabies vaccination required
Can I bring Pets (Dogs) into Canada?
Valid rabies vaccination required
Personal pets
- Rabies vaccination certificate
- Health certificate
Required at the destination customs authority
Full details
Canada requires a valid rabies vaccination certificate for dogs over 3 months old. The vaccination must be administered at least 30 days before arrival. No quarantine for dogs with valid documentation. Certain breeds may face provincial restrictions (e.g., pit bull ban in Ontario).
PENALTIES
- Fine: 500–5000 CAD
- Civil penalty only
Leaving Canada with pets (dogs)
Dog export from Canada requires a veterinary export health certificate issued shortly before departure (typically within 10 days), an ISO microchip, and current rabies vaccination. The destination's import rules drive the real timeline: rabies-titre blood tests with waiting periods (up to 180 days for rabies-free jurisdictions such as Australia, New Zealand, and Japan), import permits, and quarantine bookings must be arranged months ahead. Airlines add their own container (IATA Live Animals Regulations) and breed restrictions. Start with the destination's official import checklist and work backwards.
Canada restricts import of Pets (Dogs). Personal-use retail-packaged quantities may clear with declaration and inspection but home-prepared, loose-packed, or above-personal-use quantities typically require a Phytosanitary Certificate (plants) or Export Health Certificate (animal-origin). Verify current rules with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before travel — biosecurity rules change frequently on specific commodities.
Personal pets
- Rabies vaccination certificate
- Health certificate
Health of Animals Regulations
This page covers destination customs rules in Canada. Whether you can carry pets (dogs) through security, in carry-on, or in checked baggage depends on airline and screening rules — see air travel rules.
Related rules
Pets (Dogs) rules in other countries
Pets (Dogs)
🇦🇺 Australia
Minimum 10-day quarantine, extensive documentation
Pets (Dogs)
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Pet passport or health certificate required
Pets (Dogs)
🇯🇵 Japan
180-day quarantine unless pre-qualified
Pets (Dogs)
🇸🇬 Singapore
AVS licence required, breed restrictions apply
Pets (Dogs)
🇺🇸 United States
CDC import rules tightened in 2024
Pets (Dogs)
🇩🇪 Germany
EU Pet Passport from EU; AHC from non-EU