It can be very difficult moving to another country, especially if you have pets that you may need to leave behind. If you do have a pet, the following information will help you understand the requirements for importing your special friend.
The importation of pets falls under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, mostly due to the fact that the CFIA regulates agricultural items and has many protocols in place that are similar when dealing with the transport of live animals across the Canadian border. It is the CFIA that decides whether or not your animal will need to be quarantined upon entering Canada, and for how long. It may not be necessary to quarantine your animal upon entering Canada, but if your pet shows signs of illness or infection, or comes from a country rife with infectious disease, a period of quarantine may be necessary. Generally, this period can last from one to four weeks, and your animal will be boarded at a kennel or animal hospital close to where you are staying.
Prior to importing your animal, you must fill out an Application for Import, which can be found on PDF at this link. Once this form is filled out, it must be sent to the closest import office to where you are entering Canada. A list of offices can be found here. You will be contacted 3 days after your application is received, and more information will be given as to where you can pick up your application, and how to present your paperwork to custom authorities.
Canada recognizes the following countries as being rabies-free. These countries have reduced requirements for the importation of cats and dogs.
- Anguilla
- Antigua
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bermuda
- Cayman Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- Iceland
- Ireland (Republic of)
- Jamaica
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia
- Saint Martin (Netherlands Antilles)
- Saint Pierre et Miquelon • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Sweden
- Taiwan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- Uruguay
Importing Cats
| Age | Rabies-Free countries | Other countries |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 months |
|
|
| Over 3 months |
|
|
If a cat arrives at the border without the required paperwork the cat will be allowed into Canada with an order to have the cat vaccinated against rabies within a specified amount of time by a licensed veterinarian in Canada. The vaccination certificate will then need to be shown to an inspector. This vaccination is at the importer’s expense.
Importing Dogs
| Age | Rabies-Free countries | Other countries |
|---|---|---|
| Under 3 months |
|
|
| Over 3 months; accompanied by the owner |
|
|
| Over 3 months; not accompanied by the owner | Detailed export certificate in English or French signed by an official government veterinarian stating that:
|
Detailed export certificate in English or French signed by an official government veterinarian stating that:
|
If a dog arrives at the border without the required paperwork, it will be allowed into Canada with an order to have the dog vaccinated against rabies within a specified amount of time by a licensed veterinarian in Canada. The vaccination certificate will then need to be shown to an inspector, and the vaccination will be at the importer’s expense.
Assistance dogs that come into Canada with their assisted person are exempt from import restrictions. Frequent importers of dogs may be required to show that they are personal pets and are not for resale. A rabies certificate is still required.
Other Pets
| Type of animal | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Birds (caged pet birds – does not include pigeons, doves, wild or domesticated fowl, or game birds) | From the United States:
Other Countries: due to avian flu, import of birds from some countries is currently prohibited. Before importation, the following must be declared:
For more details, visit http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca. |
| Turtles & Tortoises |
|
| Fish |
For more information, visit http://www.inspection.gc.ca. |
| Rabbits | From the United States: No import permits of health certificates requiredOther Countries:
|
