Canada pet travel requirements

Rabies vaccination certificate

Your dog or cat needs a rabies vaccination that is still valid when you arrive. The certificate must be signed by a licensed vet and show: the animal (age, breed, sex, colour, weight, and microchip or tattoo number if it has one), the owner (for dogs), the vaccination date, the vaccine's trade name and serial number, and how long it's valid. It must be in English or French, or come with an official translation. Dogs must be at least 3 months old when vaccinated. An EU pet passport is accepted if it shows all of this. Canada sets no waiting period after the shot.

Except when all of these apply: (Younger than 3 months on arrival) · Entry pathway: Rabies vaccination certificate

If the certificate gives a validity period (for example 3 years), enter its 'valid until' date. If it doesn't, CFIA counts it as valid for 1 year from the vaccination date.

Pets under 3 months old do not need a rabies vaccination certificate; carry proof of age. The plan omits this step when the known birth date puts the pet under 3 months at arrival.

If the vaccination isn't valid on arrival, the border officer can order you to have the pet vaccinated within a set time, at your cost, and show the record to a CFIA animal health office.

A pet that can't be vaccinated for a documented medical reason needs a CFIA import permit, a vet's letter, a titer of at least 0.5 IU/mL taken in the 6 months before entry, a microchip or tattoo, and a CFIA vet inspection at the first port, booked before you travel.

Certified assistance dogs travelling with their handler are exempt from the rabies vaccination.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Bring proof your rabbit has lived in the US for the last 60 days

Pet rabbits from the US need no import permit or health certificate. Present the rabbit to the CBSA officer on arrival, with proof that it has lived in the US for the 60 days before entering Canada.

Rabbits · Departure countries/regions: US, US-HI

CFIA doesn't say what counts as proof; vet records or other dated documents from the US may help.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Apply for a CFIA import permit and approval of a quarantine place

Pet rabbits from anywhere except the US need a CFIA import permit, a health certificate and quarantine in Canada. Apply at least 30 days before you bring the rabbit, using the Application for Permit to Import (CFIA/ACIA 5860). Then find a suitable place in Canada to quarantine the rabbit: CFIA inspects and approves it before issuing the permit. If the rabbit was ever vaccinated against myxomatosis, send its full vaccination history. Only Nobivac Myxo-RHD or a Shope fibroma virus vaccine is allowed.

Rabbits · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, US-HI)

CFIA doesn't publish how long approval takes; the permit is issued only after the quarantine place is approved, so apply as early as you can.

CFIA doesn't say how the 30 days are counted; we count the application day as day 0.

CFIA/ACIA 5860: Application for permit to import live terrestrial animals, hatching eggs, animal semen, embryos and oocytes

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Health certificate for the rabbit, as the permit requires

Rabbits from outside the US need a health certificate. Its content and timing are set in the CFIA import permit; have it issued as the permit says.

Rabbits · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, US-HI)

CFIA's pet page doesn't say what the certificate must contain or how close to travel it's issued.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Quarantine the rabbit at the approved place in Canada

After arrival the rabbit goes into quarantine at the place CFIA approved, under CFIA inspection. The permit sets how long.

Rabbits · Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, US-HI)

CFIA's pet page doesn't give the length of the quarantine.

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Declare your pets to the border officer (CBSA) on arrival

Declare every animal when you enter Canada, including family pets. The CBSA officer checks the papers (for dogs and cats, that the rabies certificate is valid and matches the animal) and looks for signs of illness or injury, and may refer the animal to CFIA for an inspection at extra cost. Animals that are undeclared, lack the required papers, seem sick, or are transported inhumanely can be refused entry, seized or held. Carry paper originals of every document. Dogs and cats are not quarantined, and personal pets travelling with their owner need no health certificate or microchip.

Except when all of these apply: (Departure countries/regions: US, US-HI)

Pets that fail the requirements are usually ordered out of Canada, and fines or prosecution are possible.

Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026

Declare your pets to the border officer (CBSA) on arrival

Declare every animal when you enter Canada, including family pets. The CBSA officer checks the papers (for dogs and cats, that the rabies certificate is valid and matches the animal) and looks for signs of illness or injury, and may refer the animal to CFIA for an inspection at extra cost. Animals that are undeclared, lack the required papers, seem sick, or are transported inhumanely can be refused entry, seized or held. Carry paper originals of every document.

Departure countries/regions: US, US-HI

Pets that fail the requirements are usually ordered out of Canada, and fines or prosecution are possible.

Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) · Checked Oct 26, 2026

Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) · Checked Nov 12, 2026