🇨🇦 Pet travel to Canada: entry requirements (2026)
Bringing a pet to Canada 🇨🇦 is relatively straightforward for prepared owners. No quarantine if all paperwork is in order. The essentials: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination and an official health certificate.
Microchip
Not required
Rabies
Required
Titer test (RNATT)
Not required
Quarantine
None
Import permit
Not required
Cabin / cargo
Cabin or cargo
Breed bans
None listed
Authority
CFIA — Travelling with pets
Verified entry requirements (2026)
- Dogs >3 months: a valid rabies vaccination certificate (EN/FR, within 3 years). For dogs >8 months and ≤2 accompanied pets, a health certificate is not required — the rabies vaccination is enough. Under 3 months — no rabies vaccination needed.
- Cats ≥3 months: a rabies vaccination certificate; no health certificate required. (A titer ≥0.5 IU/ml is an alternative — verify.)
- Microchip not federally required for personal pets (recommended).
- Import permit not required for personal dogs/cats.
- Quarantine — none.
- Breeds — no federal ban (municipal rules — verify).
By species
Official sources
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Frequently asked questions
Does the microchip have to come before the rabies shot?
Yes. For Canada the rabies vaccination only counts if the ISO 11784/11785 microchip was implanted first. Always chip, then vaccinate.
Is there quarantine in Canada?
No mandatory quarantine if your paperwork is complete and correct.
Can my pet fly in the cabin?
Yes, small pets in cabin; larger pets in cargo.
How long does preparation take?
Two to four weeks is usually enough if your pet is already vaccinated.
Are any dog breeds restricted?
No specific breed bans are listed for Canada, but airlines may restrict snub-nosed breeds.