{"id":4484,"date":"2019-06-14T10:56:11","date_gmt":"2019-06-14T14:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/?p=4484"},"modified":"2024-11-03T07:55:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-03T12:55:10","slug":"importing-dogs-to-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/importing-dogs-to-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Importing Dogs to Canada: Dogs, Cats, and Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a reason dogs are called man\u2019s best friend\u2014they, along with other household pets, become lovable and irreplaceable members of the family. Whether you\u2019re moving to Canada, or simply looking to expand your family with a furry, feathered, or scaly companion from abroad, it’s only natural to want to import a pet from your hometown or even from a country where there\u2019s a great need for animal adoption.<\/span><\/p>\n

When bringing pets into Canada, it\u2019s important to know that the process can vary depending on the purpose of your pet\u2019s entry and where they\u2019re coming from. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bringing a dog into Canada: Requirements<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning to bring a dog to Canada\u2014whether you\u2019re moving, adopting, or just visiting\u2014it\u2019s important to have the right paperwork ready. Canada has specific requirements to prevent the spread of animal diseases, so ensuring you\u2019re fully prepared will help prevent crossing delays at the border, or worse, your dog being denied entry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need to do:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Speak to your vet: <\/b>Your dog will need a Rabies Vaccination Certificate if it\u2019s over 3 months old, and you\u2019ll need to revisit the vet for a Veterinary Certificate of Health issued no more than 72 hours before entry. This certificate should list your dog\u2019s details, including breed, age, overall health, as well as any required vaccinations. Puppies under 3 months old are exempt from rabies vaccination, but still need a health certificate.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Confirm the airline or transportation requirements:<\/b> If you\u2019re traveling by air, confirm any additional documentation requirements with your airline. Some airlines require a customs broker to meet the flight, and some may have specific rules regarding pet crates or animal handling. Make sure you have the right-sized travel crate and start getting your dog used to it before the flight. If you are using a transportation company to move your pet, know that some companies may request customs broker involvement to file the entry for dogs, even for personal imports.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Learn the difference between personal and commercial imports: <\/b>The rules for importing dogs vary depending on whether the dog is for personal or commercial purposes. If you\u2019re importing a personal pet, the requirements are simpler. However, for dogs intended for resale, breeding, or adoption, a CFIA-issued import permit and additional documentation if the dog is under 8 months old are required. Commercial dogs must also be microchipped and inspected upon arrival.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Collect and verify documentation: <\/b>Print out hard copies of all relevant paperwork, including the Rabies Vaccination Certificate and Veterinary Certificate of Health. Ensure that all information\u2014such as your dog\u2019s identification, vaccination records, and health details\u2014are correct and match the requirements set by the <\/span>Canada Border Services Agency <\/span><\/a>(CBSA) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). For commercial imports, you\u2019ll need additional documents like a CFIA Import Permit and Microchip Identification for the dog.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Prepare for customs inspection:<\/b> Upon arrival, CBSA officers will inspect your dog\u2019s paperwork and may check the animal for signs of illness. If any documentation is missing or incorrect, or if the dog\u2019s rabies vaccination is not up to date, you may be required to have the vaccinations updated within two weeks of entry. In some cases, the CFIA may be contacted to assist with the inspection.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Post-arrival health check:<\/b> After clearing customs, it\u2019s recommended to take your dog to a Canadian veterinarian for a health check-up. Although it\u2019s not mandatory, some vets suggest keeping your dog away from other pets or vulnerable people for up to 30 days to ensure no diseases were contracted during travel.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Bringing a Cat Into Canada<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Bringing a cat into Canada is fairly straightforward and similar to importing a dog, and like dogs, the most significant concern when importing a cat is rabies prevention. That said, the process is a bit simpler.<\/span><\/p>\n


    \n<\/span>Cats do not need a health certificate or import permit to enter Canada, which simplifies the process compared to dogs. The only documentation needed is proof of their rabies vaccination, or proof that they are from a rabies-free country.<\/span><\/p>\n


    \n<\/span>Upon arrival, CBSA officials will inspect your cat\u2019s rabies documentation and check the animal for any visible signs of illness. If your cat appears sick or if the documentation is incomplete, a CFIA veterinarian may be called to perform a more thorough inspection.<\/span><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Bringing A Pet Into Canada<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The <\/span>CBSA website<\/span><\/a> allows you to input your pet\u2019s species, age, and country of origin to get a detailed list of the specific requirements for bringing it into Canada. Different species have specific regulations, for example:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Birds:<\/b> Birds require an import permit and may need to undergo quarantine upon arrival. You\u2019ll also need to provide detailed health documentation to ensure your bird is free from diseases.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Rodents: <\/b>Small pets like rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters usually do not need an import permit. However, they may still require a health certificate.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Reptiles and amphibians: <\/b>Unfortunately, reptiles and amphibians, including tortoises and turtles, are prohibited from entering Canada. If you\u2019re traveling with one of these animals, they will not be allowed across the border.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Note: Regardless of species, when bringing a pet into Canada, you\u2019ll need to be prepared with the appropriate CITES permits or certificates.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Crossing the US Border with a Dog (or Other Pet)<\/span><\/h2>\n

      When <\/span>crossing the U.S.-Canada border with a pet<\/span><\/a> (other than a service animal), the requirements aren\u2019t as stringent as when shipping a pet from other countries. That said, if you\u2019re bringing a dog or cat over three months old, you\u2019ll need a rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian. This certificate must include details like the animal\u2019s description, proof of rabies vaccination, and the product\u2019s lot number and expiration date.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      For other pets, such as birds, reptiles, or rodents, requirements vary, so it’s important to check specific regulations before travel to ensure your pet reaches your destination without a hitch.<\/span><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Importing a pet to Canada<\/span><\/h2>\n

      While this blog post focused on bringing people\u2019s pets into Canada, if you\u2019re looking to learn about importing commercial dogs or other animals into Canada for breeding, sale, or shows – know that over 100 countries are considered high-risk for dog rabies, and dogs from these countries are prohibited from entering Canada without exception. For more details, refer to customs <\/span>Notice 22-21<\/span><\/a>. Unsure whether your dog or another animal falls under these restrictions? Reach out to a customs broker like Clearit<\/span> and let the pros prevent unnecessary delays and penalties.<\/span><\/p>\n

      SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH A CLEARIT CUSTOMS BROKER<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      There\u2019s a reason dogs are called man\u2019s best friend\u2014they, along with other household pets, become lovable and irreplaceable members of the family. Whether you\u2019re moving to Canada, or simply looking to expand your family with a furry, feathered, or scaly companion from abroad, it’s only natural to want to import a pet from your hometown […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9,235],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4484"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4484"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5668,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4484\/revisions\/5668"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}