Under the National Animal Health Program, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) establishes import requirements for all animals and animal products entering Canada-including domestic pets. The Agency can refuse entry to any animal presented for importation.

Importation of Domestic Cats

Domestic or pet cats less than three months of age can enter Canada for any period of time without vaccination, quarantine, or certification.

Domestic cats three months of age and older can be imported into Canada for any period of time without quarantine from any country; however, there are different requirements for cats entering from either rabies-free countries or from those countries that Canada does not consider to be free of rabies.

Please refer to the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS). AIRS provides information on import requirements for all commodities regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Using a selection approach to the Harmonized System (HS) codes, origin, destination, end use, and other qualifiers, AIRS guides users to the information needed for the specific commodity being imported. The HS classification code for domestic cats is 01 06 19 2084.

Frequently Asked Questions - Importation of Domestic Cats

Question 1: Does Canada quarantine imported domestic pet cats?

No, domestic cats can enter Canada without quarantine from any country.

Question 2: Do the conditions listed apply to all cats?

No, the information on this Web page applies to domestic or pet cats. If you frequently import cats or import several at a time, you may be asked to certify that they are your personal pets and are not for resale.

Question 3: Do all cats have to be vaccinated against rabies?

No, cats under three (3) months of age do not require vaccination against rabies.

Question 4: Do the requirements listed apply to cats imported on a temporary basis, such as a visit or while travelling through to another country?

Yes, the requirements apply to all domestic cat importations including temporary visits and in-transit visits.

Question 5: Why does Canada have different requirements for rabies free countries versus non rabies free countries?

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including pet cats and dogs, and humans. Once symptoms appear, rabies is always fatal in animals and people. Rabies is present in Canada, but one of the ways the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) controls the disease is by requiring proof of vaccination against rabies for all cats and dogs over 3 months of age entering the country.

Question 6: How can I find out if my cat is entering from a country Canada considers to be rabies free?

View the CFIA's list of countries recognized as rabies free for importations of cats and dogs.

Question 7: Do I have to accompany my cat?

No, you do not have to travel with your pet cat, it may be shipped separately.

Question 8: Will I be charged a fee to import my pet cat?

Cats imported into Canada will have a documentary inspection by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to ensure the vaccination is current and the animal description matches. During this visual inspection, CBSA ensures that there is no visible signs of illness. In certain cases, cats imported will require a CFIA inspection for which CFIA inspection fees apply. The fee must be paid at the time of inspection and depend on whether vaccination is required at the port of entry. The fee is $30.00 + tax for the first animal and $5.00 + tax for each additional cat in the shipment (when the cat is already vaccinated). If you choose to have the pet vaccinated in Canada the inspection fee will be $55.00 + tax, fees do not include vaccination against rabies.

Question 9: Do I need to contact someone with the date and time of my arrival?

No, there will be an inspector on duty at the port of entry.

Question 10: Does my cat need a health certificate?

The CFIA does not require you to have a health certificate for your cat, but if the animal is travelling to Canada by air, the commercial airline may require a health certificate. Contact your airline for additional information on their requirements.

Question 11: If I buy a cat in a foreign country and bring it back to Canada, will I have to pay any taxes or duty?

Contact CBSA for this information. In Canada, the telephone number is 1-800-461-9999. If you are calling from outside Canada, please telephone either 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064 (long distance charges apply), or visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.

Question 12: Do I need an import permit for my cat?

No import permit is required for domestic cats.

Question 13: Does my cat require a tattoo or microchip identification?

No.

Importation of Domestic Dogs

Domestic or pet dogs can enter Canada for any period of time (permanent stays, temporary visits, or in transit visits) without quarantine from any country. Canada's import requirements take into consideration the rabies status of the country of export

Information on importing dogs eight (8) months of age or younger from any country Domestic or pet dogs between the ages of three (3) and eight (8) months, which are accompanied by their owners, require rabies certification in accordance with Section 2 if from a rabies-free country, or in accordance with Section 3, if from a country that is not designated as rabies-free. No additional certification is required.

NOTE: Dogs less than three months of age do not require rabies vaccination or certification that the dog comes from a rabies-free country.

Information on importing dogs three (3) months of age or older from countries Canada recognizes as rabies-free.

Domestic or pet dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by an export certificate issued in either English or French, and signed by an official government veterinarian (a veterinarian who works for the government veterinary service) of the exporting country.

The certificate must clearly identify the animals and state that:

• rabies has not existed in the exporting country for the six (6) month period immediately preceding the shipment of the animals; and,
• the animals have been in the exporting country for the six (6) month period immediately preceding their shipment, or since birth.

If an export certificate is not available, dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian (a veterinarian who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the country of origin) in either English or French, which clearly identifies the dogs and state that they are currently vaccinated against rabies.

The certificate should identify the animal as in breed, colour, weight, etc., and indicate the name of the licensed rabies vaccine used (trade name), including serial number and duration of its validity (up to three years). Please note that if the duration of validity is not indicated on the certificate, it will be considered to be valid for one year.

There is no waiting period imposed between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.

Information on dogs three (3) months of age or older from countries Canada does not recognize as rabies-free.

Domestic or pet dogs may enter Canada if accompanied by an original valid rabies vaccination certificate, which is issued by a licensed veterinarian (a veterinarian who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the country of origin) in English or French and which clearly identifies the dogs and states that they are currently vaccinated against rabies.

This certificate should identify the animal as in breed, colour, weight, etc., and indicate the name of the licensed rabies vaccine used (trade name), including serial number and duration of validity (up to three years). Please note that if the duration of validity is not indicated on the certificate, the vaccine will be considered to be valid for one year.

There is no waiting period imposed between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.

If the animal arrives at a Canadian port of entry and does not meet the requirements above, an inspector will order the owner-at the owner's expense-to have the animals vaccinated against rabies within a specified period of time and to provide the vaccination certificate to an inspector.

Rabies vaccination or certification is not required if the dogs are less than three (3) months of age.

NOTE 1: Assistance dogs that are certified in canine vision, hearing ear, or other special skills are exempt from import restrictions when the person assigned the dog accompanies it to Canada.

NOTE 2: If you frequently import dogs or import several dogs at one time, you may be asked to certify that they are your personal pets and that they are not for resale.

NOTE 3: Commercial breeders can import dogs under eight (8) months of age (without an import permit) on a temporary basis for entry in competitions if they can provide an inspector with proof that the dog is entered in a show or trial organized by a recognized association. Valid rabies certification is also required.

NOTE 4: Dog owners must not import pit bulls into the Province of Ontario in contravention of that province's ban. For information on Ontario's pit bull ban, visit the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General's web site.

Frequently Asked Questions - Importation of Domestic Dogs

Note: This FAQ is solely for questions related to the importation of pet dogs. All dogs less than 8 months of age being imported for breeding or commercial purposes require an import permit.

Application for permit to import

Question 1: Does Canada quarantine imported pet dogs?

No, pet dogs can enter Canada from any country without quarantine.

Question 2: Do the conditions listed apply to all dogs?

No, the information on this Web page applies to pet dogs. If you frequently import dogs or import several at a time, you may be asked to certify that they are your personal pets and are not for resale.

Question 3: Do all dogs have to be vaccinated against rabies?

No, dogs under three (3) months of age do not require vaccination against rabies, however from all countries, a proof of age for the animal is required at the first point of entry. Service Dogs with their users, certified canine vision, hearing or other special skill do not require vaccination against rabies (assistance dogs). Pet dogs arriving from a country officially recognized free of rabies does not have to be vaccinated against rabies. Veterinary certificate of origin identifying the animal also stating that rabies has not occurred in the past six months and that the animal has been in that country for the previous six months.

Question 4: Do the requirements listed apply to pet dogs imported on a temporary basis, such as a visit or while travelling through to another country?

Yes, the requirements apply to all pet dog importations including temporary visits and in-transit visits.

Question 5: Why does Canada have different requirements for rabies-free countries versus non rabies-free countries?

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of warm-blooded animals, including pet cats and dogs, and humans. Once symptoms appear, rabies is always fatal in animals and people. Rabies is present in Canada, but one of the ways the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) controls the disease is by requiring proof of vaccination against rabies for all cats and dogs over 3 months of age entering the country.

Question 6: How can I find out if my dog is entering from a country Canada considers to be rabies-free?

View the CFIA's list of countries recognized as rabies-free for importations of cats and dogs.

Question 7: Why are some countries that are rabies-free not recognized by Canada?

While some countries may in fact have rabies-free status in accordance to World Trade Organization (WTO) standards, this does not mean that it reflects Canada's list of rabies-free countries. The CFIA list of rabies-free countries are those which have made an application and after proper assessment have successfully been a country recognized by Canada as being rabies-free.

Question 8: Do I have to accompany my pet dog?

No, you do not have to travel with your pet dog, it may be shipped separately. Note: When accompanying your dog, only a valid rabies vaccination is required, but if shipped separately, a dog of 8 months of age or less must be certified within the past 72 hours. The veterinary certificate of health must certify that the animal was not younger than six (6) weeks of age when vaccinated against distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza and hepatitis. For a dog of 8 months or older, there is no difference whether accompanied or not.

Question 9: Will I be charged a fee to import my pet dog?

Dogs imported into Canada will have a documentary inspection by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to ensure the vaccination is current and the animal description matches. During this visual inspection, CBSA ensures that there is no visible signs of illness. In certain cases, dogs imported will require a CFIA inspection for which CFIA inspection fees apply. The fee must be paid at the time of inspection and depend on whether vaccination is required at the port of entry. The fee is $30.00 + tax for the first animal and $5.00 + tax for each additional dog in the shipment (when the dog is already vaccinated). If you choose to have the pet vaccinated in Canada the inspection fee will be $55.00 + tax, fees do not include vaccination against rabies.

Question 10: Do I need to contact someone with the date and time of my arrival?

No, there will be an inspector on duty at the port of entry.

Question 11: Does my pet dog need a health certificate?

Unaccompanied pet dogs less than 8 months of age will require a health certificate. Pet dogs over the age of 8 months that are travelling to Canada by air may require a health certificate. Contact your airline carrier for additional information on their requirements.

Question 12: If I buy a pet dog in a foreign country and bring it back to Canada, will I have to pay any taxes or duty?

Contact CBSA for this information. In Canada, the telephone number is 1-800-461-9999. If you are calling from outside Canada, please telephone either 204-983-3500 or 506-636-5064 (long distance charges apply), or visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.

Question 13: Do I need an import permit for my dog?

No import permit is required for pet dogs unless your dog is under 8 months of age and it is deemed as being used for commercial purposes and/or breeding purposes. Please note that you must apply for an import permit in advance of your dog(s)' arrival to Canada. It takes approximately 5 business days to process import requests and import permits cannot be granted after the dog(s) have arrived in Canada.

Question 14: Does my dog require a tattoo or microchip identification?

Canada does not require a microchip or tattoos for pet dogs. Dogs that are being imported for breeding or commercial shipment purposes must be microchipped.

The following countries are currently recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency currently as being free from rabies:

• 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

Detailed Import Guidelines for various pets.

• Amphibians and reptiles
• Birds (from the United States)
• Birds (from countries other than the United States)
• Cats
• Dogs
• Fish
• Foxes, skunks, raccoons and ferrets
• Guinea pigs, gerbils, mice, rats, chinchillas, hamsters, and other rodents
• Horses (from the United States)
• Pet rabbits
• Pet primates
• Scorpions or spiders