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Bringing animals to Canada: Importing and travelling with pets

If you are travelling with a pet or planning to import an animal to Canada, you will need the right paperwork at the border to meet Canada's import requirements. If you don't, you risk experiencing delays at the border and your animal may not be allowed into Canada.

Canada has specific import requirements in place to avoid introducing animal diseases to protect its people, plants and animals.

All import requirements must be met before an animal is imported

If an animal arriving in Canada does not meet the import requirements, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will follow up and typically will order the animal be removed from Canada.

Depending on the specifics of the situation an investigation may be triggered.

The CFIA may also pursue enforcement actions that are proportional to the seriousness of the non-compliance, such as letters of non-compliance, administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) and possibly prosecution.

Find out what you need before you travel with your pet or import an animal.

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What type of animal are you importing or travelling with?

  • + Dog

    What is the purpose of the dog entering Canada?

    • + Personal (importing your personal pet – accompanied or unaccompanied by owner)

      How old will the dog be when you arrive in Canada?

      • + Less than 3 months

        Will the dog be accompanied by the owner?

        • Yes
        • No
      • + Older than 3 months but less than 8 months

        Will the dog be accompanied by the owner?

        • + Yes

          What country are you coming from? (Select "Other" if country is not listed)

          • Frequent
            • United States
            • Mexico
          • Rabies free countries
            • Australia
            • Fiji
            • Finland
            • Iceland
            • Ireland
            • Japan
            • New Zealand
            • Sweden
            • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
          • Other
        • + No

          What country are you coming from? (Select "Other" if country is not listed)

          • Frequent
            • United States
            • Mexico
          • Rabies free countries
            • Australia
            • Fiji
            • Finland
            • Iceland
            • Ireland
            • Japan
            • New Zealand
            • Sweden
            • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
          • Other
      • + 8 months or older

        What country are you coming from? (Select "Other" if country is not listed)

        • Frequent
          • United States
          • Mexico
        • Rabies free countries
          • Australia
          • Fiji
          • Finland
          • Iceland
          • Ireland
          • Japan
          • New Zealand
          • Sweden
          • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
        • Other
    • + Assistance Dog (travelling with your certified assistance dog)

      How old will the dog be when you arrive in Canada?

      • Less than 3 months
      • Older than 3 months but less than 8 months
      • + 8 months or older

        Will the dog be accompanied by the owner?

        • Yes
        • No
    • Commercial (includes dogs for sale, adoption, fostering, breeding, exhibition, research, etc.)
  • + Cat

    Are you travelling with a domestic or non-domestic cat?

    • + Domestic

      How old will the cat be when you arrive in Canada?

      • Less than 3 months
      • + 3 months or older

        What country are you coming from? (Select "Other" if country is not listed)

        • Frequent
          • United States
          • Mexico
        • Rabies free countries
          • Australia
          • Fiji
          • Finland
          • Iceland
          • Ireland
          • Japan
          • New Zealand
          • Sweden
          • United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
        • Other
    • Non-domestic
  • Hybrid dog or cat (wild wolf-dog or wild cat mix)
  • + Ferret

    How old will the ferret be when you arrive in Canada?

    • + Less than 3 months

      Will you be coming to Canada from the United States?

      • Yes
      • No
    • + 3 months or older

      Will you be coming to Canada from the United States?

      • Yes
      • No
  • + Amphibians and reptiles (for example, salamanders, frogs, toads, newts)

    What kind of amphibian or reptile?

    • Reptiles, other than turtles/tortoises (for example, snakes, crocodiles, iguanas)
    • Turtles and tortoises
  • + Bird

    Will you be coming to Canada from the United States?

    • Yes
    • No
  • Fish or aquatic pet
  • Fox
  • Horse
  • Pigs
  • Poultry
  • Primates
  • + Rabbit

    What is the purpose of the rabbit entering Canada?

    • + Travelling with a pet

      Will you be coming to Canada from the United States?

      • Yes
      • No
    • Commercial import
  • Racoons
  • Rodents (for example, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, chinchillas)
  • Sheep and goats
  • Skunk
  • Other organisms (for example, scorpions, spiders, butterflies, insects)
  • None of the above
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