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Bringing a Dog from the USA to Canada: Requirements

One of the easiest crossings anywhere: a current rabies certificate is essentially the whole requirement.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a cat instead? See the cat version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Canada keeps it simple for personal pets: a valid rabies vaccination certificate, in English or French, signed by a licensed vet and clearly identifying your dog. That's it — no import permit, no microchip requirement, no quarantine, and no waiting period after the shot. Pets under 3 months are exempt entirely.

The date-math actually lives on the trip home: the CDC requires a dog re-entering the US to be at least 6 months old, microchipped, with a CDC Dog Import Form — so a young puppy can enter Canada months before it can legally come back.

Minimum lead time: about 0 months (0 days). There is nothing to sequence: the rabies vaccination just needs to be current on your travel date — no waiting period, no permit, no quarantine. The only date that matters is on the return: a dog can't re-enter the US until it's 6 months old.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. Rabies vaccination + certificate (in English or French)
    Pets 3 months or older need a valid rabies vaccination certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in English or French, clearly identifying the animal and showing the vaccination is current on your travel date. There is no waiting period after the shot — it just needs to be current. Animals under 3 months are exempt (carry proof of age).
    Cats have an alternative: an RNATT titer of ≥ 0.5 IU/ml drawn at least 30 days after a prior vaccination. For dogs planning a US return, microchip BEFORE the rabies shot.
    Official source ↗
  2. Declare your pet at the border with original documents
    Declare your pet to CBSA on arrival and travel with the physical original certificate — not a photo. Assistance dogs accompanying their user enter without restrictions.
    Official source ↗

At the border

Declare your pet to CBSA and carry the physical original certificate, not a photo. Canada's 2022 commercial-dog restrictions don't apply to a pet accompanying its owner, and assistance dogs travelling with their user enter without restrictions.

The round trip

For the US return, the same easy CDC low-risk path as any Canada crossing applies: dog 6+ months old, microchip, free CDC Dog Import Form (reusable for 6 months of repeat crossings). Cats need essentially nothing in either direction beyond the Canadian rabies certificate.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

What does my dog need to enter Canada from the US?
A valid rabies vaccination certificate in English or French from a licensed vet, identifying the dog and showing the vaccination is current. No permit, no microchip, no quarantine, no waiting period. Under-3-month puppies are exempt.
Is there a waiting period after the rabies shot?
No — Canada only requires the vaccination to be current on your travel date. Even a shot given the day before travel counts.
What about coming back to the US?
That's where the planning is: the dog must be 6+ months old, microchipped, and have a CDC Dog Import Form. A 3–6-month-old puppy can enter Canada but can't return until it turns 6 months.
Is it different for cats?
Nearly identical — rabies certificate (or an RNATT titer alternative) for cats 3 months and older, nothing for younger kittens, and no CDC requirements coming home. Use the cat toggle in the planner.

Other dog routes

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.