🇨🇦 → 🇺🇸

Moving a pet from Canada to United States

Here is the whole journey for your dog or cat, from Canada to the United States: every document, in the order to tackle it, with how early to begin. Plan to start about a month before travel.

Into the US from Canada. CDC dog-import rules plus a current rabies record.

This is a rabies-controlled route. Some destinations add a blood titer and a waiting period, which is the single biggest driver of how early to start.

The documents, step by step

1. 1

   Microchip

   RequiredStart about a month before travel

   The microchip number is what the US import form is built around, so scan it in first.

   ISO microchip; the CDC dog-import form references it.

2. 2

   Rabies vaccination

   RequiredStart about a month before travel

   A valid rabies certificate keeps the crossing smooth and quick.

3. 3

   Country entry form

   RequiredStart a few days before travel

   A short online CDC form gives you a receipt to show on arrival. It only takes a few minutes.

   CDC Dog Import Form receipt (free, completed online).

4. 4

   Health certificate

   RequiredStart about 10 days before travel

   A recent vet sign-off rounds out the paperwork for the US.