🇺🇸 → 🇨🇦

Moving a pet from United States to Canada

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

Shared landmass; ground is common. Straightforward requirements.

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

   RecommendedStart about 2 weeks before travel

   Optional here, but a microchip is the easiest way to prove your pet is yours at the border.

2. 2

   Rabies vaccination

   RequiredStart about a month before travel

   Canada simply wants to see a valid rabies certificate. If your vet has it on file, you are most of the way there.

   Proof of current rabies vaccination.

3. 3

   Health certificate

   RequiredStart about 10 days before travel

   A recent wellness check signs off that your pet is ready for the trip north.