Bringing a dog or cat to Canada in 2026 falls into the easy category for international pet travel. Canada is in North America. Canada does not routinely quarantine pets that arrive with complete paperwork.
Reviewed by Clifford Wilson, Founder of ClearToFly.pet. Compiled from official government and airline documentation. Last reviewed 2026-06-08.
Plan to present the following at check-in and on arrival:
Dogs must have a valid rabies vaccination given at least 28 days before travel. CFIA primarily requires a valid Rabies Vaccination Certificate for personal pets. A separate health certificate is often required by airlines, not necessarily by Canadian customs for personal pets from the US. Puppies and kittens under 3 months are exempt from rabies requirements but need proof of age.
Use the ClearToFly Trip Planner to build a personalized checklist with exact deadlines for your route into Canada. Compare carriers that fly your route on the airline pet policy directory, or get expert eyes on your paperwork with a Route Review.
Government pet import rules change without notice. Before booking flights, confirm requirements directly with the Canada veterinary authority via the official source: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel. We also recommend cross-referencing the USDA APHIS Pet Travel database for U.S.-origin pets.
Data last verified 2026-06-08 from USDA APHIS. Country code: CA.