Travel Between The U.S. & Canada With Pets

On August 1st, 2024, recent rules will affect travel between the U.S. and Canada with pets. Learn all the things you’ll must know to ensure that your pet friendly road trip goes easily.

Travel between the U.S. and Canada with pets is about to get more complicated. The United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently made changes to the import requirements for dogs entering the U.S. These changes will take effect on August 1, 2024 and can impact all dogs entering the U.S.

But there’s no must worry! We’re sharing the knowledge you’ll must be sure that traveling between the U.S. & Canada together with your pets goes easily.

Travel Between the U.S. & Canada With Pets For Commercial Reasons

Please note that this text is for people traveling between the U.S. and Canada with their pets for private reasons, like a vacation or to go to family and friends. If your trip is for pet breeding, sale, or adoption purposes, please consult with the foundations regarding the business transportation of animals.

If you’re planning to travel to or through Ontario with a bully breed, please pay special attention to the “Breed Specific Legislation” section of this post.

Documents People Need To Travel Between The U.S. & Canada By Car

Most U.S. residents can visit Canada for as much as six months, so long as the appropriate paperwork is presented on the border. When entering Canada or the U.S., all travelers must provide acceptable identification and proof of citizenship. A passport is really helpful since it proves each citizenship and identification.

These types of identification may additionally be acceptable:

U.S. Passport Cards
Enhanced Driver’s Licenses
Trusted Traveler Cards (Global Entry*, NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
Military Identification Cards (for members of the U.S. armed forces on official orders)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Document (for U.S. residents on official maritime business)

Those who meet certain requirements can apply for Trusted Traveler Programs. Acceptance into these programs allows members to make use of expedited lanes at U.S. airports and when crossing international borders.

People traveling to Canada for work, school, or who’re planning to maneuver permanently will likely need a Canadian visa.

Traveling With Children

All minors traveling between Canada and the U.S. must present evidence of citizenship, reminiscent of a passport or passport card, on the border. Children younger than 16 who’re traveling with each parents by land (not flying) can use their government-issued birth certificate as identification.

If you’re traveling with a toddler for whom you share custody, otherwise you’re not the kid’s parent or legal guardian, additional documents will probably be needed. You can learn more about those requirements on the US Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency web sites.

Pet Friendly Hotels In Canada

If you’ll be spending the night in Canada, you’ll also need to seek out an excellent pet friendly hotel! Canada has many hotels that welcome pets, and it’s easy to seek out the right accommodations by searching online.

Requirements To Enter The U.S. With Cats And Dogs

Cats Traveling From Canada To The United States

All cats must appear healthy, but don’t need proof of rabies vaccination or certificate of health to enter the United States. If a cat appears to be unwell, further examination by a licensed veterinarian on the owner’s expense is likely to be required on the port of entry.

Keep in mind that some states require cats to be vaccinated for rabies. So it’s an excellent idea to examine with state and native health authorities at your final destination.

Things are more complicated for dogs.

Dogs Traveling From Canada To The United States

The CDC issues regulations to regulate the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies, service animals, and dogs that left the United States and are returning. They also apply whether you might be a U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident, or foreign national.

If you don’t comply with the CDC’s rules, your dog won’t be allowed to enter the United States. If denied entry, your dog can be sent back to the country of departure — not where the dog was born or where it lives — at your expense.

Requirements For All Dogs Entering The U.S.

All dogs must:

be a minimum of 6 months of age at time of entry
appear healthy
have an implanted International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip. The microchip have to be implanted prior to their required rabies vaccination, so the chip number may be documented on all required forms and accompanying veterinary records.

Each dog also needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. This form may be accomplished online, and the receipt is distributed to your email. There is not any charge to submit it, and the knowledge collected is straight-forward. Keep in mind that each one the knowledge, including port of entry where the dog is arriving, have to be correct at time of arrival.

Lastly, dogs who were vaccinated within the U.S. and are returning home from a visit to Canada need either a Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccine form that was endorsed by USDA before the dog departed the United States, or a USDA endorsed export health certificate.
- The Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccine form requires that your pet has an implanted microchip prior to being vaccinated for rabies. In addition, in case your dog is receiving his first ever rabies vaccination, your vet won’t have the opportunity to issue this kind for 28 days. For dogs receiving booster vaccines, the shape may be issued immediately.
- For dogs that were recently microchipped, the USDA endorsed export health certificate is the higher option. It may be used to supply details of an unexpired rabies vaccination administered within the United States. This form is valid the duration of the rabies vaccination (1 or 3 years).
- If the export health certificate is used for travel, but no rabies vaccination information is provided, the shape is just valid for 30 days and one U.S. entry.

More Information

The CDC has also created DogBot, an internet tool to assist dog owners and veterinary professionals determine which documents are required to import a dog into the U.S. based on their history of vaccination, age, and geographical location prior to travel to the U.S.

Health Certificate For Pets Entering The United States

Like in Canada, in case your dog or cat is healthy he may not need need a health certificate to enter the U.S. However, if there could possibly be any query about your pet’s wellness, we recommend getting a health certificate from a veterinarian that states his condition will not be contagious.

Taking Pet Food And Treats Into The United States

When driving from Canada to the United States, you possibly can bring as much as 50 kilos of pet food purchased in Canada. The food must meet the next requirements:

Items have to be in unopened retail packaging.
Raw (not shelf-stable without refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried items require labels showing they’re products of Canada or the United States.

Requirements To Enter Canada With Dogs And Cats

There is not any limit on the variety of pets that may travel with you to Canada, so long as they’re your personal pets. Before heading to the border with an animal, ensure that you understand the Canadian import and travel requirements.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency sets the policies for entering Canada with pets. Their officers inspect and may refuse entry, confiscate, or detain an animal if:

it’s undeclared, including family pets
you don’t have the mandatory permits/certificates
it’s suspected of being sick or infected with a pest or disease
the animal is transported in a non-humane way and never kept protected from harm and injury

Proof Of Rabies Vaccination

All pets traveling to Canada from the United States must appear healthy and be transported humanely. In addition, in case your cat or dog is lower than three months old, you should provide proof of your pet’s age upon request. For cats and dogs three months or older, a rabies vaccination certificate have to be provided.

The rabies vaccination certificate must meet these requirements:

be legibly written in English or French
be issued, signed and dated by a licensed veterinarian
discover the animal by age (dogs have to be a minimum of 3 months old), breed, sex, color/markings, weight, and microchip/tattoo number, if applicable
state that the animal is vaccinated against rabies
indicate the date of vaccination
indicate the trade name and the serial variety of the licensed vaccine
specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it would be considered valid for 1 12 months from the date of vaccination)

Canada doesn’t require a vaccination waiting period. So, pets can travel to Canada immediately after she or he receives the rabies vaccination.

A tough copy of all required original documentation could also be requested in the course of the inspection, and the importer must have the opportunity to supply such records if asked. So, it’s strongly really helpful to travel with a physical original copy of all required documentation.

Note: If the pet is traveling with an individual aside from its owner, other departments or agencies (for instance, Canada Border Services Agency) can have additional requirements. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to comply with all requirements.

What should you don’t have a sound rabies certificate?

Arriving on the Canadian border with out a proper rabies certificate likely means you’ll be jumping through some additional hoops.

First, you’ll must have your dog or cat vaccinated for rabies inside two weeks of your arrival. Then you’ll must take the vaccination record to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency office.

In addition to the vaccination cost, you’ll incur administrative fees for every animal. These fees are due if you cross the border.

What in case your pet can’t be vaccinated for rabies?

If you might be planning to travel between the U.S. & Canada with pets that may’t be vaccinated for rabies for health reasons, you possibly can apply for an exemption to the rabies certificate requirement. Applications, submitted in writing to the National Centre for Permissions, must include a signed letter out of your veterinarian stating the medical condition stopping the vaccination of your pet. (It will not be sufficient to state that your animal is simply too old.)

You must also include the outcomes of a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test showing that your pet meets the minimum titre requirements.

Upon approval, your pet would require an inspection by a CFIA veterinarian if you arrive in Canada. You’re chargeable for making arrangements for the inspection at your port of entry before the animal travels.

Health Certificate When Entering Canada

The Canada Border Services Agency inspects all pets traveling to Canada to make sure the animal’s rabies vaccination is current and the animal description matches. The agents also visually inspect the animal to be sure that there are not any visible signs of illness or injury.

It is feasible for the border agents to refer any animal crossing the border for secondary inspection. But so long as your dog or cat appears healthy, that is unlikely to occur.

Generally, health certificates will not be mandatory if you travel between the U.S. & Canada with pets. But, if a pet appears to be unwell or injured, the border agents can request a health certificate from a veterinarian. Their primary concern is that the pet’s condition will not be contagious.

If you’re traveling with a pet with an obvious health condition, we recommend getting a health certificate from their vet prior to your trip. It’s a little bit of a hassle, but it surely could aid you avoid a delay border!

Pets flying to Canada must also meet the necessities of the airline on which they’ll be traveling. Most airlines require that each one pets have a current health certificate.

Transport Pets Safely

Canada has strong regulations in place to assist protect all animals from injury and suffering during transport. To ensure your pets are protected while traveling, follow these suggestions:

Contain your pet – Buckle up animals that might distract the driving force in a seat belt harness or secured carrier. In addition, pets shouldn’t roam freely behind pick-up trucks, and must not be exposed in any approach to flying debris.

Watch the weather – Don’t leave animals in parked vehicles for long periods of time, especially in hot or cold weather. If you should leave your pet unattended in a vehicle for a brief time frame, ensure it has fresh water and leave windows open just a little on either side of the vehicle to create a cross-breeze.

Provide food, water, and rest – On long trips, ensure that your pet has food and water and that you simply make regular stops so it may possibly rest or get out and walk around.

Taking Pet Food And Treats Into Canada

Visitors who travel from the U.S. to Canada with pets can bring as much as 20 kg (44 kilos) of pet food and treats for his or her personal use. This is the overall amount of pet food and treats allowed, whatever the variety of pets traveling with you. In addition, the pet food and treats must meet ALL of the next requirements:

Pet food and treats have to be from the United States, commercially packaged, and unopened.
All pet food and treats have to be within the possession of the traveler on the time of entry.
The animal that may eat the products must accompany the traveler on the time of entry.
Any pet food and treats imported into Canada by the traveler have to be fed only to the animal that accompanied the traveler into the country.

For longer trips, or should you’re traveling through Canada to or from Alaska, consider taking a dehydrated pet food with you. We love The Honest Kitchen pet food and it’s great for traveling because a ten pound box makes 40 kilos of food!

No Requirement For Microchips or Tattoos

Canada doesn’t require a microchip or tattoo identification for pet dogs and cats. However, some kind of everlasting identification will help your pet get home in the event that they wander away.

Requirements To Enter Canada With Other Types Of Pets

Not everyone travels with cats and dogs. Here are the foundations for those planning to travel between the U.S. and Canada with less common pets:

Amphibians and Reptiles

Imports of amphibians and reptiles (aside from turtles and tortoises) are controlled by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and/or other restrictions under the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulations of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, that are administered by the Canadian Wildlife Service. If you propose to bring an amphibian or reptile to Canada, it’s best to contact the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Birds

Birds are considered pets for Canadian import purposes in the event that they are personally owned and cared for, and are a species commonly often called caged birds reminiscent of psittacines (birds within the parrot family), song birds, toucans, canaries, finches, cardinals, etc.

To travel together with your pet bird to Canada, you should meet the entire following requirements:

Your bird must accompany you or a member of your immediate family.
The bird must appear healthy when inspected on the port of entry.
You must sign a declaration stating that:
- the bird was in your possession for the 90 day period preceding the date of importation and wasn’t in touch with another birds during that point
- the bird is your personal pet and won’t be sold
You or any member of your loved ones must not have imported birds into Canada under the pet bird provision previously 90 days.

In cases of a disease outbreak, an Export Veterinary Certificate from the United States is likely to be required. Check the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for more information.

Ferrets

Ferrets can cross the border without an import permit in the event that they are lower than three months old or have a sound rabies vaccination certificate. The ferret will need to have received the rabies vaccination within the 12-month period preceding the date of import.

Rabbits

Pet rabbits from the United States don’t require an import permit or health certificate to enter Canada. When you arrive on the border, present your rabbit to Canada Border Services Agency staff for inspection. Also provide proof that the rabbit has lived within the United States for the 60 days prior to entering Canada.

Rodents

Most pet rodents, including chinchillas, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and rats can travel to Canada without an import permit or health certificate. Border agents may inspection your pets related to the humane transport of animals regulations.

There are import restrictions for certain (or specific) pet rodents, including prairie dogs, gambian pouch rats, or squirrels from most countries; and all rodents from Africa.

Turtles and Tortoises

Only zoos and research laboratories are permitted to import turtle and tortoise eggs, and an import permit is required.

Breed Specific Legislation In Canada

If your Canadian road trip will take you to or through the Province of Ontario, and also you’re planning to take a bully breed dog, please read this information rigorously. You’ll need to change your plans.

Province of Ontario

Ontario has an unsightly Breed Specific Law that bans “pitbull-type” dogs from the province. Police and animal control officers can seek for and seize any dog deemed to be a “pit bull-type” based on visual inspection.

If the authorities determine the dog is a “pit bull-type,” the dog is euthanized, even when it didn’t break another law. Here is a summary of the law from Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General.

There are not any exceptions to this law for tourists traveling with their pets. So, if you could have a pit bull, please avoid Ontario. And if you could have a dog that could possibly be mistaken for a pit bull, carry documents proving your dog’s pedigree when traveling in Ontario.

Throughout the remainder of Canada, there are municipalities with breed restrictions and bans. Plan to avoid them. Visit the Justice for Bullies website for a map of locations with breed specific laws.

Pet Friendly Destinations In Canada

Canada has some gorgeous pet friendly vacation destinations! If your’re planning to travel between the U.S. & Canada with pets, listed here are a number of of our favorites!

The Complete Pet Friendly Guide To Jasper National Park

Dog Friendly Hike at Lake Louise

A Pet Friendly Guide To Banff National Park

Dog Friendly Road Trip In British Columbia: Vancouver To Kamloops And Back

Vancouver’s Top 5 Dog Friendly Things To Do

Real Life Travel Between The U.S. & Canada With Pets

The recent rules give us a number of more hurdles to clear, but the necessities to travel between the U.S. and Canada together with your pets are still pretty clear-cut. That being said, we don’t want you losing any sleep over your travel plans. So, here’s what it’s really wish to cross the border with dogs.

We hope this summary makes it easier in your to plan your pet friendly trip Canada! For more ideas on places to go to, you’ll want to check our pet friendly destination guides.

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