Traveling to Canada with a dog from the US is simple: a pet dog older than 3 months needs a valid rabies certificate signed by a licensed vet. No health certificate is needed for pet dogs over 8 months. Coming home, your dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip and to be at least 6 months old.
Key facts
- Pet dogs over 3 months need proof of rabies vaccination to enter Canada. Dogs under 3 months don't, but you must be able to prove their age.
- Pet dogs over 8 months, and pet cats, don't need a health certificate for Canada.
- Dogs coming back to the US must be at least 6 months old. A younger puppy can go to Canada but can't return.
- Canada is a low-risk country for CDC, so the CDC Dog Import Form receipt is the only document CDC asks for on the way back.
- Air Canada and WestJet charge C$50 to C$60 each way for a cabin pet within Canada and the US (as of October 2026).
What do I need to take my dog to Canada?
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sets Canada's pet import rules. It sorts dogs by purpose (personal pet, assistance dog or commercial) and by age. For a personal pet dog travelling from the US, USDA APHIS summarizes the requirements like this:
| Your dog | What Canada requires |
|---|---|
| Under 3 months | No rabies vaccine needed, but you must be able to show proof of age |
| 3 to 8 months, travelling with you (1 or 2 dogs) | Proof of current rabies vaccination only |
| Under 8 months, travelling without you (1 or 2 dogs) | Exam and health certificate from a licensed US vet within 72 hours of arrival in Canada (no USDA endorsement needed) |
| 8 months or older | Proof of rabies vaccination; no health certificate |
The rabies certificate must be issued by a licensed vet and show that your dog was vaccinated within 3 years of entering Canada. Make sure it shows the vaccination date and the type of vaccine. Certified assistance dogs travelling with their handler are exempt.
Personal pet or commercial dog?
CFIA treats a dog as commercial if it's going to be sold, adopted, fostered, bred, shown or used for research, or given to another person. Commercial dogs, especially those under 8 months, have much stricter rules, and commercial dogs from countries at high risk for dog rabies are banned until further notice. If you're bringing your own pet on holiday, you fall under the personal rules above.
What about cats?
Pet cats 3 months and older need a rabies vaccination certificate, issued by a licensed vet within 3 years of entry, showing the vaccination date and type of vaccine. No health certificate is required. Kittens under 3 months are exempt from the rabies requirement. See how to fly with a cat for the airport side.
Flying to Canada with a dog: Air Canada and WestJet
Both Canadian airlines take small dogs and cats in the cabin and larger pets in the baggage compartment. From our airline data, verified October 2026:
| Air Canada | WestJet | |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin fee, Canada/US, one way | C$/US$50–60 | $50–59 |
| Cabin carrier | Soft-sided only; 40 x 43 x 20 cm on most jets, larger on Dash 8-400, E175 and CRJ900 | 41 x 25.4 x 21.5 cm (16 x 10 x 8.5 in) |
| Minimum age | 10 weeks, fully weaned | 8 weeks |
| Checked pet fee, Canada/US, one way | C$/US$105–126 | $100–118 |
| Checked pet limit | 45 kg (100 lb) pet plus kennel | 45 kg (100 lb) pet plus kennel |
| Booking | Call within 24 hours of booking to register the pet | Request space after booking, at least 48 hours before departure |
- Air Canada doesn't take pets in the hold from December 18 to January 4. Pets under 4.5 kg (10 lb) aren't accepted in the hold from November 1 to March 31, or when it's 0°C (32°F) or colder.
- Neither airline accepts snub-nosed breeds in the baggage compartment. WestJet sends them to WestJet Cargo.
- Both limit cabin pets to one per passenger, and space per flight is limited.
Check your carrier against both airlines with the carrier size checker. United, Delta and American also accept cabin pets on flights between the US and Canada.
Driving to Canada with a dog
The same CFIA rules apply at a land border as at an airport. Have the rabies certificate in the car where you can hand it over quickly. Coming back, CDC says the requirements are the same "even if the dog will be in the vehicle most of the time," so you need the CDC Dog Import Form receipt by car too.
Returning to the US from Canada with a dog
Canada is not on CDC's list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. If your dog has only been in the US, Canada (or another low-risk country) in the past 6 months, CDC needs:
- A dog at least 6 months old on the day it returns.
- A microchip that a universal scanner can read.
- A dog that looks healthy.
- A CDC Dog Import Form receipt. The form is free and online. The receipt is valid for 6 months and can be reused for several crossings, as long as the departure country (Canada) stays the same.
The 6-month age rule catches people out. If you take a 4-month-old puppy to Canada, it can't come back into the US until it turns 6 months. Read bringing a dog into the US for the full CDC rules, including what changes if your dog has also visited a high-risk country.
Do I need a health certificate to take my dog to Canada?
Not for a pet dog over 8 months, or one under 8 months travelling with you. You do need one, issued within 72 hours of arrival, for a pet dog under 8 months travelling without you. Your airline may have its own document rules, so check when you book. More in pet health certificates for travel.
Questions people ask
Can you take pets to Canada from the US?
Yes. Pet dogs and cats over 3 months need a rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed vet. Younger pets need proof of age.
Does my dog need a microchip to enter Canada?
CFIA's rules for personal pet dogs from the US, as summarized by APHIS, don't list a microchip. You do need one for your dog to return to the US under CDC rules.
How old does my dog have to be to come back to the US from Canada?
At least 6 months old on the day it enters the US. CDC lists no exceptions.
Can I fly with my dog in the cabin to Canada?
Yes, if it fits in an under-seat carrier. Air Canada requires a soft-sided carrier and a dog at least 10 weeks old; WestJet's minimum age is 8 weeks.
Do I need a new CDC form every time I visit Canada?
No. The receipt is valid for 6 months and covers repeat trips as long as your dog only visits Canada and other low-risk countries.
Sources
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Bringing animals to Canada: importing and travelling with pets
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Requirements for importing commercial dogs less than 8 months of age
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Notice to industry on the high-risk dog rabies measure
- USDA APHIS: Pet travel from the United States to Canada
- CDC: Entry requirements for dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries
- CDC: High-risk countries for dog rabies
- CDC: Frequently asked questions on dog importations
- Air Canada: Travelling with pets
- WestJet: Travelling with pets
- WestJet: Fees
