Travel Between The U.S. & Canada With Pets

July 15, 2024

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On August 1st, 2024, new rules will affect travel between the U.S. and Canada with pets. Learn everything you’ll need to know to make sure your pet friendly road trip goes smoothly.

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 will impact all dogs entering the U.S.

But there’s no need to worry! We’re sharing the information you’ll need to ensure that traveling between the U.S. & Canada with your pets goes smoothly.

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

Please note that this article is for people traveling between the U.S. and Canada with their pets for personal reasons, like a vacation or to visit friends and family. If your trip is for pet breeding, sale, or adoption purposes, please refer to the rules regarding the commercial 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. citizens can visit Canada for up to six months, as long as the right paperwork is presented at the border. When entering Canada or the U.S., all travelers must provide acceptable identification and proof of citizenship. A passport is recommended because it proves both citizenship and identification.

These forms of identification may also 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. citizens on official maritime business)

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

People traveling to Canada for work, school, or who are planning to move permanently will likely need a Canadian visa.

Traveling With Children

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

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

Pet Friendly Hotels In Canada

If you’ll be spending the night in Canada, you’ll also need to find a great pet friendly hotel! Canada has many hotels that welcome pets, and it’s easy to find the perfect 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 ill, further examination by a licensed veterinarian at the owner’s expense might be required at the port of entry.

Keep in mind that some states require cats to be vaccinated for rabies. So it is a good idea to check with state and local 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 control 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 are 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 would 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 at least 6 months of age at time of entry

appear healthy

have an implanted International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-compatible microchip. The microchip must be implanted prior to their required rabies vaccination, so the chip number can be documented on all required forms and accompanying veterinary records.

Each dog also needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. (We are still waiting for this form to be made available by the CDC.) All information on the online form, including port of entry where the dog is arriving, must be correct at time of arrival. If any information on the form changes before the dog arrives, you must submit a new form, indicating you are making changes to an existing form.

Lastly, dogs who were vaccinated in the U.S. and are returning home from a trip 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, if your dog is receiving his first ever rabies vaccination, your vet won’t be able to issue this form for 28 days. For dogs receiving booster vaccines, the form can be issued immediately.

For dogs that were recently microchipped, the USDA endorsed export health certificate is the better option. It can be used to provide details of an unexpired rabies vaccination administered in 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 form is only valid for 30 days and one U.S. entry.

More Information

The CDC has also created DogBot, an online tool to help 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.

READ MORE ⇒ What You Should Know About Emergency Vets Before You Need One

Health Certificate For Pets Entering The United States

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

Taking Pet Food And Treats Into The United States

When driving from Canada to the United States, you can bring up to 50 pounds of pet food purchased in Canada. The food must meet the following requirements:

Items must be in unopened retail packaging.

Raw (not shelf-stable without refrigeration), dehydrated, freeze-dried, or sun-dried items require labels showing they are products of Canada or the United States.

Requirements To Enter Canada With Dogs And Cats

There is no limit on the number of pets that can travel with you to Canada, as long as they are your personal pets. Before heading to the border with an animal, make sure 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 can refuse entry, confiscate, or detain an animal if:

it is undeclared, including family pets

you do not have the necessary permits/certificates

it is suspected of being sick or infected with a pest or disease

the animal is transported in a non-humane way and not kept safe 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, if your cat or dog is less than three months old, you must provide proof of your pet’s age upon request. For cats and dogs three months or older, a rabies vaccination certificate must 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

identify the animal by age (dogs must be at least 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 number of the licensed vaccine

specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for 1 year from the date of vaccination)

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

A hard copy of all required original documentation may be requested during the inspection, and the importer must be able to provide such records if asked. So, it is strongly recommended to travel with a physical original copy of all required documentation.

Note: If the pet is traveling with a person other than its owner, other departments or agencies (for example, Canada Border Services Agency) may have additional requirements. It is the pet owner’s responsibility to comply with all requirements.

What if you don’t have a valid rabies certificate?

Arriving at the Canadian border without a proper rabies certificate likely means you’ll be jumping through some additional hoops.

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

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

READ MORE ⇒ Planning A Pet Friendly Road Trip

What if your pet can’t be vaccinated for rabies?

If you are planning to travel between the U.S. & Canada with pets that can’t be vaccinated for rabies for health reasons, you 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 from your veterinarian stating the medical condition preventing the vaccination of your pet. (It is not sufficient to state that your animal is too old.)

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

Upon approval, your pet will require an inspection by a CFIA veterinarian when you arrive in Canada. You’re responsible 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 ensure the animal’s rabies vaccination is current and the animal description matches. The agents also visually inspect the animal to ensure that there are no visible signs of illness or injury.

It is possible for the border agents to refer any animal crossing the border for secondary inspection. But as long as your dog or cat appears healthy, this is unlikely to happen.

Generally, health certificates are not necessary when you travel between the U.S. & Canada with pets. But, if a pet appears to be ill or injured, the border agents can request a health certificate from a veterinarian. Their primary concern is that the pet’s condition is not 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 bit of a hassle, but it could help you avoid a delay border!

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