How to Bring Your Pets to Canada
Nearly all families would say they consider their pets essential members of their families. And as such, many wonder how they can bring their pets to Canada with them when looking into Canadian immigration. Fortunately, while there are certain requirements and restrictions for individuals moving to Canada with pets, import laws allow most domestic pets to be brought into the country.
Canadian Import Guidelines for Animals
When bringing your pet to Canada, you are technically engaging in the importation of animals to Canada. All import and export of animals to Canada are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) which has inspectors on duty at all Canadian ports of entry (POE) in order to regulate the import of animals. The exact requirements and restrictions vary depending on the type of animal, species, country of origin, health status, and purpose of import, so newcomers should be sure to check the CFIA website prior to travelling to Canada. The requirements for importing pets vary according to the factors listed above. It may be necessary for some pet owners to obtain a permit allowing them to bring their pet to Canada, or they may require a certificate from a veterinarian stating that their pet has no diseases. In some cases, pets are held by CFIA agents in quarantine for certain periods of time prior to being allowed to enter Canada. Please be sure that you adequately understand the requirements for your pet in order to ensure you won’t have any problems entering the country. Below are the import requirements and restrictions for some of the most commonly imported pets, as well as resources for importing all varieties of pets.
Bringing Your Dog to Canada
While restrictions do exist on the import of dogs, as long as your dog is healthy and disease free, you should be able to bring your pup to Canada as long as you follow the proper procedures.
Personal vs Commercial Import
The first step to importing dogs to Canada is determining if the dog is being imported for personal use or for commercial use:
Personal Import:
The import of a dog (regardless of age) that is personally owned by a Canadian resident as a pet; or as a service dog that is accompanied by the person to whom the dog is assigned
Commercial Import:
The import of a dog for sale, adoption, breeding, show, exhibition, scientific research, or animal welfare organizations.
The majority of pets will be classified as personal imports, but if your dog is not travelling with you, or if a dog is being brought into the country for sale, then the dog qualifies as a commercial import and will require a permit if older than 8 months. Applications for permits should be submitted 30 days prior to travel and can be accessed on the CFIA website. Dogs who qualify as personal imports do not require a permit to enter Canada. However, even personally imported dogs will require some documentation.
