Moving to Canada with a dog or cat
Canada keeps its dog and cat import rules inside an interactive tool on the CFIA site, so the rules themselves are not on the page text we could read. What we could verify is how the tool is organised and the rule for leaving Canada.
- Verified read on an official page (2026-10-19)
- Partly verified the official quote covers only part of it
- Not verified yet we could not confirm it on an official page
Planning help, not legal or veterinary advice. Rules change; confirm with the official authority and your vet before you travel.
My route
Checklist, in order
Run the CFIA import tool
Partly verifiedThe tool's domestic-dog categories are age-based: less than 3 months; older than 3 months but less than 8 months; 8 months or older; plus Assistance Dog and Commercial (sale, adoption, fostering, breeding, exhibition, research)
Older than 3 months but less than 8 months
The tool asks who you are bringing, how old the dog will be and which country you are coming from. Run it and write down the result: the rules themselves are not in the page text.
Leaving Canada later: export certificate
VerifiedMost pets travelling FROM Canada need an export certificate issued by a licensed vet and endorsed by an official CFIA vet
an export certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by an official Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarian
Not verified yet: check the official page
We could not confirm these on an official page. Do not assume anything: ask the authority below. (2026-10-19)
- The actual import rules (they depend on age, who is travelling and the country you come from)
- Tapeworm treatment
- Maximum number of pets and restricted breeds
Official pages
Number of pets and breed rules
Maximum number of pets
Not verified yetNot found on the CFIA pages fetched
Banned or restricted breeds
VerifiedNot verified yet: CFIA import page mentions only hybrid dog/cat (wild wolf-dog or wild cat mix) as a separate category, no breed ban list
Hybrid dog or cat (wild wolf-dog or wild cat mix)
Tapeworm treatment
Not verified yetNot verified yet: CFIA does not mention Echinococcus tapeworm treatment on the pages fetched
My pet move timeline
Planning help only. Enter your arrival date and we count back using only the windows in the checklist above.
Pick your arrival date to see the timeline.
Other destinations: Spain · Portugal · France · Germany · Netherlands · Ireland · United Kingdom · United States
How it works
- Check the steps and timing for your destination here. Always confirm on the official link.
- Open Meet & Mint: events and people near you on one map.
- Join an event alone and chat with the group before you go.
- Meet at the event. Many events from our sites are in the app too.