The rules for bringing pet dogs, cats, and birds across the U.S. / Canadian border are pretty straightforward, but there are differences between the two countries – and even different U.S. States. In theory, you should contact the state veterinarian of each state you are intending to visit. You may also need to contact the specific port you are going to travel through, and we have a separate web page for every border crossing between the two countries which has contact information for every station.
Pet Health
A border official’s primary focus is on the health of the animal. If the animal looks sick, dangerous, or of an illegal breed, officials can refuse entry or have you pay for a veterinarian inspection. In extreme cases, they can have your animal put down. Make sure that your pet always looks clean and healthy. It is recommended you bring a health certificate from your veterinarian detailing all the shots the animal has had.
While U.S. and Canadian regulations are similar, just because your pet was allowed across the border in one direction does not mean you are guaranteed to get it back through with similar ease. Your pet must always appear healthy and satisfy regulations of both countries. You can in fact be blocked from bringing your pet back home.
Bringing Dogs Into the U.S.
As of 9/1/2024, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued new rules for dogs being brought into the U.S. Until that time you can follow the previous CDC rules.
The new rules are based on whether the country the dog is coming from is a country classified as a high risk or low risk for rabies. Canada and the U.S. are considered countries at low risk for rabies.
Dogs from Countries with low risk of Rabies
If your dog has only been a rabies-free or low-risk countries in the 6 months before U.S. entry, you only need a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt. A receipt will be emailed to you upon submission of the form. You can print the receipt or show it on your phone.
- This form should be filled out online ideally 2-10 days before arrival; however, it can also be completed right before travel (even in line at the border crossing) if you have internet access.
- If the information on the form changes before the dog arrives, you must submit a new form and indicate you are making changes to an existing form. All information, including port of entry where the dog is arriving, must be correct at time of arrival.
- This form requires you to upload a clear photograph of the dog showing its face and body. Dogs that will be less than one year of age at time of arrival should have the photograph taken within 10 days before arrival.
Like all animals, the dog must appear healthy upon arrival at the border.
Dogs from Countries with High Risk of Rabies
If your dog has been in a country at high risk of rabies within the last six months then the following applies:
- Have a CDC Dog Import Form online submission receipt
- A Certification of U.S.-issued Rabies Vaccination form or a USDA-endorsed export health certificate: These forms are filled out by a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA.
- These dogs can enter the U.S. at any airport, seaport, or land border crossing, as long as the port matches your CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
Dogs that do not meet the import requirements can be put through additional testing the owner’s/importer’s expense or they may be denied entry and returned to the country of departure at the owner’s/importer’s expense.
Additionally, proof of rabies vaccination may be required based on where the dog has been in the last six months and whether the dog was vaccinated in the United States or elsewhere. For dogs arriving from countries with a high risk of dog rabies, they must be protected against rabies.
If your dog is not vaccinated against rabies and has been in a high-risk country for dog rabies in the past 6 months, your dog will NOT be allowed to enter the U.S.
Service dogs are allowed into Canada without rabies shots so long as you are the person assigned to the dog. However, service dogs brought into the U.S. must meet the same requirements as any other pet dog.
Visit the U.S. CDC for more information about bringing a dog into the United States and to obtain all necessary documentation prior to departure.
Bringing a Dog into Canada
If you are taking a dog into Canada your requirements will depend on a few factors such as:
- the country of origin
- the age of the dog
- the purpose of the import, and
- whether or not the dog will be accompanied by the owner to Canada.
You can determine the requirements for your specific situation by using the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) pet import tool. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the requirements are met before travelling to Canada.
Consult a veterinarian
Talk to your veterinarian to consider the risks of travelling and confirm that your dog is healthy and has all the required tests, vaccinations and treatments to enter Canada. Ensure that all of your dog’s records are ready and up to date, and that the required documentation is completed.
Copies of the required documentation
Print out hard copies and retain digital versions of all the documents that support the necessary import requirements. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the information in your documents is correct before travelling to Canada.
Dogs that don’t meet the CFIA’s requirements
If a dog arrives at the border and does not meet Canada’s import requirements, the situation will be reviewed and a decision made regarding the animal’s eligibility to enter Canada. Depending on the facts of the case and the non-compliance(s) with CFIA requirements, the animal may be ordered to be removed from Canada, fines may be applied or legal actions may be pursued.
Airlines may require additional documentation or have additional requirements when travelling with an animal by air. Check with your airline to determine what requirements are needed for your situation.
You’ll also want to do some preparations in advance, such as finding the appropriately sized container and training your dog to its new surroundings. See more detailed information on travelling by air from the International Air Transport Association.
Bringing Cats into the U.S.
A general certificate of health is not required by either the U.S. or Canada for entry of domestic cats, although some airlines or states may require them. However, cats are subject to inspection at ports of entry and may be denied entry if they have evidence of an infectious disease that can be transmitted to humans. 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.
Most U.S. states and many other countries require them for cats, and U.S. CDC recommends that all cats be vaccinated against rabies. Be sure to check your destination’s requirements and ask your veterinarian before traveling.
Regulations can change, especially if there is a sudden health concern so always confirm these requirements on the CDC website when planning your trip.
Bringing Cats into Canada
Pet cats 3 months or older do need a health certificate a vaccination certificate issued by licensed veterinarian, proving vaccination within 3 years of importation into Canada
- Kittens under 3 months of age exempt from rabies vaccination
- The date of vaccination and the type of vaccine must be on the vaccination certificate
Regulations can change, especially if there is a sudden health concern so always confirm these requirements on the Canadian regulations website when planning your trip.
Bringing Your Pet Food Across the Border
It can be tricky to get pet food across the border, especially those that say they contain “by-products.” See our page on “Prohibited Items,” and you will note that pet food frequently contains some of these prohibited products.
To be brought across the border, food must always be in its original packages – do not carry it in plastic containers. Any pet food in non-labeled packages may be confiscated. The regulations for the U.S. and Canada are different and change very frequently, so you may need to call the information lines for each country to be sure what the current rules are.
- The label should show where it was produced.
- The ingredient list should be clearly displayed.
- You cannot bring raw pet food into the U.S. without an import permit. Your pet food must be “shelf-stable” which means it does not require refrigeration in order to be safely stored.
- Products containing sheep, lamb, or goat will not be allowed into the U.S.
- Your best bet for getting food into the U.S. is to have unopened bags that state the food was made in the U.S.
- When entering Canada, you may bring up to 20 kg of pet food if it was manufactured in the U.S. or Canada. The pet that will eat the imported product must be with you.
Identification
If you lose your pet while traveling, you could have difficulty trying to claim it without permanent identification. At the bare minimum, the animal should have collar tags with the pet’s name, your name, and your phone number. The safest approach is to pair an external tag with a permanent microchip ID. The microchip number should be included on the collar tag. When you do this, your pet will have two solid layers of protection to get them home.
Bringing Birds Across the Border
Pet birds must be a species that lives in a cage and may not include pigeons, game birds, doves, or fowl. You will be required to confirm the birds have been with you for at least the previous 90 days and haven’t been with non-household birds in that time. You will also be required to declare the birds are pets and not for sale. Your bird will be subject to a veterinary inspection. If you are entering the U.S., you must make arrangements for a veterinary inspection at least 3 working days prior to arrival. You should also be aware that there are sometimes charges to transport your own pet across the border, so be sure to do your research before heading out on your trip.
Unusual Pets
Many other common pets, such as rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs may be imported if they are in good health. It’s a little trickier to transport reptiles and invertebrates across the border, so you should call both border services for advice. Civets, African rodents, nonhuman primates, and most snails are prohibited by both countries.
US and Canadian Government Contacts for Pets
As you can see, regulations for bringing pets across the U.S. and Canadian border can be complex. In addition, they change, so you should review the current official government websites to make sure you comply with all of their regulations. See the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Pet Information page and the Canadian Border Services Agency Pet Information page.