Importing Domestic Dogs
Dogs less than Eight (8) Months of Age from Countries Recognized by Canada as being Rabies-Free

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Import requirements for dogs accompanied by their owners

Dogs that are accompanied by their owners require rabies certification. This means they must have:

• a rabies vaccination certificate;

  OR

• a veterinary certificate, declaring that the dog is originating from a country recognized by Canada as being rabies-free.

If you are using a rabies vaccination certificate, it must:

• be written in English or French;
• be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
• identify the animal (as in breed, colour, and weight);
• 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; and
• specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for one year from the date of vaccination).

If you are using a veterinary certificate, it must:

• be written in English or French;
• be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian;
• identify the animal (as in breed, colour, and weight);
• state that the animal has been in the exporting country since birth or for at least six (6) months immediately preceding shipment to Canada; and
• be accompanied by documentation from a competent government authority*, stating that rabies has not occurred in the country of origin for at least six (6) months immediately preceding the animal's shipment to Canada.

*Note: a competent government authority means a veterinary agency or other government agency that manages a country's animal health and welfare situation, as well as handles the responsibility of veterinary certification for international trade. The document can be either:

• a letter issued on the competent government authority's letterhead, dated, stamped, and signed by an official of the competent government authority in the country of origin; or
• a signed letter written by the licensed veterinarian who issued the certificate, which must be endorsed by the competent government authority.

Import requirements for dogs not accompanied by their owners

Dogs that are not accompanied by their owners require:

1. the rabies vaccination certificate as described above;

   OR

2. a veterinary certificate declaring that the dog is coming from a rabies-free country, as described above;

   AND

3. a veterinary certificate of health (differs from the veterinary certificate described above).

The veterinary certificate of health must:

• be written in English or French;
• identify the animal (as in breed, colour, and weight);
• be issued and signed by the licensed veterinarian who performed the examination;
• specify the date and time of the examination;
• state that the veterinarian is satisfied that the animal:
  • is not less than eight (8) weeks of age at the time of the examination;
  • is free of any clinical evidence of disease;
  • was vaccinated, not younger than six (6) weeks of age, for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza virus;
  • can be transported to Canada without undue suffering due to infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue, or any other causes;
• include the name and signature of the licensed veterinarian.

All information must be recorded legibly in the veterinarian's handwriting.

The dog must be imported into Canada 72 hours or less after the examination.

If you require a veterinary certificate declaring that the dog is coming from a rabies-free country, along with a veterinary certificate of health, both of these may appear on the same document.

Additional Information

The import requirements also apply to dogs that were originally from Canada and are returning to Canada from a rabies-free country.

The import requirements also apply to dogs leaving a country that imposed quarantine, if the dog leaves before that quarantine period is completed.

Dogs do not require rabies vaccination or certification if they are less than three (3) months of age at the time they are imported into Canada.

Canada does not require a waiting period between the time the animal is vaccinated for rabies and the time the animal is imported into Canada.

If a dog does not meet the import requirements for rabies certification, owners will be required, at their own expense, to do the following:

• have the animal vaccinated against rabies within a specified period of time; and
• provide the vaccination record to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency office.

Related Links

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Inspection fees
• Countries recognized by Canada as rabies-free

Comments or requests for additional information.