How to Move a Dog From the U.S. to Canada

Moving can be a difficult experience for the whole family, and it's important not to forget an important member of your family---your dog. When moving to Canada with your dog, it is essential that you have the proper vaccinations and veterinary documentation to ensure your dog is allowed across the border.

Things You'll Need

  • Export certificate or rabies vaccination certificate
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Instructions

  1. Importing Dogs 3 Months of Age or Older from Countries Considered Rabies-Free

    • 1

      Confirm that the dog is from a rabies-free country. The Canada Food Inspection Agency, which oversees the import of animals into Canada, has an extensive list of countries that it considers rabies free. See the agency's website for the complete list.

      If the dog is not from a rabies-free country, please refer to Section 2 of this article.

    • 2

      Obtain an export certificate in accordance with the Import of Dogs - Section 2 regulations. This certificate, issued in either English or French by an official government veterinarian---a veterinarian who works for the government veterinary service of the country the dog is from---must clearly identify the dog being imported and must state that rabies has not existed in the importing country for the six months immediately before the shipment of the dog and that the dog has been in the importing country for the six months immediately before the shipment, or since birth.

    • 3

      Obtain a valid rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian---a veterinarian licensed to practice in the importing country---in either English or French, if an export certificate is not available. The certificate must clearly identify the dog and state that it is currently vaccinated against rabies.

      Clear identification of the dog is considered to include breed, color and weight. Confirmation of vaccination must include the trade name of the rabies vaccine used as well as the serial number and duration of validity, which can be up to three years.

    • 4

      Present either the export certificate or rabies vaccination certificate to the officials at the border crossing through which you enter Canada. An official will complete a visual examination of the dog and will review your veterinary documentation.

    Importing Dogs 3 Months of Age or Older from Countries Not Considered Rabies-Free

    • 5

      Refer to Section 1, Step 1 above for the complete list of rabies-free countries. If the country of import, the country the dog is coming from, is not on that list, it is not considered to be free of rabies.

    • 6

      Obtain a valid rabies vaccination certificate from a licensed veterinarian---a veterinarian who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the importing country---in either English or French. The certificate must clearly identify the dog and state that it is currently vaccinated against rabies.

      Clear identification of the dog is considered to include breed, color and weight. Confirmation of vaccination must include the trade name of the rabies vaccine used as well as the serial number and duration of validity, which can be up to three years.

      An export certificate, referred to in Section 1, is NOT valid for non-rabies-free countries.

    • 7

      Present the rabies vaccination certificate to the officials at the border crossing through which you enter Canada. An official will complete a visual examination of the dog and will review your veterinary documentation.