Pet Travel From the United States to Canada

Electronic Signature and Digital Endorsement ACCEPTED

For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Digital endorsement ACCEPTED

USDA-accredited veterinarians can electronically issue health certificates and use VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System) to submit them to USDA for digital endorsement.

USDA can digitally endorse the health certificate and return it electronically.

Accredited Veterinarians: Use the links below to access or get help with VEHCS. Learn more about how to issue export health certificates.

Animal Owners/Shippers: The endorsed health certificate can be printed out directly from VEHCS and does not have to be mailed back to you. The printed, endorsed health certificate must accompany the animal(s) during shipment or travel.

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

Carefully read ALL of the requirements related to your pet on this page.

• This page provides the most recent entry requirements and can change without notice.
• It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to make sure the pet has met all health requirements of the destination country before issuing a health certificate.
• Failure to meet the requirements may result in problems gaining certificate endorsement or difficulties upon arrival in the destination country.
• Health certificates must be legible, accurate, and complete.
  

Pet dogs OLDER than 8 months do NOT require any health certificate.

• Proof of rabies vaccination is allthat is required for dogs in the following categories:
  • any dog greater than 8 months of age
  • assistance animals certified as guide, hearing or service dogs, if the person accompanying the dog to Canada is the user of the dog
  • two or less pet dogs accompanied by their owner to Canada
  • any dog exported on a temporary basis for competition in a show or trial, if at the time of importation proof of entry in a show or trial is provided.
  • Required for all dogs greater than 3 months of age (with the exception of assistance dogs certified as a guide, hearing or service dogs which accompany their user into Canada)
  • Issued by licensed vet, proving vaccination within 3 years of importation into Canada.
  • Proof of rabies vaccination by documenting on a health certificate, if a health certificate is required.
  Pet Dogs YOUNGER than 8 Months

  Pet dogs YOUNGER than 8 months old MAY require a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian in the United States. Please see below for more information:

  The below information applies to non-commercial shipments of privately owned pets only. If you are shipping pets for commercial purposes, please view the requirements on Canada’s page of APHIS’ International Regulations (IRegs) website.

  Unaccompanied dogs (puppies not traveling with their owner):

  • Shipments of 1-2 dogs less than 8 months of age which travel unaccompanied are required to be examined and have a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of arrival in Canada.
  • The full travel requirements are described in the provided health certificate*. This certificate does not need to be endorsed by APHIS.

  Accompanied dogs (puppies traveling with their owner):

  • Shipments of 1-2 dogs less than 8 months of age traveling with their owner are only required to travel with proof of current rabies vaccination*.

  *Dogs younger than three months old are not required to be vaccinated for rabies but proof of the dog’s age must be available to Canadian Officials. All dogs greater than 3 months of age, with the exception of assistance dogs certified as a guide, hearing or service dogs which accompany their user into Canada, must have proof of current rabies vaccination to travel to Canada.